November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Conclusion: Making A Chance

Thanks for joining us on this devotional tour of the Holy Land. To see a few highlights of our trip together, take a look at this short video below, as our worship leaders from the trip, Lucas Elder and Gary Marini, lead us in a closing song. Then read on to hear a touching story of God’s faithfulness to those who put their faith in Him.

I was telling a group one time that they should try to go to Israel if they ever got a chance. My son Lucas added: “Don’t just wait till you get a chance. Make a chance! Do whatever you can do to get there. It’s worth it!” He’s right.

So I’d like to tell you just one more story as we close, a story about “making a chance.” While I usually try to shorten stories to make them as concise as possible, I think this one is best told with all the details in tact. I believe God has several things He might want to speak to you through this story, so I pray that you’ll be blessed as you read it.

As we began talking about going on this trip to Israel, a woman from Malawi named Esther had written to me, saying that she wondered if I thought God would ever make a way for her to visit Israel someday. She said she simply began crying every time she read the word “Israel” in some of the devotionals I had written and shared over the Internet. Knowing that she lived in Malawi, and knowing the situation for many who live there, I wasn’t sure what to say. I began to pray about how to respond to her email, thinking that I’d say, “I believe that God can make a way, but I’m sorry I can’t help you myself.” As soon as I said those words in my mind, however, I felt God say, “Yes, you can help her.” I said, “No, I can’t.” He said, “Yes you can.” I said, “No, I can’t!”

I had been planning this trip to Israel for the past 3 years, and our whole family had been working and saving money so that my wife and I and our four oldest kids could go with us. We barely had enough money at that time for just one of us to go, let alone six. So when God said I could help Esther get there, too, I really didn’t know what to do. So I wrote back to her and said simply that I believed God could make a way, and I’d be praying along with her.

As the summer went on, I kept reading the words of Jesus to His disciples from Matthew 14:13-21, when 5,000 people were gathered together on a hillside at dinnertime. Jesus told His disciples: “You give them something to eat.” I could imagine what the disciples must have felt. They said that not even eight months wages would give everyone even one bite, so how could they feed them? All they had was five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy’s lunch.

Yet I was puzzled why Jesus would ask them to do something impossible if He didn’t think they could do it. didn’t think they could possibly do. Unless, of course, they could do it, and they just didn’t know how. I kept asking God, “How? How did Jesus do it? And how can we do it when You ask us to do something that seems impossible to us?”

So I studied that passage over and over, trying to see how Jesus did it. He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and had the disciples start passing it out. Somehow there was enough food for all 5,000 to eat till they were satisfied and still have twelve baskets full left over.

As I shared this dilemma one week with a youth group, some of them came up to me afterwards and said they’d like to help with Esther’s ticket. I tried to decline their money, because I didn’t want them to think I was telling them the story in order for them to give money for the trip. I was just sharing with them the puzzle of how to do what God asks us to do when we think it is impossible. Several of them insisted, however, saying that they felt God really wanted them to give the money to help with Esther’s trip. By the end of that week, I had received just over $300—enough to make the deposit on the trip for Esther to come with us. But I still needed more than 10 times that amount to pay for her whole trip, plus I still had to pay for my own family to go. I didn’t tell Esther about the money yet, nor the deposit. I just told her that I was still praying for her, and asked if she could get her passport information to me in case God were to make a way for her to come with us.

As the trip got closer, I just couldn’t let go of the idea that God wanted me to help Esther get to Israel, but I still didn’t know how. So I sent out a note to some others who also read my weekly devotionals on the Internet, letting them know about the situation. We received about a third of the total needed for her trip from that appeal. Another man donated about a third of the cost to cover her airfare from Malawi, and Lana and I put in the final third, as God was also working at the same time to help the six of us going from our family to pay for our trips, too. I told Esther the good news, that God had made a way for her to join us. By the time we left, everyone’s ticket was completely paid for! This was astounding!

But then we got to Israel. We were supposed to meet Esther at the airport, as she was to arrive on a flight about twelve hours earlier. But when we got there, we couldn’t find her. We paged her several times over the airport intercom, we checked for phone messages and email messages, looked in all the waiting areas, but couldn’t find anything about where she might be, or if she even made it on her flights. We finally had to leave the airport, knowing that I had at least sent her the names of the hotels where we’d be staying at before we left, and hoped that she would catch up with us.

But she didn’t. She called us the next day from an airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although she had made it all the way to the airport in Israel, they had denied her entry into Israel, saying that it was too questionable about how she came to know us through our Internet ministry, and why the rest of the group wasn’t there to meet her in Israel when she arrived. Although she tried to explain it to them several times, and she was even still in the airport when our flight finally landed twelve hours later, she wasn’t allowed to call or email or make any contact with us. (To the credit of the airport security in Israel, they run a very tight ship and for very good reasons. We appreciate that they take their job so seriously or otherwise no one would be able to travel in and around Israel at all.) But since Esther did not travel together with us into the country with the group, she was questioned more strictly and finally put on a plane, headed back to her home.

I couldn’t believe it when she told me the story over the phone and I began trying to think of anything else I could do. We had come too far in getting her to this point that I didn’t want to give up on it, even though she was already headed on her flights back home, now waiting in Ethiopia to change planes back to Malawi. I called the immigration office at the Addis Ababa airport to ask if she could be put back on the plane to Israel, that we would meet her at the airport when she arrived and try to provide whatever documents they needed to verify that she was on our tour, but they said there was nothing they could do for her. She had been officially deported, and they were to put her on a flight back to Malawi the next morning. After several calls to several different people at the immigration office, I couldn’t get any farther. I went to bed that night wondering why God had brought her so far, only to have her turned back in the end. It was 4 in the morning by this time, and I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so I finally slept.

When I woke up a few hours later, I updated my wife Lana on the situation, and asked if she could think of anything else we could do. She remembered that a friend of ours had a daughter who had just come home from serving a year in Ethiopia as a missionary, and maybe she would have a contact who could help us out. I didn’t know what they could even do, but I felt I had to pursue any possible option that was still open to us, as I felt it was the Lord who had put it on my heart to try to get her there in the first place. So we texted our friend’s daughter back in Chicago, who texted us back with the phone number of a pastor she knew in Addis Ababa. I was astounded that we knew someone who knew someone who lived in Addis Ababa at all!

And I couldn’t believe it when we called him and he immediately said that he would do whatever we needed him to do, just let him know. It was such a surprise that my wife and I both cried at the thought that someone would take a call from complete strangers and would be willing to drop everything and go to the airport right away. He was a busy man with a large congregation and they had just gotten out of some special weekday services they were holding. It was beyond what we could have imagined someone doing for us in this situation. It still makes me cry to think of it—a brother in Christ willing to help out another brother, simply because we have the same Father. So he went to the airport that night, along with a pilot friend from his congregation. Unfortunately they weren’t able to find Esther there. We were all disappointed, but we didn’t know what else to do.

In the mean time, I had also talked to the tour company who helped us arrange the whole trip, and they said they could try to fax a letter to immigration in Addis Ababa, saying that Esther was indeed part of our tour, and that she was an invited guest as part of our group. I called the immigration office again, saying that we’d try to get a letter to them if they could just let Esther stay at the airport another 5-6 hours, as it was the middle of the night back in the States, and the tour offices wouldn’t be open yet for another several hours. They granted our request and didn’t make her get on the next-scheduled flight to Malawi.

So we got their fax number and the tour company tried several times to fax the letter—but the fax wouldn’t go through. As the day went on, the rest of our group in Israel continued on with our tour, now sitting in a garden in the city of Capernaum, a site where Jesus had done some incredible miracles. I updated the group on Esther’s situation, and we all prayed that someone would be able to get that letter through to the immigration office. I didn’t have the heart to call the pastor in Addis Ababa again, but Lana did, so she tried to call him. None of her calls would go through. We sat down again and prayed. Our time was running out.

At the very moment that we sat down to pray, my phone rang. It was the pastor from Addis Ababa! He said he had just been to the airport again to try one more time to find Esther, taking some of his church members with him, this time one who worked at the airport. They had found Esther! They were calling us to see if there was any possibility we could fax him a letter from the tour company saying that she was with our trip! It was the very thing we were trying to do, but he didn’t know it, and I didn’t know he had gone back to the airport again! I called the tour company who found a way to finally email to the pastor, who printed it out and took it back to the immigration office at the airport. I also instructed the tour company that if they needed to buy another ticket for Esther to get back to Israel, to go ahead and buy it and charge it to my account, up to $1,000, withhout having to try to call me. We didn’t have time to wait for any more calls. I just wanted the ticket waiting for her at the airport if she needed it. I didn’t have $1,000 to spend on her ticket, but that’s the number that came into my mind while I was on the phone, and what I felt I should say.

The pastor was able to get the documents to Esther, and the immigration office said she could get on a plane back to Israel. The tour company agency found the cheapest ticket they could—it was $992, just $8 under the limit I had given them, so they bought it and had it waiting for her at the airline counter.

As I went to bed that night, exhausted not only from the recent days’ activities, but also from the months leading up to this moment, I went to lay down and felt God said, “You passed the test. Enjoy the rest of the trip.” I wasn’t sure exactly what test I had passed, but I was thankful that it was all working out. Even though Esther wasn’t yet back in Israel, I felt like I had done the utmost of what I could possibly do to get her to Israel, as God had called me to do.

The next morning, our first stop on our tour “just happened” to be the site where Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fish to feed the 5,000—the place where Jesus had told the disciples to give the people something to eat, and the passage which had so inspired me all along. There we were standing on the same hill where that miracle from God took place. As I was looked up the passage again to read to our group that morning, I saw that it was told in several of the gospels, so I looked at each version to see which one to read. When I read John’s version of the story, I couldn’t believe it! In his version, when Jesus asked Philip where they could get food for all these people to eat, John added:

“He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what He was going to do” (John 6:6).

It was a test! And just as Jesus had tested the disciples by asking them to give the people something to eat,—when it seemed utterly impossible—God had tested me to help someone else in need when it seemed impossible, too. And God had told me the night before that I had passed the test. Hallelujah! And now He had brought me to the hillside where Jesus had given the disciples their test! God couldn’t have spoken more clearly to me if He had appeared in front of my eyes!

Later that afternoon, Esther arrived again at the airport in Israel, and this time she was allowed to enter the country. (The security people at the airport had asked her, “Why have you come back again when someone who is deported isn’t allowed to attempt to come back into the country again for five years, and now you’re trying to come back after only three days later!” Had I known that, I don’t know that I would have even tried to get her back in. Only God could have opened that door for her to return!) She met us at the hotel for dinner that night.

Over dinner with our group, Esther and I shared with each other all that God had been doing to make this moment possible. And that’s when the real clincher came.

Esther told me that from the very first day that I responded to her email, saying that I felt God could make a way for her to visit Israel someday, she said God spoke to her and told her she’d be coming this year, with us. Even when she was being turned away at the airport, she said she was praising God, that those had been the best few days of her life so far. Her mom had even called me during all of this to say that she wasn’t discouraged, that they were just going to thank God in all things in order to shame the devil. Esther said that from the very beginning, when she first started thinking about the trip, she wanted to pray that God would make a way for her to go, but that God had stopped her from praying. She said that God told her not to pray for the trip, but to simply give thanks for it. She was puzzled, but did what God said. In fact, as time went on she was tempted to ask others to start praying for her to be able to go on the trip, too, but that God had stopped her from telling even one person about the trip or to pray for her, but simply to continue to give thanks for it. She said she didn’t feel she was supposed to tell anyone about the trip until it was set. When she got my email asking for her passport information, and before I had even told her that people had begun to give money for her to come, she said she knew on that day that everything was set, and she could finally begin telling others about it.

I was stunned by what she said. Wasn’t that exactly what Jesus did on the hillside when He multiplied the loaves and the fish? He simply gave thanks to God, broke the bread, and asked the disciples pass it out. He didn’t plead for it, He just gave thanks for it! I looked at Esther and thanked her for being obedient to what God had told her to do. It had spoken volumes to me, answering a question that had been on my heart for months as I studied that passage trying to see what Jesus had done. I told her what God said to me about passing the test, and that I felt that she had passed her test, too ,because of her obedience. We both knew that while God would still use the rest of the trip to speak to us in many ways, that He had already done His greatest work in us already, that of increasing our faith in Him.

As if to confirm all that had just happened that day, when I got back to my hotel room that night and having shared all of this with Esther—even the part about authorizing the purchase of her second ticket for anything up to $1,000 when I didn’t know how I’d be able to pay for it—I checked my email before heading for bed. In my inbox was a note saying that a friend of ours back in the States had unexpectedly made an online donation of $1,000 to our ministry while we were at dinner that night! It was as if God were putting the icing on the cake, covering even the final detail of her trip.

I still don’t know how to interpret it all. On the one hand, it seems it wouldn’t have happened had we not prayed fervently and worked feverishly towards the goal, even day and night near the end. But on the other hand, God wanted to teach us something through what He called Esther to do: to simply give thanks for what He was going to give her. Or as my wife said while we were going through the whole ordeal, she felt that we were like the workers who helped to dig Hezekiah’s tunnel to bring water into the City of David. One team started digging from one side, and the other team started digging from the other side, and miraculously both teams were able to meet in the middle to complete the tunnel!

In any case, I hope that God will speak to you through at least some portion of this story. And for some reason, I don’t think this is the end of the story. It could very well be the beginning of some new ones! Thanks again for joining us on this incredible trip to the Holy Land!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for all the remarkable things we’ve learned from this trip to the Holy Land, and all the remarkable things you still want us to learn in the future. Give us the faith to step out and trust you completely for everything in our lives, giving You thanks, even in advance, for Your love and faithfulness to us. Thank You for sending Your Son to lead us in Your ways, and keep giving us the faith we need to follow Him every day, until one day He leads us on into heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

You’re reading ISRAEL: LESSONS FROM THE HOLY LAND, by Eric Elder, featuring thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 28: What Happened At The Upper Room?

The Upper Room is perhaps best known as the location of Jesus’ last supper with His disciples. But something else happened in the Upper Room just fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, something Jesus told them to expect and to wait for. To find out what happened, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what God wants you to do with all the things that you’ve learned about Him!

So what happened at the Upper Room? That’s where the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost. God’s Spirit flowed into the people gathered there, causing them to praise God in all kinds of languages. As a result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit, over 3,000 people put their faith in Christ.

It wasn’t something that Peter and the other disciples could have done on their own, but God used their voices to reach out to people, who came from all over the world at the time, so that they could hear all that Christ had done for them.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared again to the disciples and over five hundred others throughout Jerusalem for a period of forty days. On one of these occasions, Jesus said:

“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. … You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:4-5, 8).

So when Jesus went up into heaven, the disciples went back to the room where they were staying. Luke called it an “upper room” (Acts 1:13, KJV), just as he had done when describing the place where they had eaten their last supper (see Luke 22:12). It was here, apparently, that:

“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14).

About ten days later, on the fiftieth day since Jesus rose from the dead (and the day of Pentecost, which comes from the Greek word for “fifty”), God sent His Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised:

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1).

As they spoke, others began to hear them praising God in their own languages, people from all different parts of the world who had come to Jerusalem for the festivals. Some were amazed, but others thought they had just been drinking too much wine.

Peter, who had denied Jesus just a few weeks earlier, stood up with the other disciples, and spoke to the crowd:

“Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!” (Acts 2:14-15).

He went on to say that this was the work of the Holy Spirit, whom the prophet Joel said would be poured out on the people in the last days.

Peter spoke about Jesus and how, even though Jesus had done many signs and wonders and miracles in their presence, they still handed Him over to be crucified. After telling them at length from the Scriptures who Jesus was and what they had done to Him, they were all cut to the heart. They cried out to Peter and the other apostles:

“Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:37-41).

It’s a powerful story on many fronts:

What Jesus said would happen did happen,
The same Peter who denied Jesus earlier now proclaimed His name to thousands,
The Spirit came in a way that was both astounding and perplexing to those who saw it,
About 3,000 put their faith in Christ and were baptized in a single day.

And that was just the beginning. In the days that followed, the disciples continued to do more wonders and miraculous signs:

“And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).

Soon, those who followed Christ were taking the gospel beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, just as Jesus said they would.

What does this all mean to you? Well, if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today, just like those who heard the message on the day of Pentecost did! And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, tell others about it so they can put their faith in Christ, too!

When we were in Israel, we had a local Israeli guide who took us from place to place and taught us many things about the places that we were seeing. On the final day, our guide said, “Today, my job is finished. Tomorrow, yours begins. Your job is to go back and tell others what you have learned.”

Isn’t that the way God loves to work? God could, if He wanted to, put some kind of cosmic loud speakers in the sky, telling everyone that He exists, that He loves them, and that He wants them to leave their sins and come back into a relationship with Him. (And in many ways, He has already done this—see Psalm 19:1-4 or Romans 1:18-20.)

But God’s preferred method is to use the voices of people—yours and mine—to tell others about His love for them, and to share with them everything they have heard and learned and known to be true.

As we near the end of this devotional tour of Israel, I wanted to remind you of why God wanted to teach you all that you’ve learned about Him so far. First of all, it’s for you, so that You will know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply. But secondly, it’s for you to share with others, so they may know Him better and fall in love with Him more deeply, too.

As our Israeli guide said to us, I want to say to you: “Today, my job ends. Tomorrow, yours begins!” If you’re not sure how to share what you’ve learned with others, here are a few ideas.

1) Ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit upon you in ways that you may have never known before, so that You can proclaim His name to those around you. How can this help? The same way it helped Peter, who went from being afraid to even tell anyone that He knew Christ to being able to proclaim His name before thousands.

2) Study your Bible deeply, every day, so that you may know with confidence the truth of what you believe. Find a good study Bible, with footnotes and commentary if possible, to help you grow in the knowledge of all that God wants to say to you. Remember, too, that it’s not just a time to study, but a time to spend with the One who created you, who knows you best, and who loves you more than anyone else in the world.

3) Start sharing what you’ve learned so far about Christ. Whether it’s sharing a simple comment or two on someone’s Facebook page about God’s love for them, or taking an evangelism class at a local church so that you can sharpen what and how you share with others, look for and take the opportunities God gives you to let others know about your own relationship with Him so that they can grow in their relationship with Him.

4) Share the messages in this book with others! Point them to our website at http://www.theranch.org, or give them copies of this book! These resources were created to help bring the Bible to life for as many as people as possible.

While I loved going to Israel so that I could learn more about Christ for myself, I also loved going to Israel so that I could share more about Christ with others. My prayer is that you will do the same.

Whether you go to Israel in person, or experience it through the Bible and books like these, I pray that you will be filled with God’s Holy Spirit to the point of overflowing, so that whatever God pours out onto you will be flow out onto to others, bringing joy and life to you, to them, and to the God who created us all.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for pouring out Your Holy Spirit on those who gathered together for prayer in Jerusalem. We pray that You will pour out Your Holy Spirit on us again today so that we may lead others into a deeper relationship with You as well. Give us the wisdom to do it, the courage to do it, and the way to do it. Then help us take the steps of faith we need to take to proclaim Your name throughout the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 27: What Happened At Golgotha?

Golgotha means “the place of the skull.” It’s not a very happy-sounding name, and what took place here was most likely even more gruesome than the name suggests. But on the other hand, what took place here at Golgotha is what has made it the holiest site in all of Christendom. To find out what happened here, and why it matters to so many people, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how God can use the sadness of what happened at Golgotha to bring incredible joy to your life today.

So what happened at Golgotha? That’s where Jesus died, was buried, and rose again again from the dead.

When Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death, He and those who were to be executed with Him walked through the streets of Jerusalem, carrying their crosses when they could, and having others carry their crosses for them when they couldn’t. Eventually they came to the execution site. The Bible says:

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, He refused to drink it. When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over Him there (Matthew 26:33-36).

Golgotha was undoubtedly a horrific place, just outside the walls of the city at the time of Christ. It seems to have gotten its name either because of all the crucifixions that took place there, or because the hill itself actually resembled a skull. Either way, the hill called Golgotha was a picture of death.

But the day that Christ died there, something changed. When Christ died on the cross, Golgotha became a picture of life, filled with the beauty of sacrificial love.

There’s a song that explains how Golgotha—and the cross of Christ—could come to represent such an unusual mixture of death and life. George Bennard said it this way in his song, The Old Rugged Cross:

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;

and I love that old cross where the dearest
and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see,
for ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.

This is why crosses are so prevalent in jewelry, churches, and other holy places. It’s not because Christians have some perverse fascination with death, like wearing little guillotines around their necks on a chain. Jesus didn’t express His love to us by dying on a guillotine. He expressed it by dying on a cross. And it’s the love that Christ expressed for us when He died on the cross that we celebrate as Christians, and that’s why we make so much of His cross.

It is both an “emblem of suffering and shame,” and also a “wondrous beauty” to behold, all at the same time.

There are two spots in Jerusalem that are considered potential locations of Christ’s crucifixion. One is the Garden Tomb, which was discovered in 1848 and which I highlighted in the introduction of this book. The other is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (“sepulchre” means “tomb” in Latin), and has been the traditional site of the crucifixion since the 1st and 2nd century. Today I’d like to focus on the the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

For those interested, the church itself was first built and dedicated in 335 A.D. by Helena, the mother of Constantine, after she had been shown this site by the believers in Jerusalem at that time. The church has undergone many changes over the years, but the location has remained the same.

When I walked into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the first time, and up the stairs to the right that led to the top of the small hill called Golgotha over which the church was built, I was overcome with emotion. It wasn’t because of anything I saw there—for it was filled with candles and tourists and objects that glittered with gold. I was overcome with emotion because of what had happened there.

I dropped to my knees. I thanked God for all He had done for me there. And I cried.

I knew that Jesus wasn’t the One who should have died on the cross that day. He was totally innocent. It should have been me. It was me who had sinned, and it was me who should have had to pay the price for those sins. But Jesus did it for me, of His own free will, as a demonstration of His love for me.

He could have called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him if He had wanted, as He told Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane (see Matthew 26:53). But He didn’t.

The fact that Jesus stepped in to pay for my sins with His life has been, and still is, the greatest expression of love I have ever felt in my life. While others have loved me dearly, like my family and friends, Jesus is the only one who could have stepped in and did for me what He did: fully forgiving me of my sins.

When I got back up from my knees, I walked downstairs again and to the other side of the massive church, to the spot where they believe Jesus was buried in a tomb nearby. The walls and ceiling of the tomb have been destroyed over the years, as the church has changed hands and been ransacked many times since then. Only a plain slab of rock remains of the place where they believe He was lain, and that is housed in a small chapel under the great dome of the church.

While there’s little to see there, of course, for neither Christ nor much of the tomb are there, the site is vivid enough in the memories of those who are familiar with the story to recreate in their minds the scene of what happened there. As it says in the Bible:

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38-42).

And then, a few days later:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.’ Now I have told you” (Matthew 28:1-7).

So you can see why this place has become such a sacred spot to those who claim Jesus as their Lord. While the ravages of time, battles, earthquakes, and fires have taken their toll on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the events that made this place so holy are no less compelling today than they were when they first took place.

It is not the church itself that has brought millions of people like me here to visit it. It is the realization that what happened here was real, and that God really did love us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us so that we could put our faith in Him and live forever.

As incredible it is to be able to be able to go to Jerusalem and touch the ground where Jesus died and rose again, if there was one thing that I could encourage you to do in your lifetime, it wouldn’t be to go to Jerusalem. It would be to go to Jesus, to put your faith in Him who died on the cross for your sins, rose again from the dead, and who now calls you to live your life for Him, following Him here on earth and on into heaven.

If there’s sin in your life, drop it now at the foot of His cross. If you’re involved in lying or stealing, gossiping or cheating, pre-marital or extra-marital or any other kind of sinful sex, turn away from it today and turn back again. If you’re burying your gifts in the sand, saving them for no one and nothing in particular, dig them out and put them to work for the kingdom of God. You’ll be blessed when you do and so will those around you.

Most of all, you’ll be able to express your love back to Christ , the One who expressed His love for you—and for all to see—there on the hill called Golgotha.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins, and for giving us the chance to be forgiven when we put our faith in Him. Thank You for filling us with Your Holy Spirit, to enable us to do the work here on earth that You’ve called us to do. And thank You for promising to take us to be with You in heaven when our life on earth is over, where we can live with You forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 26: What Happened On The Via Dolorosa?

The Via Dolorosa is a path that winds its way through the streets of Jerusalem, and upon which millions have walked over the years. Why? Because another Man walked this path one day—the most painful day of His life. To see what the path looks like today, and find out why it’s called the Via Dolorosa, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to get through the painful days in your life as well.

So what happened on the Via Dolorosa? That’s the path that Jesus took as He carried His cross to His crucifixion.

The words “via dolorosa” are Latin for “the way of suffering.” And while the Via Dolorosa is a path that many people have taken over the years, not many people ever really want to take the “way of suffering” in life. Suffering goes against human nature, and pain is usually a God-given indicator to let you know that something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

But there are times when God may call you to take a path that leads directly into pain—not because He wants you to suffer, but because He has something better in mind for you on the other side of the pain.

Examples abound:

– Like a pregnant woman who has to endure nine months of labor and the pain of childbirth in order to experience the joy of holding her newborn baby in her arms,

– Or like a teenage girl who has to break up with her boyfriend because she wants to remain pure for her future husband,

– Or like a man with a gash in his arm who has to endure the cleansing and stitching of the wound so that his flesh can eventually be healed.

Jesus showed us the key to making it through times of suffering like these: by keeping your eyes on the prize. As the Bible says:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

It was for the joy set before Jesus that He was able to endure the cross. If there was any other way, Jesus would have taken it. He said as much in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He had to walk down the Via Dolorosa. He prayed:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

While none of us wants to enter into pain and suffering voluntarily—not even Jesus—He showed us how to do it when the time comes for us to enter into it.

He kept His eyes on the prize. When the guards came to take Him away, He went. When they asked Him to carry His cross, He carried it. And when He could carry it no longer by Himself, God sent someone else to carry it for Him:

“Carrying His own cross, He went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha)”. (John 19:17). “As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross” (Matthew 27:32).

You can still see the place marked on the Via Dolorosa where Simon of Cyrene may have taken up Jesus’ cross for Him. It’s one of fourteen “stations of the cross” that are marked out along the path, stations that are replicated in many churches throughout the world. If people want to remember all that Jesus did for them in those last few hours of His life, they can walk around the perimeter of the church and stop to meditate at any of these fourteen stations, just as they can on the real Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.

Walking along the Via Dolorosa is a reminder not only of the suffering that Jesus endured for us, but also of the suffering that He sometimes calls us to endure for Him. As Jesus told His disciples:

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

Although no one ever wants to suffer, Jesus’ words are a reminder that some things are worth suffering for, that there is a prize awaiting those who endure it to the end, and that God wants you to have it.

The best way to go through suffering is to make sure you set your eyes on the prize. But it’s also important to make sure you’re setting your eyes on the right prize. There’s nothing worse than enduring pain and suffering, only to find that what you’ve been waiting for all along has been lost in the process.

If your hope is set on having the perfect family, and then something happens to destroy that perfection, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re working your hardest to get a promotion, then the promotion doesn’t come, you’ll be upset. If you give up your dreams in order to help someone else fulfill theirs, but then they blow it and waste all that you’ve given up for them, you might wonder if it was worth it.

Sometimes these disappointments come because our eyes weren’t on the right prize in the first place. Even Peter, who may have expected Jesus to ride into Jerusalem, overthrow the Romans and setup His new kingdom, was willing to die for Jesus as He ascended to His throne. But when Peter found out that Jesus had been arrested, and was likely going to be sentenced to death, his disappointment was evident. Instead of standing up for Jesus anymore, he denied that he even knew him. Perhaps it was because his eyes were on the wrong prize for the moment.

But God honored Peter still, just like He honors all those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. He eventually showed Peter that Jesus reigned in a kingdom whose authority went beyond Jerusalem, beyond the Romans, and extended over the entire earth. It was better than Peter could have ever expected. We’re told that Peter eventually did give up his life for Jesus, being crucified on a cross upside-down. But this time he had his eyes on the right prize, and he was willing to walk down the path of suffering to get it.

As much as God wants to relieve you of much of the suffering you’ll face in life, He also wants you to know that some things are achieved only by going through it.

God wants you to trust Him. He wants you to trust that He is able to do “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20a). Keep your eyes on the prize, and if you can’t see the prize, then keep your eyes on Jesus. In the end, it will all be worth it.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Jesus’ example, that we can follow in His steps. Help us to trust that the suffering in our life is worth it, when we entrust our lives completely to You. Help us to take up our cross daily and be willing to die for you, so that we can find the life that You’ve wanted us to have all along. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 25: What Happened At The House Of Caiaphas?

Caiaphas was the high priest at the time when Jesus was betrayed, and it was to Caiaphas’ house that Jesus was brought and accused of blasphemy against God. To see the dungeon of this house, and the adjoining pit where prisoners were lowered into by a rope to prevent them from escaping, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what else happened that night at Caiaphas’ house, and how God can restore, redeem, and forgive you, too, if you’ve ever felt that you’ve done something against Him.

So what happened at the House of Caiaphas? That’s where Peter denied Jesus three times.

After Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, the guards brought Jesus to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest. Jesus was taken inside and tried for blasphemy, while Peter waited in the courtyard outside to find out what was going to happen.

But while Peter was waiting, some people in the crowd recognized him as having been with Jesus. Apparently overcome by fear, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus, not just once or twice, but three times. The Bible says:

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” (Matthew 26:69-74).

This was, perhaps, the worst night in Jesus’ life. But it was also probably the worst night in Peter’s life as well. When Peter realized what he had done, the Bible says, “he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Looking back on the situation, we can forgive Peter for what he did that night—for under the same circumstances, who knows what any of us might have done? And yet I think it would have been harder for Peter to forgive himself. For it was Peter who, just a few hours earlier, at the Passover dinner, said to Jesus:

“Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will…. Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You” (Matthew 26: 33, 35).

But Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, and mercifully He told Peter ahead of time, speaking words of restoration to Peter even before he sinned. What a gracious Friend and Lord.

Here’s what Jesus said to Peter, also known as Simon, earlier in the night:

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31, 32).

Jesus knew that all the disciples would fall away from Him that night, including Peter. But Jesus came to Peter specifically to let him know that He was praying for Him that his faith wouldn’t fail. Then He encouraged Peter to strengthen his brothers when he did turn back.

A church has now been built over the House of Caiaphas. It has been named in honor of Saint Peter and is called “The Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu”—although I’m not sure that Peter would prefer the honor, since “gallicantu” means “cock-crow” in Latin, a reminder of the words Jesus spoke to Peter earlier that night:

“I tell you the truth, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times” (Matthew 26:34).

But then again, Peter may truly appreciate the honor, for even though it showed his weakness, it also showed Christ’s strength: to restore those who have fallen far, far from their faith. Jesus’ restoration of Peter continued a short time later on the beach at the Sea of Galilee when, after Jesus died and rose again from the dead, He appeared yet again to the disciples.

Taking Peter aside for a very personal conversation, Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. The Bible says:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”

The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:15-17).

It’s as if Jesus was giving Peter a chance to redeem himself, saying that He loved Jesus three times, perhaps to counteract the three times had Peter denied Him. And the restoration took hold, for Peter went on to feed Jesus’ sheep in a powerful way, leading the church in Jerusalem for the rest of his life, proclaiming Jesus’ name everywhere he went, and facing threats of death without fear from those who opposed his message.

Perhaps you’ve felt like Peter before on the night that he denied Jesus. Perhaps you’ve felt you’ve done something so horrible, at least in your mind, that you believe Jesus could never forgive you. Maybe you’ve cheated or lied or stolen. Maybe you’ve had an affair or betrayed your family or friends. Maybe you’ve denied Christ in ways that only you and He could fully comprehend.

If so, you might wonder if Jesus could ever forgive you, restore you, and use you ever again.

If that’s the case, I want to remind you today that Jesus knew about Peter’s sins even before he committed them. And He knows about yours and mine. And still, He was willing to die for Peter and you and me, even while we were still involved in our sins. That’s the way that the Bible says God demonstrates His love for us:

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

If you’re wrestling with the idea of forgiveness, and whether or not God can or will forgive you of your sins, I pray today that God will show you His unsurpassing love. I pray that these words from the Bible will wash over you. And I pray that you’ll know that if you ask God for forgiveness, and put your faith in Christ, that He will indeed forgive you, removing your sins from you as far as the east is from the west, and remembering them no more.

As the Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“…as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).

“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Hebrews 8:12).

While the House of Caiaphas may stand as a reminder of Peter’s worst possible sin in his life, it also stands as a beacon of hope for all those need a reminder that Christ can restore, redeem, and forgive them, too.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for making a way for us to come back to You when we’ve sinned. Give us the boldness to come back to You again today, leaving our past behind, and walking ahead in the calling that You have on each one of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 24: What Happened At The Garden Of Gethsemane?

The Garden of Gethsemane is made up of a grove of olive trees found at the foot of the Mount of Olives. The word “gethsemane” means “oil press,” and this garden likely served as the location of an ancient olive press, a device used to squeeze the oil out of olives. But another kind of pressing took place on the night before Jesus died. It was, perhaps, His most difficult trial on earth. To find out what happened that night, and how He faced it, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how God can give you the strength to pass the trials you face as well.

So what happened at the Garden of Gethsemane? This is where Jesus went to pray the night He was betrayed.

If you remember the story, the trial He faced that night was so difficult that He told His disciples He was “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Mark 14:34a).

When Jesus tried to get His disciples to stay awake with Him during the night, they couldn’t do it. This was a trial He was going to have to face without them.

But He didn’t have to face it alone. He faced it together with God His Father in prayer. The words Jesus prayed that night are an encouragement to me, as they have been to people for thousands of years, people who have faced trials of many kinds. Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 25:42).

You may have heard these words so many times that they’ve lost their freshness, but I’d like to remind you today of the power contained within them. They are words that can bring you peace and restore life to your soul once again no matter what kind of situation you might be facing.

First, know that when you face a trial of any kind, you’re not facing it alone. When you get to that point where you feel so alone that even your closest friends seem unable to walk with you through it any further, know that God is still there to walk through it with you.

When Jesus prayed that night, He went to His Father not just once or twice, but three times. Before each time of prayer, He asked His disciples to stay awake and keep watch for Him. But the fact that they couldn’t do it didn’t mean that His friends didn’t love Him, or that they didn’t want to help Him. They wanted to do whatever He asked, but in the end they simply couldn’t do it. Jesus knew their hearts were still with Him nonetheless, and He said:

“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak”
(Matthew 26:41).

But even though Jesus’ disciples fell asleep, God never did. The Bible says that God never slumbers nor sleeps (see Psalm 121:4). Each time Jesus found the disciples sleeping, He returned to God in prayer.

Second, know that it’s not unspiritual to plead with God for that which you think is best. Three times, Jesus said:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.”

Jesus didn’t want to face what lay ahead of Him. He pleaded with God to take it away, to change His course, or to show Him another path. It wasn’t that Jesus wanted to disobey His Father’s will, but neither did He hide the fact that He’d rather do it another way if possible!

The anguish that Jesus faced that night was intense, so intense that Luke says:

“His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground” (Luke 22:44).

The pressure of it all, the squeezing that He felt must have been nearly unbearable. The pain and twisting he felt may have been mirrored in the gnarled and twisted olive trees found in the Garden of Gethsemane itself, some of which are over 1,000 years old—and some could have even been alive at the time of Christ, as olives tree can, remarkably, live several thousand years.

Jesus knew that the pain ahead could be severe, and He didn’t hesitate to pray that His Father would make another way. If it wasn’t “unspiritual” for Jesus to pray this way, then I wouldn’t think it would be unspiritual for you to ask for it either.

But third, know that whatever happens in the end, you can trust God to work all things for good, when you truly commit your will to His. Madame Guyon was a Christian who suffered much during her lifetime in France in the 1700’s. Yet through it all she was able to find the peace of God by surrendering her will to God’s. She wrote:

“All your concerns go into the hand of God. You forget yourself, and from that moment on you think only of Him. By continuing to do this over a long period of time, your heart will remain unattached; your heart will be free and at peace! How do you practice abandonment? You practice it daily, hourly and by the moment. Abandonment is practiced by continually losing your own will in the will of God—by plunging your will into the depths of His will, there to be lost forever!” (Madame Guyon, Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ).

While it is important to remember that God has given us free will—the will or desire do that which we want—it’s also important to remember that God has a will, too. While God wants to give you the desires of your heart, He also has desires on His heart, desires which often go way beyond ours!

I am a firm believer that God wants to bless you, to prosper you, and to make you healthy and wealthy and wise. The Scriptures are full of stories of how God has come through for His people, blessing them with healing and prosperity, both physically and spiritually, and pouring out His wisdom upon them. But I am also a firm believer that God’s blessings can often exceed our own, but sometimes we can only see them as blessings when we look at them through eyes of faith.

I once heard a long-time and well-respected Christian leader say that when he looked back on his life, it turned out that the times he thought were his mountaintop turned out to be the valleys, and the times he thought he was going through the valleys turned out to be the mountaintops. God has a way of bringing good from every situation, when we trust Him to do His will in all things.

Know that God wants to bless you, that He wants to bless others through you, and that you can trust Him in all things, at all times, to work His will, in His ways. Know that when He calls you to face your own Garden of Gethsemane, you won’t face it alone. You’ll be in good company, the likes of which includes Jesus Christ Himself, the One who trusted His Father inherently and said with His whole heart:

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

I pray that you’ll be able to do the same.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for never leaving us alone, thank You for giving us our own free will, and thank You for giving us the confidence that Your will always is always better than our own. Help us to come to You with complete abandonment so that we can experience the fullness of Your peace, Your joy, and Your life that will come to us when we do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 23: What’s Going To Happen On The Mount Of Olives?

The Mount of Olives is only a short walk from the Temple Mount, and from there you can get a beautiful view of the city of Jerusalem. Jesus spent His nights there during the last week of His life, praying, sleeping, and teaching His disciples. But something else is going to happen on the Mount of Olives one day. To find out what, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what you can do today to prepare for what’s going to happen there in the future.

So what’s going to happen on the Mount of Olives? That’s where Jesus will return.

Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives with His disciples when He was in Jerusalem, perhaps because it was so close to the Temple. It is just across the valley from the Temple Mount, and only a Sabbath’s day’s walk from the city (just over half-a mile away, the maximum distance that Jews were allowed to walk on the Sabbath).

It was a convenient spot for Jesus and His disciples to retreat to after teaching at the Temple during the day. The Bible says:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives…” (Luke 21:36-38).

But Jesus’ affinity for the Mount of Olives may not have been simply because of its proximity to the Temple. The Mount of Olives is also the site where the prophet Zechariah said the Lord would appear one day, redeeming those who honored Him and destroying those who didn’t:

“On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (Zechariah 14:4).

And it was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus eventually ascended into heaven after His death and resurrection here on earth. As He rose into the sky, two angels appeared to the disciples and said:

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city (Acts 1:11-12).

So the Mount of Olives has become famous as the place where the Messiah will first appear, and over 150,000 people have been buried there on that hill—including the prophet Zechariah—in order to be on hand the moment the Messiah arrives.

But you won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus has come back. Jesus taught His disciples what that day would be like, the signs that would precede it, and what they could do now to prepare for it.

Listen to the words of Jesus that He spoke while still here on the earth, words that He spoke, in fact, right there on the Mount of Olives just a few days before His death:

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come….

“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.

“So if anyone tells you, ‘There He is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here He is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man….

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him” (Matthew 24:1-14, 23-27, 36-44).

When I was young, I remember hearing a lot of stories about Jesus. But for some reason, I missed the fact that one day He was going to come back again! When I realized that He was really coming back, my heart leapt! Wow! The same Jesus who had done so many miraculous things was going to be coming again! What a day that would be!

But this wasn’t going to be “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” (not that He was ever was that way when He first came either, but that was my impression as a child). This Jesus was going to be coming in power and might, redeeming those who loved Him and destroying those who didn’t.

There will be no question on that day about whether Jesus is the Christ or not. His re-appearance will be visible simultaneously and instantaneously all around the world. As Jesus said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” You won’t have to be on the Mount of Olives to know that Jesus is back. You’ll know it—no matter where you are in the world!

And when that day comes, Christ wants you to be ready. After teaching His disciples to look for the signs of His coming, Jesus then told three parables, stories that describe what will happen to those who are prepared for His return, and what will happen to those who aren’t. If you haven’t read them lately, you might want to read them again this week. You can find them in Matthew chapter 25: the parables about the ten virgins, the talents, and the sheep and the goats.

Jesus summarized them like this:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:45-51).

When Jesus returns, He wants to find you with your hearts firmly committed to Him, ready and eagerly desiring His coming, as a bride eagerly desires the coming of her groom.

He wants to find you using the talents He has given you, not squandering away the resources and abilities He has given you, but using them to make a good return on His investment.

He wants to find you doing the things that He’s called all of us to do, both spiritually and physically: giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, inviting in strangers, clothing the naked, caring for the sick, and visiting those in prison.

I want to encourage you today to get ready for His return. If your heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, make that commitment today. If you know someone whose heart’s not fully committed to Jesus, send this message to them and encourage them to make that commitment today.

And if your heart is fully committed to Jesus, get ready for His return! Look forward to it! Look forward to the day when He stands again on the Mount of Olives, in the fullness of His glory, coming back to take you to be with Him forever! Fill your hearts with faith today, make a good return on the gifts He has given you, and serve one another wholeheartedly. Remember, as Jesus said, “…he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the reminder that Jesus is coming back again, and that He will one day take us to be with Him forever. Lord, fill our hearts with faith again today, faith that Jesus will indeed come back for us, and faith that will inspire us to keep doing Your work here on earth right up until that day comes. We put our faith, hope and trust in You again today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 22: What Happened At The Pools Of Bethesda?

The Pools of Bethesda, just outside the Temple in Jerusalem, were said to have healing powers. But one day, when a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years went to the pools for healing, he discovered the Source of all true healing. To find out what happened that day, take a look at this short video below, shot on location at the remains of the pools themselves. Then read on for encouragement that God still heals today.

So what happened at the Pools of Bethesda? That’s where Jesus healed a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

The man had apparently come to the Pools of Bethesda looking to be healed by the waters there. According to local tradition, there were times when an angel of the Lord would stir up the waters in the pools, and the first one into the water after such a disturbance would be healed. As a result, the Bible says,

“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie: the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3).

On one of Jesus’ visits to Jerusalem, He went to the pools and saw this man lying there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked:

“Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6b).

The man must not have know who was asking him this question, for he simply replied that he had no one to help him into the pool when the water was stirred. Little did he know that he was talking to the One who is the Source of all healing! But he was about to find out. In the next moment, Jesus did for him the miracle that he had waited so long to receive:

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Jesus is known for many things, but His ability to heal ranks right at the top. The Bible says,

“And wherever He went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched Him were healed” (Mark 6:56).

As the “Author of Life,” as Peter called Him, Jesus is the One who knows best how to heal a life. When God designed our bodies, He designed them with healing in mind, knowing that we wouldn’t go through life unscathed. When doctors stitch up a wound or administer an antibiotic, they are often using techniques that simply tap into the body’s God-given ability to heal itself, helping to stimulate, accelerate, or otherwise facilitate the body’s built-in healing processes.

That’s why God said to Moses:

“…for I am the Lord who heals you”
(Exodus 15:26).

And God is a healing God not just of our bodies, but of our hearts, minds, and souls as well. After healing the man at the pools, Jesus later found him again at the Temple and said to him:

“See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14).

Jesus wanted the man to be fully healed, not just in part, but the whole; not just in body, but in heart, mind, and soul.

Jesus’ healing power extends to all aspects of our lives. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he talks about people in the church there who had, in the past, suffered from all kinds of problems: sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, thievery, greediness, drunkenness, slandering and swindling. But Paul goes on to say,

“And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

They were changed, healed, renewed, restored. How? In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. All healing—whether physical, mental, spiritual or emotional—comes from God, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through His Holy Spirit.

Even those healings performed by doctors or nurses, psychologists or psychiatrists, mothers or fathers, or friends or family, ultimately come from the God who designed our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies.

If you need a healing in your life today, or know someone who does, I want to encourage you, and for you to encourage them, to come to Jesus, the Author and Sustainer of life itself.

Remember the man who was healed at the pools of Bethesda. Jesus touched him and said, “‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked” (John 5:8).

Remember the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, who had run out of money and doctors and all other options. She came to Jesus and said, “If I just touch His clothes, I will get well.” Then she touched His cloak, her bleeding stopped, and Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mark 5:28, 34).

Remember King David, who suffered much at the hands of other men—and from his own sins, yet he wrote in the Psalms, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103:2-3).

Remember James, the brother of Jesus, who called on those who were sick to come to Jesus in prayer for their healing: “Is any one of you sick? He should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well” (James 5:14-15a).

Remember Peter, who healed a crippled man who was begging for money outside the Temple by saying, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (Acts 3:6). Then taking the man by the hand, he helped him up to his feet, which became strong again, and the man went walking and leaping and praising God.

Peter knew that it wasn’t his own power or strength that healed the man. He knew that he was just a conduit who reached out to the One True Source of healing: Jesus.

After the healing, Peter said,

“Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? … You killed the Author of Life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see” (Acts 3:12,16).

If you’re sick, come to Jesus. If you’re worn out, come to Jesus. If you’ve run out of money and doctors and all other options, come to Jesus.

If you’re wrestling with unhealthy thoughts, words, or deeds, come to Jesus. If you’re worried sick and your emotions are shot, come to Jesus.

As Peter said,

“It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this COMPLETE healing to him, as you can all see.”

Do you want to get well? Come to Jesus. Let Him do His healing work in your life.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for being a God who heals. Thank You for wanting to make us whole and complete. Thank You for designing our bodies to heal themselves when possible, for giving us wisdom to facilitate that healing power when not, and for sending us Jesus, whom we believe can heal us supernaturally at any moment―even if we’ll been lame for thirty-eight years. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 21: What Happened At The Southern Steps?

Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon, yet he said that walking on the southern steps of the Temple Mount was even more exciting. Why? To find out, take a look at this short video below, then read on to learn how you can have exciting moments like this every day.

So what happened at the southern steps? That’s where Jesus walked.

When Neil Armstrong visited Israel in 1994, he asked his host if there was a place where Jesus would have walked—without a doubt—2,000 years ago. His host, Archaeologist Meir Ben Dov and the excavator of the Temple Mount and southern walls in Jerusalem, answered that the southern steps were, for sure, the steps that Jesus would have used when He walked up to the Temple.

Mr. Armstrong bent down and kissed the ground, saying that this was an even more exciting moment for him than walking on the moon. If you were to go to Israel today and wanted to walk where you knew Jesus would have walked, you would go to the southern steps.

That’s because the southern steps, which have been excavated in recent years, served as the main entrance to the entire Temple Mount complex. And we know from Scripture that Jesus went to the Temple several times throughout His life. The Temple itself has since been destroyed, and the Temple Courts are buried under years of civilization and rebuilding. But the southern steps can still be walked upon today.

The Bible says that Jesus first visited the Temple as a child, when Mary and Joseph brought Him here to be consecrated to the Lord (see Luke 2:21-40). The family then came back to Jerusalem year after year, as was their custom, for the yearly Feast of the Passover (Luke 2:41).

It was on one of these trips that Mary and Joseph lost Jesus as they were traveling back home, thinking that He was traveling back with relatives or friends. After searching for Him for three days, they finally found Him, back in Jerusalem in the Temple Courts. He was sitting among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. Upon hearing that His parents had been anxiously searching for Him, Jesus replied:

“Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49).

Then as an adult, Jesus often taught crowds of people there at the Temple Courts. The Bible says that during the final week of His life:

“Each day Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and each evening He went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple.” (Luke 21:37-38).

If just walking where Jesus walked sounds exciting—like it was to Neil Armstrong—imagine what it would have been like to hear Him speak! Imagine being there in person, back in 33 A.D., and listening to the words that Jesus spoke, coming from His own mouth!

Imagine hearing Jesus tell some of His parables for the very first time, right there in the Temple Courts: the parable of the two sons, or of the ungrateful tenants, or of the wedding banquet of a king.

Imagine Jesus answering people’s questions, whether honest and practical questions, or those that were asked by people in order to trap Him, with words that astonished all who heard them and silenced His critics.

Imagine hearing Jesus answer the question about whether or not it was right to pay taxes to Caesar, and then hearing Jesus ask you to take out a coin with Caesar’s image on it and saying:

“Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s” (Matthew 22:21).

Or imagine Him answering the question about the resurrection of the dead, and whether or not people would really live again after they died, and hearing Jesus say:

“Have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Matthew 22:31b-32).

Or imagine Jesus being asked what He thought was the greatest commandment in the law, and hearing Jesus say for the first time:

“ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ “ (Matthew 22:37-38).

Or imagine watching, along with Jesus, as a poor widow passed in front of you and put two very small coins into the Temple offering, and hearing Jesus say:

“I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on” (Luke 21:2-4).

All of these things took place at the Temple Courts. No wonder the Bible says that all those who heard Jesus speak there—even when He was just twelve—were “…amazed at His understanding and His answers” (Luke 2:47).

No wonder the Bible says that the crowds who heard Jesus speak at the Temple Courts as an adult were “…astonished at His teaching” (Matthew 22:33b).

No wonder the Bible says that when He spoke during the feast that “…all the people came early in the morning to hear Him at the Temple” (Luke 21:38).

Maybe you wish you could have been one of those people who got up early in the morning to hear the wisdom of Jesus. The truth is, you can be one of those people!

If you’d like to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him speak His words to you, words that are practical and words that answer the honest questions on your heart, you can still do it today. You can pick up a copy of the Bible and read the words of Jesus, as recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, recorded by people who heard Him speak those words in person—Matthew, Mark and John—and Luke, who personally and thoroughly researched the stories by asking eyewitnesses who heard Jesus speak to verify their authenticity, people who were still living at the time he wrote his book. Some of you may even have “red-letter Bibles,” where the words of Jesus are highlighted in red so that you can find them easier, underscoring the words of this master teacher that were spoken 2,000 years ago.

Thankfully, the words that Jesus spoke back then are just as applicable to our lives today. Jesus isn’t a teacher who is now dead and silent. He’s just as alive and eager to speak to you today as He was back then. As the Bible says:

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

What a blessing it is to be able to walk where Jesus walked, as Neil Armstrong did, and what a blessing it would have been to hear Him teach in person at the Temple Courts. But what a blessing it is that we can still come to Him every day, whether early in the morning, throughout the day, or late in the day, and hear the wisdom of God as spoken through Jesus Christ Himself.

Come to Christ again today—and every day—and let Him speak His words of life to you.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to speak to the crowds at the Temple, and thank You for those who recorded His words so we can continue to hear Him speak to us today. Open our hearts to hear those words as we come to You again today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 20: What Happened At The North Gate?

I’d like to tell you a very personal story today. It’s about what happened to me at the North Gate of the Temple Mount. But before I tell you my story, I’d like to tell you Ezekiel’s story, and what he saw, in a vision from God, at the North Gate of the Temple Mount. It’s a beautiful picture of what it will be like when Jesus returns. Take a look at the short video below to see where the northern gates of the Temple once stood.

So what happened at the North Gate? That’s where Ezekiel saw a vision of a river of life flowing out from the Temple, bringing life to all that it touched. It was a vision for him, but it will be a reality for us one day, when Jesus returns. You may remember some of Ezekiel’s story from when we talked about the Dead Sea, when God showed Ezekiel this river flowing from the Temple and said:

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12).

But that wasn’t the only vision Ezekiel had of what would happen at the Temple. God had brought him there many times over his years as a prophet to show him what would happen, ranging from bringing judgment on those who had forgotten God, to bringing blessings to those who continued to wait on Him.

God used one of Ezekiel’s visions to speak to me one day. I’d like to share that story with you to encourage you that God still speaks today as He did in the days of Ezekiel.

It happened just shortly after I quit my secular job to go into full-time ministry. I felt God was calling me to do something full-time for Him, but I didn’t know what. It was only a week or so after I had quit when I felt God calling me to the Holy Land for the first time. As I prayed about the trip, I felt there were two places I should visit in particular: the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died. I asked God why He wanted me to go to these two places, and I felt He said: “I will reveal Myself to you there.”

So I had just finished writing these things down in my journal, which I was using during my prayer time with God, and was about to stand up to go on with my day, when I felt God say He wasn’t done yet. “Open your Bible,” He seemed to say. So I opened it up and began to read the words I saw on the page. It was a passage from Ezekiel, chapter 8:

“In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon me there. I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man. From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal. He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain” (Ezekiel 8:1-4).

There I was, thinking about going to the place where the Temple used to be in Jerusalem, and I felt like God was giving me very specific instructions about where to go on the Temple Mount. In Ezekiel’s vision, he was picked up and transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by the hair of his head, no less!), and dropped him off at the entrance to the north gate of the inner court of the temple. It was there that God revealed His glory to Ezekiel.

I pictured my own upcoming flight to Israel, where I would be transported to Jerusalem, between earth and heaven (by plane, thankfully!) and heading to the Temple Mount as well. I felt like God was telling me for some reason to go specifically to the place where the north gate of the inner court of the temple would have been. Although the temple itself no longer exists, the location of the the north gate of the inner court was quite likely just to the north of the rock of Abraham, inside the Dome of the Rock, and where the Holy of Holies would have been located.

I stood up with renewed interest in whatever God wanted to reveal to me on this trip, and on that spot in particular. I went home and told my wife about what I felt God was saying, and that if she needed to find me in Israel, to look for me at the north gate on the Temple Mount!

You can imagine my frustration when I finally got to Jerusalem to find out that the Temple Mount was closed. It was the Muslims holy month of Ramadan, and I was told that the Temple Mount was closed off to non-Muslims. Each day of my trip, I went into Jerusalem and tried to get in, but each day I was turned away.

As I sat outside the walls of the city of Jerusalem one day, I read in my Bible about people who were anointed with oil when they went into service for God. I began to wonder if God could somehow anoint me with oil as I was going into service for Him as well. But where could I find someone who would anoint me with oil? I couldn’t just walk up to someone on the streets of Jerusalem and ask if they’d do it!

The next morning, however, as I was talking to a shopkeeper about my desire to see the Temple Mount, but my frustration that I kept getting turned away, he told me that if I went to a certain door before 9 a.m., I could get in, for tourists could get in for a few hours that morning if they went before 9. It was just before 9 a.m. when he told me, so I took off running for the door he had described. After a quick search of my backpack, the men watching that door let me in. I had made it onto the Temple Mount!

I headed for the Dome of the Rock and ran into a group of tourists who were going inside. One woman was staying behind to watch their pile of backpacks, shoes, and cameras, as none of those things could be brought into the Dome. She said she would watch my things, too, and I stepped inside the Dome.

I went to the north side of the wide rock inside, where Abraham was supposed to sacrifice Isaac, and I stood and thanked God for bringing me there. I asked Him to reveal anything that He wanted to reveal to me. I was ready to hear it. I noticed a man to my right who had climbed up on the short base of a pillar inside the door to get a better view of the rock from above. I continued my conversation with God, and after waiting a bit longer for anything He might say, but hearing nothing more, I went back outside.

I returned to the woman who was watching our pile of things, and she started to ask me a series of questions: why I had come, what I was doing there, what kind of church did I go to. I tried to politely answer her questions, but I was in a bit of a hurry to go and explore more of the Temple Mount. I was, after all, waiting for God to show up!

But she kept asking questions, and finally said, “My husband’s a pastor, and he would love to hear all of this, but he’s still inside the Dome. Could you wait till he comes out and tell him what you’re doing?” So I waited.

When her husband came out, I saw that he was the same man I had seen inside the Dome on the north side of the rock of Abraham. I shared with him why I had come to Israel, and about some of my recent experiences, such as praying for the healing of a woman who had cancer. He asked, “When you pray for people, do you anoint them with oil?” He said he found it helpful to anoint people with oil when he prayed for them, as it says to do in the book of James.

I was stunned. I had just been praying the day before that God would send someone to anoint me with oil as I began my ministry, and here stood someone who just might do it, right at the place where the north gate of where the inner courts of the Temple would have been! I told them about my prayer, and asked if they might pray for me and anoint me with oil for my service to God. They said they’d be glad to, and although they didn’t have any with them, they said we could buy some at one of the shops nearby. Then, when their group took their next break from their tour, they’d pray for me.

I followed them as they left the Temple Mount, walking through the actual northern gates of the Temple Mount that are there today. We walked along the Via Dolorosa, the path through the streets that Jesus was said to have taken when He carried His cross to His death. We ended up at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional spot where Jesus was said to have been crucified. Then their group took a break.

We went to a nearby shop and bought a small bottle of “Anointing Oil from the Holy Land,” and went back inside the church to pray. It was there, at the place where Jesus died, that they—and God—anointed me with oil for the service I had recently begun for Him.

It was a holy moment, as I realized what God had done: He had brought me to the two places He put on my heart to come: the place where the Temple used to be and the place where Jesus died. And it was in those two spots where God revealed Himself to me in a very personal way, showing me how clearly He speaks, and how clearly He answers prayers. And it was in that moment that God ordained me for the ministry that I’ve now been doing for the past fifteen years.

As I flew home the next day, I thanked God again for speaking so clearly and personally to me, just as He has spoken to people throughout the ages. What an awesome God we serve!

I want to encourage you today to listen carefully for God’s voice. He still speaks today, not just about “big” things, but about the every day things as well. But it takes time to hear Him clearly, and it takes faith to believe that what He says to you is true. Know, however, that God loves those who seek Him, and when you ask for wisdom, He will give it to you generously. As it says in the Bible:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Take some time to listen to God today. Quiet your heart, open your Bibles, and ask Him your questions. Then get ready to receive whatever He has to say.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to Ezekiel centuries ago, and thank You for speaking to us still today, through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit. We pray that You would again answer the questions that are on our hearts today, and that we would have the faith to believe You when the answers come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 19: What’s Happening At The Western Wall?

The Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, is one of the most famous places on earth, but not because of all that has happened there. The Wall is famous because of how close it is to something else. To find out what it’s near, and what goes on there every day and why, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how you can do the same thing they’re doing at the Western Wall every day, wherever you are on the face of the planet.

So what’s happening at the Western Wall? People are praying. They come here to pray from all over Jerusalem, from all over Israel, and from all over the world.

I was visiting a friend in New York before my first trip to Israel who said, “When you get to the Western Wall, will you say a prayer for me?” I said I would, even though I knew I could pray for him just as well right there in New York, which I did.

But I also knew why he wanted me to pray for him there, in that spot: because the Western Wall is the closest spot to the Holy of Holies, the place where God chose—out of all the earth—as a dwelling place for His name.

You may have heard this famous quote from the Bible before:

“…if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

But you may not remember the context in which those words were spoken. The context was just after Solomon had finished building the Temple in Jerusalem as a place for God’s name to dwell. Here’s what God said to Solomon when the temple was completed:

“When Solomon had finished the temple of the LORD and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the LORD and in his own palace, the LORD appeared to him at night and said:

“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for Myself as a temple for sacrifices. When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will always be there’ “ (2 Chronicles 7:11-16).

So it’s easy to see why people would want to go to the Temple Mount to pray still today. God promised that His eyes would be open and His ears attentive to the prayers offered in this special place.

And it’s easy to see why the Temple Mount is still such a sought after property in the world: people want to be as close to God as they can get. They want Him to hear their prayers. They want Him to pay attention to their needs. People want God to answer their prayers, so they still try to get as close to the Temple Mount as they can to pray.

And that brings us to why the Western Wall is so important. The Temple Mount has changed hands many times over the years. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed and rebuilt again, only to be destroyed again in 70 A.D. The domed building that now stands above the rock of Abraham was at one time a Christian church, with a cross atop the dome. There was also a time when an Israeli flag flew upon the Temple Mount. The dome is now adorned with a golden moon, the symbol of the Muslims who control the Temple Mount today. And as the third holiest site in Islam, it is forbidden for Jews or Christians to pray anywhere upon it—and if they are seen to be praying, they are asked to leave.

So today, the closest spot to the place where the Holy of Holies once was, and where Jews can pray, and Christians as well, for that matter, is the Western Wall, a 187 foot expanse of the wall that can be seen on the southwestern edge of the Temple Mount (the walls of the Temple Mount are not to be confused with the city walls that encircle the entire old city of Jerusalem, which Nehemiah rebuilt, and which are are further out).

But what many people don’t realize is that the Western Wall extends along the full length of the Temple Mount, and can be visited today in its entirety by descending into the rabbinical tunnels, an extensive network of tunnels that are said to extend underneath the entire Temple Mount as well. The tunnels along the Western Wall have been excavated in recent years, and you can go down underground and walk along the entire length of the Western Wall, down to what would have been the street level during the time of Jesus!

It is spectacular to walk along this massive wall at its base, with its huge foundation stones, and there is one spot along the wall that garners particular attention: the spot that is said to be directly across from where the Holy of Holies once stood, the place where the Ark of the Covenant was located (and is shown in the picture at the right, and in video above). It is remarkable to stand there and imagine that this is the closest we can get to the place where God chose for His name to dwell.

Having said all of that, there is a closer spot still where God has since chosen for His name to dwell: within the hearts of all those who have put their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul told the Ephesians:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:16-17).

If you’ve put your faith in Christ, God’s Spirit lives within you, just as Jesus told the disciples He would:

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-16).

We all long to be close to God. We want to be with Him and know that He is close enough to hear our prayers. A new worship song by Dennis Jernigan, called “Breathe,” expresses this strong desire for intimacy with God by saying:

“Lean so close that I feel You breathe

Lean so close You quench this thirst in me

Lean so close You loose these chains in me

Set me free… So I can breathe…”

Imagine, leaning so close to God that you could feel Him breathe! The good news is that if you want to be this close to God, to talk to Him and to be sure that His eyes are upon you and His ears are attentive to your prayers, all you need to do is to put your faith in Christ. If you’ve already done that, you need look no further than within your own heart to find the place where the Spirit of God Himself now dwells.

Lean close to God today. Feel his breath on your cheek. Let Him whisper the words He longs to tell you, and the words you’re probably longing to hear from Him as well: “My child, I love you.” Then respond to that love with a few words of your own.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for coming to dwell among us, both at the Holy of Holies and now within the temple of our own hearts. Lean so close to us so we can hear You, see You, feel You, touch You, and thank You for being there so we can lean upon You as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 18: What Happened On Mount Moriah?

Mount Moriah sits on what is perhaps the most valuable piece of real estate in the world. If it were for sale, I’m sure the price would be higher than anyone could pay. On some maps, it is marked as the center of the world, out of which everything else emanates. And in some ways, that’s probably true. For it was here on Mount Moriah that some of the most important events of history took place—and will take place again in the future. To find out what happened here, take a look at the short video below. Then read on to see how what happened here can make a difference in what can happen in your life as well.

So what happened on Mount Moriah? This is where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.

It’s one of the first stories recorded in the Bible where someone expressed their great faith in God, even in the face of great obstacles.

God had promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore and as the stars in the sky. But there was one problem. Abraham didn’t have any children. Not even one. And he and his wife believed that all hope was gone. At least until God spoke to them.

But how could God fulfill a promise like this? Yet Abraham believed Him, and God began to deliver on His promise by giving Abraham and Sarah a son from their own bodies.

But then, the tide seemed to turn. After believing God, and seeing the fulfillment of His promise begin, it seemed like God was about to go back on his promise. God told Abraham:

“Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about” (Genesis 22:2).

It must have seemed ridiculous. If Abraham did what God said, not only was Abraham’s son going to be dead, but so was God’s promise. But if Abraham felt any of that, the Bible doesn’t record it. It simply says that early the next morning, Abraham saddled his donkey, cut some wood to make the offering, took two servants and his son Isaac, and set off for the place God had told him to go.

As he reached the spot, he built an altar, bound his son and put him on it. He took the knife in his hand, and just as he was about to slay his son, an angel of the Lord called out:

“Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:11b-18).

Abraham had proved himself faithful. And so did God. When all hope seemed to be gone, Abraham still believed God could fulfill His promise, somehow, someway, sometime. And because of Abraham’s faith, and God’s faithfulness, Abraham’s descendants are now counted in the millions, including those living today, and those who have lived over the past 4,000 years since this dramatic event on Mount Moriah.

The Dome of the Rock now stands on Mount Moriah over the massive rock rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac.

It wasn’t the only event that took place there. About a thousand years later, King David bought the threshing floor on Mount Moriah to build an altar and stop a plague that God had sent upon the people. When God saw David’s faith, He proved Himself faithful again by stopping the plague after three days, just as He said He would.

About a thousand years after that, Jesus walked up to the steps of the temple to teach the multitudes, a temple that was built over this very place where Abraham and David had expressed their faith. He, too, eventually expressed his faith here, by willingly being sentenced to death in the chambers of the Antonia Fortress at the base of the Temple Mount, and carrying His cross from there to the hill where He died for all of our sins.

And it was there that Jesus picked up his cross, and carried it to his death, the ultimate sacrifice that stopped the ultimate plague called “sin.”

So you can see how this spot has been the site of many acts of faith, from Abraham 4,000 years ago, to David 3,000 years ago, and to Jesus 2,000 years ago. And you can see why this spot has also become priceless to millions, whether their heritage is Jewish, Muslim or Christian.

One day, the Bible says that a river of life will spring up from this spot. It will bring life to all that it touches, even the Dead Sea twenty miles away.

While Mount Moriah may not have been a very peaceful spot over the years, it has been a spot where many acts of faith have played out, and where God has proven Himself to be faithful—over and over again, and where He will one day prove Himself to be faithful yet again.

How does this all relate to you? God loves it when people put their trust in Him, people whose hearts are fully committed to Him, in spite of how things might look around them.

Here’s what the Bible says about Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned’” (Hebrews 11:17-18).

Here’s what the Bible says about David:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22).

Here’s what the Bible says about Jesus:

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

And here’s what the Bible says about me and you, as written in Hebrews 11:6:

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God wants you to have faith in Him, even when everything you see might tell you otherwise. God wants you to believe in Him, to trust in Him, to keep putting your faith in Him, no matter what, at all times, in all situations, believing that He exists, and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Keep putting your faith in God, and He’ll prove Himself faithful to you, just like He proved Himself faithful to Abraham, David, and Jesus, right there on Mount Moriah.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing your faithfulness to those who showed their faithfulness to You. Help us to be faithful to You today as well, believing that You exist, and that You will reward those who earnestly seek You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 17: What’s The Capital Of Israel?

We’ve been traveling all around the country of Israel during this study, but now we’re going to focus on just one city for the remaining lessons: the capital city of Israel. To take a look this incredible place, and to see what the future holds for it, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn what happened there in the past and why what’s going to happen there in the future is so important to us all.

So what’s the capital of Israel? Jerusalem. Jerusalem became the capital of Israel in the year 993 B.C.—about 3,000 years ago—when King David moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. The Bible says:

“David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years” (2 Samuel 5:4-5).

Jerusalem also became the spiritual capital of Israel at that time, for soon after King David arrived, he had the Ark of the Covenant brought into the city as well. If you remember from the book of Exodus, the Ark of the Covenant was an ornate wooden box covered with gold which contained the “covenant” between God and the Israelites in the form of the Ten Commandments, inscribed on two stone tablets by the finger of God Himself. God told the Israelites that He would make a dwelling for His name there above the ark, and that from there He would meet with them and speak with them (see Exodus 25:10-22).

So even though God certainly isn’t confined to any one location, there was something special about this ark. When David’s son, Solomon, built the temple in Jerusalem to house the Ark of the Covenant, Solomon said:

“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain You. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to Your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that Your servant is praying in Your presence this day. May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. Hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive” (1 Kings 8:27-30).

Throughout the Bible, God said that He would choose a place for His Name, a place where His presence would rest, and that people should seek Him in that place and worship Him there. For instance, in Deuteronomy 12, God told the Israelites:

“You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put His Name there for His dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you” (Deuteronomy 12:4-7).

So when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, people came to worship there from all over, and continued to come for the next thousand years until the time of Christ.

But when Jesus came, things changed. Jesus was, of course, Emmanuel, which means, “God with us.” God, through His Son Jesus Christ, came to dwell among His people in real live flesh and blood. As the apostle John said so eloquently:

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us” (John 1:14a).

And God’s plan to dwell among His people didn’t stop there. He said that He would continue to dwell among His people wherever they lived, even after Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus talked about these coming changes in a conversation with a woman from Samaria. The woman said:

“Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem” (John 4:20).

Jesus responded:

“Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24).

Less than forty years after Jesus said these words, in the year 70 A.D., Jerusalem was attacked by the Romans and the temple was completely destroyed, never to be rebuilt again.

Jesus foresaw this coming destruction of Jerusalem, and when He did, He wept over the city. The Bible says:

“As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, ‘If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace―but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you’” (Luke 19:41-44).

Although the city was destroyed as Jesus foretold, and the temple along with it, God was not done making His dwelling among men. God said that He would send His Holy Spirit to live within all those who put their faith in Christ. And so it is that now through God’s Holy Spirit He makes His dwelling among us. Now all of us can worship Him “in spirit and in truth,” just as Jesus said, from anywhere in the world. As the apostle Paul said, now we are God’s temple, and God’s Spirit lives within each of us (see 1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

But back to Jerusalem, there is no doubt that God still has a special place in His heart for this Holy City, and that He has special plans for it still to come. God showed the apostle John what’s to come in the future. John wrote:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

It seems that God’s greatest desire is to dwell among His people, to live with them, talk with them, walk with them, and make His home with them.

From the beginning of its days as the capital of Israel, Jerusalem has a long history of being the place where God dwelt among His people. And according to the Bible, the New Jerusalem will be a place where God will continue to dwell among His people—for the rest of eternity!

Here in the mean time, praise God that, through His Holy Spirit, He can still dwell among us anywhere, anytime, at any moment, day or night, when we put our faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, and invited His Holy Spirit to come and live within you, I want to encourage you to make the most of it. Worship God in spirit and in truth. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Meet with Him every day and throughout your day. Recognize that God is with you right now and at all times. Remember that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and treat it with the utmost honor and respect. Then let God’s Holy Spirit flow freely through your life into the lives of others, letting God use your hands, feet, eyes, ears, and heart as His to those around you. God loves you and He loves the fact that you would let Him come in and make His dwelling within you. Make the most of it!

And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, do it today! God wants to make His dwelling within you, as well and give you access to His unlimited love and joy, peace and wisdom, from this day forward. Put your faith in Christ today. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Then invite His Holy Spirit to live within you starting today and on into eternity.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for wanting to come and live with us. It’s overwhelming to think that You would want to do that, yet we know that is Your greatest desire. Please, Lord, continue to make Your presence real to us again today, and know that we look forward to living with You forever one day in the New Jerusalem. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 16: What Happened At Bethlehem?

Today we’re headed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. If you’d like to go with me into the Church of the Nativity and see for yourself the place underneath the altar of the church that has marked for centuries where they believe Jesus was born, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn why God might have chosen this place for the birth of His Son, and why having a heart like God’s can bear fruit even hundreds—if not thousands—of years later.

So what happened at Bethlehem? That’s where Jesus was born.

The Church of the Nativity has marked the spot ever since 327 A.D., when the church was built at the request of Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Helena was shown this spot on her visit to the Holy Land as the birthplace of her Savior, and she had a church built there to commemorate it. The spot had already been noted as the birthplace of Jesus for hundreds of years before that time by locals and historians alike, such as Justin Martyr in the 2nd century, and Origen of Alexandria in the 3rd.

It’s amazing to think that Jesus was born on this spot, but it’s even more amazing to think that Jesus was ever born at all. To think that God, the Father, would love us so much that He would send His Son into the world to live among us, to tell us of His love, and to demonstrate that love by giving up His life for us so we could live with God forever, that’s what’s really amazing.

As Jesus said so succinctly:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

But why Bethlehem? Why did God want His Son to be born there? As with most things God does, God didn’t pick the city of Bethlehem out of a hat of possible locations at the last minute. He had foretold it, hundreds of years earlier, through the prophet Micah:

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).

But why? What was it about Bethlehem that made it so special that God would honor it in this way? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that there was another man born in Bethlehem about a thousand years earlier about whom God had said:

“I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22b).

God honors those whose hearts are after His own heart: people who love God so much that they will do whatever He wants them to do, whenever He wants them to do it and however God wants them to do it.

And look what God did for David as a result:

“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised” (Acts 13:23).

I don’t think it was haphazard that God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace of His Son. It seems to me that because David had honored God with his life, God honored David with the life of His Son, even so many generations later.

Because of David’s love for God, God seemed to move heaven and earth, and even the Roman Emperor, to orchestrate things so that this descendant of David’s would be born back in David’s hometown. As Luke records:

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. …And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1,3-7).

Even the angels made the connection between Jesus’ birthplace and David’s, as one of them told the shepherds on the hills of Bethlehem that night:

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10b-11).

David was a man after God’s own heart, and God honored his heart even a thousand years later. I pray you’ll commit today to being a man or woman after God’s own heart. You’ll be blessed—and so will future generations who will be blessed through your faith.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to us here on earth, to live and die for us so that we could live with You forever. Help us commit to being men and women after Your own heart, so that we can bless Your heart, and the hearts of those in generations to come. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 15: What Happened At En Gedi?

In the midst of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, there’s a surprising oasis of life. It’s called En Gedi, where a fresh water spring pours over steep crevices in the rock, creating a series of beautiful waterfalls and pools as the spring winds its way from the top to the bottom. To find out how God used this oasis to protect and provide for one of the most famous characters in the Bible, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to learn how God can help you when you feel you are being treated unjustly.

So what happened at En Gedi? This is where David came to hide from King Saul when Saul was trying to kill David. But Saul wasn’t always angry with David. In fact, David was one of Saul’s favorites. David was called to come and live at the palace to play the harp for Saul, bringing great relief to the king every time David played.

But when David’s fame began to grow as one of the best warriors in Saul’s army, Saul became jealous. Fearing that the people would like David more than him, Saul tried to kill David by pinning him to a wall with his spear.

David tried to talk things out with Saul, reminding the king that David had never done anything wrong against him, but the conversations appeased Saul for only a short time. Then Saul was back to trying to kill David again because of Saul’s burning jealousy. It soon became apparent that David would die if he stayed in the palace any longer.

So David fled. He went from place to place as Saul and his men tried to hunt him down. One of the places that God provided for David was En Gedi. The book of 1 Samuel says:

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats (1 Samuel 24:1-2).

If you were to visit En Gedi today, you would see why David fled there. It featured an oasis of fresh spring water in the middle of the barren hills that surround the Dead Sea, with many caves in the hills where he could hide. It’s an ideal spot to hide and be refreshed at the same time, and wild goats still climb the steep cliffs today, probably descendants from the wild goats for which the area was named back in David’s time.

It was in one of these caves that Saul stopped for a bathroom break. In God’s timing, it happened to be the very cave in which David and his men were hiding. The Bible says:

He [Saul] came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “Today the LORD is saying, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe (1 Samuel 24:3-4).

But after cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe, David was conscience-stricken that he should not do anything to harm the one that God had chosen as king, nor would he let any of his men attack Saul. When Saul left the cave, David followed after him and called out to Saul:

“My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May He consider my cause and uphold it; may He vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”

David did three things at En Gedi that I think are worth learning from when we feel we are being treated unjustly

First, he fled from a bad situation. While God may sometimes call you to stay in a bad situation to do all you can to work things out, there are still those times when it’s truly OK to flee from it. David did his best to try to talk things out with Saul, but when it became apparent that his very life was in danger if he stayed any longer, he fled. Jesus did the same thing at times, escaping quickly from people and places where people wanted to harm or kill Him, such as escaping from a crowd that wanted to throw Him over the cliff, or fleeing from those who tried to stone Him at the temple, or when He escaped the grasp of those who tried to kill Him as He walked through Solomon’s Colonnade (see Luke 4:28-30, John 8:59, and John 10:39).

Second, David trusted God to protect and provide for him. Sometimes you may not want to flee from a bad situation because of the fear that something worse will happen to you. But if God is in it, He can protect and provide for you as well. God can provide a place for you like He provided En Gedi for David. It may not be like the place from which you came, but if it’s God’s provision, it can be just what you need, and a remarkable place in its own right. God protected and provided for the Israelites in the desert after they fled from their captors in Egypt, giving them manna and meat to eat for forty years. And He did the same for Elijah when Elijah fled from King Ahab, sending bread and meat to Elijah every morning and evening by way of birds who were directed by God to do so (see Exodus 16:35, Numbers 11:31-32, and 1 Kings 17:4-6).

Third, David trusted God to administer justice. Even though you may have a chance to administer justice yourself to those who wrongfully accuse or harm you, you may benefit by taking this lesson from David. He could have killed Saul himself, but then he would have had to face 3,000 angry troops next. By trusting the matter into God’s hands, Saul was eventually punished for his wrongdoings, losing his life in battle, and David was brought back to live at the palace, this time as king. Even Jesus, for as many times as He escaped from the hands of His captors, trust God to administer the ultimate justice when God told Him to lay down His life for those who sinned against Him. Because of this, the Bible says:

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11).

Jesus trusted God to make things right in the end—and make things right He did—just like David trusted God, and just like you and I can do when we feel like others are treating us unjustly.

There are many other things you can do in situations like these, such as forgiving those who mistreat you (see Matthew 18:21-35) or calling for help from others who can step in and help with the situation (see Matthew 18:15-17).

Whether you flee or whether you stay, whether the situation improves or gets worse, know that God can protect and provide for you in the midst of it, and that He can work all things for good in the end. Remember David at En Gedi, and remember what the Bible says:

“… that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for giving us the example of David and Saul, so we can learn from them to see just how much You can do for those who love You. And Lord, help us to to keep putting our trust in You that You will always work all things for good in Your way and in Your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 14: What Happened At The Qumran Caves?

The Qumran Caves are the site of what has been called “the greatest archaeological discovery of modern time.” To find out what was discovered there, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to see how this tremendous discovery can affect your life in profound ways today, too.

So what happened at the Qumran Caves? That’s where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. And the scrolls found at Qumran aren’t just any old scrolls. They contain the oldest hand-written manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, that have ever been found.

Because the scrolls were made of animal skins and parchment, both of which are easily carbon-dated, the ages of these scrolls have been reliably dated as having been written between the years of 200 BC and 68 AD.C and 68 AD. It was quite a find for the shepherd boy who discovered the caves and the scrolls back in 1947, and for the many scholars and archaeologists who have found more caves and more scrolls in the Qumran area since that time.

Among the thousands of scrolls and scroll fragments that have been found, at least a portion of every book of the Old Testament has been discovered to date, with the exception of the book of Esther. Multiple copies of some of the scrolls have been found, such as the books of Psalms, Genesis, and Deuteronomy, and some of the books have been found in their entirety, such as the book of Isaiah.

What makes this discovery so exciting to researchers is that the books are so very old. For instance, the Isaiah scroll is 1,000 years older than any previously discovered copy of Isaiah. And even more exciting is the high level of accuracy of today’s translations of the Bible when compared to these scrolls from the time of Christ.

Archaeological finds like those at the Qumran Caves continue to shed light and credibility on the Scriptures that we use today. In the words of the book of Isaiah itself:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

When you look out at the barren mountains that surround Qumran, and see how the grass has withered, the flowers have fallen, and even the people who lived there have faded away, it’s an awesome thought to think that the Word of God still stands.

The fact that God’s Word has remained true for all this time confirms to me that the same words He spoke to the people back then, God wants to speak to you today.

When God says in the book of Jeremiah,

“I have loved you with an everlasting love,” (Jeremiah 31:3).

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God says in the book of Joshua,

“I will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Joshua 1:5),

He meant it then, and He means it today.

When God said in the book of Isaiah,

“…those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

He meant it then, and He means it today.

God loves you, He will never leave you nor forsake you, and He will give you the strength you need to fulfill the purpose for which He created you, if you’ll continue to put your hope and faith in Him.

Even though the grass withers and the flowers fade away, the Word of God will stand forever, as evidenced once again by the ancient scrolls that were found in the caves at Qumran. God is faithful and true, and His Word is powerful and reliable.

Keep reading God’s Word. Keep hiding it in your heart and memorizing it regularly. Keep meditating on it day and night, as God told Joshua to do in Joshua 1:8. Don’t let this ancient treasure that has been preserved for so long be wasted. Keep opening up your Bible again and again, and let God’s Living Word breathe life into your daily walk with Him.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for preserving these ancient manuscripts of Your Word for all of these years. Thank You for confirming to us that Your Word is reliable and true, and for giving us the inspiration we need to keep reading it, memorizing it and meditating on it day and night, so that we may experience the fullness of the life for which we were created. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 13: What Happened At Masada?

In America, the “Fourth of July” is not just a date on the calendar, but to us is a phrase that is synonymous with the word “Freedom!” In Israel, there’s a place called Masada that symbolizes for many Jews the fight for freedom as well, a fight that took place there back in 73 A.D.

To find out what happened and take a look at the mountain of Masada yourself, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out how taking a stand for freedom can inspire and impact those around you as well.

So what happened at Masada? This is the place where almost 1,000 Jews committed suicide. As gruesome as it may sound, the truth is that these people were so committed to the idea of staying free that they preferred to die free than to live as slaves.

Although the story of Masada doesn’t appear in the Bible, and the suicidal aspects of the story go against traditional Jewish beliefs, what happened at Masada still makes a profound statement about the lengths people are willing to go for freedom. In some ways, it reminds me of Patrick Henry’s famous words at the beginning of the American Revolution: “Give me liberty, or give me death!”

But while Patrick’s Henry’s speech was a call to fight for the freedom in which they believed, for the 960 Jewish rebels who had been holed up in the mountain of Masada as a fortress from which they launched their attacks on the Roman Empire, fighting was no longer an option. The Romans had sent thousands of troops to Masada to take back this fortress that King Herod and others had developed over the years. (The word “masada” means “fortress.”)

Because of the steep cliffs that protected Masada from its enemies, the Romans could not simply rush into the fortress to take it back. Instead, they moved tons of sand and dirt over the period of three years to build a siege ramp from the base of the mountain to its top. The ramp, as well as the remains of the Roman camps that were built in those days to house the armies for those three years, can still be seen clearly today.

It was a massive undertaking by the Roman government that finally culminated in the year 73 A.D., within a generation after the time when Jesus Christ had lived and died.

But when the Romans finally reached the top of Masada and broke through the gates, they found that the battle for which they had prepared for so long would not have to take place. The 960 rebels had, days earlier, realized that a fight would not be profitable. And rather than giving up their freedom to worship God in the way they believed, they gave up their lives, dying free, rather than living as slaves under Roman rule.

The story of their faith and how they came to their final end was documented by those who lived inside Masada. Interestingly, as a way to avoid committing wholesale suicide which was against their own teachings, each man drew lots and took turns taking the lives of their own families and friends, until finally only one man remained who alone killed himself.

While there’s nothing scriptural to justify suicide, this story serves as a reminder of just how precious freedom really is, and to what lengths people will go to get it, rather than to live in slavery any longer.

It was the same sort of commitment the men who signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence made when they wrote:

“…we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor” (from the final sentence of the Declaration of Independence).

And many of those who signed the Declaration of Independence did give up their lives and fortunes because of that pledge of sacred honor to one another.

Christ calls us to do the same.

Jesus frequently invited people to “come and see” what the kingdom of heaven was all about, then challenged them to go deeper and to “come and die” for that kingdom of heaven.

Here are a few of the things that Jesus said about the cost of freedom that could come to those who follow Him:

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35).

“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29).

Jesus wants us to be as committed to Him and to the freedom that He offers as were those who were committed to freedom at Masada, as were those who were committed to freedom in America.

There’s a price to pay for freedom that Christ offers. But when you’re following Christ, any price is worth it. And once you’re willing to die for Jesus, you’ll find it’s so much easier to live for Him as well.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for dying for us to set us free, and help us to be willing to die to set others free as well. And Lord, help us realize that being willing to die for You will free to us to live for You even more. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 12: What Happened At Sodom And Gomorrah?

I’m not usually a “fire and brimstone” type of preacher. But if there was ever a time to preach a message on fire and brimstone, it’s today, because today we’re going to look at the time when God rained fire and brimstone down from heaven on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because their wickedness had become so great. To find out what happened there, take a look at this short video below, then read on below to learn how powerful God really is, and how God can use that power in your life today.

So what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah? God destroyed them completely. The destruction that took place at Sodom and Gomorrah was so complete that nothing has grown again in that region for thousands of years.

Compare that to the most powerful destruction men have invented, such as the atomic bombs which destroyed the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the war with Japan, and you’ll see just how powerful God really is.

When the bombs were dropped on those cities, they were almost completely wiped out within seven seconds. But if you visited those cities just forty years later, although you would have found those cities had changed, you would have also found that they were teeming with life again. Buildings, trees, and people had grown up all around them. I’m told that except for the monuments that were erected to remind people of the horrific destruction that took place there years ago, visitors may not even realize the cities were once destroyed.

Sodom and Gomorrah, on the other hand, have never come back to life, and it’s not been just forty years, or four hundred years, but more than four thousand years.

While the cities themselves no longer exist, the memory of what happened there is often repeated. Abraham talked about Sodom and Gomorrah, as did Isaiah, Paul, Peter, John, and even Jesus. As for the condition of the land beforehand, we’re told that it wasn’t always a barren wasteland, but it was at one time “well-watered, like the garden of the Lord” (Genesis 13:10). It was such a desirable land that Lot chose to live there when Abraham gave him his choice of where to live.

But as desirable as the land may have been, the people of the land left much to be desired. Their wickedness had become so great that God sent two angels—in the form of men—down to Sodom to destroy it.

Although God’s patience is longer than ours, even His patience runs out. And that time had come for Sodom. God didn’t want to have to destroy it. He even told Abraham He would spare the entire city if He could find even ten righteous people living there. But when the angels arrived and went to spend the night with Lot and his family, the men of the city showed how far their wickedness had gone. The Bible says:

Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them” (Genesis 19:4-5).

Lot pleaded with them not to do this to his guests, but the men of Sodom persisted, saying:

“Get out of our way. This fellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge! We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringing pressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door (Genesis 19:9).

No matter what you might think about the topic of homosexuality, the idea of men forcibly having sex with other men goes against God’s beautiful design for sex.

Through a miraculous intervention of the two angels, God whisked away Lot and his family, and finally did what He hoped He wouldn’t have to do. Genesis 19:23-26 says:

“Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus He overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:24-26).

Although Lot and his two daughters escaped, Lot’s wife looked back, against the clear instruction of the angels who helped them to escape. Perhaps she hesitated and looked back to take one last look at the city where she had spent so much of her life. Or maybe she was just curious and wanted to see for herself just how what such destruction might look like. But whatever the reason, her looking back caused her to suffer the same fate as those who had also so deliberately gone against God’s commands—commands that were not designed to restrict or limit them, but commands that would help them to live, and live abundantly.

When Jesus talked about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, He warned people:

“Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32).

I want to encourage you today to do the same: Remember Lot’s wife!

I know that some of you are playing with fire. You’re doing things that you know are against God’s will for your life. Whether you’re doing them because you’ve always done them, or whether you’re just curious and want to see what it’s like, you’re still playing with fire. And God’s fire can burn you seriously—and for eternity.

God may have been patient with you this far and not yet brought the complete destruction upon you that He could bring at any moment. But don’t mistake God’s patience as His approval of what you’re doing. The purpose of His patience is to give you time to turn from your sin so that you can save yourself from the destruction that’s coming upon you if you don’t.

Remember Lot’s wife! Turn from the coming destruction while you still have a chance. Do it today. Don’t hesitate. Don’t look back. Don’t let curiosity kill you. If you’ve been looking at pornography, stop it today. If you’ve been considering, or engaged in, and adulterous relationship, end it today. If you’ve been abusing drugs or alcohol, stop it today. If you’ve been using God’s gift of sex in ways that are selfish instead of ways that lead to an abundant life, stop it today. Remember Lot’s wife, and live!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for reminding us of Your incredible power and Your incredible patience with us. Lord, help us to throw off everything that hinders us from beautiful relationship with You and with those around us. Fill us with Your power to do all that You’ve called us to do today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 11: What Will Happen At The Dead Sea?

The Dead Sea was one of my favorite stops on our trip to Israel. Maybe it was because we had some extra time to relax there because of a change in our schedule. Or maybe it was because the land and the water were so unusually beautiful. But I think the main reason I liked it so much is because of what will happen there in the future. To see what it looks like yourself, and to find out what God is going to do there one day, take a look at this short video below. Then read on to find out what God could do in your life in unexpected ways as well.

So what will happen at the Dead Sea? Everything will come back to life! To understand how dramatic this change will be, you have to understand how dead the Dead Sea really is.

The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth at almost 1,400 hundred feet below sea level. It’s also the saltiest body of water on earth, with a salinity of 30-33%, which is about six to seven times saltier than the oceans. Because of this, and whatever other reasons God has chosen, nothing is able to live in the Dead Sea whatsoever. There are no fish in the water, so there are no birds in the air. There’s no grass along the shoreline, and no algae growing along its edges. The Dead Sea really is dead!

For some reason, I used to picture the Dead Sea as some kind of smelly swamp filled with dead things. But actually there’s nothing “dead” in it. There are no dead fish on the shore and the water is as clear as crystal, giving a clear view of millions of shimmering crystals of salt that cover the bottom of the sea itself. In the Bible, it’s not called the Dead Sea, but rather the “Sea of Salt,” which is perhaps is a bit more descriptive. It’s also referred to as the Eastern Sea, as it is on the East side of Israel, and just southeast of Jerusalem.

Given this background of just how desolate the sea is, it’s even more remarkable to read about what God is going to do there one day. You can read about it in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 47. God gave Ezekiel a vision of the future, showing him the new temple that would one day be in Jerusalem. And out from beneath this temple, a river would flow—a river of life, all the way to the Dead Sea. Ezekiel says:

Then he led me back to the bank of the river. When I arrived there, I saw a great number of trees on each side of the river. He said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah, where it enters the Sea [the Dead Sea]. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh. Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live. Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds—like the fish of the Great Sea [the Mediterranean]. But the swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt. Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:6b-12).

The prophet Zechariah also makes reference to this event, saying:

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea [the Dead Sea] and half to the western sea [the Mediterranean], in summer and in winter (Zechariah 14:8).

When you’re standing at the edge of the Dead Sea, it’s awesome to consider that one day it will be teeming with life—that one day, living water will pour out from underneath the temple in Jerusalem to bring life to all the water touches, even filling this great basin of the Dead Sea with enough fresh water to bring this barren spot back to life.

Having read through many of the other prophecies in the Bible and visited the spots where they’ve already been fulfilled—such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah that God foretold to Abraham and took place near here, or the birth of the Savior that God told Micah would take place in Bethlehem hundreds of years before Jesus was born—I’m reassured that what has been foretold about the Dead Sea, and its coming back to life again, will take place just as certainly.

And it shouldn’t be surprising that God can bring things that have been dead back to life again. I’ve seen Him do it in my own life, giving me a new birth over twenty years ago when I thought I was headed for death, then giving me an abundant life instead. And I’ve seen God do the same thing in the lives of countless others as well, breathing new life into marriages that were officially dead, or bringing forth new life from wombs that doctors had declared physically dead.

I think of ministries and churches and corporations that have been on the brink of bankruptcy, without a hope in the world, but through hope in God have come back to life more fully and fruitfully than ever.

God specializes in bringing the dead back to life! This isn’t to say that God wants everything to live, for there are some things that should die in our lives, and other things that have run their course and need to pass on so that something fresh and new can be birthed. But there’s no doubt that God can breathe life into anything that He intends to bring back to life!

Maybe there’s something in your life right now that feels like it is dead or dying and you see no way in the world for it to come back to life. But don’t put your hope in the world. Put your hope in the Lord God Almighty, the Author and Sustainer of life itself!

Before you give up on that which may look dead today, consider Him who gives life and breath to every living thing that you see around you today. Be encouraged that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead can give life to your mortal bodies as well. Be encouraged that the same God who breathed life into Adam, who was made out of the dust of the ground, can breathe new life into your family, your business, your marriage, your ministry. Be encouraged that the river of life that will flow into the Dead Sea will bring life to all that it touches.

God loves to bring that which is dead back to life! Let His river of life flow into your life today!

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for showing us how you can breathe life into the most desolate places on earth, and encourage us that Your river of life can touch our lives as well. Lord, help us to have the faith that You can and You will bring new life back into everything that You have said should come back to life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 10: What Happened At The Jordan River?

For today’s message, I’d like to take you to one of the world’s most famous rivers, the Jordan River in Israel. The waters of this river flow about 200 miles from the north of Israel to the south, passing through the Sea of Galilee in the north, then continuing its final destination at the Dead Sea in the south. To find out some of the things that took place on this historic river, take a look at the short video below that I shot on the banks of the river itself, then read on to hear about how very much God loves you—and how you can express your love back to Him.

(I’ve also included in the video an actual baptism at the Jordan River, this one of my son Josiah. You’ll note as you watch that there are some overly friendly fish in the river who love nibbling at people’s toes! The fish are harmless, but they do make the baptism all the more… uhmm… exciting!)

So what happened at the Jordan River? This is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This is also where John the Baptist baptized thousands of people, as did Jesus’ disciples.

The Jordan River has also been the site of many other events over several thousand years of history, such as:

when Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground as they entered into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17),
when Naaman was healed of leprosy in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:8-14),
when Elisha made an ax head float on top of the water (2 Kings 6:1-7),
and when Elijah was taken up into heaven after crossing the Jordan with Elijah (2 Kings 2:6-12).

But of all the events that took place in the Jordan, perhaps the most famous is the baptism of Jesus. And what makes that event so special to me is not just what Jesus did there, but what God the Father said to Jesus when Jesus was baptized there. Here’s the story, as recorded in Matthew chapter 3:

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”

Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).

I love the fact that God, the Father, told Jesus, His Son, how very much He loved Him—even before Jesus did one miracle, before He healed anyone of any disease, before He preached any sermon, walked on the water, or raised anyone from the dead.

God, the Father, loved Jesus, not because of all that Jesus had done for Him, but because Jesus was His Son.

And the truth is, God loves you for the same reason, not because of all you’ve done for Him, but simply because you’re His son or daughter, made in His image, and created for a loving relationship with Him from the moment He conceived you (which, by the way, could have been long before the time that your parents conceived you…see Jeremiah 1:5, for example). God loves you. He adores you. He created you. And He has so much in store for you and your life.

The good news is you don’t have to go to the Jordan River to let God love on you. He’s glad to soak you in His love wherever you may be. How can you feel God’s love more in your life? One way is to just take a few minutes to sit and meditate on the truth that He does indeed love you. Read the passage of Jesus’ baptism again from Matthew chapter 3 and remember that He loves you just as He loved Jesus, even before Jesus began His ministry.

Remember that you’re His child, His little one, His beloved. Remember that He sent Jesus to die for the sins in your life, the messes that you’ve made, so that you won’t have to pay the price for those sins yourself. Remember that His love extends for generations to those who love Him. And remember that you really are special, a wonderful creation of the most loving Father in the world.

And while you’re considering this passage on Jesus’ baptism, can I also encourage you that if you’ve never been baptized to consider being baptized soon? There’s something special that comes from being obedient to the Lord’s command in this area. Jesus’ words about baptism were so important that He included them in His final instructions to His disciples before going into heaven. Jesus said:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19).

I’ve studied the topic of baptism for many years, yet I can honestly say that I still don’t understand it fully. But what I do understand is that something powerful takes place when a person is baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I’ve seen baptism can touch people in so many ways, from realizing that they truly are saved and going to heaven, to feeling like their sins are dripping off of them as they come out of the water, to receiving new giftings from God to help them make the most of their new lives in Christ.

As a follower of Christ, baptism is one of those steps that demonstrate you are willing to follow in His footsteps, being baptized as He was baptized and then living the rest of your life as He lived His.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for loving us even before we ever did anything for You, and regardless of anything that we’ve done against You. We pray that You would pour out Your love on us again today in a way that we can hear it, see it, feel it, or otherwise sense it. Lord, we also pray that You would show us ways that we can express our love back to You, whether it is by being baptized ourselves, or in some other way, for our desire is to pour out our love on You as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 9: What Happened At Caesarea Philippi?

Caesarea Philippi is on the northern edge of Israel in a beautiful region known as Dan. But the things that took place there weren’t always so beautiful. To find out more, watch the short video below, then read on to find out how God can do beautiful things for you even if you’re in a very dark place.

So what happened at Caesarea Philippi? This is where God revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Caesarea Philippi was also home to a cultic temple carved into the side of a massive rock that was called at that time “the gates of hell.” It was so named because of the infant sacrifices that took place there in the years leading up to the time of Christ.

With this background in mind, the words that Jesus spoke on this spot are even more meaningful. Here’s what happened, as recorded in the book of Matthew:

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:13-19).

I never realized until I went to Israel what a dark place Caesarea Philippi must have been in the days when Jesus was speaking.

The Temple of Pan had been built there a few hundred years earlier, and when people came to worship Pan, they would bring with them an infant child to be offered as a sacrifice. The child was thrown into the water that flowed from the rock on the side of the cliff. If the child went under the water and disappeared, that meant Pan had accepted their sacrifice. If instead, the child’s was dashed apart under water and its blood flowed into the river below, Pan had rejected their sacrifice. Either way, the child’s life was over.

Not only was this area known for this pagan temple, but the Israelites had also rejected God in this region hundreds of years before that. Way back in the days of King Jeroboam, Jeroboam ruled Israel from this area. But for fear that the people would want to leave his kingdom and side with the breakaway kingdom of Judah, he erected two altars in this area instead. He made two golden calves and said to the people:

“It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” One he set up in Bethel and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there (1 Kings 12:28b-29).

So this region of Dan, at the northernmost border of Israel, which is so beautiful and hilly and rich on the outside, had been a place of great darkness spiritually. In Jesus’ day, with the Temple of Pan located there, it was an even darker place. Yet this is where God chose to reveal to Peter and the other disciples that Jesus was the Christ. The darkness wasn’t a problem for Him, for He was, as He called Himself, “the light of the world.” Jesus said:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Perhaps you’re in a dark time or a dark place in your life today. Or perhaps you have family or friends who are surrounded by darkness. If so, I want to encourage you to take heart: Jesus can reveal Himself even in the darkest of times and places. In fact, based on the time and place where He made this revelation to Peter, Jesus seems to delight in doing just that.

I also want to encourage you to make sure your faith in Christ is profoundly personal. By that I mean, don’t just take someone else’s word for it that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Make sure that this is something that you believe deeply yourself. If you look at Jesus’ questions in the passage above, you’ll see that He started by asking His disciples what others said about Him. “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples replied:

“Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

It’s sometimes safe and easy to talk about Jesus in terms of what others believe about Him. If asked who He is, some people might say, “Well, my grandmother thinks He’s God, “ or “My parents believe He’s the Messiah,” or “My friends say that He’s their Savior.” But after Jesus asked the disciples what others said about Him, He turned to them directly and asked who they thought He was.

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

There comes a point in life when you can no longer rely solely on the faith of others to get you through the trials you’re facing. You can no longer waver between what others say about Christ. My prayer is that you’ll be able to say, like Peter said:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

“The Christ” (Greek) and “the Messiah” (Hebrew) both mean the same thing: “the Anointed One.”

If you’ve never put your faith in Jesus, trusting and believing that He is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One who came to die for your sins and bring light into your world, I encourage you to do it today. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, know that He is a Savior who delights in revealing Himself even in the darkest of places. Keep on praying that He will reveal Himself again and again to you, to your family and friends, and to the rest of the world.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for revealing that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him. Help us to see that revelation for ourselves in a fresh way today, and help others see Him that way as well, no matter how dark it may seem all around them right now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 8: What Happened On The Mount Of Beatitudes?

The Mount of Beatitudes is one of the many hills that rise up around the Sea of Galilee. It was here that Jesus preached His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” blessing thousands of people who had gathered to hear Him speak. But why is it called the Mount of “Beatitudes,” and what else did Jesus do on this hill for those who gathered here? Take a look at the short video below to hear more and to get a view of the mountain itself. Then read on to see how Jesus can bless you today—and how you can be a blessing to Him!

So what happened on the Mount of Beatitudes? “Beatitude” means “blessing,” and this is where Jesus spoke about the many blessings that God offers to those who believe in Him, such as:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled…” (Matthew 5:3-6).

This is also where Jesus demonstrated His blessings to the crowd by multiplying five loaves of bread and two fish into a feast that fed five thousand. The Bible says:

“Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand” (Mark 6:39-44).

It’s a remarkable story, and Jesus still does similar things today. I’ve written about one such story that happened to me recently on our trip to Israel—and even culminated for me at the very spot where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. (I’ve included this story at the end of this book, in the concluding chapter called “Making A Chance.”)

But as practical as Jesus’ teachings are, and as remarkable as His ability to multiply loaves and fish is, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He goes a step farther and offers us more: an abundant life in Him. But sometimes we’re the ones who shortchange what Jesus has to offer us.

I heard a story about a boy who went to his uncle’s farm every summer for a few days. When the boy would arrive, his uncle would greet him with pockets full of nickels jingling at his sides. After a few minutes of talking with each other, the uncle reached into his pocket and handed his nephew a nickel.

Throughout the next few days, the uncle did the same thing over and over, spending a few minutes talking with the boy, then handing him a nickel; doing a chore or two, then handing the boy a nickel; taking a walk down the road together then handing the boy a nickel. By the end of those few days, the uncle’s pockets were empty and the boy’s pockets were full.

The next summer, the same thing happened. The uncle began with his pockets jangling with nickels and at the end of their time together, the boy’s pockets were full of nickels.

After a few summers, the boy got an idea. The next time he visited his uncle at the farm, he was again greeted by his uncle with his pockets full of nickels. The boy said: “Every summer by the end of my time with you, you always give me all the nickels in your pocket. So I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you just give me all the nickels right now, then I can go do what I want, and you can go do what you want without me around to bother you!”

Although the boy’s idea had merit at one level, it missed the point entirely at another. The reason the uncle gave the boy the nickels in the first place was because he loved spending as much time with the boy as he could. The uncle wanted to be with his nephew, and their time together always turned out to be precious to them both.

You can almost see this boy’s idea start to crop up in the hearts of the people who followed Jesus. The day after Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes, more boats arrived at the place where the miracle had occurred, but Jesus was no longer there. The Bible says:

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for Me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:24-27a).

Jesus went on to remind them that God is eager to provide for their daily needs just as He provided bread from heaven—in the form of manna—every day for forty years while the Israelites wandered through the desert. But then Jesus added:

“I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:48-51a).

While Jesus is glad to give you practical advice for living, like He did in the Sermon on the Mount, He wants to give you more. And while He’s glad to meet your daily needs, as He did for those who ate the feast on the hillside, He wants to give you more.

Jesus wants to give you a relationship with Him, the living bread that came down from heaven. He doesn’t want to just give you money for the trip, He wants to be your companion along the journey. He doesn’t want to just give you a roadmap to where you’re going, He wants to go with you and guide you there Himself. Your relationship with Jesus takes precedence over everything He could ever teach you, or give you, in a lifetime.

I want to encourage you today: come to Jesus for His teachings, for they can change your life; and come to Him for your daily bread, for He’s still a God who can provide for all your needs with baskets full left over.

But don’t stop there. Don’t shortchange all that God wants to do for you today. Come to Him for life, and life abundant. Come to Him for a feast that never ends—eternal life with Him, a life that starts here on earth and goes on forever. As Jesus told those on the hillside:

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty….If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:35,51b).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for blessing us with Your life and Your words. Help us to look to You for our daily bread, but not to stop there. Help us to look to You for bread that will last forever, bread that comes only through an ongoing relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 7: What Happened In Capernaum?

I was surprised when I visited the city of Capernaum to learn about all the things that Jesus did there. It shouldn’t have been surprising, however, for Capernaum served as the home base for most of Jesus’ ministry, having moved there when He left His boyhood home of Nazareth. To hear about some of the things that Jesus did in Capernaum, take a look at the forty-second video below. Then read on to see how Jesus is still working today in the same ways that He did in Capernaum.

So what happened in Capernaum? This is where Jesus healed many people. Here’s a sampling of the healings that took place there:

He healed the centurion’s servant
He healed the paralytic and forgave him of his sins
He healed the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years
He healed Jairus’ daughter, raising her from the dead
and He healed two blind men.

The common thread running through each of these stories is that the people were healed by faith in Christ.

In the story of the centurion’s servant, Jesus commends his faith, saying:

“I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith…” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour (Matthew 8:10b,13).

In the story of the paralytic, Jesus took note of his friends’ faith:

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,

“Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” … Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. (Matthew 9:2b,6b-7).

In the story of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, Jesus said:

“Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment (Matthew 9:22b).

In the story of Jairus’ daughter, Jesus said:

“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” … He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’ ). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around… (Mark 5:36b, 41-42a).

And in the story of the two blind men, before Jesus healed them, He asked them a question:

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored (Matthew 9:28b-30a).

It was this last story that surprised me the most when I read that it took place in Capernaum, for it was this story that inspired me to put my faith in Christ 23 years ago. I had no idea that it took place there in Capernaum until I was preparing for this trip to Israel. It was a detail I had overlooked at the time.

When I had read the story 23 years ago, I was walking along a road in Houston, Texas. I was about 7,000 miles away from Capernaum and it was about 2,000 years later. I was asking God for a healing in my own life. I felt like Jesus was asking me the same question: “Eric, do you believe I am able to do this, too?”

I thought about everything Jesus had ever done—how He healed the sick, walked on water and raised the dead. I thought if anyone could do it, Jesus could. So I put my hand up in the air, and for the first time in my life, I truly put my faith in Christ. Like the blind men, I said, “Yes, Lord.” And like the blind men, I was healed in that moment.

By the next day I had put my faith in Christ for everything in my life. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and trusted Him to take me to live with Him forever when I died. (If you’d like to read more of this story, you can read it on my website at http://www.theranch.org.)

The course of my life changed that day, and it was all based on a story that took place in Capernaum. To stand there when we visited Israel and think about what happened then and how it had affected me now was astounding. What a blessing that these stories have been recorded for us and can touch our lives in such life-changing ways.

Faith in Christ is a powerful thing. But you don’t have to take my word for it—you can take His word for it! According to His word, it was by faith that the centurion’s servant was healed; by faith, the paralytic was forgiven of his sins and healed of his paralysis; by faith, the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was healed; by faith, Jairus’ daughter was raised from the dead; and by faith, the sight of the blind men had restored.

If you need God to do something in your life that you can’t seem to do on your own, I’d like to encourage you to put your faith in Christ, and keep putting your faith in Him for everything in Your life. You’ll be glad you did.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the inspiring stories of faith that took place in Capernaum. I pray that You would reach out to us in the same way today, doing the impossible for those who are willing to put their faith in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 6: What Happened On The Sea Of Galilee?

Today, we’re visiting the Sea of Galilee. If you’d like to see—and hear—what the water looks like at the Sea of Galilee today, take a look at the short video below. It’s a beautiful spot in the land of Israel and the site of some of Jesus’ most memorable miracles. Then read on to see how putting your faith in Christ can help you through some of the toughest situations in your life.

So what happened on the Sea of Galilee? This is where Jesus spent much of His time after He left His boyhood home of Nazareth. In the coming weeks, I’ll be talking about several of the miracles that took place here that touched people’s hearts and lives.

But today I’d like to focus on two that took place out on the sea itself: when Jesus walked on water and when He calmed the storm that threatened the lives of His disciples.

Jesus is an expert at walking through storms. The miracle that He did on the Sea of Galilee wasn’t the first time He displayed His giftedness for this. Just before coming to the Sea of Galilee, Jesus walked unscathed through another storm that threatened to take His own life.

Maybe you remember that when Jesus lived in Nazareth, He went to the synagogue one day and read from the scroll of Isaiah. At first, all the people spoke well of Him, being amazed at “the gracious words that came from His lips.” But after quoting from the words of Isaiah—referring to the Messiah that was to come—Jesus added:

“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21b).

Imagine growing up in the same city with Jesus—the guy down the block who did carpentry with His dad—then He gets up and says that He’s the Messiah, the One about whom the prophet Isaiah had written about some 700 years earlier. You’d think that Jesus was either a lunatic or a liar. He couldn’t possibly be telling the truth, could He?

So the crowd turned on Him. The Bible says:

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and took Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way” (Luke 4:28-30).

The crowd went from calm to stormy in a matter of seconds. They went from praising Jesus to taking Him to the edge of a cliff to throw Him off within a matter of minutes. But Jesus wasn’t phased by their words of praise nor their acts of violence. He simply said what He had to say, then “walked right through the crowd and went on His way.”

So when the storm came up on His disciples on the Sea of Galilee some time later, Jesus wasn’t phased by it either. He and His disciples had just finished a long day of ministering to thousands, having heard earlier in the day that John the Baptist had just been beheaded. Jesus headed off to a mountainside to pray, telling His disciples to get into the boat and head to the other side.

The story picks up here:

When evening came, He was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

That’s when Jesus famously called Peter to come out to Him and walk on the water and which Peter did until he saw the wind and the waves and started to sink again. So Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter’s and pulled him back up.

The story finishes by saying:

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:23b-33).

There are two things that I’d like to mention about this storm. The first is that Jesus is the one who sent them into it. And the second is that Jesus is the one who brought them out of it.

Just like in Nazareth, Jesus didn’t worry about the wind and the waves. In the case of the angry crowd, Jesus had nothing to fear. It was the crowd who was fearful by what Jesus was saying and acted wrongfully because of it. Jesus did what was right and when He was done He simply walked through the crowd and went on His way.

In the same way, when Jesus needed to get to the other side of the lake, He wasn’t phased by the fact that strong waves lay ahead. He sent His disciples into the waves and He went into them Himself afterward. Jesus wasn’t afraid of the storm. Jesus just kept doing what He needed to do and His disciples did what He told them to.

There are times when I’ve felt like I was being thrown into a storm—and it seemed like it was Jesus who was throwing me into it! I’ve learned that the best thing to do in those times is to hold onto Jesus as tight as I can. I know that Jesus knows best how to walk through them, whether I’m facing an angry crowd or some wind and some waves.

You may find yourself in the middle of a storm right now, too. The circumstances of your life may be buffeting against you. You may be facing things that are threatening your health, your family, your relationships, your job, your career, your finances or your friends. The threats may be very real and the prospects ahead may look very grim.

I want to encourage you to hold onto Jesus as tight as you can. Keep walking through the wind and the waves. Keep walking towards Jesus, the Messiah, the Author and Sustainer of your life. And even if you start to sink, know that Jesus is right beside you to take hold of your hands and pull you in close. Hold on tight and never let Him go. He’s the One who knows best how to walk through a storm. Let Him speak to you the words He spoke to His disciples that night on the Sea of Galilee:

“Take courage, it is I! Don’t be afraid.”

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for sending Jesus to help us through the storms we face. Thank You for reminding us that it’s sometimes even Jesus who sends us into the storms in the first place. Lord, help us to have the faith to trust in Him, no matter what, and to trust that whether it’s Him who sent us into the storm or not, that He’s the One who can bring us through it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 5: What Happened In Nazareth?

Our next stop on this devotional tour of the Holy Land is a city that wasn’t known as one of the hot spots of Israel. In fact, the Bible quotes Nathanael as saying,

“Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).

But something good did come from there. To hear what happened there, take a look at this short video that I shot while at the Nazareth Village in Israel, a re-creation of what the city might have looked like back in Jesus’ day. Then read on below to find out how God can work in your life through even the most difficult situations to accomplish His plans.

So what happened in Nazareth? This is where Jesus grew up. It was also the hometown of Mary and Joseph and the place where the angel Gabriel came to Mary and said:

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31).

But Jesus wasn’t born in Nazareth. In fact, His route to ending up here seemed rather circuitous.

Because of the Roman census, Mary and Joseph had to return to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. Then after Jesus’ birth, Herod found out that a new “King of the Jews” may have been born in Bethlehem and began a killing spree of all the newborn boys there, so Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt. After Herod died, Mary and Joseph returned again to Israel and went back to their hometown of Nazareth.

It may have seemed like Jesus and his parents were being yanked around by governments and kings, making their lives difficult at critical times. I try to imagine Mary being nine months pregnant, having to ride on a donkey to Bethlehem, then finding no place to stay and give birth to her child. I try to imagine their having to flee that city because a crazed king wanted to kill their young Son. I try to imagine their having to move to a foreign country when Jesus was small, with all the changes such a move from family and friends must have entailed.

Yet I’m encouraged to think that each stop along the way was not random. Each move was part of God’s divine plan for both Jesus and His parents. Hundreds of years earlier each stop along the way had already been foretold.

Getting to Bethlehem was the first stop in fulfilling the prophecies concerning the Messiah. When the chief priests and teachers of the law were asked where the Messiah was to be born, they replied:

“In Bethlehem in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel’ “ (Matthew 2:5-6).

The trip to Egypt fulfilled the next stop. As Matthew said:

“And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son’ “ (Matthew 2:15).

And the return to Nazareth fulfilled the third stop. As Matthew said about His return:

“So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: ‘He will be called a Nazarene’” (Matthew 2:23).

So rather than a seemingly random chain of events moving Jesus from place to place, God had a plan and a way to use all of those events to bring about His will.

How does all this relate to you and me? I take encouragement from the fact that even when it looks like our lives are being pushed and pulled in various directions by people, governments, or difficult situations, that it may actually be God doing the pushing and pulling to fulfill His plans for our lives! And if it’s not God doing the actual pushing and pulling, at least it’s no surprise to Him what we’re going through. If God was able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that would surround the birth and life of His Son, then He is able to foretell and use all of the events and situations that we’ll face in our lives as well.

Rather than being upset at others who sometimes seem to be in control of our lives—whether it’s a boss or a job, a government official or a family member, a friend or an enemy—we can trust that God is the one who controls them all. And even if He doesn’t control them directly, for He has given each of us free will as well, God does know the hearts of men and women and He can work all things together for good.

Although Nazareth wasn’t a hot spot in the Holy Land in Jesus’ day, God wasn’t bothered by its reputation. It was here where God chose to raise His Son and it was here where the Bible says,

“Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

Your life is not random and the places where you live and work and eat and sleep are not arbitrary, regardless of the reputation they may or may not have. God has a plan for you, for your life, and for the situations that you’re facing even right now. He wants you to trust Him fully with that plan and follow Him wherever He leads—whether that’s staying where He wants you to stay or going where He wants you to go.

Trust Him with every aspect of your life and let Him take control of the direction it takes. It’s good to make plans for our lives, but it’s also good to let God take control of those plans when He has a better one. As it says in the book of Proverbs:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for taking the random events of our lives and giving them purpose and meaning in ways that go beyond what we could think or imagine. Lord, we commit to trusting You again today, giving You full control over the course of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 4: What’s Going To Happen At Megiddo?

You may have never heard of Megiddo before, but it’s more than likely you’ve heard about what is going to happen there one day. And with a little help from the Hebrew language, you may realize that you have heard of Megiddo before in just a slightly different form. Take a look at the short video below to see this historical place with an important future. Then keep reading below to see how it can affect your life today.

So what’s going to happen at Megiddo? That’s where Christ will return for the final battle of all the nations of the world.

The book of Revelation prophecies about this coming battle, saying that the spirits of demons will go out to the kings of the whole world:

“…to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. … Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon” (Revelation 16:14b, 16).

Armageddon comes to us from the Hebrew words “Har” meaning hill, and Megiddo, referring to the city found there. So Har Megiddo means the hill of Megiddo, which translates for us into “Armageddon.”

It’s an unusual sight to look out and see the cars and trucks and buses going back and forth about their business at the base of the hill, knowing that one day all the nations of the world will gather here for that final epic battle, the one which has been depicted in so many apocalyptic books and movies.

But perhaps more sobering to me is the fact that since God has fulfilled so many prophecies found in the Bible already, it just follows reason that He will one day fulfill the rest as well, including the prophecies about this cataclysmic battle.

And from history, we know that this location has served as a battlefield for many battles before. King Josiah died here about 600 years before Christ in a battle with Pharaoh Neco of Egypt (2 Kings 23:29) and Sir Edmund Allenby of Britain launched a massive attack here during the first World War, to name a few.

The role of Megiddo as a military battlefield was summed up by Napoleon, one of the foremost military leaders of all time when he saw Megiddo in the early 1800’s. He is quoted as saying:

“All the armies of the world could maneuver their forces on this vast plain … There is no place in the whole world more suited for war than this … It is the most natural battleground on the whole earth.” (The Battles of Armageddon, pg. 142).

And Megiddo is situated in a primary trade route at the north of Israel, a location from which you can see the hills of neighboring countries who are even now poised and ready to do battle here. The inspiring thing about standing on the hill of Megiddo is that it makes me want to do right before God and men.

While God is certainly more forgiving and patient than I or anyone else I know has ever been or would ever be, there is still a limit to His patience. At some point, He must deal with sin, or He wouldn’t be a very good judge at all.

As much as I’d rather not think about it, there comes a time when justice must be done and we will all have to face judgment for what we’ve done. This day is often referred to in the Bible as the “Day of the Lord.” It’s a day that is referred to over twenty-five times in the Bible, including both the Old and New Testaments.

Several weeks before writing this message I had a dream in which I got an invitation in the mail. It was an invitation to an “end of the world party” to be held on June 6-7, just a few weeks from then. I don’t put much stock in the dream as anything prophetic, as even Jesus Himself said that no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, but only the Father (Matthew 24:36). But the dream did help me to think a little more clearly that day when I woke up!

I wondered: What would I do differently if I knew that the world was really going to end in just a few weeks? How would I spend my time? Who do I still need to talk to and what would I say? How can I help more people come into a relationship with Christ so that when the final battle does come they’re on the winning side?

And today I wonder: How would it affect your life if you knew that the end were just a few weeks away? It reminds me of a quote from Stephen Levine:

“If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?”

God wants more than anything else to have a relationship with each one of us, including you and those around you. He knows how sin affects our lives in ways that we could never even understand. And He wants us to be freed from those sins.

That’s why He sent Jesus to earth, to die for our sins, so that all who put their faith in Him will be forgiven of their sins and spend eternity with Him in heaven.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I encourage you to do it today. Don’t wait any longer, for no one knows the day or hour when He will return. And if you’ve already put your faith in Christ, share that faith with someone today.

Give them a call. Write them a letter. Send them a text, an email, or a link to this video and devotional. Remind them that:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for fulfilling so many of the prophecies of the Bible already and we trust that You will fulfill the rest in due time. Lord, help us to live our lives in such a way that they become shining testimonies to You and help us to encourage those around us to put their faith in Christ so they can be on the winning side in the final battle as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 3: What Happened On Mount Carmel?

As we continue our devotional tour of the Holy Land, we’re heading further north along the Mediterranean coast, this time to the top of Mount Carmel. It’s a beautiful spot where a powerful story took place about 3,000 years ago.

To hear a summary of the story in under two minutes, including how it applies to your life today, click the link to the video below. Then continue reading the rest of the message below that to learn how God can answer your prayers in extraordinary ways, even though you may feel like just an “ordinary person.”

So what happened on Mount Carmel? That’s where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah to a dramatic showdown. Many of the Israelites had strayed from God, worshiping Baal and Asherah instead. The situation had gotten so bad that God told Elijah to go to the Israelite king, Ahab, and tell him:

“…there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1b).

So Elijah told this to Ahab and the rain stopped. All of Israel began to suffer. But neither Ahab nor the people turned back to God. After three and a half years, God told Elijah to go back to Ahab and tell him that the rain was about to come again.

Elijah went to Ahab and told him to meet him on Mount Carmel, where the dramatic showdown took place, and where God would answer Elijah’s prayers in a way that convinced the Israelites to turn their hearts back to God. It was after this that Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, bent down to the ground to pray, and by the end of the day, the rain poured down.

It’s one of the coolest stories in the Old Testament, and if you haven’t read it yet, or haven’t read it in awhile, I’d like to encourage you to read the whole thing sometime this week. You’ll find it in the book of 1 Kings, chapters 17-19.

While there are tons of helpful and encouraging lessons from these chapters—ranging from how God can provide for your needs even during a famine to how God can give you the courage you need to do some very difficult things—the lesson I’d like to focus on today deals with the question of why God sometimes answers your prayers and other times doesn’t—or at least not in the way you expected.

Sometimes God can knock your socks off with His answers to your prayers, like He did with Elijah’s prayers on Mount Carmel. The book of James even holds up Elijah’s story as an example of just how powerful prayer can be. James says:

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:16b-18).

So Elijah was human, just like us, and God heard and answered his prayers in a powerful way. Yet did you know that not long after this event, Elijah prayed another prayer—one that he seems to have prayed as earnestly as the one before—yet God didn’t do what Elijah asked?

This other prayer took place after the showdown at Mount Carmel, when Elijah had to run for his life because Ahab’s wife had vowed to hunt Elijah down until he was dead. So Elijah ran as far as he could until he he was thoroughly exhausted. The Bible says,

“He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors’” (1 Kings 19:4b).

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

But God didn’t answer this prayer, at least in the way that Elijah wanted Him to answer it. God didn’t take his life. God wanted Elijah to live, for God still had more for Elijah to do with his life.

So God sent Elijah an angel. The angel woke him up and gave him something warm to eat. After eating two of these angel-cooked meals, Elijah gained enough strength to travel another forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. And it was there on Mount Horeb that God Himself appeared to Elijah in a very personal way,

“…in a gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:12b).

God didn’t give Elijah what he wanted, but He gave him something much better: an angel of encouragement, strength for the journey, and a one-on-one visit with Elijah himself.

I want to encourage you today that God can answer your prayers as dramatically and powerfully as He answered Elijah’s prayers for rain. But God can also answer your prayers like He answered Elijah’s second prayer, not necessarily giving you what you want or expect, but giving you something truly better.

God loves you. He cares about your life. And He has things that He truly wants to do in and through your life. Keep praying earnestly that God’s will would be done here on earth, through you, just as God’s will was done through Elijah’s prayers at Mount Carmel.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for Elijah’s example of what it means to pray earnestly for Your will to be done. Give us Your wisdom and insight into the situations in our lives today so that we can pray for Your will to be done in them as well. We love You and thank You for hearing our prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 2: What Happened In Caesarea?

Today we’re headed up the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the city of Caesarea. Why Caesarea? Because something remarkable happened there about 2,000 years ago. To see what happened, take a look at the short video clip below, then read on to see how this story can apply to your life today.

So what happened in Caesarea? This is where Peter preached the good news about Jesus to Cornelius. And what makes it so remarkable? Because this is where God made it crystal clear that Jesus didn’t come just as a Savior for the Jews, but for anyone who would believe in Him.

The other thing that’s remarkable about this story is the way God spoke to Peter and Cornelius. God spoke in a way that was very specific, helping each of them know exactly what God wanted them to do next in their lives. Wouldn’t all of us love to have God do that for us! The truth is, He can, and often does, and if we read the story carefully, we can see some clues as to why God spoke to these two so clearly.

Here’s how God spoke to Cornelius:

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (Acts 10:1-6).

And here’s how God spoke to Peter:

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:9-20).

Did you catch why God spoke the way He did to Cornelius? And why God might have spoken to Peter the way He did?

In Cornelius’ case, the Bible says, “He [Cornelius] and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” The angel then says very specifically: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Then the angel proceeds to share with him what to do next.

And as for Peter’s case, his story begins with the words, “Peter went up on the roof to pray.” It was during that time of prayer that God spoke to Peter and revealed to him what he needed to do next, too.

Prayer in its most basic form is having a conversation with God. Sometimes it may feel like it’s only a one-way conversation, but I’ve found that the more I pray, and the more that I wait for and listen for and expect Him to answer, the more I actually hear God speak to me in return! It’s not rocket-science, but it does take is faith. And in Cornelius’ example, he didn’t rely on his faith alone, but he was continually demonstrating his faith in God by his good deeds. He was putting his money where his mouth was, so to speak. Or, as Jesus said it: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:22).

The beauty of this story is that God was not only moved by the prayers and gifts of these men, but God answered their prayers in a way that went beyond either of their expectations. For Cornelius, it opened up a whole new understanding of who God was and what He could do next to come into a more full and right relationship with Him. And for Peter, this opened a whole new door of ministry that he would have never realized even needed to be opened without his prayers and God’s response, that God wanted him to proclaim the good news about Jesus even to the Gentiles, meaning anyone who was not Jewish.

These are great lessons for any of us who want to experience more of God in our lives, and for anyone who wants to serve Him more fully.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to thank God for what happened in Caesarea! And if you’ve never put your faith in Christ, today’s a good day to do that, too! Let God’s Spirit fall upon you as it fell upon all who heard Peter’s message that day when he said:

“All the prophets testify about Him [Jesus] that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:34-36,43).

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for speaking to people so specifically about events that were about to change their lives so dramatically. We pray that You would speak to us again today, so that we may hear from You and do all that is on Your heart for us to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Lesson 1: Where Did Israel Get Its Name?

On the pages ahead, I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land. In each lesson, I’ll be asking (and answering) a question about Israel and some of the major events that have taken place there. My goal is to give you both a history lesson and a faith lesson: a history lesson about this land that is so precious to God, and a faith lesson that you can apply to your own life today.

I’d like to start with a foundational question: “Where did Israel get its name?”

To check your answer, keep reading on, or take a look at the short video clip at the link below that I recorded on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, at the western edge of Israel.

So where did Israel get its name? Israel was named after Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, whom God later renamed “Israel.”

Jacob got this new name after an all-night wrestling match with an opponent whom Jacob comes to believe is God Himself. At the end of the struggle, Jacob’s opponent declares, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome” (Genesis 32:28). “Israel” means struggles, or strives, with God.

So the land of Israel was named after the man who lived there. His twelve sons and their families became the twelve “tribes” of Israel and spread out to live throughout the land. The Bible says that the borders of Israel at that time extended from the desert in the south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River on the east to the western sea, or Mediterranean, on the west (see Deuteronomy 11:24 and Joshua 3:1-4).

The land of Israel was actually promised to Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham, years earlier, which is why the land of Israel is often referred to as the “promised land.”

What I love about reading these passages in the Bible is that they are continual reminders to me that God keeps His promises, whether they are to all of humanity, as in the case of God’s promise to Noah that God would never again destroy the earth with a flood, or to a particular nation, as in this case of God’s promise to the Israelites that He would bring them into this land, and then bring them back again if they were ever taken away. When God makes a promise, He keeps it!

Here’s the original promise that God made to Abraham way back in the twelfth chapter of the Bible, about 4,000 years ago. God said to Abraham:

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).

So Abraham obeyed and went. And when Abraham got there, God gave him this promise:

“Lift up your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you” (Genesis 13:14-17).

God also forewarned Abraham that his descendants one day would be strangers in another country and enslaved for four hundred years, but afterward they would return to the promised land. This took place when a famine came upon Israel, and Israel’s sons moved to Egypt to get food. As the sons’ families grew in number, they were enslaved by the Egyptians for fear that they would become too powerful.

Four hundred years later, God sent Moses to set the Israelites free and return them to their homeland. God reminded the Israelites of His promise,saying to them as they approached the promised land:

“Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea” (Deuteronomy 11:24, and again in Joshua 1:3-4).

Almost a thousand years later, the Israelites were taken captive again, this time to Babylon. But again, God promised that one day they would return to their land. God told the prophet Jeremiah to buy a field in Israel, even though they were about to be taken away, to let the people know that one day they would return again and that,

“Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” (Jeremiah 32:15).

They did return about seventy years later. Another five hundred or so years later, Jesus was born in Israel. Except for a few years when Jesus was young, when his parents took Him to Egypt to protect Him from King Herod, Jesus spent His entire life and ministry in the land of Israel.

And when Jesus comes back again, He’ll return to the land of His birth, to Israel.

God keeps His promises!

From Genesis to Revelation, God talks about His promises regarding both the land and the people of Israel. It is a land that is truly precious to God. The Bible says,

“It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end” (Deuteronomy 11:12).

And it’s a land that reminds us that God keeps His promises, whether they’re made to all of humanity, or to particular nations, or to individual people like you and like me.

God loves you, He cares about your life, and He wants to see you accomplish all that He has prepared in advance for you to do. If God has made you a promise, hold onto it! God keeps His promises.

Let’s pray:

Father, thank You for the promises that You have made throughout history, and the promises that You have made to us in our lifetime. Lord, help us to remember Your promises, and to hold onto them tightly, knowing that You will always keep them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Introduction: Turning Sad Endings To New Beginnings

There’s a spot in Jerusalem where you can walk inside a tomb from the time of Christ. As you walk in, you can imagine what it must have been like for those who walked into Jesus’ tomb on that first Easter morning, when the angels greeted them with these words:

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:6).

If you’d like to take a minute (well, about a minute-and-ten seconds), you can walk into the tomb with me and see it for yourself. Then read on to see why the story of what happened that first Easter morning is perhaps the most significant event that’s ever taken place in the entire history of Israel.

What I love about the Easter story is that just when it looked like all hope was lost, God showed up and showed the disciples that the death of Jesus wasn’t the end—it was just the beginning of something even better.

In a matter of days, the disciples went from thinking that their hopes and plans and dreams for the future had been dashed forever, to seeing that God had bigger hopes and plans and dreams for them than they could have ever imagined!

You can almost see their faces light up as God opens their eyes to the truth. Watch what happens as Jesus reveals Himself to two of the disciples as they walk along the road:

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked Him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” He asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see” (Luke 24:13-24).

Take a look at the disciples’ faces when Jesus first walks up and starts talking to them. The Bible says, “They stood still, their faces downcast.” I don’t know how exactly Jesus was able to hide His true identity from them, but I do know that it’s hard to see when our faces are downcast. But look at what happens as the story continues.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.

When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread (Luke 24:25 -35).

The disciples went from downcast to delighted, and as they did, their hearts began to burn within them. They were eager to learn everything they possibly could from this Man who was walking with them, so much so that they “urged Him strongly” to stay with them. Then, when Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them, their eyes were opened to the Truth. Even though Jesus disappeared in that moment, their excitement about what they felt didn’t disappear. They got up at once and ran to tell the others the good news: This wasn’t the end at all, but just the beginning of something new!

There are times when you may feel like God, or people, or life itself has pulled the rug out from under you. It may seem like all your hopes and plans and dreams are crashing down around you. You might wonder how you’ll ever be able to get back up again. But I want to encourage you to do what the disciples did as they walked along the road. They stopped looking down and they started looking up. They looked up to the One who held their life in His hands—the same One who holds your life in His hands—the One who gives each one of us “life and breath and everything else” (Acts 17:25b).

What may look like an ending to something in your life may in fact be just the beginning of something entirely new, something even bigger and better and more remarkable than you ever could have imagined. And if you think that’s just wishful thinking, just remember the Easter story, and remember the God who specializes in turning sad endings into new beginnings!

Let’s pray…

Father, thank You for the reminder that You can take the sad endings in our lives and turn them into new beginnings. Open my eyes that I may see just what you have in store for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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November 8, 2010 by Eric Elder

Israel: Lessons From The Holy Land

A Thirty Day Devotional Tour Of The Land Where Jesus Walked
Devotionals by Eric Elder
Photography by Karis & Makari Elder

Thirty inspiring devotionals based on the land where Jesus walked.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

On the pages ahead, I’d like to take you on a “devotional tour” of the Holy Land. My goal is to help bring the Bible to life in a way that you may have never experienced before. We’re going to look at the places where Jesus walked and taught and ministered, as well as the places where many other famous stories from the Bible took place. I pray that these devotionals will not only give you a deeper appreciation for this land that “the Lord your God cares for” (Deuteronomy 11:12), but that it will help you to grow closer to Christ—and stronger in your faith in Him.

Eric Elder

We loved touring Israel and we loved capturing it in pictures so you could enjoy it, too. We hope that these pictures will show you not only sites of Israel, but also the heart of this wonderful country. While going to Israel in person is great, we hope that this book is the next best thing to being there!

Karis & Makari Elder

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November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Small Group Study Guide for Exodus: Lessons In Freedom

You’re reading EXODUS: LESSONS IN FREEDOM, by Eric Elder, featuring fifty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most dramatic, yet practical books in the Bible.

I’m excited to offer this study guide for groups who want to study this material together! While studying God’s Word on your own can be extremely rewarding, studying it with others can be even more so. I’ve learned from my own experience that the words of Solomon are true: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

This study is divided into fifty lessons, and the questions that follow can be used for personal reflection, group discussion, or a combination of both.

If your group wants to read and discuss each lesson together, they could meet once a week and complete this study in fifty weeks. If your group wants to cover the material more quickly, group members could study several lessons on their own during the week, then discuss those lessons together with the group covering five lessons per week for a period of ten weeks. A set of “summary questions” is also included for this approach.

However you choose to do it, I pray that God will speak to you through it!

Lesson 1

The Israelites may have felt weak since they were slaves in Egypt. But the reason they were enslaved was because Pharaoh could see they would one day become incredibly strong, so he decided to suppress them before they could overpower him.

1. Is there an area of your life that God may want you to be strong, but because of circumstances or other situations, you feel weak in that area?

2. Could it be that God wants you to use that weakness for His glory somehow?

3. What are some ways He might be able to use it?

4. What are some steps you can take to start moving into what God may have in mind for you in this area?

Lesson 2

While the Israelite midwives faced threats from Pharaoh unless they killed all of the newborn Israelites boys, the midwives feared God more than they feared Pharaoh and decided to do what was right. They let the boys live, and God blessed not only the Israelites, but the midwives, too.

1. Is there an area of your life where the “fear of man” is keeping you from fulfilling something that God might want you to do instead?

2. What’s the worst that could happen if you stepped forward in what you feel called to do?

3. What’s the worst that could happen if you don’t step forward in what you feel called to do?

4. How might God bless you, and those around you, if you do step forward in what you feel called to do?

Lesson 3

When God was looking for someone to lead His people into freedom, He found someone in Moses whose heart was already committed to that end. Even though Moses’ plans to set people free seemed to backfire from time to time, God eventually called Moses to set people free in a big way.

1. Is there something on your heart that you feel called to do, and may have tried to do in the past, but hasn’t yet been fulfilled?

2. If God were looking for someone to do what you feel called to do, what things in your past might show Him that you’re committed to that end, too?

3. What are some things you might do right now to demonstrate that commitment?

4. In what ways could you use some strengthening from God right now to help you carry out what He’s put on your heart to do?

Lesson 4

God came up with a plan to set the Israelites free: He saw their misery, He heard their prayers, He was concerned about their suffering, and He wanted to rescue them. But part of His plan also included using Moses, if He was willing, to be His human instrument to bring about that freedom.

1. Why would God want to involve His people in His plans, instead of doing it all Himself?

2. Are there some things going on in the world that make you want to ask why God isn’t doing something about them?

3. If so, is it possible that He might be wanting to ask you the same question?

4. If God were to invite you to take part in His plan, would you want to?

Lesson 5

When God invited Moses to take part in His plan of rescuing the Israelites, Moses protested: he gave God many good reasons why he wasn’t the best choice for the job. But God countered all of Moses’ reasons with just one reason of His own: “I will be with you.”

1. What difference do you think it made to Moses to know that God would be with Him?

2. What difference do you think it would make to you if you knew that God would be with you in what He’s calling you to do?

3. What do you think about the statement, “It’s not a matter of whether you can or can’t, but whether you will or won’t”?

4. What are some things you could do to help you clarify whether God is calling you to do something or not, and whether or not He will be with you or not?

Summary Questions – Lessons 1-5

The book of Exodus is one of the most dramatic books in the Bible. You may already be familiar with some of the stories contained within it, either from reading it before, or from famous movies based on various aspects of the story.

1. Flip through the pages of the book of Exodus, looking at just the headings of each section if you’d like, and share with the group a topic or two that you find. (For instance, “the parting of the Red Sea,” or “baby Moses gets put in a basket.”)

2. The word Exodus means to flee or to “exit,” and the book of Exodus describes how God helped the Israelites escape from their bondage in Egypt. What are some other bondages from which God might want to help His people escape?

3. In what ways did the “fear of man” enslave the Israelites, and in what ways can the “fear of man” enslave us today?

4. In what ways did the “fear of God” help the Israelites step into their divine destiny, and in what ways can the “fear of God” help us today to do the same?

5. What are some things that you see in the world around you that you hope God would do something about–and that He might be hoping you would get involved in doing something about, too?

6. Although it seems like God could have rescued the Israelites all by Himself, He chose to use Moses as His human instrument to accomplish His plan. Share why you think God would rather work through His people than doing everything Himself?

7. Although Moses and God were on the same page regarding what they hoped would happen, what seemed to hinder Moses in jumping into God’s plan, and what seemed to help him finally agree to do it?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 1-5, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read 2 Chronicles 16:9a again, and share in what ways you might hope that God would strengthen you in the days ahead?

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering that if God has called you to do something, He will be with you to help you do it.

Lesson 6

When Moses first approached Pharaoh about letting the Israelites go free, Pharaoh did just the opposite and increased the workload on the Israelites. Moses could have been discouraged and even wondered if this was God’s plan at all, until he stopped to ask God again about the situation.

1. What does a home-improvement project usually look like when the remodeling begins?

2. How can knowing beforehand that things might get messy help you to keep your faith when you step out to do what God has called you to do?

3. When Moses saw the workload increase for his people, instead of setting them free, what did he do to make sure he was still on track?

4. Why is it important to win the battle of faith first, before even attempting the battle in the flesh?

Lesson 7

When Moses returned to God to make sure he was still on the right track, God assured him that he was. God continued to promise Moses that it would be “because of my mighty hand” that Pharaoh eventually let the people go.

1. Have you ever had something in your life backfire, even when you were pretty sure it was God’s plan prior to that point?

2. What did God say to Moses to reassure him that Moses was still on track (see verses 2-8)?

3. If God has spoken to you about something you’re to do in life, is there something tangible that you could use as a visible reminder of what he’s called you to do, to help you through those “hump days” in your life?

4. There’s a phrase in the military that standing orders are good orders, meaning that if no new direction has been given, to continue doing the last thing you were told to do. How might this apply right now to anything you’re going through in your own walk with God?

Lesson 8

In the process of setting the Israelites free, God sent plague after plague against the Egyptians who were holding them in bondage. Although He might have been able to set them free instantly, He chose instead to use this lengthier, and more difficult process.

1. Which of the plagues do you think would be hardest on you personally, if you were an Egyptian living in Egypt in those days (not counting the final plague on the firstborn)?

2. Why does the Bible say God used this particular process to set the Israelites free?

3. How can this story, and the stories of Daniel and David and Jonah, be an encouragement to those going through difficult trials in their lives?

4. If God had the choice to set you free in an instant, but you were the only one who would praise God in the end, or He could set you free in another way that might even painful to you, but many would praise God in the end, which would you want Him to do?

Lesson 9

Of all the plagues to strike the Egyptians, none struck as hard, it seems, as the one that took the life of every firstborn male in the land. Even the Israelites had to make a sacrifice before getting their freedom.

1. Why do you think Moses didn’t take Pharaoh up on his initial offers to let the people go out in the wilderness and worship God for a few days, but leave the women and children, or animals behind?

2. Why do you think God required the sacrifice of the firstborn on the part of the Egyptians, and the sacrifice of an animal on the part of the Israelites, too?

3. How do you react to the idea of “plunging your will into the depths of God’s will, there to be lost forever”?

4. How does the sacrifice in this story correspond to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

Lesson 10

When the Israelites celebrated their first “Passover,” it was a night marked by weeping and wailing in the Egyptian streets, as God’s Spirit passed over the houses that were marked by the blood of a lamb. It was such a memorable event that even today, 3,500 years later, people still celebrate it.

1. Have you ever been through something that has been so difficult, that when you finally came through it, you’ve remembered it ever since?

2. What thoughts do you think were going through the Israelites minds during the night of that final plague in Egypt?

3. What thoughts do you think were going through the Egyptians minds during that night?

4. If you’re going through something difficult in your life right now, what hope might you take from this story?

Summary Questions – Lessons 6-10

The process of coming out of bondage in Egypt was a painful one, both for those who were in bondage and for those who were keeping them in bondage. But in the end, there was something about the process that focused everyone’s attention on the One who was setting them free, making it a memorable event still for people today.

1. Flip through the pages of Exodus chapters 6-12 and have each person in the group mention one or two things that either the Israelites or the Egyptians had to go through that made their lives harder once Moses showed up, rather than easier.

2. How did Moses handle each of these seeming setbacks to God’s plan: with superhuman faith, or with something more like what each of us might have felt, or some combination of the two?

3. Why is it important to gear up for two battles when doing God’s will: the battle of faith (believing God will do what He says He will do), and the battle of flesh (doing the hard work itself).

4. Is there something you do, or something you have done in the past, to help you through the “hump days” of your life?

5. What did you think of excerpts from the stories about Moses, Daniel, David, and Jonah that indicated why God sometimes sets people free in the way that He does (so that all will come to know Him)?

6. What do you think of the idea of plunging your will into the depths of God’s will, there to be lost forever? Is it an appealing, a frightening, or some combination of the two, and why?

7. The freedom the Israelites received was nothing short of remarkable. The entire nation of slaves was set free on a single day, with the full permission of everyone in Egypt. How did God bring such a remarkable event to pass?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 6-10, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read 1 Corinthians 11:24-25 again, and share in what ways communion, for the Christian, is in some ways related to the Passover Feast for the Jews.

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering that God often sets people free in a way that all will know that He is the Lord.

Lesson 11

God asked Moses and the Israelites to mark the date that they came out of Egypt in a way that they could remember, and their descendants could remember, the event forever. The Passover is still celebrated annually all of these generations later, reminding them of the freedom they attained on that remarkable day.

1. What are some memorable dates in your life, dates that you would hope to remember for the rest of your life?

2. What value is there to you, and those around you, of remembering and even celebrating such dates?

3. And in particular, how might commemorating a date you were set free from something be helpful to you, or those around you?

4. In what ways might you want to commemorate for yourself, or share with others, an important date in your life?

Lesson 12

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He put them on an indirect path to the Promised Land, rather than a direct path that led straight to it. God said that this wasn’t a mistake, but that He did this on purpose, for their benefit.

1. What reason did God give for taking the Israelites the long way around to the Promised Land (verses 17-18a)?

2. Why do you think it’s sometimes true that “the shortest route in the long run is the longest route in the short run.” Why or why not?

3. Is there anything going on in your life right now that God might be taking you on the longer route to get there so that the outcome in the end will be far better than taking you on a more direct route?

4. What did the Apostle Paul do, as he recorded in Philippians 3:13b-14–that you might do to–to help him keep moving forward on the path God had placed Him?

Lesson 13

After fleeing from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites came up against a wall of sorts: the Red Sea was in front of them, and the Egyptian army was pursuing them from behind, as Pharaoh had once again changed his mind about letting them go free. When God told Moses to “Stand firm,” he did, even though there seemed to be no possible way of escape.

1. Why is “standing firm” so hard to do sometimes?

2. What was the people’s reaction when they found themselves trapped in this fretful situation?

3. What did God say in response to their fears?

4. How can this story encourage you when you’re facing something in life where the odds seem insurmountably against you?

Lesson 14

After standing firm for just the right length of time, God told Moses to raise His staff and stretch out his hand over the sea. Although it may have seemed pointless to Moses, he did it, and the sea parted in front of him, and the Israelites crossed over on dry ground with a wall of water on each side of them.

1. Why do you think God asked Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea, when the text says that it was God who drove back the sea with a strong wind?

2. While God certainly encourages us to pray about the situations in our lives, why is it that prayer alone may not always accomplish what God wants to accomplish?

3. Can you think of some other stories in the Bible where people put their faith in action and saw remarkable results, even though it was clear that it was God who was doing that which was remarkable?

4. Are there situations in your life where God might be calling you to “raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea,” even though doing so might seem unlikely to accomplish much of anything unless God intervenes?

Lesson 15

When the Israelites came through the Red Sea, having seen the waves part before them, then close in behind them on the encroaching Egyptian army, they sang a song to the Lord. The song helped them express their love for their God, and has been sung and remembered for generations so others can express their love to God as well.

1. Have you ever written a poem or a song in honor of someone special, and if so, what was their reaction?

2. How might God react to such a song or poem, whether or not you wrote it yourself or sang one that someone else had written?

3. How might remembering what God has done for you in a song or poem help to solidify the event in your mind, as well as to others in the future?

4. Why not take some time right now to right down a few words or phrases of something you’d like to express to God about what He’s done for you in your life, then keep writing until they come together in a poem or song?

Summary Questions – Lessons 11-15

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He did some specific things to help them to stay free, such as putting them on the longer path to the Promised Land, and to ask them to commemorate the event with an annual feast. He also gave them some additional signs of His power among them by having them stand firm when things seemed to be caving in, and parting the sea in front of them when Moses raised his staff.

1. If you’ve seen the movies “The Ten Commandments” or “The Prince of Egypt,” share with the group your thoughts on how faithful those movies were to the story you read in the Bible about the parting of the Red Sea.

2. Look again at the story of the parting of the Red Sea in the Bible, and share what aspects of the story make you think this was not just a little creek or river they crossed, nor that the water simply receded on its own for a short period of time, like a tide that goes in and out with the phases of the moon.

3. What are some reasons that God wanted the Israelites to commemorate their coming out of Egypt year after year?

4. Why did God want to take the Israelites to the Promised Land on an indirect path, and why might God sometimes put us on indirect path in life as well?

5. What feelings might you go through if God set you free from something, only to find yourself backed up against a seemingly impassible wall–and then He told you to just “stand firm”?

6. When God is clearly the one who does some of the miracles in our lives, why is it that He still wants us to take some step of action toward bringing it about?

7. If you’ve written a poem or song about something God has done in your life, maybe you’d want to share it with the group at this point, so they can rejoice and be encouraged along with you!

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 11-15, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Proverbs 3:5-6 again, and share where you feel you are, on a scale of 1-10 (ten being the highest), in trusting the Lord with all your heart for the situations you’re facing in life.

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering that when we trust in the Lord with all our heart, He will make our paths straight.

Lesson 16

Three days after their dramatic flight through the Red Sea, the people were desperate for God again: they grumbled against Moses for they had not found water in the desert for three days, and when they did it was undrinkable. So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord answered his prayer, showing him how to make the bitter water sweet.

1. What kinds of things cause people to go from praising God for one deliverance to grumbling against Him again in such a short time?

2. How would you describe the difference between “grumbling” and “crying out to God,” if there is any difference?

3. How, specifically, did God answer Moses’ cry?

4. If you were to cry out to God today with a specific prayer request, how confident are you that He might give you a specific answer to your prayer?

Lesson 17

Having discovered water and manna in the desert, the Israelites began to tire of the daily provision God had given them and they cried out for more. God heard their cries, and in an effort to remind them that He was still the Lord their God, their provider, He told them to expect meat to eat every night and every morning.

1. God is our provider, yet sometimes we don’t connect our prayers with His provisions. Have you ever taken time to write down your prayer requests, then gone back later to see how God answered them?

2. If so, share your experience. (If not, you might consider trying it!) Have you ever had God answer your prayers in a way that you know that He’s the Lord, that He’s the only one who could have orchestrated the answer you received?

3. Even though God answered the Israelites prayers in this story, what is it about their request and God’s answer that seems to fall short of the beautiful relationship God wished to have with them?

4. What might we do in our prayer time that would both honor God for who He is, yet also express our practical needs to Him?

Lesson 18

When the Israelites ran out of water again, they took out their anger on Moses. But instead of taking it personally, Moses took it to the Lord, and the Lord reminded them all that He was indeed still with them.

1. Have you noticed that people can be fickle at times, swaying from fully supporting something to fully opposing it on what seems like a moment’s notice?

2. When people oppose you, how well do you do, on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being you do great) at taking it to the Lord instead of taking it personally?

3. What effect might if have on your heart and attitude if you knew that the Lord was with you in situations like this? (Not that He is necessarily “siding” with you, but that He is indeed with you, nonetheless).

4. How did God answer Moses when Moses came to Him, and how might God answer you when you come to him?

Lesson 19

When the Israelites went into battle, Moses told Joshua to choose some men and go fight the battle, while Moses went with Aaron and Hur to the top of a hill. Each man had to take his position and maintain his position in order to see the victory.

1. Why might Moses have sent Joshua into the battle, while Moses himself went up to the top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands?

2. What benefit did it seem to give Joshua and his men for Moses to hold his staff high in the air during the fight? (and why might they have faltered when Moses lowered the staff?)

3. Are there some ways in which this statement applies to you, too? “It’s not a matter of whether or not you want to be a role model. You are a role model. The question is whether you’re going to be a good role model or a bad one.”

4. If you’re currently facing any battles in your life, what position has God called you to take, and how can you better take your position and maintain your position?

Lesson 20

In many ways, Moses has been almost totally alone in his efforts to set the Israelites free. But in chapter 17, God begins setting the stage for others to join him in his efforts, when God tells Moses to take the elders with him as he takes his next step of faith.

1. What are some of the pros and cons of taking your steps of faith in public, versus taking them in private?

2. How is the challenge Moses faces in this chapter the same as some of the challenges he’s faced earlier?

3. What level of confidence do you think Moses felt in going and doing what God had called him to do, at least compared to the Israelites needed help with their water supply?

4. If God were to call you to take a few others with you on your next step of faith, who might you take, and how might they benefit from being with you?

Summary Questions – Lessons 16-20

Even after helping to set the Israelites free, Moses faced several battles in the desert: battles of faith, battles within the camp, and battles outside the camp. But whenever Moses cried out to God, God answered his prayers with miraculous provision and practical steps that Moses could take to meet the needs around him.

1. As much as the Israelites wanted to be free from their bondage, there were times when they seemed to wonder if it would have been better to have stayed in Egypt. Why is that, and have you ever felt that way?

2. Having read about the Israelites fickleness about going back and forth in their view of their situation, what would you say is one of the keys to remaining firmly on course?

3. While we are always dependent on God for every breath we take, what happens that makes us feel like we can sometimes live without Him? And what usually happens to make us realize our utter dependence upon Him once again?

4. Is it possible to express our practical needs to God in a way that still honors Him and expresses our trust in Him, rather than our frustration in Him? If so, how?

5. How was Moses able to not take it personally when the people grumbled against him, and how can we not take it personally when people grumble against us?

6. In what areas of your life do you feel like your life is on display? And how does what you display affect those around you?

7. Are most of your steps of faith ones that you’ve taken privately, or have you ever had to take steps of faith in public, in one way or another? If so, what has been the effect of taking a public step of faith?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 16-20, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Matthew 28:20b again, and share what difference it would make in your life if you believed Jesus’ statement and took it to heart, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering that Jesus is with you always, to the very end of the age.

Lesson 21

After some time in the desert, Moses began to feel the strain of Moses being the sole judge over the people’s disputes. On the verge of wearing himself out, as well as the people, Moses’ father-in-law urged him to get help in the form of putting a system in place of additional leaders who could help Moses judge the people’s disputes.

1. How well can you relate with these words of Mother Teresa, who said, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”

2. What do you think about the question, “Why would God give you more to do than one person to do?”

3. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do, what do you think of these two options: 1) either God hasn’t give you all of those things to do and you might need to back out of some of them, or 2) God has given you all those things to do and you might need to find a new way to do them?

4. What kind of solutions might God be showing you right now about how to accomplish all that He’s given you to do?

Lesson 22

When the Israelites reached the mountain to which God told them to go, God also told Moses that He would allow the people to hear Him speaking to Moses, so that they would always put their trust in him. God wanted to establish Moses in the eyes of the people, so that they would listen to and follow his lead for the rest of their time together.

1. Have you ever stepped out in faith for yourself, only to realize later that your step of faith encouraged others to step out in faith as well? Consider some of the people who are in your “sphere of influence,” the people you encounter in a typical week (such as family, friends and co-workers, as well as others you come in contact with: bank tellers, postal workers, doctors, nurses, people on the Internet, etc.)

2. How might they be affected by your thoughts, words and actions this week?

3. What are some ways that God may have already “established” you in their eyes, as an ambassador for Him?

4. How might God use your faith in God this week to help others grow in their faith in Him?

Lesson 23

God gave Moses and the people a set of rules to follow, the Ten Commandments. Those rules weren’t meant to put limits on the people to keep them in a new type of bondage, but to allow them to live as freely as possible and still stay in harmony with one another.

1. What’s your feeling about the Ten Commandments in general? Do you see them more as unnecessary restrictions on your life and putting you back under a new kind of bondage, or as words of wisdom to help you live more freely?

2. We often think of the Ten Commandments in terms of how they apply to us personally. But how do you think the Ten Commandments helped Moses as he began to include other leaders in helping him judge the people’s disputes?

3. In your own leadership of those around you, whether at home or work or other activities, how can rules help everything and everyone work more smoothly?

4. Are there any rules you might need to, or want to, put into place in the days ahead to help things run smoother in your life?

Lesson 24

The Ten Commandments are followed by over 600 more rules for living that God gave to Moses and the people in the desert. The rules would allow Moses and the people to know and understand how they could best live together in the coming years, and also to help the new set of leaders decide any disputes that arose among the people.

1. Do you think the Ten Commandments and the 600 rules that followed were altogether “new” rules that God wanted to give the people, or more likely a “codification” of the rules that God had already been using to help the people live together in harmony, or some combination of the two?

2. If God has given you wisdom in certain areas of your life, how might sharing that wisdom with others help them in their lives?

3. Consider some of the questions asked in today’s message and write down your answers: What topics in life has God spoken to you about the most? Or the most often? Or the most clearly? What questions have you struggled with, wrestled through, and found God’s answers?

4. What are some ways you might be able to share what you’ve learned from God with others?

Lesson 25

God promised the Israelites that He would bring them into a “promised land,” but He also knew that they weren’t yet able to occupy the entire land, that it would become desolate and the wild animals would overrun it. So God told them He would give it to them little by little, until they had increased enough to take possession of all of it.

1. What are some things you’re praying about right now where it seems God is delaying the answer?

2. How might this passage help you in seeing God’s perspective on those situations?

3. While you may feel like you’re ready for God’s full answer to your prayers, in what ways might He still want to “increase you” so that when the answer comes, you’ll be ready for it?

4. Read Ephesians 3:20, and consider what it might look like if God really answered your prayers in a way that was immeasurably more than all you could ask or imagine. How willing would you be to wait for an answer like that?

Summary Questions – Lessons 21-25

After setting the Israelites free from Egypt, God began to expand Moses’ ability to lead them through the desert by raising up more leaders to help him. God gave Moses and the people the Ten Commandments and over 600 other rules to help them live in freedom with each other, and by which the leader’s could judge the people’s disputes.

1. Look through the list of rules God gave the people in Exodus 20-23. Share with each one or two of the rules that stand out as particularly interesting or unusual to you.

2. Why do you think the laws of many nations around the world are still based on the rules God gave to the Israelites in the desert so many years ago? And what is it about the Top 10 that make them stand out from all the rest?

3. With all the wisdom Moses already had, why was it that Jethro was able to see a way for Moses to lead the people even better, a way that Moses either never considered before, or at least never implemented?

4. How might it affect you–in terms of what you say and do in your life–to know that others are watching your walk with God and could be directly influenced by it in one way or another?

5. What do you think of the idea of rules being like the tracks that enable a train to go as fast as it does, or a kite string that enables a kite to fly as high as it does?

6. What is one topic that you feel God has taught you the most about in life–or about which you have wrestled with the most and found some of God’s answers?

7. What reason did God give the Israelites for why He wasn’t going to give them the promised land all at once (see Exodus 23:29-30)? And how might that apply to any situations you’re facing in your life today?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 20-25, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Exodus 20:1-3 again and share why you think God put this first commandment ahead of all the rest.

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering the One True God you serve, and how very much He loves you.

Lesson 26

From the very beginning, God told Moses why He wanted to free the Israelites: so they could worship Him freely. And in chapter 24, Moses and several of his leaders finally got to go up to the mountain God had called them to, and they ate and drank in the presence of God.

1. Why does God seem to love it so much when we worship Him? What does it do for Him? And what does it do for us?

2. Even though there are more times of worship coming up for the Israelites, where everyone will be involved, what might have made this time of worship so special to God, to Moses, and to the elders that came with Him?

3. How do you best like to worship? With words? Your music? In your heart? In other ways?

4. Why not take some time right now to worship the Lord, whether it’s in your favorite way, or just in your heart, right where you are (which might be your favorite way!)

Lesson 27

God told Moses to have the people make a sanctuary for Him, a place where He would dwell among them. Just as God had spoken to Noah about the specific details of how to build the ark for the animals, God now gave Moses very specific instructions for how to build this place of worship.

1. What would you say to someone who says that God only speaks in generalities, such as “Love one another”?

2. Why might God want to speak so specifically to His people at times?

3. Do you believe that God could still speak so specifically to you about the situations you’re facing in your life? Why or why not?

4. Is there something you’d like to ask God for wisdom about? Take a few minutes to ask Him now, and listen for His answer.

Lesson 28

God told Moses make sacred garments for his brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor as he served as the high priest. God wanted to consecrate him in a special way for this special work of service.

1. Why do you think God may have wanted to set Aaron apart with special garments for his duties as a priest?

2. As you read through Exodus 28:1-40, what other reasons did God have for creating Aaron’s ephod and breastpiece the way He did, and who else would He be honoring through the specific symbols and engravings that He used?

3. Can you think of some people in your life who might benefit from being honored for the work they’re doing?

4. If so, are there some specific ways you might be able to give them such dignity and honor?

Lesson 29

God called Moses to anoint, ordain and consecrate Aaron and his sons for the work of service God had called them to do. Moses was to anoint them with a special mixture of oil and spices, blended specifically for this purpose of consecrating them for this work.

1. Can you think of other people in the Bible whom God anointed for the work they were to do? (see 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16, 1 Kings 1:39, for examples)

2. What purpose does anointing people with oil seem to serve?

3. What purpose might anointing people with oil serve today?

4. In Luke 4:18, Jesus quoted the words of Isaiah the prophet and said that God had anointed Him for a specific purpose. What was that purpose, and how might God want you to serve others with that same purpose?

Lesson 30

Moses was able to accomplish all the work that God had for him to do because he was able to put a system in place, a system that involved other people in the work. Thankfully, he didn’t have to do it all alone, and God showed him specific steps he could take to make it happen all along the way.

1. Consider what might have happened to Moses had he not gotten others involved in the work? What would his life have been like, and what would the people’s lives have been like that he served?

2. By involving others in the work, how was he able to expand the work that God had called him to do?

3. What are some barriers that might keep you from involving others in the work that God has called you to do? And what are some of the benefits of involving them in the work?

4. When you weigh the barriers against the benefits, are there some things you might do differently in your own life having seen the example of Moses in this study?

Summary Questions – Lessons 26-30

God called Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt so they could worship Him freely. Once in the desert, God gave the Israelites specific instructions for creating a place of worship that was beautiful and enthralling, setting apart various people for various purposes.

1. Read through some of the verses about why God wanted to set the people free from their bondage: Exodus 3:12, 4:23, 7:16, 8:1, 8:20, 9:1, 9:13, 10:3, 24:1. Why does bondage sometimes keep people from being able to worship?

2. Some people seem to be able to worship even while they’re being held captive by others. Are such people really in bondage or not?

3. What do you think of the statement: “The degree of freedom we have in our lives is directly proportional to the degree to which we’re able to worship God from our hearts.”

4. Some people think God only speaks in generalities, like “Love one another.” While that’s certainly true, can you give some examples from the Bible where God spoke to people very specifically?

5. Just as Moses was called to make sacred garments for the priests who served God alongside of him, are there some specific ways you can give “dignity and honor” to those whom God may have called to serve alongside you?

6. Can you think of some examples of when God anointed people for His work? In what ways can we anoint, consecrate, or dedicate people to God’s work today?

7. In what ways might involving others in the work God has called you to do help to expand that work exponentially?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 26-30, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Matthew 11:28 again, and share what how worshiping God can help you ease your burdens and give you rest. Share also how it might do the same for God!

10. Close in prayer for each other, remembering that God has called you out of bondage so you can worship Him.

Lesson 31

God called the Israelites to make an offering to Him twice a day: once in the morning and once in the evening. As they did this, He told them that He would meet with them and speak with them there.

1. While there are benefits of talking to God throughout the day, what’s the benefit of setting aside time every morning and every evening to come to talk with Him?

2. Do you have a routine in place that helps you to spend time with God at least once or twice a day? If not, is it something you’d like to start?

3. What are some ways that using a devotional can enhance your quiet time with God, in addition to just reading the Bible itself?

4. Consider making a plan for spending quiet time with God twice a day. Write down what you might study during that time. If you don’t have anything in mind, consider looking for some devotionals or other tools that could help you make the most of your time with God.

Lesson 32

God asked Aaron to build an altar where he could burn incense every morning and at twilight. Having a special place and a special activity to do at the altar created a fragrant offering to the Lord.

1. Do you have a special “place” where you have quiet time before the Lord?

2. If you do have a special place, where is it? And if you don’t, what are some places that might lend themselves to quiet moments with Him?

3. How can spending quiet time with God be like a fragrant offering to Him?

4. If there’s something else you’d like to do in your quiet time with God that would make it special, write it here.

Lesson 33

God asked Moses to make a bronze basin where people could wash their hands and feet before entering the Tent of Meeting. Being washed clean first would keep them from dying.

1. While there’s value in coming to God “just as you are,” what value might there be in getting washed clean before coming into His presence?

2. What does unconfessed sin do to our intimacy with others?

3. How can unconfessed sin affect our relationship with God?

4. If you’re aware of any unconfessed sin in your life, read 1 John 1:19 again and be encouraged to bring those sins to God and receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

Lesson 34

After calling the people to make all kinds of beautiful things for their place of worship, God pointed out those whom He had given special skills to carry out that work. He says He also filled them with His Spirit to take on these special tasks.

1. God seems to have equipped the Israelites with special skills even while they were in bondage. How did He want them to use those skills now that they were free?

2. Even with the special skills God had given them, why did He also need to fill them with His Spirit?

3. What are some special skills God has given you that you, even skills that you may have acquired in a totally secular way, that you could now use for Him?

4. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit, to enable you to do those things He has called you to do.

Lesson 35

Even with all the work God called the Israelites to do, He also wanted to make sure they had a break one day out of every seven. This followed the example He Himself set for us by taking a Sabbath of rest after creating the world in six days.

1. Are you ever reluctant to “rest” on the Sabbath day?

2. Why do you think God was so serious about people taking a Sabbath day of rest, saying that anyone who didn’t rest was to be put to death?

3. The Sabbath is a day to recharge our batteries, just like sleep recharges us at night, except that on the Sabbath, we get to stay awake and enjoy the time of rest! What are some things you could do on the Sabbath, if you could do anything at all, that would bring “rest to your soul”?

4. Can you do any of those things on this coming Sabbath? If so, why not give it a try?

Summary Questions – Lessons 31-35

God wanted to meet with the people at the Tent of Meeting. He gave them several details for making the most of their meeting time with Him, from the timing and location, to the preparations they could make before and during their time together.

1. Why do you think God the Creator longs to meet with those whom He has created?

2. If you were in His place, why would you want to spend time with those you had created?

3. Why do you think God wanted the people to meet with and talk with Him every morning and at twilight?

4. If you have a regular place or time that you meet with God, where and when do you do it? If not, where might you do it?

5. How can confessing your sins to God help you in your relationship with Him?

6. What kinds of skills has God given you that God might be able to use for Him? And how would His filling you with His Spirit help you in using those gifts?

7. What would you do if you could do something on the next Sabbath day that would truly bring “rest to your soul”?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 31-35, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Matthew 11:28-30 again and think through how having daily, and even twice daily quiet times with God can help bring rest to your soul. Share also how keeping the Sabbath free from work can also bring you God’s rest.

10. Close in prayer for each other, asking God to help you take time out of your days and weeks to get recharged with Him.

Lesson 36

People are wired to worship, and they’re going to worship something, whether it’s God or something else. God wants us to focus our worship on Him.

1. While God was telling Moses all the incredible things He wanted the people to do with their skills and resources, they created a golden calf worshiped it instead, as Moses had not yet come down from the mountain. How does this reinforce the fact that people are “wired” to worship?

2. Even though we’re wired to worship, does it make much difference what we worship?

3. Can the same thing be said for love…if we’re wired for love, does it make much difference with whom we choose to share that love?

4. Are you worshiping anything other than what God wants you to worship? If so, why not refocus your worship back on Him today?

Lesson 37

When the people turned away from God, God was ready to let them perish in their sinfulness. But Moses reminded God of what would happen if He did, that the other nations would look at God as if He were evil, and the promises God had made for their future would be thwarted.

1. Some people think that God appears to be mean in the Old Testament. But given all that He had done for the Israelites up to this point, do you think He was acting with evil intent?

2. Even though Moses might have been tempted to agree with God, that the people should be wiped out, why did He plead with God to spare them?

3. Do you ever encounter people, and their sins, whom seem to deserve any punishment God might dole out to them?

4. What might happen if you pleaded with God for mercy on them in their behalf?

Lesson 38

Moses pleaded with God for the lives of the Israelites, offering to have God’s wrath come upon him instead of upon them, even though they were the ones who have sinned. God responded by dealing with their sin, but also in showing great mercy.

1. What did Moses say that God could do to Him if He wasn’t willing to forgive the people’s sins (verse 32)? Why would Moses put himself on the line like that?

2. How does what Moses did compare to what Jesus did for us?

3. While we may have to deal with people who sin, how can we do it in a way that reflects the hearts of Moses and Jesus when people sinned around them?

4. How might someone act differently if they had a heart of hate for those who sin, instead of a heart of love?

Lesson 39

Moses was distressed that even though God wasn’t going to destroy the people for their sin of creating and worshiping the golden calf, that He wasn’t going to go with them on the rest of their journey either. Moses made it a point thereafter to regularly meet with God in the “tent of meeting,” to continue pleading with God on their behalf.

1. How did Moses speak with God when they met at the tent of meeting?

2. Joshua was a young aid to Moses at this time, and later was selected to lead the people into the promised land. How is Joshua’s heart for the Lord revealed in this passage (verse 11)?

3. What might you do to enhance your time with God, to be sure that you’ve truly met with Him during the day?

4. While Moses spoke with God face to face, how do we speak with God and hear from Him today (see John 16:13)?

Lesson 40

Just like Moses and Joshua stepped into the tent of meeting to meet with God, we, too can step into His presence at any moment, anywhere we are.

1. While some people wish they had a tent of meeting where they could visit with God, God has now given us His Holy Spirit, who dwells within us. In what ways is this even better than the tent of meeting that Moses and Joshua had?

2. How free do you think you have to be before you can step into the presence of the Lord?

3. What sometimes keeps you from stepping into God’s presence maybe more than you might like to do?

4. As today’s devotional suggests at the end, why not take a little time to just step into His presence today?

Summary Questions – Lessons 36-40

People are wired to worship, but sometimes they focus their attention on things other than God. When they do, God wants them to refocus on Him. Moses, like Jesus, pleaded with God to forgive others of their sins, even though they may have deserved any punishment that He would have given them. God wants us to have the same heart for others, pleading their cause even if they deserve otherwise.

1. When Moses saw the people sinning, after all the miracles they had seen, what could he have done instead of pleading for their forgiveness? And what might have been the result if God did what he had said?

2. How did Moses’ heart for God carry over into his heart for the people (see Exodus 32:8-14).

3. What evidence in life makes you think that we really are “wired” to worship, even if we don’t always worship the right thing.

4. What can we learn from Moses’ conversation with God on behalf of the people in terms of how we can stand in the gap for others as well?

5. How can we deal with sin, yet with a heart like Jesus?

6. While Moses got to meet with God and hear from Him in the tent of meeting, how has God enabled each of us to meet with Him and hear from Him today (see John 16:13)?

7. These lessons are a reminder that you can step into and out of God’s presence at any moment. How can this reminder help you face the week ahead?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 36-40, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Exodus 33:11 again and consider what it must have been like to be a young aid in the presence of Moses, watching him converse with God as he did. Share how that experience may have prepared and equipped Joshua to eventually lead the people into the Promised Land.

10. Close in prayer for each other, asking God to remind you step into His presence at any moment in the week ahead.

Lesson 41

For as many conversations as Moses had with God throughout their time before, during and after the Exodus from Egypt, Moses still asks to see more of God, saying “Now show me your glory.” Moses continually longer for a more and more intimate relationship with God, asking God to reveal more and more of Himself to Moses.

1. For all that Moses and God had been through together, why might Moses have wanted to go deeper still in his relationship with God?

2. What does this say about our relationships with God, whether we’re new to that relationship or whether we’ve been in a relationship with Him for years?

3. How might you apply the biblical idea of “knowing” someone to your relationship with God?

4. What might happen if you were to ask God to show you His glory like Moses did? Why not ask and find out?

Lesson 42

Moses asked God to show him God’s glory. God responded by letting His name pass before Moses, a name that described in His essence, who He was, in detail.

1. What’s been your view of God in the Old Testament?

2. Does God’s description of Himself here in Exodus 34:1-7 match the view you’ve had, or not?

3. In what ways did Jesus exhibit similar traits in the New Testament?

4. In what ways has God shown His grace to you (read Romans 5:8 again for ideas), and in what ways can you show that grace to others?

Lesson 43

When God passed in front of Moses, Moses’ response was immediate: he bowed bowed down and worshiped, “at once.” God often passes by us during the days, too, because He’s not just in the big things or just the little things―He’s in all things.

1. Have you ever had an experience where you felt like God passed by you, even if it were for a fleeting moment?

2. If so, what was your reaction at the time?

3. Why was “worship” an appropriate response for Moses when God passed by? And why is it appropriate for us as well?

4. When you ask God to show you His glory, be prepared to respond the way Moses did―with worship!

Lesson 44

God had many things He wanted to do for the Israelites, and He had many things He called Moses to do to help Him. What resulted from their conversations in their quiet times together has impacted people for thousands of years.

1. If God can do all things, why does He need our help?

2. If He has so much He wants us to do, why do we need His help?

3. What’s the relationship between praying and doing the work God wants us to do?

4. Can you think of anything from your own quiet times with God that has changed the course of your life or the lives of others?

Lesson 45

After Moses had spent an extended time in God’s presence, he came out with his face shining so bright that he had to wear a veil in front of the people. Just like the moon reflects the brightness of the sun, bringing light in the darkness, so we too can reflect the glory of God, bringing light to those around us.

1. How did being in God’s presence change King David?

2. How did being in God’s presence change Moses?

3. How can being in God’s presence change you?

4. How can your being in God’s presence change those around you, even without that being your initial goal?

Summary Questions – Lessons 41-45

Moses asked God to show him God’s glory and God did it, by making His name pass in front of Moses. As a result, Moses got to know God more intimately than before, eventually even reflecting God’s glory to all those around him.

1. Why do you think one of God’s greatest gifts is to give us eternal life with Him? How long do you think it would take to get to know Him as intimately and as fully as possible?

2. Why do you think Moses would want to see more of God’s glory, even after all the miracles and amazing things Moses had seen already?

3. Why do we long for intimacy in our human relationships? And how does this translate to our relationship with God?

4. What are some things that would be on God’s nametag, according to Exodus 34:5-7?

5. What was Moses’ immediate response when God did allow His glory to pass before Him?

6. What’s the relationship between prayer and the things God wants to do through us?

7. How did spending time in God’s presence change Moses? And how can it change us (and even those around us)?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 41-45, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Psalm 4 again and consider why David often goes into God’s presence in distress and comes out of God’s presence with peace. Share any similar experiences you may have had in your life.

10. Close in prayer for each other, asking God to change you as you come into His presence.

Lesson 46

When it came time to carry out the work that God had laid before Moses and the people, Moses made to the call to all who were willing and skilled. The response was so overwhelming that Moses had to restrain the people from bringing more.

1. Why is it so hard for us to sometimes ask for help?

2. Rather than demanding people to participate, Moses called on everyone who was “willing.” What difference do you think it made to the people for Moses to make his call the way he did?

3. What did Moses have to trust when he put out the call like he did?

4. If there’s something God has put on your heart to do for Him, and you don’t think you can possibly do it yourself, who might you call to help you out?

Lesson 47

After Moses made the call to all who were willing and skilled, the people set about doing the work that God had called them to do. They followed God’s plan in every detail, and produced a masterpiece in the end: a beautiful place to worship God.

1. Have you ever been so consumed by the planning for a project that when it came time to put the plan into practice, you felt like you were out of steam?

2. What from Moses’ story might encourage you to do the work, even keeping to all the details, that God has called you to do?

3. Is there anything you or others could do to help you through this time, to give you strength for the work ahead?

4. Let me encourage you to do as the Israelites did: Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t stop pushing now. Dow the work! And get it done!

Lesson 48

Moses and the people found the strength to finally “finish the work,” just as God had commanded them to do. And as they did His reward for them was just around the corner.

1. Are there some projects in your life that might be at 211 degrees, just one degree short of that which would bring the fruit from all your labor?

2. What encouragement can you take from the examples in today’s devotional that could help you add that one final degree of heat to “finish the work.”

3. What does the Apostle Paul say will be the result of our work, if we don’t get weary along the way (see Galatians 6:9)?

4. Determine in your heart today to finish the work God has given you to do.

Lesson 49

When Moses and the people had finished the work God called them to do, God showed up in a powerful way. His glory so filled their place of worship that they couldn’t even get into it!

1. What did the glory of the Lord look like as it came down upon the work the people had finished?

2. How was this yet another specific answer to Moses’ prayer back in Exodus 33:18?

3. Who could see the glory of the Lord as it came down upon their work? And what effect did that have on the people?

4. As you finish the work God has given you to do, ask God again to once again show you His glory!

Lesson 50

God had a reason for setting the Israelites free: to worship Him. After setting them free, God gave them specific ways to stay free and to set others free, too–ways which often involved worshiping Him!

1. If worshiping God from your heart is the measure of truly being free, how free do you feel?

2. What was God’s plan for the Israelites from even before they were taken away into bondage (see Genesis 15:14)? And what happened?

3. What is God’s plan for your life from even before you were taken taken into bondage (see John 3:16)? And what’s going to happen?

4. Reread Mark 16:15. What can you do this week to join God in His plan?

Summary Questions – Lessons 46-50

After all the planning and praying about the work God had called the Israelites to do, the time finally came to do it. They did the work, and God’s glory covered their work in a way that everyone could see it.

1. What’s the most exciting part of a project for you? Getting the idea, starting the work, finishing the work, seeing the results of the work?

2. What can keep you motivated throughout the whole process?

3. When the time came for Moses to execute the plan God had given him to do, who did Moses call (see Exodus 35:4-10)?

4. Do you ever get tempted to give up on a project just when it’s time to finally do the work? What encouragement can you take from the Israelites story in Exodus 36:8-13?

5. What’s the “212 Principle,” and how can might it apply to any situations you’re facing right now in your life?

6. What happened when the people finally finished the work? What came down and covered it? And how did this answer Moses’ prayer in Exodus 33:18?

7. What was the goal of the Exodus from the very beginning, as found in Exodus 3:12?

8. Look through the rest of the questions and your answers for Lessons 46-50, and share with the group one or two that might be particularly significant to what you’re going through in life right now.

9. Read Genesis 15:14 again and consider God’s long term plan for them from the very beginning. Then take encouragement from God’s long term plan for you, as found in John 3:16!

10. Read John 4:23-24 and close in prayer for each other, asking God to help you to worship Him fully, in spirit and in truth.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 50: Free To Worship

You’re reading EXODUS: LESSONS IN FREEDOM, by Eric Elder, featuring fifty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most dramatic, yet practical books in the Bible. Also available in paperback and eBook formats in our bookstore for a donation of any size!

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:12

Thanks for taking the time to go through this study of the book of Exodus with me. I’ve learned a lot from the story of how God set the Israelites free, and I hope you have, too.

As we close out our time together, I’d like to remind you of three key points from this study that apply directly to each of our lives.

1) God set the Israelites free so they could worship Him―and that’s the same reason He set you free, too.

This reason is stated throughout the book of Exodus, from the first time that God called to Moses from the burning bush: “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain’ ” (Exodus 3:12b).

To the words Moses spoke to Pharaoh: “Go to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Let my people go, so that they may worship me’ ” (Exodus 8:1b).

To the concluding scene of the entire book, when the glory of the Lord descended on the place the Israelites built to worship Him: “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34).

To be truly free means to be able to worship God with your whole heart. If you can worship God with your whole heart, regardless of whatever else might be going on around you, you’re free! But if you can’t worship God in your heart, for whatever reason, you’re still in bondage, and God wants to set you free.

If that’s the case, you might want to review these lessons again to look for ideas to help you get fully free.

2) God helped the Israelites to stay free―and He wants to help you stay free, too.

God’s help included a system of rules to keep the Israelites, and each of us, from plunging back into bondage again. These rules are summarized in the Ten Commandments:

“You shall have no other gods before me…

You shall not make for yourself an idol…

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God…

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy…

Honor your father and your mother…

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet…” (from Exodus 20:1-17).

Rather than restricting us, these rules free us to live the abundant life God has created us to live.

Again, if you’ve gotten free in the past, but are struggling to stay free now, you might want to review these lessons again for more insights on how to restore the freedom you once had.

3) God invited Moses to take part in His plan to set others free―just like God is inviting you to take part in it, too.

Hundreds of years before Moses was even born, God had a plan for setting the Israelites free. God told Abraham:

“Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions” (Genesis 15:14).

And that’s exactly what happened. God had a plan in mind for setting His people free, and He called on Moses to help Him with that plan.

God has a plan for setting others free, too, and He’s called on you and me to help Him with that plan.

What’s His plan? God knew that our sins would enslave us―and eventually kill us. So God sent Jesus, His Son, to die for our sins so we could be free to live with Him forever:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

After dying for our freedom, and rising again from the dead, Jesus asked His followers to do one more thing:

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

He’s inviting you into His plan. Won’t you join Him?

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 49: The Glory Of The Lord Covers The Work

Scripture Reading: Exodus 40:34-38

We’ve come to the last five verses, and the spectacular conclusion, of the book of Exodus. Take a look at what happens when Moses finishes the work:

“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out―until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels” (Exodus 40:34-38).

What is it that Moses sees that so fills the tabernacle that he can’t even get into it? The glory of the Lord―the very thing that Moses had asked to see back in Exodus 33:18 when he said, “Now show me your glory.” But this time, Moses wasn’t the only one who got to see it―everyone got to see it!

There’s a lesson here for me, for you and for everyone who does their work as if working for the Lord: when you’ve finished the work, been obedient to the vision, and brought it to its conclusion, the glory of the Lord can finally come down on your work in a way that everyone can see it.

I’ve had some experiences in my life where I’ve sensed the presence of God in a way that I can only describe as “the glory of the Lord.” I’m not an expert in the glory of the Lord, but from what I’ve read in the Bible, from what I’ve learned from other Christians, and from what I’ve experienced in my own life, the glory of the Lord seems to be actual “stuff,” like the air we breathe. It’s real, physical and tangible. It can be seen, sensed and felt.

I’ve sensed it during worship, when one time I was just singing to God in what seemed to be a normal, enjoyable worship experience, and all of a sudden, the presence of the Lord was so real and tangible that I felt like I couldn’t move if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to! I wanted to stay in His presence as long as I possibly could!

I’ve sensed it during my quiet times, when once I was sitting back on my couch, writing in my journal, and suddenly felt like melted butter was being poured into my chest. Maybe it was the oil of the Holy Spirit, if that sounds more palatable, but whatever words I would use to describe it couldn’t do justice to what I felt during those precious minutes with the Lord.

I’d love to be able to finish a project and see the glory of the Lord come down and cover it in a way that everyone could see it, so that I couldn’t even stand up anymore! At that point, I wouldn’t care! If my purpose in doing all that I do is to worship the Lord, as was the case for the Israelites, then who cares if He bowls me over when it’s done, and I’m laid out flat on the floor in His presence? That’s right where I’d want to be anyway! I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else!

If the Lord picked up and moved, I’d want to pick up and move with Him, like the Israelites who followed Him. I wouldn’t want to stay back! I’d want to be with God!

My prayer for you as you work on your own projects for the Lord, and even as you come to the the end of this study with me, is that when you’ve finished the work, been obedient to the vision, and brought it to its conclusion, that the glory of the Lord would show up in such a way that you, and everyone else, can see it.

Now, may the Lord show you His glory!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 48: Finish The Work

Scripture Reading: Exodus 39:33-40:33

We’re just around the corner from the end of this study of the book of Exodus. Appropriately, then, this lesson is called, “Finish The Work.”

Today is “payday” for Moses and for all the people traveling with him. They’re about to reach the culmination of all that they’ve worked for, and all that they’ve been set free for: to worship God.

The details of their work, as listed in Exodus chapters 39 and 40, might seem trivial, dull and something to skip over to someone just skimming through the Bible. But if you’ve ever worked on a building project yourself, you know that when the end of the project starts coming into view, those days can be some of the most exciting and beautiful days of the entire project!

Can you imagine what the people who were building this place of worship must have thought as they saw it all finally coming together? They’ve just carved all these beautiful things, gilded them with gold, and decorated them with all kinds of precious stones. They’ve just crafted beautiful works of art that were conceived in the very mind of God Himself.

Then they started bringing them forward to Moses, letting him look over each item to see that it was finished exactly as God had described them to him on the mountain. They begin to put it all together, standing each piece up in its place. They light the lamps, burn the incense, and put the tablets of stone, the very words of God, into the ark of the covenant, and Wow! The work is finally complete!

The whole process concludes with these words:

“So all the work on the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, was completed. The Israelites did everything just as the LORD commanded Moses….And so Moses finished the work” (Exodus 39:32, 40:33b).

What a powerful moment! Have you ever heard about something called the “212 Principle,” popularized in a book by Mac Anderson and Sam Parker? At 211 degrees Fahrenheit, water is hot, but at 212 degrees, water boils. And when water boils, you get steam, and steam can power a locomotive. Although there’s only one degree of difference between 211 and 212, that extra degree can be enough to take all the previous effort over the top!

I don’t know what kind of project you might be working on right now. I don’t know if you’re at 211 degrees, or 150, or 98.6! But I do know that we all have a tendency to wear out when we’re working on a project, even a project that God has clearly called us to do. We can get to the point where we’re not sure if we can take one more step. We’re not sure that we can raise the temperature one more degree. But let me encourage you that if God’s called you to do it, keep on doing it!

The American inventor, Thomas Edison, worked non-stop for several years to perfect the light bulb. He tested over 6,000 materials to use for filaments―everything from bamboo to cedar to hickory. After thousands of tests and a pile of failed materials that stacked up outside his house high enough to reach his second floor window, Edison finally hit upon a material that burned long enough, and bright enough, for commercial success: carbonized cotton.

Edison’s perseverance paid off, not only for himself, but for all of us who have benefited from his perseverance. Edison said, “Many of life’s failures were men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

The Apostle Paul, who knew how hard it was to persevere in the work of the Lord year after year, even in the face of endless persecution, hardship and personal suffering, still had enough confidence in the end result of that perseverance that he wrote to the people living in Galatia: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Don’t become weary in doing good! Finish the work! At the proper time, you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 47: Do The Work

Scripture Reading: Exodus 36:8-39:32

I don’t know about you, but there are times when I’ve planned, prayed and gotten things ready to take on a huge project, but by the time it comes to do the work, I’m already exhausted! I feel like a woman who’s nine months pregnant, but when it comes time to push, I don’t have the strength.

When we feel like we can’t push any farther, that’s often when we need to push the most. That’s often the culmination of all that we’ve worked so hard to achieve up to that point. If we stop pushing at the moment of delivery, we’re going to shortchange, and possibly even abort, the whole plan.

We’ve come to that point in the book of Exodus, too. We’re on Lesson 47 out of 50. With just three lessons to go, the people are finally ready to do the work that God had given Moses such a detailed vision for back on the mountaintop. Take a look at just a few of the verses as the work begins:

“All the skilled men among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. All the curtains were the same size―twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide. They joined five of the curtains together and did the same with the other five. Then they made loops of blue material along the edge of the end curtain in one set, and the same was done with the end curtain in the other set. They also made fifty loops on one curtain and fifty loops on the end curtain of the other set, with the loops opposite each other. Then they made fifty gold clasps and used them to fasten the two sets of curtains together so that the tabernacle was a unit” (Exodus 36:8-13).

The description of all the work continues in similar detail for another three chapters. Sometimes we can skip over these details in the Bible, but this is the foundation for what God called them to do. They came out of the desert to worship God, and now they’re building a place of worship to do it.

When I studied this passage initially, I heard about a songwriting contest. I had written a song about five years earlier that I really liked and had put a lot of time into, but never recorded it. The contest turned out to be just the thing I needed to finally spur me on to do the work and get it recorded. Although I didn’t exactly have the time to mess with this kind of thing, I felt like I needed to follow through on all the work I had previously done on the song.

So I stepped out of my comfort zone and sent an email to a woman in California. I loved her voice, but didn’t have any money to pay her for this project. I asked her if she’d still be willing to record the song for this contest, anyway. Amazingly, she said, “Yes,” and asked some of her friends to help her record it.

It turned out to be a beautiful recording, and although we didn’t win the contest, I was so thankful to have it recorded. When I called to thank her for her work on it, she said, “Oh, no, thank you! Thank you for asking and letting me do it!” She told me how the song had really ministered to her that week as she worked on it. Had I not “made the call” to get the work done, the song still wouldn’t be recorded, and those involved would have missed out on the blessing it turned out to be to them as well.

I know how hard it can be to “do the work” when the time finally comes to do it.

But for whatever project God’s given you, don’t lose heart. Don’t lose strength. This final push could be what finally delivers your “baby.” Many people will be blessed through your work, including those who work on it with you!

So don’t give up. Don’t give in. Don’t stop pushing now. Do the work! And get it done!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 46: Make The Call To All Who Are Willing And Skilled

Scripture Reading: Exodus 35:1-36:7

If God has put a vision on your heart to do something for Him, I want to encourage you today to take a step of faith: make the call to all who are willing and skilled to help you do what God wants done.

If you’re like me, asking for help is one of the hardest parts of carrying out God’s will. But I’m encouraged by what I read in Exodus chapter 35. Here we see that Moses has come down from the mountain with a detailed vision in mind for what God wanted him to do next: to build an incredible place of worship for God. Now, it’s time for Moses to ask the people for their help, to see if they will provide the resources and the labor to make it happen. How will he ask them? And how will they respond? Let’s take a look:

“Moses said to the whole Israelite community, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded: From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded…’ ” (Exodus 35:4-10).

He calls on all who are willing and skilled to “give” to the work and to “get involved” in the work. Now let’s look at the response:

“Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. … All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do” (Exodus 35:21, 29).

In the end, God had stirred the hearts of so many people that they had to be restrained from giving any more!

“Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: ‘No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.’ And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work” (Exodus 36:6-7).

When I first read this passage, I wondered what that must feel like, to see people give and get involved to such an extent that they had to be restrained from giving any more. But when I came back to this passage again to teach it to others, I was in the middle of raising funds for five of us to go on a missions trip to Africa. Up to that point, I had often questioned if we’d be able to raise enough for even one of us to go, let alone five.

I took encouragement from this passage, and kept pressing on. In the final weeks before our trip, I found myself having to tell people to not give any more to the trip, for we had already raised all that we needed for all five of us to go.

We can sometimes look at a passage like this, and even hear a story like I just told, and be either discouraged or encouraged, wondering why it’s not happening to us, or looking forward to when it will happen to us.

My encouragement to you is to make the call. Make the call to all who are willing to help you carry out the vision that God has put on your heart. As Christians, God has entrusted us with great visions, great plans and great ways to reach the world for Him. God wants us to step out in faith, make the call, and ask people to give and get involved in doing what God wants done. Make the call!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 45: Spending Time In God’s Presence Changes Us

Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:29-35

If you’ve ever read through the book of Psalms, you may have noticed that King David doesn’t always go into God’s presence with a really happy attitude, but he usually comes out with one.

Just flip through the Psalms and see how many times this happens. Psalm 4, for instance, starts with, “Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer” (verse 1), but it ends with, “I will lie down in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” (verse 8).

Over and over the pattern repeats. David starts out pretty angry with God, and angry with the people around him, but he ends up by praising God and trusting Him completely. Why?

Because spending time in God’s presence changes us. Sometimes we don’t even notice the change, but others do. And when they notice the change in us, it changes them, too.

Take a look at the change that took place in Moses when he spent time in God’s presence. In Exodus chapter 34, the change was so visible, it was reflected in his face:

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD” (Exodus 34:29-35).

Here’s a man with a super-tan! Moses had just asked God in Exodus chapter 33: “Show me your glory.” Later, when Moses came down from the mountain, he had God’s glory all over him! He was so radiant, so physically changed, that he had to put a veil over his face when he talked to other people!

Spending time in God’s presence changes us. The more time we spend with God, the more we’re changed we’ll be―physically, emotionally, spiritually―in all kinds of ways. Whenever we ask to see God’s glory, we shouldn’t be surprised to find that His glory is reflected in us.

What causes the moon to shine so bright? It’s the reflection of the sun. There’s nothing inherent in the moon to make it light up the night. That’s what God wants to do through each one of us. He wants us to spend time with Him, absorbing His glory, so we can go out and reflect the light of His Son into the darkness of the world around us.

Moses wasn’t even aware how his time with God had changed him. But others were. The glory that covered Moses was certainly for Moses’ benefit, but it also overflowed to all of those around him.

If you’ll diligently spend time with God, you’ll start to see that the overflow from your time with Him will naturally touch other people. Although this may not be your main purpose for spending time with God, He can use the overflow of your experience to “prime the pump” for others.

Spending time in God’s presence changes us. Although you may come into His presence tired, angry, frustrated or broken, chances are good that a little time with the Creator of the universe, the One who gave you life and breath, will give you new life, too. He’ll restore you, encourage you, strengthen you and help you to put your trust in Him more and more.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 44: Our Role And God’s Role

Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:11-28

We’re going to look in this lesson at something that puzzles a lot of people, including me. Sometimes we wonder how much we have to do for God, and how much He’s going to do for us. It’s hard to find the balance. The truth is that we both have roles to play. God has things He wants us to do, and then there are things He says He’ll do.

A quick look at Exodus chapter 34, verses 10-28, when God made a covenant with the Israelites, shows these two roles. If you take a look at that passage, you’ll see that God says there are things He’s going to do, and then He says there are things He wants them to do.

Here are a few things that God says He’s going to do for them:

He’ll do wonders never before done in any nation of the world (verse 10)
He’ll drive out the nations ahead of them (verse 11)
He’ll enlarge their territory (verse 24)

And here are a few things that God wants them to do:

Obey what He commands (verse 11)
Don’t make cast idols (verse 17) (I think this was just a reminder about the golden calf, “That was a bad move guys, don’t ever do that again, OK?”)
Celebrate the feasts and make sure to rest every seventh day (verses 18 and 21)

I think this is helpful for our own understanding of how we interact with God.

Sometimes we might sit back and mistakenly say, “It’s all in Your hands God. I’m not going to do a thing. I’m leaving it all up to You.” There are times when it’s important to simply pray, and pray, and pray. But prayer is a conversation with God, and oftentimes during those conversations, God tells us things that He wants us to do. In those times, we’ve got to do our part.

Other times, we might mistakenly think that we’ve got to do everything. We think that if we don’t do it, it won’t get done. We act as if God’s not likely to do anything for us. We forget that God has a huge role to play in everything we do. In the case of the Israelites, God’s role was to do certain things, like performing wonders never before done in any nation of the world, driving out nations before them, and enlarging their territory―little things like that. :)

So there are often these two things going on at the same time: things God will do, and things He wants us to do. We need to trust God to do His part, and we need to do our part to the best of our ability.

There’s a final point in this passage that I don’t want you to miss. God ends His conversation with Moses with these words:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’ Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant―the Ten Commandments” (Exodus 34:27-28).

Moses had just finished two back-to-back 40-day fasts. He had totally emptied himself so he could be totally filled with God. The words that God spoke to Moses in those quiet times together turned out to be some of the longest lasting words in the history of the world: the Ten Commandments. Three thousand years later they are still some of the most talked-about and cherished words ever written.

Our quiet times with God have power. This Exodus study is proof of that to me. It was during my own 40-day fast, almost three years before writing this devotional, that I first took the notes from the book of Exodus that have resulted in this study. What we do in our quiet times with God can have an effect days, months and even years into the future.

God wants us to spend time with Him, and to act on what He tells us to do during that time. God will do His part. He just wants us to do ours.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 43: Worship And Wonder

Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:8-10

I’ve had moments in my life where something will happen and I’ll think, “Wow, that was the presence of God passing right in front of me.”

I don’t always sense His presence like this, but when I do, I’m usually taken aback by it, and I’m not quite sure how to react. It’s overwhelming, on one hand, to realize that God has just passed by. But it’s often such a small thing, on the other hand, that alerts me to His presence, that it makes me stop and think, “Was that really God?”

I love how Moses responds when the presence of God passed by Him in Exodus chapter 34:

“Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. ‘O Lord, if I have found favor in your eyes,’ he said, ‘then let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.’ Then the LORD said: ‘I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you’ ” (Exodus 34:8-10).

Moses’ response was immediate: he bowed down and worshiped, “at once.”

The night before I wrote this lesson, I had one of those moments where I felt God’s presence passing by.

All week I had been thinking about an illustration of what grace looks like that I had read twenty years ago in Victor Hugo’s book, Les Miserables. In the book, a thief takes refuge in the home of a bishop, who was the first person who offered the thief a meal and lodging since his escape from prison. As they prepared for bed that night, the bishop handed the thief a silver candlestick to light his way to his bedroom for the night.

In the middle of the night, the thief’s heart became hard again and he took the opportunity to escape while he still could, stealing the silver utensils that they had used for dinner as he left the house. But early the next morning, the police caught the thief and brought him back to the bishop’s house. The bishop exclaimed, “Oh, you are back again! I am glad to see you. I gave you the candlesticks, too, which are silver also, and will bring forty francs. Why did you not take them?”

The thief was stunned, as were the police. The bishop added solemnly, “Never forget you have promised me you would use the money to become an honest man,” which is exactly what happened.

I remembered that picture of grace from Hugo’s book and wanted to share it with others, but didn’t know where in my house to find the book I had once read. The night before I was to write this lesson, my 8 year-old son and I were reading from another book, a large collection of short stories, when my son said, “I’d like to just flip through the pages and pick a story with my fingers.” He ran his fingers through the 832 page book and opened it. I stared in disbelief at the title of the story in front of my eyes. It was called, The Good Bishop, and it gave a short, 3-page summary of this very incident with the candlesticks from Victor Hugo’s book, Les Miserables.

I felt as if the presence of God had just passed by.

I wanted to bow down and worship. Not just because God had found the story for me that I had been looking for, in a place where I never would have looked for it, but because earlier in the day I was wondering why some of the “big” things I’ve been praying about have not yet been answered.

I was reminded that God is not just in the big things―and He’s not just in the little things. God is in every thing.

The next time God passes by, what will your response be? I’m praying that more and more, my response will be like that of Moses, to bow down at once, and worship.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 42: Absorb The Name Of The Lord

Scripture Reading: Exodus 34:1-7

If God wore a name tag, I think today’s scripture passage would be on it. A person’s name often reveals something about who they are. This was especially true in biblical days. The name “Moses,” for instance, meant “drawn out of the water,” which describes exactly how he was rescued from the Nile River by one of Pharaoh’s daughters.

God’s name reveals to us who He is, too. So when Moses says to God in Exodus 34, “show me Your glory,” God responds by saying that He would cause His “name” to pass in front of Moses, thus revealing to Moses more about who He is. Here’s what God says:

“Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation’ ” (Exodus 34:5-7).

God’s name tag would read something like this: “Hello, my name is… Compassionate. Gracious. Slow to Anger. Abounding in Love and Faithfulness. Forgiving, Yet Just.”

To me, it’s an Old Testament description of what Christ came to demonstrate for us in the New Testament. The prophet Jeremiah later tells us that God is going to make a new covenant with the people, not one written on tablets of stone, but one that would be written on people’s hearts. Not a covenant where the children would have to pay for the sins of their fathers, but one where each person would be called to account for their own sins.

Some people think that God is portrayed in the Old Testament as being easily provoked to anger. But the way I read it, I see God as incredibly compassionate, gracious and slow to anger. If you read the Bible from beginning to end, you’ll see a repeating pattern of God drawing people to Himself, then people turning away. God draws them back, then they turn away. He draws them again, then they turn away again. At some point, if God is a “just” God, He must eventually punish sin.

But if God were merely “just,” He would have wiped out the entire planet long ago. In fact, way back in Genesis chapter 6, just six chapters into the history of man, God was tempted to do just that because of the wickedness of the people. But God relented, and gave mankind another chance. And another. And another. The fact that any of us are still alive today is a testimony to God’s compassion, grace, and ability to be slow to anger. The fact that God sent Jesus to die, so that anyone who would put their faith in Him would be saved from the punishment of death, shows that He is still willing to go to incredible lengths to be forgiving, yet just.

I’ve heard the difference between justice, mercy and grace described by the different possible reactions of a man who had caught a thief trying to steal a brand new Harley-Davidson motorcycle from his garage. If the owner grabbed a gun and shot the thief, or escorted him to jail, that would be justice. The thief was stealing his stuff, and stealing is wrong, so justice requires some kind of penalty.

But if the owner said, “I’m just going to let you go and walk out of here now. Even though what you’ve done is wrong, I’m not going to touch you, just go,” that would be mercy.

But if the owner turned around, went back into the house and got the keys to the Harley, came back and handed them to the thief, signed over the title to him, and handed him $100 to put gas in it, that would be grace.

And that’s what God has done for us through Christ:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Take time to absorb the name of the Lord, realizing how incredibly loving and gracious He is. Then remember to extend that same love and grace to others.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 41: Ask God To Show You His Glory

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:18-23

I’d like you to listen in to a conversation that took place several thousand years ago between God and Moses. In this conversation, you’ll learn something about what it’s like to have an intimate relationship with God, and what you can do to take that relationship even deeper.

The conversation takes place in chapter 33 of the book of Exodus. Moses has just been pleading with God to come with him on the next leg of his journey.

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”

And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence” (Exodus 33:14-19a).

What’s amazing to me about this conversation is that throughout this whole journey called “the exodus” from Egypt, Moses has been walking with God, talking with God, and seeing God work in various ways. And yet, here in chapter 33, Moses is still asking to see more and more of God. He says to God, “Now show me your glory.”

One of the lessons I get out of this conversation is that no matter how close we are to God, or how close we have been in the past, we can always go deeper with Him. There’s always more to learn about Him. There’s always more that God wants to reveal to us about Himself, if we’re willing to ask.

Maybe this is one of the reasons God makes it possible for us to spend eternity in heaven with Him when we put our faith in Christ, because it will take that long to get to know Him as deeply as possible.

This idea of spending time with God so that we can get to know Him more is a huge part of what it means to experience His “glory.” If you look closely at the conversation, you’ll see that God says that He knows Moses by name. He knows who Moses is. He knows what makes Moses tick. He knows his name. So when Moses asks to see God’s glory, God replies, in essence, “All right, I’ll show you My name, too. I’ll show you more of who I am.” God knows Moses, and Moses wants to know God.

In the purest sense, this is at the heart of what it means to be intimate with someone else: to reveal more of yourself to them, and to invite them to reveal more of themselves to you.

In fact, the Hebrew word often used in the Bible to describe the conception of a child is “yada,” which means “to know.” When the Bible says that “Adam knew Eve,” it means that they were so intimate that they conceived a child! (see Genesis 4:1, NKJV) Interestingly, this same word “yada” is used to describe the intimacy that takes place when we worship God, an intimacy in which we reveal more of ourselves to Him, and He reveals more of Himself to us.

God invites us to be intimate with Him, to worship Him with our entire beings. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength, not rushing through these moments of intimacy, but taking the time to reveal ourselves to each other.

No matter how close to, or far away from God you might feel, take some extra time today to ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. Ask God to show you His glory.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 40: We’re Set Free To Worship

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:11

We’ve reached lesson 40 of this 50 lesson study of the book of Exodus. Before we head into the final 10 lessons of this study, I’d like to remind you of the purpose of “the Exodus,” of getting free, in the first place.

God sets us free so we can worship Him. We don’t have to wait till we die and go to heaven to be in the presence of God. We don’t have to wait till we get to the end of some spiritual journey to be with Him. We don’t even have to wait one more minute.

We can worship God in our hearts right now. We can spend time in His presence, commune with Him, at any given moment.

There’s a little passage tucked in Exodus 33 that reminds me of this. The Bible says that when Moses would want to spend time with God, he would go to the “Tent of Meeting,” and God would meet with him there. But then the Bible adds these words:

“Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent” (Exodus 33:11b).

I try to picture what it would be like to be a young aide to Moses, the great deliverer of the people of Israel. What would it be like to walk beside him into the tent of meeting, and watch him as the Lord would, “speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11a)?

I think it would be awesome! Apparently, so did Joshua. Since Moses was the leader of the nation, he had to then go back to the camp to deal with the issues of the day. But not Joshua. Joshua stayed. He wasn’t about to leave that tent. He was going to stay right there in the presence of God.

Although they hadn’t reached the promised land yet, they could still spend time in the presence of God. Although they hadn’t resolved all of the problems and struggles of life, they could still worship Him. Although they were still in the midst of one of the worst struggles of their nation, this didn’t deter Joshua from spending time in the “tent of meeting.” Rather than deterring the people, it probably drove them even deeper into the presence of the Living God.

Sometimes we think that we have to reach a certain place in our freedom before we can fully worship God. We think that we have to get free of a particular sin, or be fully restored from a broken relationship. Or we wonder if we might never really be able to worship God here on this earth, but will only get to truly enter His presence when we die.

But this passage in Exodus, as well as many others throughout the Bible, encourage me that we can, at any moment, step into the presence of God. Sure, it’s a lot easier to step into His presence when we’re not weighted down with sin and strife and struggle. That’s why God wants us so desperately to throw off anything that might entangle us.

And yet, sometimes, it’s the very act of coming into His presence that helps us to finally surrender our grip on those things that are holding us back, letting God Himself take the weights off of our shoulders. As Joshua would later find out, when Moses died and Joshua had to take over the leadership of the entire nation, those regular moments in the presence of God would prove invaluable to his own effectiveness as a leader.

Whether there’s peace all around you, or strife swirling out of control, I’d like to encourage you to step into God’s presence sometime today, even right now if you can. Like Joshua, maybe you can just stay there and linger awhile with God, like a honeymoon couple enjoying some intimate moments together.

Worshiping God is one of the most glorious, life-giving, and life producing acts in which we can engage. It’s the reason God set us free in the first place. Why not take a little time to just step into His presence today?

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 39: Meeting With God

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33:1-17

For me, one of the most encouraging things to read about in the Bible is when people meet with God. It’s amazing to me that God not only met with people in the Bible, but that He also wants to meet with us.

One of those biblical meetings occurs in the middle of Exodus chapter 33, which describes how Moses would often meet with God.

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting.’ Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent” (Exodus 33:7-11).

This passage is tucked in the midst of a very difficult time in the life of the Israelites. God was really angry with them for what they had just done, by turning away from Him. After dealing with their sin, God told them to go ahead of Him into the promised land. Then God added, “But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way” (Exodus 33:3b).

The people were distressed to hear this. So Moses did again what was apparently something he had been doing already on a regular basis. He went out to meet with God in the “tent of meeting.”

I think many of us go through times when we feel like God is really close to us, then go through other times when we feel He is far from us. There are many reasons for this kind of ebb and flow in our relationship with God. But I know for me, if God seems distant, I want to make sure it isn’t because I have become “stiff-necked,” like God described had happened to the people in this passage. I want to make sure my neck is well-lubricated, and fully turned towards Him.

I remember an author who described a time in his own life when he was feeling empty in the things he was doing for God. He realized that he was using his own skills and abilities more and more to serve God, but relying on God less and less. In order to regain His full reliance on God to do what God had called him to do, he realized he needed to turn back to God again in a personal relationship that was real and vibrant.

As part of his personal renewal, he made a commitment to himself to write out his dialog with God daily, filling at least one page of a notebook per day. By intentionally carving out time to be with God again, he was able to recapture the joy and fullness of serving Him.

We don’t have to deliberately sin to feel like God is distant. But sometimes through our busy-ness, laziness, or plain neglect, we can find ourselves farther and farther from the one true relationship that matters most: our relationship with God.

God wants to meet with us. And when we put our faith in Christ, God promises to send His Holy Spirit to not only meet with us, but to live within us (see Romans 8:11), and to speak with us, too:

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13).

God wants to meet with you, too. Take time to meet with Him today.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 38: We Must Deal With Sin With A Heart Like Jesus

Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:15-35

If we want to help set others free from sin, at some point we must deal with their sin. But the way we deal with it makes all the difference in the world.

We can learn a lesson from the way Moses dealt with the sin of his people when they created a golden calf and began to worship it.

Moses was hot with anger at their sin, and God called Moses to administer justice to the people. But even in Moses’ righteous anger, he only took things as far as God told him to―and no further. Even more important, he showed his true heart for God and for the people, by offering his own life as a willing sacrifice in their place.

Take a look at what Moses said the day after he had to administer God’s justice to the people:

“The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ So Moses went back to the LORD and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin―but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written’ ” (Exodus 32:31-32).

Moses had done what God had told him to do, but his words reveal the heart from which he had done it. He admitted that the people had sinned, not glossing over it, not trying to minimize it, but acknowledging that it was great indeed. But he also called on God to forgive their sin, adding that if God wouldn’t forgive them, then to please blot his own name out of God’s book.

Moses was able to effectively execute justice because he was also willing to take the same punishment upon himself as what might have come to those who had sinned. He didn’t come against them as one who was merely outraged by their actions, even though he was outraged. He came to them as one who was also willing to stand in the gap for them.

Doesn’t that sound like someone else in the Bible? It sounds to me like Jesus.

It sounds exactly like what Jesus did for us when he willingly died on the cross. He hadn’t done anything wrong. In fact, He had done everything right. But because of His great love for us, He was willing to take upon Himself the punishment that we rightfully deserved for our sin.

This is the kind of heart that God wants us to have when He calls us to deal with other people’s sin: a heart full of love. I’ve been in situations where I haven’t had this kind of heart. But I’ve known that I’ve needed to do whatever it took to get this kind of heart before I would be able to effectively confront the sin in another person’s life.

Even though we can’t die in the place of others, as Jesus did, we can have hearts that are willing to do so. We can have the same kind of heart that Jesus had. We can walk with people through their struggles. We can talk with them as they try to find their way out. We can listen to them as they anguish over the very real, and sometimes very precious things they may need to leave behind in order to get free. We can ask God’s forgiveness for them, even when they repeatedly make mistakes on their road to recovery.

The Bible says that Jesus is the only one who can condemn any of us, but instead of condemning us, He’s sitting at the right hand of God, praying for us (see Romans 8:34).

That’s the kind of heart God wants us to have for others when we deal with their sin. A heart that can feel the pain that God feels when people sin, but a heart that is also willing to stand in the gap for them when they do. God wants us to deal with sin from a heart full of love―a heart just like Jesus.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 37: We Can Turn People Back When They Turn Away

Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:7-14

Have you ever tried to help someone out with their life, only to see them turn away from God? You wonder if they’ll ever turn back around? You think to yourself, “Man, I could really help that person if they would just let me.”

I want to encourage you that all is not lost when our friends, family, or co-workers turn away from God. Even though they may be quick to turn away from God, we can turn them back. We have the power of the Living God in our lives to help turn their lives around.

Take encouragement from what happened to Moses in Exodus chapter 32. When God and Moses finished talking on the mountain, God gave Moses a heads-up about what was going on back at camp. God said:

“Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt’ ” (Exodus 32:8-9).

If you’ve followed the story of these people up to this point, what do you think you would do with them now? They’ve just seen miracle after miracle after miracle of God working in their lives. They’ve just been set free from 400 years of bondage in slavery. Yet here they are, a short time later, and again, they’re turning their back on God.

Here’s what God thought of doing at this point:

“I have seen these people,” the LORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation” (Exodus 32:10).

Moses may have felt the exact same thing. But when Moses heard what God was about to do, something clicked within Moses. He said, in effect, “No, God, don’t do it!”

Moses didn’t plead the innocence of the people, like we might try to do regarding our friends, saying, “It’s just a calf, they’ll turn back. Let ’em go, it’s no big deal.” Moses didn’t try to argue on the people’s behalf based on their merit, but based on God’s promises:

“O LORD,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened (Exodus 32:8-14).

Something similar happened back in Genesis chapter 6 when God threatened to destroy the earth with a flood. But on account of Noah, God gave humanity another chance.

While it’s true that people can be quick to turn away from God, it’s also true that we can turn them back. We have the power of the Living God with us to help turn their lives around.

We can stand in the gap for them. We can pray for them. We can listen to them, speak the truth to them, and show love to them. Remember that God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b).

Call out to God on their behalf, saying, “God, please spare my daughter from the bad decisions she’s made. Spare my son, my boss, my mother, my father, my brother, my friend. Have mercy on them Lord, not because of their goodness, but because of Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 36: People Will Worship, But What?

Scripture Reading: Exodus 32:1-6

As human beings, we want to worship something. We desire to worship, we’re wired to worship, and we will worship. But what will we worship?

One of my missionary friends says that his definition of missions is to help people turn away from worshiping anything that was pulling them away from God, so that they could worship the One True God. It isn’t a matter of whether or not people will worship, but a matter of who or what they will worship.

Exodus 32 gives us one of the clearest pictures of this truth in the Bible.

While Moses was spending forty days and nights in the presence of God, getting the detailed plans for what God wanted them to do next, the Israelites were growing impatient down at the bottom of the mountain. They went to Moses’ right-hand man and brother, Aaron, saying,

“Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him” (Exodus 32:1b).

Now Aaron, having seen all the great signs and wonders that God had just finished doing for the people, should have naturally said something like this: “Didn’t you see that pillar of fire? That cloud of smoke? Those Egyptians smashed by the waves of the sea? What are you thinking?” But that’s not what Aaron said. He said:

“ ‘Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.’ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ … Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry” (Exodus 32:2-4, 6b).

The people grew impatient waiting for what God had in mind for them. God knew it was in their hearts to shape and fashion things out of gold. He had a blueprint in mind for them that was about to blow them away with the magnificence and awe of it, and would inspire in their hearts for impassioned worship. But instead, they chose to put their God-given skills to use in ways that took them further from God, instead of drawing them closer to Him.

I had a friend who told me about her 32-year old daughter who had decided to pursue a lesbian relationship. My friend asked me how she could continue to show love and acceptance to her daughter, without approving of the relationship. She especially wondered how she could possibly ask her daughter to give up this relationship, when it seemed like this was the first time her daughter had been happy in her entire life. What could I say?

I told her: “Your daughter may be really happy for the first time in her life. It sounds like she’s found someone who loves and accepts her. There’s nothing wrong with a loving and accepting friendship―we all need those. But it’s the sexualization of that friendship that isn’t what God wants for her. If she thinks what she has now is good, imagine what God has in store for her! God says He can do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.”

I know in my own life I was happy, having fun, and thought I was doing fine―until I put my faith in Christ. But when I started reading the Bible, I saw that God had more in store for me. What I was doing would never bring me to that point, and would probably destroy me, like it eventually destroyed the Israelites. Many of them died as a result.

Looking back on my life, the happiness I experienced then pales in comparison to what God has given me now. I was trying to meet my valid needs, but in invalid ways.

We’re all going to worship something. It’s a valid need we all have. But only by worshiping the One True God can we truly satisfy that need, for our benefit, and for His.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 35: Observe The Sabbath

Scripture Reading: Exodus 31:12-18

How would it feel if your boss came to you this week and said, “Why don’t you take a day off this week. It’s no problem. You’ve worked hard, just go home and get some rest.” I think that would feel great!

The truth is, that’s what God says to us every week.

Even when God gives us a huge task to do, He still wants us to be sure to take a break every seven days, just like He wanted Moses and the Israelites to take a break when they had a huge task before them.

In the chapters leading up to Exodus 31, God has laid out in detail all the work that the Israelites would need to do to build their house of worship. The work would take many months to complete. But at the end of everything God called them to do, God closed with these words:

“For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death. The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested” (Exodus 31:15-18).

God Himself took a break at the end of a long, hard week of creating the universe, and we’ve been on a seven-day calendar ever since. Like so many of God’s laws, the penalty of death wasn’t meant to be mean, but to emphasize just how critical this law would be to our own well-being. God knows how we’re wired. He’s the One who wired us! He knows that we need a rest every seven days, and He’s thrilled to give it to us.

I grew up on a farm in Illinois, and my Dad worked as hard as anyone I knew. But not on Sunday. It didn’t matter if there was still work to be done or not, or whether it was raining or sunny, Dad took off―and we did, too. It was great! (As a side note: the Sabbath for Jews is from sunset on Friday through sunset on Saturday, whereas the early Christians began to celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday, the “Lord’s Day,” which is the day Jesus rose from the dead.)

One Sunday night, my wife Lana began to make a big lasagna dinner for some guests we were having over for dinner on Monday night. I didn’t think it was a very good way for her to spend her “day off.” But when we were talking about it with a friend a few weeks later, our friend asked Lana if making the lasagna dinner brought “rest to her soul.” Lana said it really did, because she was able to enjoy the whole process of making the dinner while I watched the kids.

For Lana, making that lasagna dinner was truly relaxing and restful. I had to wonder if Jesus wasn’t smiling at me and my legalistic view of the Sabbath. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day looked at what He was doing as breaking the Sabbath rules, too, like healing others, or allowing His disciples to gather food from the fields (Matthew 12:1-14). But rather than breaking the law, Jesus was revealing the heart of the law, a law which was designed to bring true “rest to our souls,” a kind of rest which Jesus still offers to all who come to Him as well:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

What about you? What would you do this week that would truly bring rest to your soul? God may be eagerly waiting and hoping you’ll do that very thing, too!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 34: God Chooses And Equips People To Do His Work

Scripture Reading: Exodus 31:1-11

If you feel like you’re not very gifted or skilled, or if you wonder if God’s going to use you in any special way, today’s lesson is for you. God does choose and equip people to do His work.

In the last few chapters of Exodus, God has gone into considerable detail telling Moses how to make all kinds of things for the place of worship: the tapestries, altar, utensils, incense and oils. Now God tells Moses how it would all get done: God had chosen and equipped people to do His work:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel…and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts―to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab…to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you’ ” (Exodus 31:1-6).

What was the very first thing with which God had filled Bezalel? The Spirit of God. It’s encouraging to me to know that when God calls us to do something, He will, first and foremost, fill us with His Spirit so we can do it.

I remember praying for a man on the night he gave his life to the Lord. As we talked, he told me he had really wanted to read his Bible, but in the 50+ years he had been alive, he had never been able to do it. So I prayed with him: “Lord, fill him with Your Spirit so that he can do the things he wants to do.”

I left my Bible with him and the next day he started reading it. Then he bought his own Bible and kept reading it. Within a few weeks, he had finished the New Testament, so he went back to the Old Testament and read it, too. Then he started reading the whole thing all over again, and began passing out Bibles to all his friends. Now he’s a pastor of a church!

If you feel like you’re not able to do what God’s called you to do, ask Him again: “Father, fill me with Your Spirit so I can do the things You want me to do.”

But God didn’t stop there with Bezalel. God also filled him with “skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” God also said He’d send yet another man, Oholiab, to help Bezelel, along with many other people to help them both. God equipped all of them with various skills, abilities and knowledge to do His work.

Asking God to equip you isn’t a “magical” prayer. I’ve anointed my hands with oil and prayed that God would help me to play the piano better. After washing off my hands, I sat down to play again―and it sounded just like it did before! But over time, God has answered that prayer by giving me more and more opportunities to play and lead worship and develop my skills.

Now this is just a guess on my part, but where do you think all those Israelites got their skills, abilities and knowledge to do all kinds of intricate work with gold, silver and bronze? Remember that they had just been slaves in Egypt, working for kings who were later buried in those incredible pyramids. Have you ever seen the coffins or other things they’ve brought out of Egypt, like King Tut’s headpiece, or the other intricate carvings found in his tomb? Who worked on all that stuff? It’s probably fair to say that a number of the slaves helped to carry out the details of that elaborate work.

I wonder if the Israelites might have felt that all those years were wasted, making images of someone else’s gods. But now, God was calling them to use their gifts and skills for Him, to make a place of worship that far surpassed anything they had ever done before.

Keep praying that God will fill you with His Spirit, giving you skills, abilities and knowledge that you can ultimately use for Him.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 33: Cleanse And Consecrate Yourself For Worship

Scripture Reading: Exodus 30:17-38

Today I’d like to talk about why we sometimes aren’t able to fully come into worship. We want to worship God, but we’re held back by something.

Exodus 30 gives us a clue about one of the things that can hold us back―and how to get past it. There was something that Aaron and his sons were to do every time they came into the place of worship, and something that would happen if they didn’t:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die’ ” (Exodus 30:18-20a).

They were to wash their hands and feet in water from a bronze basin whenever they entered the place of worship. If they didn’t, they’d die! It seems like God was pretty serious about getting clean before coming into His presence!

Sometimes we get pretty lax about coming into the presence of God. I know I do. I love to be able to come to God Just As I Am, like the famous song that’s sung at Billy Graham crusades. But this passage is a reminder to me that if I’m ever finding it hard to fully enter into worship, it would be good to look and see if there’s anything in my life that might need cleansing―not physically with water, but inwardly in my heart or life.

I’ve had guys share with me that they’re struggling in a relationship with their wife. I’ll sometimes ask them if there’s anything they haven’t told their wife, anything that they might have done to sin against her. Oftentimes, they’ll say, “Yes.” It’s no surprise then that they find their relationship with their wife has cooled off. Who wants to be around someone else when they’ve sinned against them and haven’t confessed it?

One man told me he was struggling with intimacy with his wife. Then he also told me he was struggling with homosexual pornography. I asked him if he had ever talked to his wife about this struggle. “Of course not!” he answered, “it would hurt her too much if I told her.”

I told him, “Buddy, it’s hurting her too much now, every day, and it’s playing out in every part of your relationship with her. It’s not going to hurt her more by telling her, it’s going to finally help you, and her, start to get the healing you both need.” I’m fully aware that there are better and worse times for confessing these things, and there are better and worse ways to communicate the truth. But ultimately, it is the truth that will set us free.

It’s similar in our relationships with God. Sometimes we have sin in our lives, sins against Him, and we don’t really feel like spending time with Him. We don’t feel like worshiping Him. But if we would confess our sins to God, and come clean to Him, we’d be much more eager to come into His presence.

Confession is critical, especially to God. It shows God, or the other person, that you really do care about your relationship with them. Rather than driving them away, it usually draws them closer to you.

If there’s anything on your heart that you want to confess to God, maybe you’d like to take some time right now to get things right with Him again. It might only take 30 seconds after you finish reading this note to just talk to Him and say, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I pray that You’d forgive me.” It might take a few hours or days. But whatever it takes, do it. Come clean. The cleansing you’ll feel afterwards can make the worship you experience later all the more sweet.

And here’s an encouraging promise from God’s Word:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:19).

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 32: Make A Place To Meet With God Twice A Day

Scripture Reading: Exodus 30:1-16

Last time we looked at making a time to meet with God twice a day. Today we’ll look at making a place to meet with God twice a day, a place where we can truly “worship” Him.

In Exodus 30, God asked Aaron to build an altar for burning incense. This was to be a fragrant offering to God, twice a day:

“Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. … Aaron must burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning when he tends the lamps. He must burn incense again when he lights the lamps at twilight so incense will burn regularly before the LORD for the generations to come” (Exodus 30:1,7-8).

I know I’m not Aaron, but as I read this passage, I was trying to think of a way that I could do something similar every morning and every evening as part of my own quiet time with God.

Although my piano’s not made of acacia wood, I decided that I could use it as an altar. This wasn’t to be a thing that I could worship, but a place where I could worship, a place where I could send up my own fragrant offering to the Lord. As Aaron tended the lamps every morning and every evening, I thought I could light a candle there by my piano, too. Then as I would play the piano, or sing a song, or put my Bible on the front of the piano and read some scripture from it, I would have a visual reminder that these moments were dedicated to God.

After doing this for several weeks, I found out that lighting the candle reminded me to focus on Him, making this a special time of personal worship. This wasn’t to be a time to ask God for things, but a time to make a fragrant offering of my life to Him, serving Him, pleasing Him and spending time with Him.

The lit candle reminded me that my quiet time isn’t just a time to be alone. It’s a time to be with God.

It’s amazing how that simple act of lighting the candle twice a day, and playing a song, let me know if I had truly spent time with God during the day. I would sometimes think, “Oh, yeah, I read my Bible this morning,” or “I thought about God as I got out of bed,” or “I prayed about something as I jumped in the car.” The candle helped me to focus not just on thinking “about” God, but being “with” God.

Do you have a place where you can go to worship God? A quiet spot in your house, or somewhere else, where you can meet with Him, twice a day? My wife, Lana, put a chair in a closet several years ago and goes in there from time to time when she needs an extra special time with God. Although there’s barely enough room for her feet in the closet, it’s enough room for her to cozy up with her Bible and journal and focus solely on Him.

Some of my friends have a special desk where they sit on a straight back chair to help keep them awake and focused. Others sit at their kitchen table, or on their front porch when the weather’s nice, or jump in their truck with the motor turned off. Some keep a Bible and notepad by their bed so they can spend time with God the first and last thing every day.

One of the best places I’ve found in my busy house is in the bathtub! With the bathroom fan running and the curtain pulled, this drowns out many of the other sounds and distractions in the house. I’ve accidentally baptized a couple of Bibles doing this. But the time with God is awesome!

If you don’t already have a place, consider finding one where you can spend time with God every morning and every evening. Try several places! This is not only to help you form a lifelong habit of a daily quiet time with God, but can also help you experience changes in your life, and your relationship with Him, as a result of the time you spend together each day.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 31: God Wants To Meet With Us And Speak To Us

Scripture Reading: Exodus 29:36-46

There’s nothing better than to be with someone you love, spending an extended period of time with them, day and night. Over the next ten lessons we’re going to focus on worshiping God, and what it feels to be in love with, and spend extended time with Him.

Since I first read about prayer and fasting in the Bible, I’ve tried it for various amounts of time. Why would I want to give up food to pray for a day, or five days, or ten, twenty or forty days? It’s not because I like giving up food. I don’t! But I love being with God. I’ve found that when I empty myself of the things of the world, it makes more room in my life to be filled with the things of God.

In Exodus 29:38-56, God told the Israelites to make a sacrifice to Him every day in the morning, and every day in the evening at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There He would meet with them, and speak to them.

“This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight….a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. For the generations to come this burnt offering is to be made regularly at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD. There I will meet you and speak to you; there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory” (Exodus 29:38-39, 41b-43).

This is why God set the Israelites free, so He could meet with them and speak to them. It’s the same reason He set you and me free, so He could meet with us and speak to us.

Thankfully, we don’t have to wait till Sunday, or any special time of the year. We can meet with God every morning and every evening. And God wants to meet with us, live with us and speak to us.

When I first became a Christian, I began a habit of setting aside time every morning and every evening to spend time with God. I would wake up early, take my Bible and a journal, and spend time with God before I went to work. Then in the evenings, I would take time to read more from the Bible, or another Christian book―something that would focus my thoughts on Him again at night.

I’ve found that whenever I’ve regularly done this over the years, it has helped me to sandwich in my day, between waking up and going to bed. I’ll get my marching orders in the morning, then recap the day again in the evening. It can be hard to keep this schedule, and there are times when I haven’t kept it up. But reading this passage has reminded me again of the value setting aside time twice a day to intentionally be with God.

A number of godly men and women over the years have made this a regular practice in their lives. Saints of the past, and saints of today, have written daily devotionals for this purpose with titles like Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening, or Joyce Meyers’ Starting Your Day Right: Devotions for Each Morning of the Year and Ending Your Day Right: Devotions for Every Evening of the Year. You can sign up at various websites on the Internet, like http://www.crosswalk.com, and receive a devotional twice a day by email.

It’s not always easy to carve out time to spend time with God. But it’s so worth it. Sacrificing this way for God is like a lucky honeymoon couple going to Hawaii for a week. They don’t get in the plane because they want to sit in a cramped seat for hours on end. They do it because when they get there, they’ll get to spend uninterrupted time with their beloved, day and night.

Take time today, and every day―even twice a day―to get away with your Beloved. He wants to meet with you and speak with you.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 30: Multiply Freedom By Involving Others

Scripture Reading: Exodus 18:17-19

What could you do to lighten the load of all that God wants you to do? As a summary of the last nine lessons, here’s a short list of some of the things God had Moses do to lighten his load. These things not only lightened his load, but they allowed God to accomplish through Moses all that God wanted to do. Maybe they could help you to accomplish more, too.

1) Delegate. Jethro helped Moses to see that Moses would only wear himself out unless he involved others in the work.

2) Write it down. God helped Moses to write down what he had already learned from God, and would need to know in the future, so that Moses could share this wisdom with others.

3) Trust God’s timing. God showed Moses a huge vision for what He wanted to do through Moses, but God also told him that it wouldn’t happen overnight, but rather, little by little.

4) Listen for God’s specific instructions. God spoke in specific detail about how God wanted the people to do the work―and Moses listened.

5) Give dignity and honor to those serving with you. God showed Moses not only specific ways to involve others, but also how to give them dignity and honor for their work.

By putting a system in place, Moses was able to multiply the number of people who could experience the freedom God had in mind for them, including us today who still benefit from those words. Moses still had meaningful work to do, but he was relieved from having to do it all himself.

As I wrote this lesson, I had just returned from a missions trip to Africa. My wife and I had been wanting to do something to help the people of Africa in some way, but we had no idea what to do. The problems facing that continent are overwhelming. But after voicing our desire to each other and to God, God showed us a way that we cold help. He invited us to join a missions trip to Swaziland to plant hundreds of small vegetable gardens in people’s backyards.

The project was simple enough in theory, but took a huge amount of planning and effort to make it work in practice. We certainly couldn’t have done it alone. Thankfully, we didn’t have to.

God raised up people to help in dozens of ways: donors who funded the trip, drivers who helped us get through the mountains, pastors who went ahead of us to prepare the people for what we were going to do, translators who helped us interact with the local people, administrators who handled the logistics for our team, and secretaries who arranged hundreds of details during the week.

If we had tried to do this alone, the five of us who went from Streator might have planted five or ten gardens the whole week. But, by involving others, God was able to use our team of 80 volunteers, working alongside the beautiful people of Swaziland, to plant and distribute over 8,000 of these small vegetable gardens. Over the past few years, thousands of volunteers, on dozens of similar trips, have been able to plant and distribute hundreds of thousands of these life-giving gardens.

I often think that I’m the one that has to accomplish the whole vision that God puts on my heart. While I’m willing to do the work, I get overwhelmed because there’s too much work to do. The truth is there is too much work to do―at least for one person. But by involving others, we can finish the work together.

If you feel overwhelmed by the visions that God has put on your heart, remember that Moses needed help, too. Remember Jethro’s words to Moses:

“What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you…” (Exodus 18:17b-19a).

Moses took Jethro’s advice by involving others―and God was with him. May God be with you, too.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 29: Anoint, Ordain, And Consecrate Those Serving

Scripture Reading: Exodus 28:41-29:35

What can we do for the people who work with us to dedicate them―and their gifts and talents―to the Lord? One thing to consider is “anointing” them with oil.

It seems like an ancient practice, anointing people with oil. But one of the most dramatic experiences of my life was an ordination service where I truly felt God Himself was calling me into His service. He used the hands of a pastor to anoint my head with oil, ordaining and consecrating me for the work God had called me to do.

Throughout the Bible, God anointed some of His most powerful leaders with oil for their work of service to Him, like King David, King Saul, and in the passage we’re looking at today, the priest Aaron and his sons:

“After you put these clothes on your brother Aaron and his sons, anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests” (Exodus 28:41).

I happened to be in Israel when I read some of these passages about anointing people with oil. It’s one thing to read these passages at home. It’s another thing entirely to be standing on the spots where these things took place. At one point, I was amazed to think that I was standing at the tomb of Samuel the prophet, the one who walked the very same hills I was walking on when he sought out young David to anoint him as king.

These were real people who had done these things, who lived in real places that still exist today. I wondered what it would be like if God were to send someone to anoint me, right there in Israel, for the work He had called me to do. I had recently quit my job to go into full-time ministry and wondered if God could consecrate me in this specific way, too. So I began to pray that God would send someone. I couldn’t believe He did it when it happened the very next day!

I ran into a tour group and began talking to a pastor and his wife. They kept asking me questions about how I had quit my job and gone into ministry. I really didn’t want to stand around and chit-chat―I was waiting for God to show up! But as we talked, the pastor asked if I had ever anointed people with oil when I prayed for the sick, as he had found that to be very effective.

I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t told him anything about my prayer the day before that God would send someone to anoint me with oil. Yet here was a man standing in front of me who regularly anointed people with oil. I hesitantly asked him if he would pray for me, too, anointing me with oil for the work that God had called me to do. He said he would, and at the next stop on the tour, he’d pick up a bottle of oil at one of the local shops to do it.

So I walked with their group from the Temple Mount, down the Way of the Cross, where Jesus carried his cross to his crucifixion. The tour stopped at the church that now houses the crucifixion site. We bought a little bottle of oil, and went into the church to pray.

There, about 20 feet from the foot of the cross which marks the spot where Jesus is said to have died, this man and his wife prayed for me. They anointed me with oil for the work of service God had called me to do. Their prayers were accompanied―at 1:00 sharp―by the loud ringing of church bells overhead, the sounds of a tour group singing hymns, and as sights and smells of burning incense wafted through the room.

I was overwhelmed by the way God had answered my prayers. I’ll never look at an anointing service as just an ancient ritual again. It is a powerful means by which God can ordain and consecrate us for our work of service to Him.

God used an earthly man to anoint, ordain and consecrate me for my work, and has since used me to do the same for others. Perhaps God wants to touch those around you in a similar way, praying for them that they would use their gifts and talents to bear much fruit for Him.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 28: Give Dignity And Honor To Those Serving With You

Scripture Reading: Exodus 27:20-28:40

What can we do to give dignity and honor to those who serve with us? And what difference can it make when we do?

I once attended a church that was very formal. All the pastors wore black robes. At one point, one of the pastors wanted to start preaching in just his suit, without the robe. He wanted to be less formal so that the people he was trying to reach would feel he was more like them.

But some of the leaders of the church didn’t like that idea. It went against their particular view of church life. While the church eventually let him preach without his robe for the first of their three morning worship services, he had to put it on again for the other two services.

I thought the whole debate was somewhat unnecessary as he had a reasonable idea he wanted to implement. But when I read Exodus chapter 28, trying to read it from God’s perspective, I was able to see that there are times when it’s important to do things that will give people dignity and honor for the work they have been called to do.

Here’s what God asked Moses to do for his brother Aaron, and Aaron’s sons, all of whom God had called to become priests in the tabernacle that they were building:

“Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor. Tell all the skilled men to whom I have given wisdom in such matters that they are to make garments for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest” (Exodus 28:2-3).

Then God described in great detail what the robes and turbans and undergarments should look like.

I don’t know what you might think about this idea today, whether or not pastors or priests should wear elaborate robes. But the passage indicates to me that there are times when God asks us to give dignity and honor to the people around us, sometimes in very specific ways, and that God wants us to listen to―and do―what He tells us to do.

I was reading this passage when I was getting ready to launch our newly redesigned website for The Ranch. As I tried to think what God might want me to do for those who helped me with the project, I felt He wanted me to have a special online prayer and dedication service for them. So I set a date and time, and invited about a dozen people to join me in the chat room.

We had someone from Latvia who had helped redesign the website. We had someone from Denmark who built the software on which the whole system runs. We had someone from Colorado who helps with our prayer ministry and answering emails. We had someone from North Carolina who serves on our board.

I had sent each of them a small bottle of oil, based on a passage we’re going to look at next week, but touched on in this passage, so that I could pray for them, anointing and consecrating them for their work of service to God.

I was very hesitant at first, because in some ways, it seemed―well―just very weird to do this over the Internet! I thought it would be hard to really give them dignity and honor like this. But I’ve also prayed for enough people over the Internet by now to know that prayer has no boundaries.

So as I prayed for each person, I asked them to put some oil on their finger and touch it to their forehead as I typed out my prayers on my keyboard. I later heard back from several of those who came who said that as we prayed together, they had completely broken down in tears, weeping at this special expression of appreciation for their work of service to God.

What about those who work with you? Is there a way that God might want you to give them dignity and honor? I believe that if you’ll ask God, He’ll answer you. He may not tell you to put a robe on them. But whatever He tells you, when you do it, God will touch people through it.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 27: God Can Speak Specifically And Clearly

Scripture Reading: Exodus 25:1-27:19

Do you ever wonder if God speaks to people? And if so, does He just speak in generalities, giving us good principles to live by, but leaving the details up to us?

I was in a Bible study with a friend who felt that God does speak to us, but only in terms of giving us the “big picture.” The specifics were for us to figure out. I understood what my friend was saying―and at times that is certainly true.

But as I’ve read through the Bible, I’ve also been struck by how often God speaks to people with very specific instructions―instructions that He wants to be followed precisely―even down to the last “cubit.”

Exodus chapters 25, 26, and 27 are prime examples of God speaking specifically and clearly. In the opening words of chapter 25, God tells Moses to collect some very specific items from the people: ram skins dyed red, acacia wood, onyx stones and more. God continues with these words:

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you” (Exodus 25:8-9).

For the next 89 verses, God gave Moses a detailed description of exactly how to build this tabernacle, and all of the elements within it: the ark of the covenant, the tables, the lampstands, the altars, the oil, the shovels―even the meat forks.

Listen to some of this detail:

… “ Make a lampstand of pure gold and hammer it out, base and shaft; its cups, buds and blossoms shall be of one piece with it. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand―three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand” (Exodus 25:31-33).

… “Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman. All the curtains are to be the same size―twenty-eight cubits long and four cubits wide” (Exodus 26:1-2).

… “Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide…. Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network. Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar” (Exodus 27:1,4-5).

The detail reminds me of when God told Noah precisely how to build the ark for the animals, describing its dimensions cubit by cubit (a length of about 18 inches).

Why was God so specific? Maybe it was because there had never been a need for a boat like that before. How could Noah have known how many animals would show up? It was better for Noah to follow God’s specific instructions up front on how to build the ark, than to try to build it his own way and then have the elephants and hippos and rhinos and giraffes show up!

When we need wisdom, we can ask God for it. He’s the Creator of the universe. He knows how every molecule is put together. He knows what needs to be done and how to do it. And He’s glad to pour out that wisdom into us.

The Bible says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

God can speak specifically and clearly. There’s no doubt about it scripturally, as in this case from Exodus. Someone might wonder, based on their experience (or lack thereof), if God speaks specifically. But based on Scripture, there’s no doubt that He does!

Whatever you’re working on right now―a project for work, a new type of ministry, a relationship with a spouse, child or friend―ask God for wisdom on how to proceed. Then listen, and do, what He says.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 26: Come Up To The Lord And Worship

Scripture Reading: Exodus 24

What’s the ultimate goal of being set free? What does freedom finally allow us to do, without hindrance?

The answer I’ve read over and over in Scripture is this: we’re set free so we can worship God.

If a person can’t worship God, fully from their heart, then they’re still in bondage. They may live in a free country, but if they can’t worship God, they’re not really free at all. On the other hand, they may live in a prison cell, but if they can worship God, they are truly free. The degree of freedom we have in our lives is directly proportional to the degree to which we’re able to worship God from our hearts.

This was God’s ultimate goal for setting the Israelites free from Egypt. He told Moses to bring the people out into the desert so they could worship Him. He sets us free from sin, not only because it’s good and helpful for us, but also so that we can be released to worship Him with our whole hearts.

In Exodus 24, Moses and his people have finally made it out to the place where God told Moses to come. Now they can start doing what they came to do, starting with Moses and some of the other leaders. God calls them up to the mountain to worship. The rest of the people will get their chance soon. But for now, God calls Moses to lead the way:

“Then he said to Moses, ‘Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, but Moses alone is to approach the LORD; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him’ ” (Exodus 24:1-2).

Moses is about to become their “worship leader.”

And what a worship service it is! Take a look at what happens when they come up to the Lord:

“Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:9-10).

They saw God―and lived! Then they ate and drank in His presence there on the mountain. Wow! To come into the presence of God, to see Him, to eat and drink and have a party right there at His feet―that’s a true mountaintop experience!

The cool thing is, we can now do that any day of the week, no matter where we are or what’s going on in our lives. We can take a moment, even right now, today, to spend a few minutes in the presence of the Lord, worshiping Him in our hearts.

You may not be able to sing. You may not be able to play an instrument. You may not be able to speak well. But you can do one thing right now that no one can stop you from doing: you can worship God in your heart.

You might not think you can. You might think others are hindering you from it. You might think your circumstances are preventing it. But the truth is, nothing―and no one―can stop you from worshiping God. You can choose right now to worship Him!

Just say, “Father, I want to worship You. I want to be in Your presence. I want to eat and drink and enjoy a few moments with You, right now. I want to worship You!”

If sin is holding you back, confess it. If fear is getting you off track, let the Lord, Your shepherd, lead you beside His still waters. If life is weighing you down, let Jesus pick you up. He offered each of us this promise: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Come up to the Lord and worship. This is why He set you free!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 25: Little By Little

Scripture Reading: Exodus 23:20-33

Praying for anything big to happen in your life? Waiting for God to bring it about? Wondering why it’s not coming about as fast as you’d like?

When I get frustrated that I’m not seeing the big, grand vision come together for something that I really think God is putting on my heart, I take comfort from a short passage in Exodus chapter 23. It reminds me that God is able “to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine,” as the New Testament says in Ephesians 3:20, but that God doesn’t always do it all at once.

Why not? Here’s what God told the Israelites, and what He often tells me, too.

As the Israelites approached the “promised land,” a huge expanse of property that God promised to give them when they got out of Egypt, God told them that He would drive out the current occupants of the land because of their wickedness and rebellion against Him. But, He added:

“I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land” (Exodus 23:29-30).

God was still going to give them their promised land, but little by little, for their own protection, and for the safekeeping of His vision for the land.

Even though there were over 600,000 Israelites at the time, the land was still bigger than they could effectively manage had they gotten it all at once. The land would have become desolate and overrun with wild animals. God, in His grace, was going to wait to drive out the current inhabitants until the Israelites increased enough to take possession of the land.

This is extremely encouraging to me! I don’t like to wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled―especially when I can see them so clearly, when they look like they’re within reach, yet when I can’t seem to take hold of them. These verses remind me that God will do what He says He will do, but in His timing, for our good and for the good of the vision He’s given us.

For many years now I’ve been praying for a real “ranch,” a place where I can invite people to spend time with God, away from the busy-ness of their lives. I’ve been to just such a ranch with my family―a beautiful private retreat on 240 acres of rolling hills in northern Illinois. Yet as I looked around at the expanse of the property, I couldn’t imagine all of the care and maintenance it would take just to put gravel on the back roads every few years, let alone take care of all the cattle, sheep, ducks, fencing and guest homes.

Even though this seems to be exactly what I’ve been praying for, and continue to pray for, I know that I’ve not “increased enough to take possession” of the fullness of this vision. That doesn’t stop me from asking, and it doesn’t stop me from believing that God will someday fulfill the fullness of what He’s put on my heart. But it does help me to be thankful―so thankful―that God holds back from giving me what I’m asking for before I can handle it.

Maybe you’ve been praying for some big things to happen in your life, or a friend’s life. Maybe you’ve wondered why things aren’t happening as fast as you’d like, or to the extent that you’d like. Maybe you’re getting discouraged and wondering why God is poking around, taking His time, when there are so many things you want to get done―and now!

Take heart from this little passage in Exodus 23. As God Himself says several times in this passage, He will do what He promised. There are still things He wants us to do in the mean time. But, for our benefit, and for the benefit of His unfolding vision, He often carries out His will “little by little”―so we won’t be overwhelmed by the answer when it does come.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 24: Share What You’ve Learned With Others

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:22-23:19

What has God taught you that might be helpful to others? We’ve all learned things from Him over the years―things we’ve done wrong, things we’ve done right, things He’s spoken to us or through us.

I was in the midst of writing down some of the things God had spoken to me when I was reading Exodus chapters 20, 21, 22 and 23. When I read about God’s conversation with Moses on the mountain, and how God gave Moses the Ten Commandments and the 600+ rules that followed, I saw what God was doing in a new light.

Of course, we’re supposed to read what God spoke to Moses during those forty days, and of course, we’ll be blessed if we follow that wisdom. But I also saw a new lesson for my life when I stepped back and looked at what God was doing overall. God was pouring out His wisdom to Moses so that Moses could pour it out to others.

The lesson for me was that God has poured out wisdom into our lives, too, and He wants us to pour it out to others.

Up to this point in the story of how God set the Israelites free from Egypt, Moses was the sole judge over the entire nation. Everyone who had a dispute would bring it to Moses to be settled. God would give Moses the wisdom he needed to make a ruling, and Moses would make the decision.

This worked for a time, but eventually it began to wear Moses and the people out. So God, through the words of Jethro, prompted Moses to delegate the work of judging others to several of the other leaders of Israel. Moses would still be available to hear the most difficult cases, but the majority of cases could be decided by these others.

It was at this time―as Moses prepared to delegate these duties―that God called Moses up to the mountain and spoke to him the Ten Commandments and all the rules that followed. As I read through this list of commandments, I could almost picture how the conversation between God and Moses might have gone:

“Moses, do you remember when that bull gored a man to death―the bull that had never gored anyone before? And do you remember how I told you to rule in that situation―that the bull must be killed, but the owner of the bull would not be held responsible? Share that with others.

“And do you remember when another bull gored a man to death, but that bull had a habit of goring people? Do you remember how I told you to rule in that situation―that the bull must be killed as well as the owner, unless those hurt by the goring would accept payment from the owner instead? Share that, too.”

Although the actual conversation between God and Moses isn’t recorded, the result of what God spoke during those forty days is recorded. What should be done when a bull gores someone is clearly spelled out in Exodus 21:28-32.

Maybe God reminded Moses of things that happened in the past, as well as telling him about things that might come up in the future. God spoke to Moses about all kinds of topics one by one, from cases involving adultery, theft and murder, to love, lust and anger. Then God asked Moses to share them with others, which he did.

Now, thousands of years later, we can still read these words of wisdom that came from the mouth of God. They form the foundation of the laws that are currently on the books in country after country. They help us to understand our basic rights, how to get along with each other, and how to better love God and our neighbors.

Think with me for a minute how this lesson might apply to you.

God has spent a lifetime pouring out His wisdom into you. What topics in life has God spoken to you about the most? Or the most often? Or the most clearly? What questions have you struggled with, wrestled through, and found God’s answers?

Take time to share what you’ve learned with others. The answers you’ve found may set them free, too.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 23: Rules Can Be Good!

Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:1-21

How do you like rules? If you’re like most people, you probably love rules―for other people, anyway! Rules keep people from stealing our stuff, running into us when we go through intersections, and harming those we love.

But what about rules for ourselves? Many times, we balk at rules. They make us feel restricted and constrained. But the rules God has set into place are the best kind of rules. They’re helpful for us and for others. Instead of constricting us, they set us free to live the best life possible.

Without rules, I would be like a train without a track, or a kite without a string. If I were a train, I would think that the track was constraining me from going where I wanted to go. But in reality, the track would be the very thing that enabled me to go at all―and to go far and fast! If I were a kite, I would think that the string would be holding me back. But in reality, the tension of the string is the very thing that would help me to go higher and stay up longer than if I were to cut myself loose from it!

Exodus chapter 20 lists the most helpful and enduring set of rules ever given to anyone: The Ten Commandments. Thousands of years later, they still form the basis for many legal systems throughout the world.

“And God spoke all these words:

‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’

‘You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.’

‘You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.’

‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.’

‘Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.’

‘You shall not murder.’

‘You shall not commit adultery.’

‘You shall not steal.’

‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.’

‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor’ ” (Exodus 20:1-17).

Rather than restricting us, these rules free us to live the abundant life God created us to live.

Now step back a minute and look at these rules from God’s perspective. Why did He give these rules to Moses at this particular point in the journey out of Egypt? Based on Moses’ recent conversation with Jethro, I believe it was God’s way to teach everyone His decrees and laws, and to show them the way to live, as Jethro suggested in Exodus 18:20. At this critical point, God gave Moses a detailed set of rules to pass on to others so they could help him lead.

If you’re wondering how to lead others better, or if you’re wondering how you can live a more abundant life yourself, consider putting a good set of rules into place. A good set of rules, like a train track and a kite string, can often help us go farther and faster, and to fly longer and higher than ever before!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 22: Let God Establish You In People’s Eyes

Scripture Reading: Exodus 19

How many people will be affected by what you do this week? Chances are, it will be more people than any of us might realize.

We all have a “sphere of influence,” people with whom we have contact throughout the week, people who can be influenced by the way we live our lives. It may include people in our own family, people where we work, or people where we just hang out. It may include a bank teller, a postal worker, a doctor, a nurse or a receptionist. It may include people at church, people on the Internet, or people we don’t even know, who are watching what we do.

And what we do matters.

Take a look at what happened when Moses was obedient to God’s call on his life, taking steps of faith even when surrounded by doubt. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and called him to set the Israelites free, Moses hesitated to believe it. But God assured Moses that he was the man. To confirm it, God told Moses He would give him a sign:

“I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain” (Exodus 3:2).

Now if I were Moses, I think I would have been a little bit frustrated that the sign would only come after I had taken this huge step of faith! Why would God wait until after the Israelites were free, and worshiping Him back at this same mountain, to give Moses “the sign”?

To see why, fast forward several months. In Exodus chapter 19, we see that the sign wasn’t just for Moses, but also for those in Moses’ new sphere of influence.

When Moses stepped out in faith, and the people came back to the mountain to worship God, that became a sign that anyone could read. As the people gathered there at the foot of the mountain, God told Moses to remind the people:

“You yourselves have seen what I [God] did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.”

The people heard this and responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.”

Then God speaks these words to Moses:

“I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you’ ” (from Exodus 19:3-9).

God wasn’t done with Moses when they got to the mountain. God still had many years of work ahead for him, and God needed the people to always put their trust in Moses so that they would follow his lead.

Sometimes the signs God gives us are not just for us, but for others to read, too. When we step out in faith, being obedient to what God has called us to do, it releases others to step out in faith and obedience as well.

A few years ago, I felt God wanted me to head up a city-wide outreach here in town. With more than a little fear in my heart, I finally brought up the idea at our local ministers’ meeting. Within a year, we had over 200 people involved in planning and pulling off this event.

Looking back, I realized that my stepping out in faith, and doing what God had called me to do, was a catalyst for others to step out in faith, and do what God had called them to do.

People are affected by what we do.

What is God calling you to do? Remember that you may not be the only one who is affected by what you do or don’t do. None of us live in isolation. In fact, the sign that God gives you to show that He really is with you may just be the sign someone else needs to read! Then they’ll be able to see that God is with them, too!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 21: Put A System In Place

Scripture Reading: Exodus 18

Feeling overwhelmed with too much to do? Don’t despair. Help may be on the way! I was lamenting to a friend one day about all the things I felt God wanted me to do. She asked: “Why would God give you more to do than one person could do?” I knew the answer: He wouldn’t. He knows what I can handle and what I can’t.

So I knew there were only two options left: 1) Either God hadn’t given me everything I felt He wanted me to do, and I needed to back out of some of them; Or 2) God had given me all the things I felt He wanted me to do, and I needed to find a new way to do them.

It turned out to be some of both. For this lesson, though, I want to focus on the second option. There are times when God calls us to accomplish things for Him, that don’t require us to do them all by ourselves.

Moses found himself in this situation when leading over 600,000 men, not counting all the women and children, through a desert. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw all that Moses was doing and said:

“What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?”

Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.”

Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. But select capable men from all the people―men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain―and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. (Exodus 18:14-24)

Here was Moses, a man truly called by God to lead the people, yet becoming overwhelmed by taking care of every dispute by himself. Jethro saw that this would eventually wear Moses out―as well as all the people. So Jethro gave Moses some practical advice: “Get help!” Moses did, and he was able to fulfill the call of God on his life in a way that he was able to “stand the strain,” and all the people went home “satisfied.”

Was Moses called to lead the people? Absolutely. Did that mean he had to meet every need personally? Not at all. While he was still ultimately responsible for the people, he found that by putting a system into place and enlisting the help of others he was able to fulfill the call of God on his life.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with too much to do, it’s worth an honest prayer to God: “Am I doing the things You want me to do? And if so, is there another way You want me to do them?” Then listen to His honest answers, which come at times through other people.

Even Moses, as close as He was to God, still allowed God to speak into His life through another human being. God’s goal was to meet the needs of the people. Moses’ goal was to see that it got done. Take a look at the goal, then look at your role. In the end, I believe God will help you to “stand the strain,” and all the people will go home “satisfied.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 20: Take The Elders With You

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:5-6

Has God ever called you to take a risky step of faith in front of other people? Why does He do that?

I know I’d rather take a risky step of faith when I’m all alone, in private, with no one watching. Sometimes we’re able to do that, but there are other times when God calls us to take steps of faith with others looking on.

With today’s lesson, we’re turning a corner in the book of Exodus. In the first ten lessons, we looked at how to “get free” from the bondages in our life. In lessons 11-20, we covered how to “stay free” once we’ve gotten free. In the next ten lessons, we’re going to look at how to “set others free,” a big part of which involves enlisting the help of others.

Take a look at how God begins to do this here in Exodus chapter 17:

Why did God tell Moses to take some of the elders of Israel with him on his way to strike the rock?

Although the text of this chapter doesn’t say specifically, we can get an idea of what might be going on by looking ahead at the next few chapters. Moses’ father-in-law is about to come onto the scene and tell Moses to divide up the work of leading the people, encouraging Moses to choose leaders over groups of tens, hundreds and thousands to help share the leadership load. The elders that go with Moses to the rock are likely to be some of the same elders who will take on these new roles.

While taking our steps of faith in private may be “safe,” taking those same steps in public may be significant in helping others take their own steps of faith down the road.

When I began my Internet ministry, I reached a point where I was overwhelmed with requests for prayer and advice. So I invited some people to help me respond to all the emails that were coming in. One of those who volunteered was a woman from Tennessee who had a heart, and a gift, for helping people. Over the years of helping us, her burden for helping others over the Internet continued to grow.

The week that I wrote this lesson, she launched an Internet ministry of her own at http://www.DayByDay7.org. Taking what she has learned about doing ministry over the Internet and combining it with her other God-given gifts and talents, she’s now poised to help many more people grow in their faith. Here’s part of a note I got from her that week:

“I just wanted to share with you that I got my first prayer request from someone in California. I don’t even know how they got my website. I can’t tell you how hard that hit me―it was so sudden and I didn’t expect to get any hits or prayer requests so soon. It was completely awesome. You should have seen me praising the Lord. All the hard work was worth it! At that moment, the poem on my website came to pass: if I can ease one pain, it will all be worth it!”

The closing of her note tied together this idea of the value of taking others with us while we step out in faith. She wrote: “Thank you for allowing me to volunteer with The Ranch and for encouraging me to reach out to others through your ministry and this one. I don’t know where God will take it, but I’m ready! You are my inspiration for DayByDay7.org.”

Why does God call us to sometimes take steps of faith with others watching? Perhaps one of the reasons is so that when we walk along with each other, we can encourage each other to keep taking more steps of faith, thus expanding the ministry of “setting others free.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 19: Take Your Position And Maintain Your Position

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:8-16

What difference can it make to those around you whether or not you can “stay up” in your faith? For some people, it may mean the difference between victory and defeat, between staying free and falling back into bondage.

When God calls us to take action, He wants us to take our position, and maintain our position, even when we begin to feel weak. He may even send others to help us so we can continue to stand strong.

In the case of Moses, God sent two men to help him when he was feeling weak. When Moses was wearing out, he lowered his arms, and his army began to lose. But when Aaron and Hur gave him a boost, Moses’ army got a boost at the same time. There’s a short description of this event in Exodus 17:

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up―one on one side, one on the other―so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword” (Exodus 7:8-13).

It must have seemed odd for Moses to tell Joshua to go into battle while Moses himself went up on a hill, holding his staff in his hands. But they both had their roles to play. They both had to take their positions and maintain their positions for victory to come. Moses needed to keep his staff in the air, and Joshua needed to fight with all his might.

What’s the deal with Moses having to hold his arms up in the air? What good could that do? While I’m sure there were supernatural things that God did by having Moses raise his staff, (like turning water into blood and splitting the Red Sea in two), I also think there were some “natural” things that God did through this act, too.

As Joshua and the army looked up to the hill, they could see their leader, Moses, with his staff in his hands raised up to heaven. They could also see if Moses grew weary and lowered his arms. While one movement gave them strength and courage, the other movement led to weakness and discouragement.

Moses, Aaron and Hur all saw the effect this had on Joshua and the army. They knew what needed to be done. When Moses couldn’t do it by himself anymore, Aaron and Hur stepped in to lift his hands for him. As they watched Joshua and the army until sunset that day, they saw the result of what they were doing: the Israelites were finally able to overcome the Amalekites.

A famous Christian once told his friend that he didn’t want to be a role model for others. His friend said, “It’s not a matter of whether or not you want to be a role model. You are a role model. The question is whether you’re going to be a good role model or a bad one.”

There are times when we may not feel like taking the position God has called us to take. There are times when we may not feel like maintaining the position God has called us to take. We may wish we could go down to fight instead of standing on a hill. Or we may wish we could go stand on a hill instead of going down to fight! But if God has called us to our position, we just need to take it and maintain it.

What position has God called you to take? Take your position and maintain your position―then watch to see the difference it can make in your life, and in the lives of those around you.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 18: Take It To The Lord

Scripture Reading: Exodus 17:1-7

What can we do when people seem to love us one minute and hate us the next―when we haven’t even done anything differently? We can learn a lesson from Moses and do what he did: take it to the Lord.

I remember a man who had heard about some of the things I was doing in my walk of faith with God. He was so impressed that he came over to my house one day said to me: “you’re the closest thing to a disciple I’ve ever seen.” Within a month, that same man started to deride and question everything I did. I wasn’t doing anything differently, but somehow his perception of me had changed during that month.

People can be fickle―and sometimes with good reason. But we still need to know how to respond to them. Moses had to deal with people’s fickle reactions all the time. When things were going great in the camp, the people put their faith in Moses, following him wherever he led. But when circumstances changed, their opinions of Moses changed, even to the point where they wanted to stone him to death.

In Exodus 17, when the people found themselves without water again, they turned on Moses again:

“The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’

“Moses replied, ‘Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?’ But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?’ ” (Exodus 17:1-3).

What could Moses do? Instead of taking it personally, he took it to the Lord―and the Lord answered him.

“Then Moses cried out to the LORD, ‘What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.’

“The LORD answered Moses, ‘Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.’ So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’ ” (Exodus 17:4-7).

This last question is the key question for all of us: “Is the Lord among us or not?” If we can answer that question, we can be dead to compliments and dead to criticism.

When God answered Moses, He clearly told Moses what to do: walk on ahead of the people, take some of the elders with him, along with his staff, with which God had already displayed his power. Then He told Moses: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb.”

God said, in effect: “Moses, I am with you. Strike the rock and you’ll have water for all the people.”

Jesus said similar words to His disciples, words which still apply to all of us who call ourselves His disciples today: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).

When we know that God is with us, we can properly respond to people’s comments, whether they are compliments or criticism. The key is not in ignoring people’s compliments or criticism, but in fully recognizing that God is with us in what we’re doing. When we know that He is with us, we will clearly defer people’s compliments and criticism to Him, knowing that it is God who is calling the shots, not us.

Whether people compliment you or criticize you, don’t take it personally. Take it to the Lord, letting Him reassure you that He’s still with you!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 17: Trust God To Provide Showing He’s The Lord

Scripture Reading: Exodus 16

Want to see the hand of God at work in your life this year? Try this: take time to write down each of your prayers in a journal or on a pad of paper. Then leave some space next to each prayer so that you can come back later to record when, and how, that prayer was answered.

Within just a few weeks, you’ll begin to see how many prayers God answers on a regular basis. You’ll also see how often He answers those prayers in a way that you’ll know it was the Lord who answered them. By connecting your prayers to God’s answers, you’ll both see and know that God’s hand is at work in your life.

This is how God said He would answer the prayers of the Israelites when they cried out for food in the desert in Exodus chapter 16:

The LORD said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God’ ” (Exodus 16:11-12).

Starting the very next day, God gave them manna every morning and quail every night, not as the result of some natural desert phenomenon, but clearly as a result of God delivering on His promise exactly as He told them He would.

One day, God answered one of my prayers in a similarly specific way when I was praying about where God wanted me to live and minister.

I was living in Illinois at the time and had a map of the United States laying out on the table. Just out of curiosity, I closed my eyes and let my finger fall on the map. When I saw that it had landed on Dallas, Texas, I closed the map. I really wasn’t wanting to go back to Texas again, since I had just moved back to Illinois from from Texas just a few years earlier.

But later that night, as I told a friend on the phone what had happened regarding the map, my friend immediately described to me a picture that God had impressed on his mind when I said the word “Dallas.” He described a place called “The Ranch,” not the famous ranch from the old TV show “Dallas,” but a scene he had never seen before. He told me in detail about the location of the trees, the sunset, some obstacles, a dirt path, a fence, and a river by, next to which stood one solitary tree casting its shadow on the water.

My friend drew what he had seen on a piece of paper. He signed it, dated it and faxed me a copy. Vision or no vision, I still wasn’t interested in going to Texas! So I promptly forgot about it….until several months later when I got a phone call from a pastor in Dallas, Texas. He wanted to know if I would be interested in moving to Dallas to serve as the Associate Pastor at his church. I had to pull out my friend’s sketch and ask God if there was any connection between the call and my earlier prayer. It turns out there was! You can see the whole story on The Ranch website by watching the video for this lesson.

Suffice it to say we ended up moving to Dallas! Exactly one year later―to the day―I found myself standing on the bank of the river outside our new back yard, looking at a scene that had been detailed a year earlier in a drawing I now held in my hand and included the trees, the sunset, the obstacles, the dirt path, the fence, and even the solitary tree casting its shadow onto the water! To top it all off, just behind this scene was a brand new sports rehab center that happened to open that very month called, “The Ranch.” (This story was the inspiration for how I decided to call my website The Ranch!)

If you want to see the hand of God at work in your life, take time to write down your prayers―then leave room for His answers! When you make the connection between your prayers and God’s answers, you’ll begin to see clearly that the Lord really is “the LORD!”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 16: Cry Out To The Lord

Scripture Reading: Exodus 15:22-27

What makes Christmas so special for so many people? I think the answer can be summed up in one word: JESUS. That one word contains more power, more hope and more love than all the others words in the world combined.

Even the word “Jesus” has a significant meaning. It comes from the Greek form of the name Joshua, which means “the Lord saves.” So to say that “Jesus Saves” is like saying, in bold and underlined, “The Savior Saves!” It is the saving power of Jesus that makes Christmas so special to me and millions of others around the world.

It is that same Truth that God has been trying to get across to people for thousands of years.

Three thousand years ago there were over 600,000 men, women and children who were on the verge of death in the middle of a desert. They had just lived through some of the most fearful and awesome moments ever recorded in history, and yet they found themselves once again at the edge of calamity.

Having found no water in the desert for three days, they finally found water at a place called Marah―only to discover that the water was bitter and was undrinkable. This was the last straw. They grumbled to Moses, and Moses did the best thing any of us can do in such a situation―he cried out to the Lord:

“Then Moses cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet” (Exodus 15:25).

Once again, “the Lord saves.” There’s a big difference between grumbling to others and crying out to the Lord. “Grumbling to others” is giving in to defeat and failure. “Crying out to the Lord” is looking up with hope and anticipation. The people grumbled. Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him exactly what to do.

A man here in the U.S., by the name of George Washington Carver, saw poverty and desperation all around him in his home state of Georgia. He cried out to the Lord, asking God to show him the secrets of the universe. God told George that this would be too much for him to handle! So George asked God to show him the secrets of the peanut, an unimportant plant at that time that grew in Georgia. In response to that cry, God showed George hundreds of uses for the peanut, including peanut butter, oils, lubricants, paints and more. George put his wisdom to use and turned the peanut into a $13 million industry for the state of Georgia.

Back to Jesus, I heard from a woman who had grown up as a Buddhist, and who one day she found herself in the blackest of holes. Her marriage, her family, and her life were a total mess. She didn’t know what to do. So she did the one thing she hadn’t tried before. She called out to Jesus, whom she had heard about on television. Standing in the middle of her living room, she looked up to heaven, with tears in her eyes, and called out to Jesus as loud as she could. With that cry, Jesus totally and completely transformed her life here on earth and gave her a future in heaven, too. You can read her whole story on The Ranch website by going to “Stories” and clicking on “Jesus Get Me Out Of Here!”

I don’t know where you are today or what you’re going through. But the Lord knows―the Lord who saves, the Lord who took a truly desperate situation and completely turned it around by showing Moses the simplest of solutions―to throw a stick into bitter water to make it sweet.

What do you need from the Lord today? Don’t grumble to others. Cry out to the Lord! Listen for His answer, no matter how simple. You might find that the solution is right under your nose. You just need the Lord to show it to you! You’ll find out again that the Lord is able to save you and those around you, perhaps even hundreds of thousands around you! Remember what “Jesus” means: “The Lord Saves!”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 15: Take Time To Praise God

Scripture Reading: Exodus 15:1-21

When you’ve broken free from something in your life, what’s a practical thing you can do to stay free?

One thing is to write down specifically what God has done for you―in a poem, in a song, or just in some words that don’t even rhyme. When you take the time to write it down, especially in a way that can be recited or sung later, those words can be a reminder of what God has done for you―and what He’s going to do in the future.

I don’t think of myself as a poet, but sometimes poems just come out! One came out when I was a senior in college when I was dating Lana. I was working at an office that had an Apple computer called the “Lisa.” “Lisa” was Apple’s forerunner to the Macintosh, and was the first of Apple’s computers to have a “graphical user interface,” years before Microsoft created “windows.”

That’s when I fell in love, not only with Lana, but also with Apple computers. I discovered that this computer allowed me to express myself in a poem by drawing pictures next to the text:

“I love your name Lana,

You don’t look like a (I drew a picture of a banana).

Your (I drew a picture of her hair) is so curly,

You never look (I drew a picture of a squirrel) -ly.”

I’ll spare you from having to read the rest of the poem! As goofy as it was, Lana has kept it to this day.

The fact that we take the time to write down something about someone special can have a significant impact on them―and on us.

For the Israelites, when they got free from the Egyptians and made it to the other side of the Red Sea, they seemed to almost spontaneously combust into a song about the experience:

“I will sing to the LORD,
for he is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider
he has hurled into the sea.”
(Exodus 15:1)

This goes on for 20 more verses. The song is specifically about their experience, recalling how the water piled up like a wall on each side of them, and then how God blew the water back into place again with His breath, plunging their enemies to the depths like a stone. The song then turns into a song of hope for what God promised to do for them in the future.

Their song was such a powerful reminder of God’s deliverance that we still sing some of its refrains today, such as, “And I shall prepare him my heart…” from the song Exodus XV.

Just as people love it when we take time to write about how much they mean to us, God loves it, too. One of the reasons is because it takes time to write down the words. In that time, when we recall what God has done for us and what He has promised to do for us in the future, we can find hope to go on. We can remember all that He’s done and all that He’s going to do. We remind ourselves that we don’t really want to go back to our own “Egypt” ever again.

As I wrote this lesson, we were about to celebrate Christmas all around the world. We were getting ready to sing songs about things that God has done throughout the ages, some of them thousands of years ago, and some just a few years ago. I wondered aloud if maybe it was time for a new song, too?

Has God done something in your life that you’d like to remember forever―something that you’d like to pass on to future generations? Or is there someone special in your life who could use a special gift this week? Not a gift from a store, but a gift from a storehouse of love. If so, let it flow! Write a poem to the awesome God we serve―or to someone that you love. If you like music, how about writing a tune, or just humming one that can go along with the poem?

Then give it to your Beloved as a special act of love. They’ll keep it forever. And it will help keep you free!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 14: Take Action

Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:15-31

In our last study, we took a look at “standing firm” when our back is up against the wall. In this study, we’ll look at what to do next, because God doesn’t want us to stand still forever. There comes a time when God calls us to take action.

To paraphrase a preacher in the early days of America, who had been praying about what God wanted him to do in regards to creating this new country: “There’s a time to pray and a time to act. Now’s the time to act!”

Prayer is not a one-way conversation, but is an invitation for God to speak. And when God speaks, we need to do what He says, no matter how trivial a thing He might tell us to do.

God spoke to Moses when Moses’ back was up against the wall of the Red Sea. The people had been crying out to Moses, complaining that he had brought them out into the desert to die at the hands of the Egyptians. As the Egyptian chariots quickly approached, Moses told the people to “stand firm,” and they would see the deliverance of the Lord.

But then God told Moses what to do next:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. …’ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:15-16, 21-22).

Moses may have thought: What? Just raise my staff and stretch out my hand over the sea? How could that help!?! But Moses did what God said to do, and the Lord blew back the waters with His very breath, delivering the Israelites to safety and destroying their captors.

I was farming with my Dad one day when the rain began to fall on our two tractors. I was driving ahead of my Dad, preparing the ground so he could plant the grain behind me. It was critical that we got the crops in the ground that day. We didn’t have time for a storm.

As the rain started hitting my face, I stood up on the open-air tractor, held my hand up above my head, and prayed that the rain would stop. Guess what happened? I got drenched! Totally soaked from head to toe! I said, “Okay, God, I don’t have control over the wind and rain.”

But as I thought about it some more, I said, “Even though I don’t have control, God, I believe that You do. I think this is just Satan trying to discourage me. God, I’m going to put my hand back up and keep on praying. I’m going to keep driving and praying until the rain stops, because we need to get Dad’s crops in today!”

Although the rain kept pelting me in the face, I held my hand up high. I was still getting soaked for a few more minutes, but by the time I got to the other end of the field and turned around to take another pass, the rain had completely stopped. For the rest of the day, we planted that field as the rain came down in sheets all around us. Even the cars that drove on the road bordering our field had their windshield wipers going all day long, but the rain didn’t touch the ground we were planting.

God doesn’t always answer our prayers so dramatically, and even when He doesn’t, we can be assured that He has something better in mind for us, because God is ultimately FOR us.

But when God does tell you to take action, take action! No matter how big or how small that action may be, make sure to get it done. Don’t let Satan get you down. Lift your hands to God and press on.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 13: Stand Firm

Scripture Reading: Exodus 14:1-14

What can you do when your back is up against the wall, when you can’t go forward, and when you feel like God doesn’t want you to go backward? Sometimes the best thing to do is the hardest thing to do: to “stand firm.”

A few years ago, my family was moving from Texas to Illinois. We had a very short timeframe to sell our house and make the move. As I prayed about it, I felt God wanted us to make the move between February 15th and February 28th, a two week window of time―that was less than two months away.

I was fighting for my faith on this one. I felt I was supposed to sell the house without a realtor, which can often take longer than with a realtor, and I didn’t have any time to lose. Then I got a letter from a realtor that almost totally undid my faith. It read:

“It’s now been a couple of weeks since you began trying to sell your house by yourself, and for your sake I do hope you will be successful―although the odds are not with you. I say this because currently in this area there are some 470 full-time real estate professionals who are working 7 days a week to sell homes like yours. Yet even with so many professionals on the job, it is still taking an average of 30-120 days to get a listed home sold. Now, if it takes 470 full-time professionals over 4 months to get a house sold, how long will it take you―working part-time by yourself?”

I wondered what to do. It was critical that we sell our house quickly. Then I was reminded of the Israelites in Exodus, chapter 14.

They had just been set free from Egypt when God led them right up to the edge of the Red Sea. Pharaoh had changed his mind again, wondering why he had let his slaves go free. He took his chariots and chased after the Israelites, threatening to put them into bondage again. The Israelites saw their captors coming and cried out to Moses:

“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Exodus 14:11-12).

Sometimes we wonder the same thing. We finally get free from something that has enslaved us, then it tries to force its way back into our lives to captivate us again. We panic. We wonder why we ever tried to get free in the first place. But Moses told his people something that helped them stay free, and it can help us stay free as well. Moses answered:

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).

Even Moses couldn’t have guessed that God was going to part the Red Sea for them to cross, but he knew that God had brought them this far, and He could bring them home.

In my own small way, I felt like Moses with my back up against the Sea. I was about to panic when I got that realtor’s letter. But I decided to “stand firm.” As if in confirmation of my decision, I read another story in 1 Kings 18 where God answered the prayers of one man, Elijah, over the misguided prayers of 450 others. It was close enough to my situation up against the 470 realtors mentioned in the letter that it gave me goose bumps!

Three weeks later we had a buyer for the house. We finalized the sale on February 26th and pulled out of town on February 28th.

Standing orders are good orders. If God hasn’t directed a change in your plans, the best plan is to “stand firm” in the plan He’s already given you.

Don’t give in to fear. Stand firm in God!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 12: God’s Route Takes Time For Our Sake

Scripture Reading: Exodus 13:17-22

Have you ever been able to see exactly where you want to go, but it seems like it takes forever to get there? The more you walk towards it, the farther away it gets? That may not be an optical illusion. That may just be the hand of God at work.

I’ve been working on a project for several years. Every once in awhile I think I see the finish line just around the next turn. Then I realize that it wasn’t the finish line at all, but just another marker along the way. God urges me on, and seems to send me on another lap around the track.

Why does God do that? Isn’t He the One who called us to run this race in the first place and holds out the prize for us at the end? In Exodus chapter 13, God gives us at least one of the reasons He holds us back from reaching the finish line too soon.

When God promised the Israelites He would bring them into “the Promised Land,” He set them free from Egypt and sent them on their way. But instead of sending them on the straightest route, He deliberately sent them on a much longer route around the desert. He tells us why in Exodus 13:17-18a:

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.”

The Israelites were so fresh out of Egypt that God knew that if they went straight to the Promised Land and had to do battle right away, they might have hightailed it right back to Egypt. God knew that Egypt was a much worse place for them to be and it wasn’t where He wanted them to be at all. For their own protection, God took them on the longer route.

Oftentimes we get frustrated when we have to take the longer route. We cry out, “God, why is it taking so long for me to get there? Why is it taking so long to restore my marriage that I know You want restored? To get the job that I know you want me to have? To bring back the child that I know You want to bring back? To finish the project that I know You called me to do?”

It might be that God is waiting until we’re ready to say with our whole heart: “OK, God, I’m ready to take on this battle no matter what. I’m going to fight for my marriage the way You want me to fight for it. I’m going to fight for my job, fight for my purpose, fight for my calling in life. I want to be able to stand firm in these things, God, so teach me everything I need to know before I get there, because if I get there too soon, I might hightail it back to Egypt.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us how we can get this kind of attitude: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Sometimes the shortest route in the long run is the longest route in the short run.

Don’t be frustrated when God says to take another lap around the track. Don’t give up on what God’s called you to do. Don’t give in to the thinking that you’ll never make it. Follow the example of the Apostle Paul: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13b-14).

Tell God: “Father, I’m ready when You are. Whether I reach my goal today or sometime down the road, I’m still going to trust You no matter what. You’ve brought me this far. I know You’ll bring me home.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 11: Mark The Date

Scripture Reading: Exodus 13:1-16

If you could live any day of your life over again―because it was so memorable―which day would you re-live? For me, I’d pick November 19th, 1988, the day I asked my wife, Lana, to marry me. It was perfect in every way, even including the brief rain shower that fell on us while we rode paddle boats at the Houston Zoo.

Some dates are so memorable that we think we’ll never forget them. But as time passes, and life takes its unexpected turns, we can sometimes forget, or simply devalue, what God has done for us in the past. And when we forget, we tend to quickly lose ground on any freedom we had gained up to that point.

In the last ten lessons of this study, we looked at how the Israelites were finally able to get free from their bondage. In the next ten lessons, we’re going to look at how to stay free, which can be just as important as getting free in the first place.

The first lesson for staying free is this: mark the date. Make a point to deliberately remember, from year to year, just what God has done for you. And not only for you to remember, but as an opportunity to remind those around you what God has done for you, too.

Here’s what God told the Israelites to do in Exodus chapter 13:

“Then Moses said to the people, ‘Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand … You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year … In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery’ … and it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”

God knew what the Israelites would be facing in the future. He knew that they may one day wonder if they had made the wrong decision, if maybe they should turn around and go back to Egypt, back into bondage. But if they could simply remember this night and the miraculous deliverance they experienced that could only be attributed to the hand of God, they would have the faith to keep moving forward – faith to endure any obstacle in the future.

Some people scoff at holidays, thinking they serve no purpose except to give people a day off of work. But to those who use these “holy” days well, they can be powerful reminders of what God has done, and provide “staying power” for those who have been set free.

Here in the United States, we celebrate a holiday called Thanksgiving, a day that was established when the first people who came to this land from overseas wanted to remember all that God had done for them. They had lost much in the process of coming to America, including many loved ones who didn’t survive the trip and their first few months here. But rather than despair over what they had lost, they gave thanks for what they had found.

The day before I wrote this lesson was November 19th. Throughout the day, I took time to remember what happened on the day I proposed to Lana. I told my kids about it. I told her brother about it. I told her Dad about it. I bought her flowers. I love to re-live that day in my mind for myself, and out loud for others, because I want to continually remember throughout my life what God has done for me.

Are you struggling to stay free? Wondering if it might be better to head back to Egypt? If so, try taking some time this week to remember some of the things God has done for you in the past. Mark those dates on your calendar. Celebrate them every year. Let them be “like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead” of all that the Lord has done for you.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 10: God Fulfills His Promises In Unforgettable Ways

Scripture Reading: Exodus 12

Can you imagine an event so memorable that people would still celebrate it 3,500 years later? Not 35, or 350, but 3,500 years later!?! The Passover was just such an event: the night the Israelites were set free from their bondage in Egypt.

We’ve already looked at one of the reasons God does things the way He does: so that the whole world will know that He is God, so they will put their faith in Him, too. But in this lesson, we see yet another reason: sometimes God fulfills His promises in a way that is so unforgettable that people will remember it for years to come.

When God called me into full-time ministry, He used a verse about the Passover to confirm it. I was asking God to confirm some things He was telling me were going to happen that day.

Two verses of scripture came to my mind: Genesis 2:3 and Exodus 12:2. I didn’t know what the verses said, so I looked up Genesis 2:3. It was about the first Sabbath Day. Assuming I must have heard wrong on that one, I turned to Exodus 12:2, which was about the first Passover. I began to write in my journal, “God, I don’t get it,” but before I finished the sentence, I felt like God said: “Like the Sabbath and the Passover were markers of special days, so today will mark a special day for you, Eric.”

“What will it mark?” I asked.

“The beginning of your ministry,” He answered.

God did what He promised to do that day, and within 48 hours I had quit my job and launched out into full-time ministry.

As memorable as that event was for me, it was minuscule compared to what God did for the Israelites on that first Passover night:

“Each man is to take a lamb for his family…year-old males without defect, and…slaughter them at midnight….take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs…On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn – both men and animals – and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD – a lasting ordinance” (Exodus 12:3, 6, and 12-14).

And a lasting celebration it has become. When Jesus celebrated the Passover on the night before He died, the tradition was already 1,500 years old. You’ve probably celebrated it, even if you weren’t fully aware of it, if you’ve ever taken communion, or the Lord’s Supper. For it was during the Passover meal that Jesus took the bread and the cup and spoke these words:

“This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me…this cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).

Just as the Old Covenant required a lamb to be sacrificed so the Israelites could go free, the New Covenant has the same requirement so that we can go free, except that Jesus is that lamb. The Bible says, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (I Corinthians 5:7).

For all that the Israelites had to go through in Egypt―the hard labor, the waiting, the wailing all around them―their day of freedom was so memorable we still celebrate it 3,500 years later.

Are you waiting for God to do something in your life? Are you wondering why it has to take so long―why your labor might be getting harder not easier? It just might be that God is working things out in such a way that when He does fulfill His promises to you, He will do it in a way that is so unforgettable, that you―and everyone around you―will remember it for years.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 9: Ultimate Victory Comes From Ultimate Sacrifice

Scripture Reading: Exodus 11

How free do you want to be? If you want to get a little bit free, you only have to make a little bit of sacrifice. But if you want to get totally free, you have to make a total sacrifice.

I’ve ridden on a few swings with my kids before and there’s a bit of a thrill that comes with it. But one day I went on a 100 foot bungee swing with them and it was a totally different experience!

After my six year old son and I were pulled half-way up to the top, he asked “Are we there yet?” When we were pulled still higher and higher, he hung onto my arm tighter and tighter. When we got to the top, I counted to three before pulling the cord that would plunge us down the 100 foot drop:

One! Two! Three! Whewwwww! The sense of freedom that came in those next few seconds was overwhelming as we swung down and then back up again over the crowd below us.

Moses had the chance to get a little bit of freedom for the Israelite slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh offered Moses the chance to go into the desert for a few days with just the men. Moses said, “No.” Then Pharaoh said Moses could go with the women and children, too, but just leave the animals behind. Moses refused. Each time Pharaoh offered a compromise, Moses held out for total freedom, because that’s what God had promised him.

In Exodus chapter 11, God tells Moses that total freedom is just around the corner, but it wouldn’t come without cost.

So Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt – worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.’ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (Exodus 11:4-7).

Ultimate victory comes only from ultimate sacrifice.

None of the Israelites’ sons would die in this way, but God called upon them to make a sacrifice, too―of a lamb. When they put the blood of the lamb on the doorframes of their homes, the Angel of the Lord would “pass over” them and not kill their sons, because their sacrifice had already been made.

There are times when something has to die so something else can live.

I heard a woman speak one night about dying to ourselves so that God could live through us. She quoted Madame Guyon, a Christian who lived in France in the 1600’s, who talked about this total surrender as “plunging your will into the depths of God’s will, there to be lost forever.”

I was enthralled by this vision. But a friend of mine, who had heard the same talk, was scared to death by it. He wasn’t sure if he could trust God or not, and wasn’t wanting to take the chance to find out.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to do the bungee swing, either, until I saw a sign on the ride that said, “100% safety.” That’s what I needed to know to enjoy the ride of my life. Maybe you’re not sure you want to totally surrender everything in your life to Christ. Let me assure you that based on my experience, the experience of others, and most importantly, the words of God Himself in the Bible, that God is trustworthy. He loves you, cares about you, and has already made the ultimate sacrifice for you. Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b).

If you want a little bit of freedom, trust Jesus a little bit. But if you want total freedom, put your faith in Christ for everything in your life. Everything! Then you’ll find out the truth of Jesus’ words: “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed! (John 8:36)

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 8: God Sets People Free So All Will Know

Scripture Reading: Exodus 7-10

People sometimes wonder why God “hardens” Pharaoh’s heart in the process of setting the Israelites free from Egypt. Why does God have to do it this way? Doesn’t this override Pharaoh’s free will, if God is the one who makes Pharaoh’s heart hard?

Not at all! A friend of mine compares this to the different effects the sun has on two different objects: butter and clay. What happens when the sun shines on a lump of butter for a few hours? It gets soft. But what happens when the sun shines on a lump of clay for a few hours? It gets hard! The same sun that softens the butter, hardens the clay. The difference is not in the sun, but in the reaction of the objects to the sun.

When God pours out the plagues in Exodus chapters 7, 8, 9 and 10, Moses and Pharaoh have two different reactions. Moses’ heart gets softer to God’s purposes and Pharaoh’s just gets harder and harder.

But there’s still a deeper question in this story: Why does God have to bother with Moses, Pharaoh and the plagues at all? If God wants to set the people free, why doesn’t He just cut off their chains, open the gates of Egypt and walk the people out? Why, for that matter, does God free anyone the way He does?

Why wait until Daniel’s already in the lion’s den before saving him? Why wait for little David to come onto the scene before defeating Goliath? Why wait till Jonah’s near the bottom of the ocean before sending a whale out to save him?

God tells us the answer in every one of these stories.

He sets people free in a way that the world will know that He is the Lord, so that others will put their faith in Him and be set free, too.

We can read this over and over again in the story of the plagues:

“…and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD…” (Exodus 7:5)

“…by this you will know that I am the LORD…” (Exodus 7:17)

“…so that you may know there is no one like the LORD…” (Exodus 8:10)

“…so that you will know that I, the LORD , am in this land.” (Exodus 8:22)

“…that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)

We can read this over and over again throughout the Bible.

When God sets Daniel free from the lion’s den, He does it in a way that so impresses the king of that land that the king “wrote a letter to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land…that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel” (from Daniel 6:25-27).

When God gave David the victory over Goliath, He did it in a way that “the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (from 1 Samuel 17:45-46).

When God rescued Jonah from the depths of the ocean, He was able to get His message out to the people of Nineveh so that even the king of that city issued a proclamation to all the people in his land: “Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish” (from Jonah 3:7-9).

If you wonder why God does things the way He does, pray that God would soften your heart to the things He’s trying to do. Pray that God would soften the hearts of your family and friends to the things He may be trying to do through you. Then trust Him that He really does want to set you and your family and friends free.

God may be waiting for just the right time, just the right place, and just the right circumstances so that others will know that He is the Lord, put their faith and trust in Him, and be set free, too.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 7: God Helps Us With Both Battles

Scripture Reading: Exodus 6

How well do you do on the “Wednesdays” of your life? The way you handle those “hump days” could very well determine what happens with the rest of your week―and the rest of your life!

Maybe it’s a marriage that you were really thrilled about jumping into at first, but then starts getting hard. Or maybe it’s a baby you’ve looked forward to having and then it finally comes―along with the dirty diapers, the crying and the sleepless nights. Or maybe it’s a Bible study you couldn’t wait to start, but then begins to lag and just isn’t “speaking to you” anymore. Whatever it is, a “Wednesday” is anything that makes you feel like you just want to throw in the towel and give in.

Moses was definitely having a “Wednesday” in Exodus chapter 6, and the lesson God gave him for how to get through it is a good one for us, too.

Moses had done exactly what God told him to do, asking Pharaoh to “Let my people go.” But Pharaoh said, “No,” and increased the people’s work.

Now Moses was fighting a battle in his flesh and a battle in his faith. We find out, in Exodus chapter 6, when Moses returns to the Lord, that God is still with him, ready and willing to help Moses fight both battles. Regarding the battle of the flesh, God says He will help Moses by using His “mighty hand”:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country’ ” (Exodus 6:1)

Regarding the battle of the faith, God tells Moses three things:

1) God reminds Moses that this was His idea, His plan, His covenant (verses 2-5);

2) God reminds Moses that He will be with Moses, that Moses isn’t fighting alone (verse 6);

3) God reminds Moses what the outcome will be, what the future holds (verses 7-8).

When you’re in the middle of your own battles, be sure to return to the Lord. Let Him speak to you, remind you, reassure you that you’re on the right path. If you’re not, He’ll let you know. But if you are, let Him reassure you that that this is His idea, that He is with you and that He has a plan for your future. These reminders can give you the faith you need to make another push in your flesh, to go another round, to keep moving forward till “Friday” comes.

I had a dream one night where God spoke clearly to me about preaching on the Internet. Even though I thought it would be financially impossible, I saw in the dream an envelope wrapped in a “net”―something that looked like one of those red woven sacks in which they sell grapefruit. There were a few dollars in the envelope and a note saying that the bill had already been paid. I wasn’t to worry about the money, but to just keep preaching on the “net.”

What did I do when I woke up? I worried about the money! Over time, whenever I “returned to the Lord,” He reminded me that this was His idea, that He was with me, and that He had a plan for my future.

Because I returned to Him so many times to get this reminder, I finally took a red mesh grapefruit bag and put it in my bill drawer. Every time I’d worry about the money, I’d open that drawer, see the “net” and immediately sense the peace of God. There was nothing magical about the bag―it was simply a visual reminder of the promises God had made to me―but it helped me get through more than a few of my own “Wednesdays.”

Don’t let “Wednesdays” get you down. Don’t let the rest of your week drop; don’t let the rest of your marriage or job or children drop; don’t let the rest of your life drop. Return to the Lord. He’ll help you fight both battles. Remember: Friday’s coming!

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 6: The Battle Of Faith And Flesh

Scripture Reading: Exodus 5

What happens when you step out in faith, thinking you’re doing what God wants you to do, but then everything goes wrong?

Don’t give up on God too soon! You might find that you’re still in the center of God’s will―even when everything around you looks worse than ever before.

This happens all the time in the “natural” world. Last summer we hired some guys to fix the broken brick steps that lead up to our house. Within a few days we had a bigger mess than before! The yard was piled with broken bricks and concrete, mounds of sand, bags of cement and stacks of new bricks, not to mention the torn up grass from the backhoe and cement truck. It was a total mess, worse than the one we were trying to fix!

The same thing happened to Moses in Exodus 5, with much more devastating results. He did exactly what God told him to do, asking Pharaoh to let the Israelites go out into the desert for a worship service. The Israelites were thrilled! God had sent a deliverer. But instead of things getting better, things got worse―much worse!

Pharaoh said, “No way!” and ordered the Israelite slaves to continue making the same number of bricks as before, but he’d no longer give them any straw to make the bricks―they would have to find it themselves. The slaves took a beating and they took it out on Moses: “May the Lord look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

Now Moses faced a battle on two fronts: a battle of faith and a battle of flesh. Although he probably wanted to fight the battle of the flesh first, saving his people from the physical attack coming against them, he knew which battle he had to fight first. He had to fight for his faith―to keep on believing what God had told him. Had he heard from God or not? Had he done something wrong or not? He knew he had to win the battle for his faith first if he was ever going to win the battle of the flesh.

So he did the best thing any of us can do: he returned to the Lord.

He cried out, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” God answered him, telling him he was right on track and to keep moving forward in faith.

While we were in the middle of our own brick project, I faced another situation that was so frustrating that I wrote in my journal, “I’m pulling my hair out! I want to scream!” I was trying to redesign The Ranch website so I could expand it to minister to more people over the Internet. That meant I had to install some new software that I felt God wanted me to use, but I had no idea how to use it. Everything I tried made a bigger mess than before. Instead of making things better, I was making them worse―much worse!

I went outside and looked at the mess in our front yard. I knew that remodeling projects were always like this. When in the middle of it, the mess gets worse before it gets better. I thanked God for the reminder and went back to work.

The website ended up more beautiful and more functional than I could have imagined. Our front steps turned out better than before and the grass began to grow again. These were small victories compared to what Moses finally gained: he was able to set an entire nation free as God had promised.

Just because your steps of faith lead you into worse trouble than before, don’t automatically assume that you’re out of God’s will, or that you’ve done something wrong. Return to the Lord. Fight the battle of faith first, and the victory in the flesh will follow.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 5: Let God’s Will Overcome Your Won’t

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:11-4:31

Have you ever faced a choice between God’s “will” and your “won’t”? A few years ago I felt God wanted me to go to Israel. I had just quit my job and had about $1,500 in the bank. It wasn’t exactly the best time to take a trip! But I couldn’t get it off my mind, so I called to find out how much a ticket would be. The answer: $1,498!

Two thoughts went through my head simultaneously, one was mine and one was God’s. I said, “God, I don’t have enough!” while God said, “Eric, you have just enough!” I knew I had a decision to make. Was I going to follow God’s “will,” or follow my “won’t”?

When God calls us to do something that we’re afraid to do, how can we overcome our doubts and fears so they don’t get in the way of God’s will? God gives us a clue in the story of Moses at the burning bush in Exodus, chapters 3 and 4.

When God spoke to Moses from within the burning bush, it was an experience most of us would envy, hearing God speak exactly what to do, personally and clearly. God said: “So now go, I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

But Moses protested. He had already tried to rescue just a few Israelites and that didn’t seem to go too well. So Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

He had a good question, one we often ask ourselves when God calls us to do something: “Who am I?”

But God had a good answer, the same answer He often gives to us, an answer that contains some of the most comforting words in the whole Bible: “I will be with you.” It’s worth repeating over and over. “I will be with you.” “I will be with you.” “I will be with you.”

Knowing that God will be with you can help you submit your won’t to God’s will. Maybe you’ve heard these classic lines by an unknown author, but they’re worth repeating over and over, too:

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.

A basketball in Michael Jordan’s hands is worth about $33 million.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy.

A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus’ hands will feed thousands.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.

Nails in Jesus Christ’s hands will produce salvation for the entire world.

It depends on whose hands it’s in.

As you see now, it depends on whose hands it’s in. So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families, and your relationships in God’s hands, because, “It depends on whose hands it’s in.”

When Moses was convinced that God would be with him, he finally submitted his won’t to God’s will. God went with Moses to Egypt and together they set the Israelites free. When I was convinced that God would be with me, I finally submitted my won’t to God’s will, too. God went with me to Israel and we were both tremendously blessed.

God called my wife, our two oldest kids and me to go on a missions trip to Africa. I looked at the cost and said, “God, I can’t do it!” To which God seemed to reply, “It’s not a matter of whether you can or can’t do it, but whether you will or won’t do it. Remember, I will be with you and you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.” So we put a deposit down on the trip and prayed for God’s will to be done. It was!

Don’t let your won’t stand in the way of God’s will. Remember, God says, “I will be with you.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 4: God Rescues People Through People

Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:1-10

Ever wonder why, when God wants something done, He calls on one of us to do it instead of just doing it Himself?

I knew a man who was burdened by the problem of pornography in our country and cried out to God: “Don’t You see what’s happening? How long are You going to let this go on? When are You going to do something about it?”

Then he heard God speaking those same words right back to him: “Don’t you see what’s happening? How long are you going to let this go on? When are you going to do something about it?”

The man was so convicted that he started an organization to combat the problem, served on a presidential task force to deal with it, and worked for years to try to set people free from this particular bondage.

As I read about Moses and the burning bush in Exodus, chapter 3, I put myself in Moses’ shoes for a minute (except that he had taken his off, of course, as God had told him that he was standing on “holy ground”). If I were Moses, I think I would have been fine with everything God was saying up until the last line. Sentence after sentence, God talked about everything He wanted to do for the Israelites, then the conversation took a sharp turn:

“I am the God of your fathers…”

“I have seen the misery of my people…”

“I have heard them crying out…”

“I am concerned about their suffering…”

“I have come down to rescue them…”

“So now go. I am sending you…to bring my people…out of Egypt”

What?!?! I was with You God up until that last line! If You’re God, if You see their misery, if You’ve heard them crying out, if You’re concerned about their suffering, if You’ve come down to rescue them, then why don’t You do it! You could do this way better than I could!

No doubt, God was certainly involved. There’s no way Moses could have caused the plagues, split the Red Sea, or made the Egyptians gladly give the Israelites all their gold and jewels on their way out of town. But for some reason, God called on Moses to be involved. He told Moses what He was planning to do, then invited Moses to “jump into the story.” It’s scary, but exciting, that God would let us take part in what He’s trying to do on the earth.

The lesson I get out of this is that God likes to rescue people through people. He wants us to be His hands, His feet, His eyes, His ears, His mouth.

A few friends asked me to come pray for a man who was dying of cancer. He was way too young to be on his death bed, and he let me know it. He had a lot of questions for God, saying, “God, what are You doing?” “Why are You doing this to me?” and “Where are You, God?”

I understood what He was saying, but I said, “If you want to know where God is, look around this room! You’ve got five people standing here by your bedside, praying for you, holding your hand, and talking to you. He’s all around your bed! God lives in us and works through each one of us by His Holy Spirit.”

Maybe you’re reading these words today and thinking, “That’s nice for that guy in his bed, but there’s no one talking to me. Where is God for me?” Well, I’m talking to you right now! As you read these words, I hope you’ll be able to hear the voice of God in them for you, too, because He wants to tell you something, too: “I love you, I care about you, and you know what? I want to use you, too!”

Why does God use people to rescue people? The Apostle Paul says it this way:

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Let God use you to do His will today.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 3: A Burning Heart Precedes A Burning Bush

Scripture Reading: Exodus 2

Do you ever wish God would just show up in a burning bush and tell you clearly what He wanted you to do?

Then I have some good news for you: I believe God wants to do that for you, too! Why? Because while we’re looking for a burning bush, God is looking for a burning heart―one that burns with the same desires for which His burns.

When I take a close look at the years leading up to Moses’ burning bush experience, I can’t help but think that God didn’t choose Moses at random. In chapter 2 of Exodus, we read that Moses’ heart was bent on rescuing people years before God called him to rescue an entire nation. Three times in the passage preceding the burning bush, we see a burning heart:

1) He tries to rescue a fellow Hebrew who was being beaten by an Egyptian;

2) He tries to rescue two fighting Hebrews from each other;

3) He tries to rescue Jethro’s daughters from the attacking shepherds.

Here’s a man whose heart was set on rescuing people. So when God was looking for a man to rescue the entire nation of Israel from slavery, to whom did He look? To Moses, a man whose heart was already burning to do the very things that God wanted done.

The lesson for me in this passage is that a burning heart precedes a burning bush. Sometimes we’re looking for a burning bush when God is looking for a burning heart. He’s looking to see if we’re eager to do the things that He wants done. And when He sees a burning heart, He often puts His finger on that person and says, “I choose you for this task because you have shown yourself eager to do the very things I want done.”

I remember hearing a pastor from Germany speak to a group of us in the United States, asking if any of us wanted to join him in doing missionary work in Germany. Several hands went up. Then he asked, “Okay, what things have you been doing here in the U.S. with Germanic people?” None of those in the audience had an answer for him. He continued, “When I see that you’re working with Germanic people here and that you truly have a heart for them, then let’s talk about coming over to Germany and helping me with my work. I want to know that your heart is really in it.”

I had some friends who had a heart for Chinese people. They wanted to go to China someday to live and laugh and learn and share with the Chinese. So they started by inviting Chinese people into their home while they lived in the United States. They did this for several years. When God was looking for someone to go to China, whom do you think God called? They eventually moved to China to live among their people God had put on their heart, and were able to change even more lives for Him.

When you look at the lives of people like Moses, the Apostle Paul and Joseph, you’ll see that while each of them had rather dramatic “burning bush” experiences, their ultimate calling was not radically different from what they had been doing all along: serving God with their whole hearts and doing His will all along the way.

There’s good news in all of this for you, too: know that while you’re looking for a burning bush, God is looking for a burning heart. In fact, He’s actively looking throughout the earth for people whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9a says:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

God is continually looking at our hearts. Are they fully committed to Him? Are they burning to do the things that He wants done?

If so, know that God wants to strengthen you in the work you’re doing. If not, pray that God will set your heart on fire today for the things that fire Him up. Either way, be encouraged! Once your heart is burning for God, He’ll see it, and He may even speak to you in your own “burning bush.”

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 2: The Fear Of God Leads To Freedom

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:15-22

I love playing the piano, but I used to be so afraid of playing in front of others that I never wanted to play in public. At home, I could play for hours, loving every minute of it. But in front of others, my brain would check out, and my hands would shake.

Then one day I was reading Jesus’ parable about the talents and the three guys who were given different amounts of talents. Two of them made a return on their gifts, but one buried his talent in the ground because he was afraid.

I was convicted. I was letting the “fear of man” keep my talent hidden, when God had given it to me, not just for me but, like all gifts He gives, so that we can bless others.

I had a choice to make: I was going to be guided either by what men might think of me, or by what God might think of me.

The Hebrew midwives in Egypt had a choice to make, too. When the king of Egypt was afraid the Israelites were growing too numerous and might one day leave them, he put them in bondage and ordered the midwives to kill any baby boys as soon as they were born. What could the midwives do? Their hands were tied―or were they? The Bible says:

“The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.” (Exodus 1:17)

And the results?

“So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own” (Exodus 1:20-21).

Although the “fear of man” threatened to keep the midwives in bondage, the “fear of God” set them free. God honored the midwives’ healthy fear of Him by blessing them with families of their own and freeing who-knows-how-many children from the grip of death as well.

Instead of succumbing to their honest and understandable fears, God showed them a way around their fears to accomplish what He called them to do: deliver His children.

I found a way around my fear of playing the piano in front of people, too.

One day a friend came to my house and heard a few of the songs I had written. He seemed to be truly touched by the music and thought it would touch others, too. He was a professional musician and asked if he could bring some recording equipment over and record the songs. That was fine with me. I wasn’t afraid of making a mistake in front of a machine―just people!

When we finished recording a dozen songs, he gave me a copy of the music. I was amazed by what I heard! I had never heard my songs played before as a “listener.” I was always the “player,” and my concentration was intensely focused on getting the notes right. For the first time, I was able to truly relax and just listen to the music. And it touched my own heart, too.

I uploaded the songs on the Internet and people began to listen. And they were touched, too, setting them free from worries, tensions, fears and doubts that were keeping them in bondage.

Instead of succumbing to my honest and understandable fears, God showed me a way around my fears to accomplish what He called me to do: deliver His children. And the confidence that has given me has enabled me to play in front of people now, too, not caring so much about the notes I might get wrong, but caring more about the notes God’s given me to play.

Is the “fear of man” holding you back from doing some of the very things that God has called you to do, gifted you to do, and equipped you to do? You might want to take a cue from the Hebrew midwives who feared God more than man, and in the process set themselves―and who knows how many others―free.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Lesson 1: The Fear Of Man Leads To Bondage

Scripture Reading: Exodus 1:1-14

Could it be that your greatest weakness is actually your greatest strength?

A man came up to me after I spoke at a men’s breakfast and said, “Hi Eric, do you remember me?” I strained to put a name with his face, but couldn’t do it. When he told me his name, an image from high school immediately flashed across my mind.

We were both freshmen playing flag football in gym class when he got in the way of a senior. This senior knocked my friend to the ground and started pummeling him in the face with his fist. I watched my friend’s head bounce up and down on the ground with each pounding.

Why would someone pummel my friend like that? My friend was a big kid, but a nice kid. Even though he hadn’t done anything wrong, his sheer size made him appear to be a threat. The pummeling had its effect: my friend never got in this senior’s way again, and I made sure I didn’t either!

Unfortunately, my friend walked away feeling weak and beaten down when in reality, it was his sheer strength that drew the fire in the first place. When people are fearful of us, or we’re fearful of them, it often leads to bondage. Something similar happened to the Israelites. Back in the days of Moses, when the nation of Israel started to grow while they were living in Egypt, the king of Egypt saw their strength and got scared:

“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country” (Exodus 1:9-10).

The Israelites were immediately enslaved. For the next 400 years, they were treated as the lowest of the low in Egypt. I’m sure they felt worthless, worn-out and weak. But in reality, it was their great strength that caused the fearful king to put them into bondage. Although they may have felt like the weakest nation on earth, do you remember what God said about them? He called them His “chosen” people, His “treasured possession,” and promised that they would become “a great nation.” (Deuteronomy 7:6 and Genesis 12:2). This was their destiny. This was their calling. A destiny and calling that the king foresaw and tried to stop.

I got spiritually pummeled a few years ago after speaking as a guest at a local church. I thought the regular pastor would be thrilled when he came back to hear that half a dozen people had put their faith in Christ that day for the very first time. Instead, I got an extremely harsh letter from him a few weeks later saying that one of those people had started going to another church (she wanted to go to a Bible study and her church didn’t have one). He blamed me for her leaving and made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with me or my ministry ever again.

For the next few days, I felt like I’d gotten the wind knocked out of me. I felt like I never wanted to speak at another church again. This man was not only an influential pastor in the community, but he was also the president of the minister’s association in town. But then God reminded me of my calling, my purpose in life, and what He said about me. I was able to shake off the fear of man and stand tall again in the calling of God. That pastor eventually invited me to speak again at his church, and I eventually became president of the minister’s association! :)

But the fear of man almost derailed me from God’s plan for my life. I began to look at other areas of my life where I felt weak to see if those areas might really be strengths instead.

Do you feel weak, pummeled or beaten down in certain areas of your life? Could it be that some of those areas might actually be some of your greatest strengths?

Don’t let the fear of man keep you down. Ask God what He says about you, your gifts and your calling. Listen to what He says and He will set you free.

Want to learn more? You can watch a podcast with more discussion about this topic below.

November 11, 2006 by Eric Elder

Exodus: Lessons in Freedom

How To Get Free, Stay Free And Set Others Free
by Eric Elder

Fifty inspiring devotionals based on one of the most dramatic, yet practical books of the Bible.

PREFACE

Exodus is one of the most dramatic books in the Bible. Feature films have told various stories from the book of Exodus, ranging from Cecil B. Demille’s epic, The Ten Commandments,to DreamWorks’ animated, The Prince of Egypt,to Stephen Spielberg’s classic, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

But what I like most about the book of Exodus is not how dramatic it is, but how practical it is.

I began this study at a time when I wanted to expand my own ministry. I wanted to learn how God used Moses to set hundreds of thousands of people free. I thought I might learn a few lessons for how God might use me to set others free, too.

I was right. But instead of finding one or two lessons, I found fifty!

I began applying these lessons to my own life and ministry and began to see results immediately. These are the lessons that I’ll be sharing with you throughout this book―lessons from stories that are over 3,000 years old, and lessons from from my own life today; lessons that include some of my favorite Bible stories, and lessons that include some of my favorite personal stories of my own walk with God.

God wants to set you free. He wants to keep you free. And He wants to use you to set others free. May God bless you―and many others―as you read and apply these lessons to your life.

Eric Elder

P.S. I’ve included a Scripture Reading with each devotional that I encourage you to read in your own Bible as well as reading my devotional. It’s a great way to hear directly from God about subjects in your life that I may not have touched upon in my devotional, and when you’ve read all of the Scripture Readings, you’ll have also read through the entire book of Exodus.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Grasping The Love Of God

If you know God loves you, but don’t feel it in your heart, then this is a message for you.

Listen To This Message

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

How To Finally Be Free From Sin

Many people write to me asking for help to be free from a sin that has plagued them for a long, long time. Although they want to be free from sin, they feel defeated. They’re worn out from the fight. They’re about ready to give up hope of ever changing. If you feel the same way, I hope this message will give you new hope. Not only that, but I pray it will help you to break free from the sins that plague you as well. (Recorded March 29, 2002)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Hi this is Eric Elder and welcome to The Ranch.

Would you believe that God wants you to be free from sin even more than you want to be free from it? You see, sin damages our relationship with God. And there’s nothing more important to God than His relationship with You. That’s why He created you. So God has gone to extreme lengths to help us live sin-free lives. And even when we do sin, God has gone to even greater lengths to restore our relationships with Him.

I want to give you three steps to help you restore your relationship with God. You can actually take these steps in a matter of minutes, but many people are reluctant to take them for a variety of reasons.

One of the reasons people are reluctant to take these steps is because sin is fun (at least initially) or else we never would have sinned in the first place. But Jesus didn’t come to take away your fun. He came to take away your sin. And when you’re free from sin, that’s when you’ll begin to experience true happiness, true joy, true peace, and true fun.

If you’ve been holding back from dealing with a sin in your life, I want to encourage you to deal with it today, right now, in our time together. Don’t put it off any longer. God can’t wait to spend every day with you for the rest of your life. He’s already sent you an invitation. Now He’s just waiting for you to respond.

Before we go on, I want you to read a passage from the Bible. I’ve printed the text on your screen below this video so that you can read it on your own, while I play the piano. As you read, pay close attention to what Jesus tells the woman at the end of the story. I believe Jesus wants to speak those same words to you.

Scripture and Music (“You are My All in All” written by Dennis Jernigan)

John 8:1-11

But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” (NIV)

1) Look at sin the way God looks at it

One of the things I love about that story is that Jesus wouldn’t have told the woman to “go and sin no more” if it weren’t possible. But it IS possible. So Jesus told her to do it.

In another story in John chapter 5, verse 14, Jesus healed a paralyzed man. Then Jesus told the man,

“Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you.”

It IS possible to “stop sinning.” It IS possible to “go and sin no more.” If it weren’t, Jesus wouldn’t have told us to do it. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. That doesn’t mean we may not have issues to work through. That doesn’t mean we won’t have to work hard to break bad patterns of thinking and acting. But it IS possible.

I’m sure the woman caught in adultery had some things to work through, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she left her life of sin THAT VERY DAY. There’s something about staring death in the face, a death that we rightfully deserve and could have prevented, that makes us think twice about doing the same thing again.

I have a friend whose family had a history of heart disease. He went in for a checkup and the doctor told him: “If you don’t change the way you eat and start exercising you will die.” Since that day he’s changed the way he eats and he exercises.

Sometimes I think we don’t take our sin seriously because we haven’t thought deeply about the consequences or our choices. We don’t think they are as serious as God says they are.

So the first step is just to look at sin the way God looks at it. If you don’t know how God looks at your particular sin, I encourage you to look it up in your Bible. Look closely and see what the consequences will be. And if God tells you what the penalty will be for your sin, BELIEVE HIM!

So step one is to look at sin the way God looks at it and realize that you do have a choice. You really can “go and sin no more.” And God will be glad to help you if you’ll let him, which brings us to step two.

2) Look for the way of escape

God has provided us a way of escape from EVERY moment of temptation. EVERY ONE. Listen to what Paul says in the book of First Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 13:

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV)

The King James Version says it this way: when you are tempted, God “will make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it.”

Wow, what love God has for us! God is so interested in keeping our relationship with Him in tact that He will ALWAYS provide a way of escape from EVERY tempting situation. ALWAYS.

I used to love to play a computer game called “Dark Castle.” You may not like computer games, but this one was great! You were trapped in a castle and you had to find your way out. Every room had a new challenge. But every room also had a way to overcome the challenge in it. In one room, you’d find a bag of rocks to throw and protect yourself as you ran through. In another room, you’d find a secret switch that opened a secret door. In another room, you’d find a new way to jump over obstacles in your way.

Even though each room had its own challenge, each room also had its own way of escape. The key to the game was to find the way of escape that had already been provided for you.

I can’t count how many times I died in the process of looking for the way out. But I kept coming back again and again, hour after hour for more. Why? Because I KNEW there was a way out, and I wanted to find it. I KNEW there was a way of escape, and I wanted to discover it. I KNEW that this wouldn’t be one of the best-selling computer games if the programmers forgot to provide a way out of one of the rooms. No one would buy a game if there was a chance you’d get stuck at one level with no chance of going further. The reason I continued to come back is because I KNEW that victory was possible and I wanted it.

Now sin is no game, but God HAS promised us that He will always provide a way out when we’re tempted.

But sometimes we want to give up. Sometimes we think we’re stuck in our sins forever, with no hope of ever getting out. Sometimes we think since we’ve failed before we’ll never win.

The Designer of your life has provided a way out of every temptation. Every challenge you face is accompanied by a way to overcome that challenge.

The Bible says:

“God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out, a way of escape, so that you will be able to stand up under it.”

If you’re asking “Is there really a way out?”, you’re asking the wrong question. You’ll be frustrated and give up the first time you hit a wall. But if you’re asking, “God, what’s the way out? Please show it to me,” then you’re asking the right question.

These are two very different questions. One WONDERS if there’s hope, the other KNOWS there’s hope, it’s just a matter of finding it. I want to assure you THERE IS HOPE. THERE IS a way out. THERE IS a way of escape. And God puts that way of escape at every single point of temptation we face. EVERY SINGLE ONE. He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.

But unlike the computer game I described earlier, God’s way of escape isn’t hidden at all. It’s usually very clear. The way of escape is usually straight ahead of us. Fix your eyes on Jesus and don’t turn back. Don’t turn to the side. Keep going straight towards Him. The Bible says:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

God wants you to overcome your sin and He will help you do it. Whenever you are tempted, look for the way of escape. But God doesn’t stop there. He loves you so much and cares so much about His relationship with you, He even goes further. Here’s step number three:

3) Look for the way back

Even if we fail to choose the way of escape, God still provides a way for us to come back! It’s called CONFESSION. When we give in to temptation, God says that he will still forgive us of our sins if we’re willing to confess them.

First John chapter 1, verse 9 says:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession means “to agree with.” When we confess to God, we’re telling Him that we finally agree with Him. We agree that what we’ve done has hurt us and it’s hurt our relationship with Him.

You might “stew” over your sins. You might feel sorry about your sins. You might agree that your sins have caused damage. But until you confess your sins, agreeing with God that what you’ve done was wrong, you will never get out.

True confession sounds like this: “God, you’re right, I was wrong. What I did was against your will, and it hurt my relationship with you. It hurt my relationship with others.” At this point, you’re confessing your sins. You’re bringing your them to God in a way that you agree with Him about what you’ve done. You wish you had never done it. You wish you could take it back.

But you can’t take it back. You can’t undo the past. When you sin, you have forever violated the purity and holiness that God intended for you, and there’s nothing you can do about it, except for one thing.

Now if that were the end of it, I’d say, “Give up, go home, shut off the computer, and stop playing the game. Give up on life because there’s no reason to go on. If breaking one rule is enough to damn us eternally to hell, and it is, then why carry on?”

But that’s not the end of it. God LOVES US TOO MUCH to not allow us to come back. The thing He cares about most is His relationship with you. So what good would it do to kill the very person He wants a relationship with in the first place? How does God solve this dilemma?

He solved it by sending Jesus Christ into the world to die for our sins, taking the penalty upon himself that we rightly deserved, so that we could be free and come back to Him again.

When you put your faith in Christ, believing that He died for you, confessing your sins and turning away from them, God promises He will forgive you. And instantly your relationship with God will be restored. INSTANTLY!

If you don’t put your faith in Christ, you will have to pay the penalty yourself. Some people think that’s unfair. But it’s not unfair. Christ didn’t come to condemn you. He came to save you. What you’ve done, the sins you’ve committed, are enough to condemn you for eternity. But Christ offers you eternal life instead, if you’ll just turn from your sins and put your trust in Him.

Jesus said:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18, NIV)

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, I encourage you to do it today, right now, and I’ll prayer with you in a minute to help you come to God and restore your relationship with Him.

But for those of you who have already put your faith in Christ, but continue to fall into sin again and again, I want to give you these words of hope: the same forgiveness and restoration that was available to you when you were first saved is still available to you today. The same process that gave you eternal life will restore your relationship with God right now.

You may already have certainty of your eternal life because you trust in Christ for your salvation. But you can also be free from the sin that is plaguing you. And that freedom comes through confession.

Confess your sins to God right now, and I want to encourage you to do something else: confess your sins to someone else here on this earth. When you bring your sin into the light, it deals a DEATH BLOW to that sin in your life. Satan works in darkness, so as long as you keep your sin in the dark, that sin will have power over you.

I cannot count the number of people who have written to me and said they’ve prayed for years to be free from a certain sin and can’t break it. But when I encourage them to confess their sins to someone else, whether it’s me, or their spouse, or the person they’ve hurt, they experience a whole new level of freedom, if not total freedom, almost immediately. And by confessing to those they’ve hurt, they not only restore their relationship with God, but they restore their relationship with the person they’ve hurt as well. James 5:16 says

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Confession and prayer really will bring the healing you’ve wanted for so long.

Returning to God

ear friend, God loves you, and He doesn’t want anything to stand between you and Him. He wants a terrific relationship with you. But it’s up to you to return to Him. Here are the three steps again:

1) Look at sin the way God looks at it. You really do have a choice. You can choose sin, or you can choose life.

2) Look for the way of escape. God provides a way of escape at EVERY point of temptation.

3) Look for the way back. Confessing your sin and putting your faith in Christ is the only way that I’ve found in the Bible that God promises will bring us back into a right relationship with Him.

I want to give you a chance right now to get right with God, to restore your relationship with Him. You can do it in a matter of minutes. When you do, you’ll unload a bundle of guilt and shame. And you’ll replace it with the incredible lightness of peace that surpasses understanding.

As I play the piano, take a few minutes to pray on your own. Think about what you want to say to God. Then I’ll join you and help lead you in a prayer together.

Remember what Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery: GO AND SIN NO MORE. He wouldn’t have said it if it weren’t possible.

Music (“I’m Forever Grateful,” written by Mark Altrogge)

Prayer

Father, I pray for those who need to find a way of escape right now. If they’re involved in something too deep for them, I pray you would show them the way of escape. Show them the way out, then help them take it. Show them that You are answering their prayers, let them see you clearly, and show them how to walk out of their situation. Father, for those who are considering going down the path of temptation, show them that the way of escape is straight ahead. Help them fix their eyes on You, focus on You.

Father, for those who have fallen into sin and don’t see a way out. Show them that you have provided the way out. Help them to not take it for granted, but to take hold of it so You can help them out of their pit. Father, help them see that confession to You, and confession to others, will bring healing, and will deal a death blow to their sin. Father, I ask that they would pray with me right now, asking you to forgive them of their sins:

Pray in your heart with me:

Father, I’m sorry for the things I’ve done that have hurt my relationship with You. I love you, and want to restore my relationship with You. Father, I agree with You that the mistakes I have made are not just mistakes, but they are sin, they have broken Your law, they have gone against what You want for me, and I’m sorry.

Father, I know I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I realize that You sent Your Son Jesus into this world specifically so that I could be forgiven if I would just believe in Him. Father, I confess my sins to You now, and I confess my love for Jesus to You now. I do believe in Him. I believe He died for me on the cross so that I could be free from sin, and so I could restore my relationship with You. Father, thank You for forgiving me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to will help me do the things I want to do and that You want me to do. Fill me from head to toe until I overflow so that I may live the life Jesus wants me to live, and so Jesus can live through me and reach out to others as well. Father, I thank You for this new life You’re giving me, and I thank You that You love me so much that You went to such lengths to restore my relationship with you. I love You, Lord, and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with You, here on earth, and in heaven forever. I pray this in Jesus’ name, AMEN!!

Conclusion

Remember, Jesus didn’t come to take away your fun, he came to take away your sin. He’s got plenty of fun for you in this life. But fun is only truly fun when you engage in it in His way, in His timing. Don’t miss a day of spending time with God from now on. Read your Bible every day. Talk to God in prayer every day and let Him talk to you. Find some other Christians that you can spend time with to encourage each other in your faith until Jesus returns.

I hope this has been an encouragement to you and I hope you’ll join me here again at The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Loving Your Neighbor Over The Internet

Have you ever considered using the Internet to help others? In this broadcast, I’ll give you several examples of how God has been working on the Internet. I specifically want to encourage YOU to think about ways you might help bring the love of Christ to others as well. I hope you’ll join me, not only for this broadcast, but also in loving your neighbor…over the Internet. (Recorded March 15, 2002)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Hi, this is Eric Elder and welcome to The Ranch.

I talked with a pastor Friday night who shared with me that he didn’t like the idea of an “Internet Ministry.” That wouldn’t have been a problem, except that he told me this five minutes before we were supposed to go on the air on a local radio station for him to interview me on, well, my Internet Ministry! They had another guest scheduled, but when that fell through they called me in to do the show. So neither of us were exactly sure what we were getting into.

But during the hour-long conversation, he was able to share his concerns and I was able to share what God has done through our own ministry. By the end of the program, he was eager to get his own church on the Internet and wanted to order a copy of the class that I’ve just developed for that purpose called “How to Create a Website for Your Ministry.”

I felt that it would be helpful to share with you some of the thoughts I shared with him about how God is using the Internet to help reach out to people all over the world. Ultimately, I’d like to encourage you to consider if God might want to use you to reach out to others as well. Even though we currently have several thousand visitors a month here at The Ranch, it hardly touches the millions of people who are searching for answers to life’s questions. So one of my desires is to help flood the Internet with the Words of God as found in the Bible, and how those words have touched real-life people like me, and like you.

Since you’re watching this on the Internet, I probably don’t need to convince you of God’s ability to use the Internet to help others. But I do want to spark your thinking about ways you might use the Internet to reach others as well. In the examples I’m about to give you, I think you’ll be encouraged to know that God can use you, regardless of what you’ve been through or what you might be going through right now, and you’ll be a blessing to others.

Before we go on, I’d like to give you a minute to pray and ask God to speak to your heart during our time together. I’ve put a verse in the text of this message below that I’d like you to read from Matthew, chapter 5, verses 14 through 16. I hope you’ll consider that verse carefully right now as you pray, then we’ll continue with the message.

Scripture

(Music: “I Just Want to Praise You” written by Arthur Tannous)

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Can God really use the Internet?

One of the reasons the pastor who interviewed me was skeptical of doing ministry over the Internet was because it wasn’t a “face-to-face” ministry. Although I love face-to-face ministry, my life has been forever changed from reading the writings of men who lived over 2000 years ago. God has spoken volumes to me through the writings of people like Paul, and John, and Moses, and a host of others whom I’ve never seen and won’t ever see until we meet them in heaven. I believe this is because distance and time are immaterial to God. He says clearly that He will never send out His Word without accomplishing the work He sent it to do.

Isaiah chapter 55, verses 10 and 11 say:

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

God is not limited to speaking through people thousands of years ago either. He still speaks through people today, and He even does it over the Internet. Here are a few examples.

When I first published my testimony on the Internet in December of 1995, I remember clearly the first email that came to me as a result. It was from a man in Athens, Greece. I was astounded. He needed prayer for a situation in his life, but didn’t have a local church at the time. We were able to pray through his situation and we still keep in touch years later. He was the first of many, many people who have written us searching for God’s help in their lives, but didn’t know where to turn next.

Another email came from a man in Egypt who was being threatened with his life. He had become a Christian but the pastor who lead him to the Lord had since been killed. This man was told that he had thirty days to leave the country or he too would be killed. He wrote to me, not asking for money, not asking for a visa to leave the country, but to ask for prayer as he had no one there to pray with him. We prayed and shared many tears via emails over the next thirty days. After that, I never heard from him again. I wish I could tell you what happened to him, but I do know this: he was able to pray with another Christian when he was at the point of his deepest need.

We’ve since had so many people write in to our website that we’ve enlisted 20 volunteers from around the world to help us correspond with and encourage them in their faith.

Just last summer, a man from Latvia watched one of these broadcasts recorded right here in this living room by a friend of mine, Bill Allison. After watching the broadcast, this man said he wept for an hour as he repented of his sins and put his faith in Christ. He went to his local church and was baptized, a church where his brother happened to be the pastor. Although he had a local church nearby and even relatives in the ministry, God used an Internet broadcast from half-way around the world to help him to make his final decision to surrender completely to Christ. He now runs the website for his church, which has been responsible for drawing others into the church and into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

What about you?

Are there things God has put on your heart that you would like to share with others, (or that God is prompting you to share with others even if you haven’t agreed yet to do it yet?) If so, I want to encourage you to use the Internet to reach out to those around you, whether in your own country or half-way around the world.

You can start as simply as sending you testimony to us here at The Ranch and let us share it with our visitors. Or you can send me a note if you’d like to be one of our volunteers to help us answer one or two emails each month. Or maybe you’d be available to talk to people in a chat room about their questions about their faith.

If you’d like to start something on your own, maybe you’d like to start with a simple mailing list to people who share a common interest with you, or struggle, like my friend did who shares a mailing list with others who struggle with panic attacks. He writes 7-10 paragraphs each week, including a scripture and a prayer. He started sending it to a few people and over the years, the list has just continued to grow. He now has several thousand people who receive his weekly emails…some are Christians, some are Hindus, Buddhists and some are Atheists.

But each week they receive a scripture from the Bible, a prayer and a word of encouragement to help them through their situation. And whenever my friend shares a gospel message on the list, several people respond saying they have put their faith in Christ as a result. And this is from a man who is a gifted writer, but would be nervous if he had to share the gospel face-to-face. But when he shares on the Internet, he sees incredible results. He now has a book he’s about to publish from all of his writings over the years. If you want to visit his website, it’s called http://www.season.org. My encouragement to you is to start small, but be ready to watch God use you in a big way.

Or maybe you want to create your own website for your ministry. You see the potential of the Internet and are willing to let God use you, but you don’t know where to start. If that’s the case, I’ve put together a class to show others step-by-step how to create their own website for their ministry. I taught this three-hour class at a Sunday School convention here in Illinois. It went over so well that I put the full text of the class on CD-ROM to make it available to others who would like make a website step-by-step. You can find out more about the class at http://www.ericelder.com/training.

These are just a few of the many ways that God might want to use you to reach out to others over the Internet. The nice thing is that you don’t have to start big to have an impact. The main thing is to just start.

I remember an article I read a few years ago about the importance of exercise. I’ve never made exercise a priority in my life, but when I read this article, it freed me to realize that I don’t have to start a big exercise program to see results. Whether it’s taking a walk, or swimming a few laps, or playing a sport from time to time, the important thing is to just start. So I started swimming at the local YMCA and I try to do it twice a week. It’s not a rigorous training schedule, but it was enough to get me started and begin to see some results.

What’s the future of ministry over the Internet?

After doing this type of ministry for many years now, I’m fully convinced of it’s value. But I was surprised last summer to see two leaders of two of the most influential churches in the world coming to similar conclusions about the Internet.

Listen to these words from a conversation between David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the largest church in the world in Seoul, Korea, and Rick Warren, pastor of one of the largest churches in America. David Yonggi Cho said:

“We couldn’t handle the situation without computers. We computerized everything in the church – every facet! We also make use of the Internet. Right now we are offering an Internet church where people participate in services through the Internet. I want to take people to the Internet.

“Korea is very small – not like in America with a lot of space, so we can’t enlarge our church buildings. Besides, every year we have 20,000 new converts in our churches, and we can’t put them all in our church building or even our branch churches. So now we have an Internet church and many of the young generation participate in the services at home. They send in their offerings on the Internet. They can do on-line giving…And they also give us feedback about sermons and services. It is silly to build larger and larger church buildings. It is silly to spend more money on (branch church) buildings! You’ll never have enough.

“I really believe this, and I have already announced to my people and ministers that the next step is to go into total cyberspace ministry because it is a real waste of money to build larger buildings.”

Rick Warren replied to this by saying:

“Well, no matter how much land you have it eventually fills up. We have 120 acres and in the first 20 years my goal was to bring them in to our campus. But now, in the next 20 years, our goal is to Decentralize — to send them out.”

Then Warren added:

“Just think of that money and how you could be using it for missions!”

(You can read the full interview of this interesting interview at: http://www.pastors.com/pcom/specials/ChoInterview.asp)

When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1452, he had a vision for how the technology could be used to spread the gospel. The first book he printed was the Bible. Listen to what he said about this invention…this was over 500 years ago:

“Yes, it is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall soon flow, in inexhaustible streams, the most abundant and most marvelous liquor that has ever flowed to relieve the thirst of men! Through it, God will spread His word. A spring of pure truth shall flow from it; like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men.”

“God suffers in the multitude of souls whom His holy word cannot reach. Religious truth is imprisoned in a small number of manuscript books, which confine instead of spreading the public treasure. Let us break the seal which seals up holy things, and give wings to truth, in order that she may go and win every soul that comes into this world, by her word, no longer written at great expense by a hand easily palsied, but multiplied like the wind by an untiring machine.”

(from Alphonse De Lamartine, Memories of Celebrated Characters, Vol. 2, 2nd ed. (London: Richard Bentley, 1854), 323, 324.)

Gutenberg not only had the vision, but he was RIGHT! The Bible was not only the first book published, but continues to be the most published book in the world, year after year, over 500 years later!

Just like the printing press, the Internet offers a similar leap in technology to “give wings to truth.” I hope you’ll get over any hurdles you feel you may have in your own situation and get started sharing God’s truth on the Internet. You don’t have to start big to make a big difference. You just have to start.

Before we conclude, I want to give you a few minutes to pray and ask God what He might want you to do. As I play the piano and you pray, remember the final words of Jesus before he ascended into heaven. These are from Mark chapter 16, verses 15 and 16:

“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’”

Take a few minutes to pray and then I’ll conclude with a prayer together.

Prayer (Music “Go Into All the World” by Eric Elder)

Lord, I pray that you would use this message to spark the hearts of those you’ve called to reach out to others over the Internet. Give them your wisdom where to go next, and how to get to where you want them to go. Lord, if there’s anyone watching or reading this who has never experienced your life-giving, life-saving power, I pray they would put their trust in Jesus Christ today, asking Him right now to forgive them of their sins. Help them, Lord, to turn away from the things that are killing them, so they can experience Your abundant life, both here on earth and in heaven with You forever. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Conclusion

Well, the pastor who skeptical at the beginning of our interview was convinced by the end of it that God could use him to reach out over the Internet as well. If you want to be a part of what God’s doing, let us know how we can help. Whether you want to send us your testimony for use on The Ranch, be a volunteer to help answer emails, or you want to request our CD-ROM on “How to Create a Website for Your Ministry,” just let me know. You can write to me or visit http://www.ericelder.com/training for more information about the class.

God IS using the Internet. Will you let him use you?

Thanks for coming and I hope you’ll join me again here at The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

My Prayer Closet

Do you ever wish you could get away from everything for awhile? Head off to the mountains or a beach or a beautiful resort? There’s actually a place you can go that’s even better than those places – and you can go there as often as you want. That place is in the presence of God. I hope you’ll listen as my wife, Lana, describes how she enters God’s presence by going to her “prayer closet.” We hope it will encourage you to find a place where you can go and spend time with God, too. (Recorded February 15, 2002)

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Hi this is Lana Elder and welcome to The Ranch.

It’s not easy to find a quiet place in our house with five small children. But I’m always encouraged when I think of Susanna Wesley who had 19 children. When she needed time with God she would sit in a chair and throw her apron over her head. Her children knew not to disturb her during her prayer time.

We’re told that she seldom spent less than an hour each day in prayer. Her sons John and Charles Wesley founded the Methodist church and wrote many of the hymns that are sung throughout the world. John, her fifteenth child, said this about his mother:

“I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.”

What an encouragement to any of us who think we are too busy to find time to pray!

I don’t know if it would work for me to put an apron over my head First of all, I don’t have an apron. Even if I did, my youngest would think I was playing a game of peek-a-boo. But I do believe each of us should have a special place where we can go and meet with God.

In our time today I’d like to encourage you to find a place where you can go and spend time with God uninterrupted from the distractions of this world.

Let’s just pause for a word of prayer.

Heavenly Father, I pray that you would use this time and this message to speak to us about different ways we can spend time with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Place to Meet with God

One of the best things about God is that He is always with us…wherever we are. So you can meet with God anywhere – in a closet, in your room, or in a special chair.

Let’s take a look at a few of the places where people in the Bible met regularly with God.

The book of Daniel records in Daniel chapter 6, verse 10:

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Moses made it a habit of meeting with God, too. In Exodus chapter 33, verse 7, it says:

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp.

Both of these Godly men made it a habit to pray daily to God and they both had a special place where they felt most comfortable meeting with God. Daniel’s place was his room. For Moses, it was a tent.

You may have a special place where you sense God’s presence. It may be a beautiful park or a quiet spot along a creek. The beauty of His creation is an easy place to recognize the reality of God and feel His presence. Usually though, we are so desperate for God that we don’t have the time or the money to go to those places. Or maybe the weather keeps you from taking that walk with God that you wish you could take. For me, I need Him everyday! So I need to have a place where I can go and meet with Him daily.

Jesus set an example for us as he often retreated to a solitary place to pray. The first chapter in the Gospel of Mark tells us that just after he called the first disciples and healed many people He got up very early in the morning and went to a solitary place to pray.

Mark chapter 1, verses 35 says:

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Matthew chapter 14, verse 23 records another example just after Jesus fed 5,000 people and dismissed the crowd:

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

Now I know that if the Son of God himself needed to spend time with His Father in a solitary place, I do too.

Not only did Jesus make it a habit to pray in a solitary place, but He also taught us in His Sermon on the Mount of Olives that praying in private is a good habit for us as well. He says in Matthew chapter 6, verse 6:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Wow! Jesus even tells us to go into our room, close the door and pray to God. For me, I used to just go into my bedroom and sit either on the bed or in the chair at my husband’s desk. But, being easily distracted, I would see that the bed needs to be made. Then I would decide to check my email or I’d notice a toy wedged between the dresser and the wall. Of course, I’d have to retrieve the toy, which would lead to another discovery….large dust balls behind the dresser. I would then be totally off track and would have wasted precious time that I was supposed to be with God in prayer or worship!

The Prayer Closet

That’s when I decided to try praying in my closet.

I remember one time hearing someone talk about going to their prayer closet. When I first heard them talk about it, I wasn’t sure if they were really talking about going into a closet to pray or if they were just saying that as a figure of speech. Most of the time we hear people talking about bringing something out of the closet, like a hidden sin, but not going into a closet. But I was desperate for a quiet place where I could focus on God, so I decided to try it for myself. I’ve found it to be immeasurably helpful in the time I spend with God.

My prayer closet really is just a closet! We homeschool our kids and my husband works at home, so there’s not much extra space in the house. So first, I had to clean out a section of a closet. It would probably be helpful to know that the closet in our bedroom is 6 1/2 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide. Less than a third of the closet is where my husband puts his clothes. Another third is where we store office supplies for the ministry. I moved my clothes out of the last third of the closet into a hallway closet. This last third is what I have made into my prayer closet. The area where I sit on the floor and pray is little square about 2 1/2 feet by 2 1/2 feet.

It has plain beige walls and we put a few blankets on the ground for comfort. I have also stored a box of tissues in there, along with a paper and a pencil to write down what God is speaking to me. Each day I bring in my Bible and my devotional. When I want to worship, I also bring in a CD Walkman and a worship CD.

My goal is to make the place I meet with God free from distractions and as comfortable as possible so I can focus on Him.

Now, based on my own personal experience, I don’t recommend you store chocolates in your prayer closet. I was hiding a bag of Nestle Carmel Treasures from my kids and I ate six of them while working on this message for you. It could end up being a distraction as well as a health hazard.

The only difficulty of my closet is that it’s hard to get out. Not only is it physically hard to stand up in such a small area. But I also don’t want to leave the presence of my Father. I could spend a long time worshipping and praying and just sitting in His presence.

I was telling Eric the other day that one of my favorite times of the week is on Sunday mornings during worship. I love being totally focused on worshipping Him! At home in my prayer closet, I can do the same thing. I love to listen to worship CD’s. When I’m in my closet and put my favorite CD in my Walkman, I’m there – in His presence – worshipping Him. (Right now, two of my favorite worship CD’s are Kim Hill’s Live CD called For Such a Time as This and Michael W. Smith’s CD called Worship.)

Probably my favorite aspect of being in my closet is the freedom I feel to just be myself. I have the freedom to raise my hands and dance (although it’s a small closet). I can cry when I’m overcome with my own sinfulness or I can cry out of complete gratitude for all He’s done for me, without embarrassment that my nose is running and I look like a mess. (That is why I have a box of tissues nearby.) I’m totally free – I have total freedom to make a fool of myself.

I have also noticed that when I pray silently to God my thoughts can be easily distracted. But when I pray out loud, my thoughts and prayers stay more focused. So in my closet, I can pray out loud and not worry about anyone hearing me. The clothes and walls muffle the sound! My prayer is that someday I’ll be as bold outside my closet as I am inside it during my worship and prayer time.

It has been such a blessing in my prayer and quiet time to have a place to go to. I come out of the closet and I feel great! I feel refreshed and ready to take on the responsibilities of my day. Your prayer closet can be a great place to really feel connected to God, free from distractions and free to be the child of His that you are.

Jesus Makes it Possible

Of course, the reason any of us can come to God in prayer is because Jesus has made a way for us. Because of our sins, we are separated from God. But when Jesus died on the cross, He offered us the chance to be forgiven of our sins by putting our faith in Him. If you’ve never trusted in Christ for your eternal salvation, I pray you would do that right now. All you need to do is admit that you have sinned, believe that Jesus died for your sins and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.

If you’ve already put your faith in Christ, but you’d like a stronger relationship with Him, I’d like to encourage you to find a place where you can go and spend some time with Him. After trying it for a few days, I hope you’ll find yourself running to your prayer closet each day like I do, wanting to spend more time with your Daddy! He loves you. He created you. And He’ll love it as much as you do.

I’d like to close with a word of prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to let others know what a difference it has made in my life to have that special meeting place with you. I pray that everyone who hears this message would also find a place where they can go and meet with You, whether it’s a closet, a tent, a bathroom or a special chair. Help them to meet with you each day.

And I want to pray for those of you who would like to make Jesus the Lord of your life. If that is you, would you just repeat after me.

Lord, I admit that I am a sinner and that you died as the sacrifice for my sins. I believe you are the Lord and want to make you the Lord of my life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Thanks for coming and I hope you’ll join us again here at the Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Your Life Is More Than Just A Dash

Even though our tombstone will mark the date of our birth and the date of our death, with a dash in between, that doesn’t even come close to telling the whole story. Your life is more than just a dash. You were alive long before you took your first breath. And, if you believe in Christ, you will live long after you take your last. Join me for a new perspective on just how precious you are to God. (Recorded January 26, 2002)

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Hi this is Eric Elder and Welcome to The Ranch.

You are precious to God.

You aren’t here by accident. You aren’t here just because your Mother and Father wanted you to be here. You’re here because God wanted you to be here. He loves you. He created you. And He has a purpose for your life.

Some of you may think that your life began the day you took your first breath. But it didn’t. It began long before that. Some of you may think that your life will end the day you take your last breath. But it won’t. It will last long after that.

In our time together, I want to give you a new perspective on your life. I hope it will give you a renewed sense of purpose for your life. You may even discover the meaning of life itself.

Before we go on, let’s take a minute to pray.

Prayer

Lord, I pray that You would speak to our hearts during this time together. I pray You would let each of us know how precious we are to You. I pray You would show us that the choices we make in this life really do matter. And Lord, I pray that You help us all to make the most important choice every day: to put our faith You. I ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

When do you think your life began?

When you took your first breath? When your heart started beating? When your blood started flowing? When your arms and legs began to take shape and you started to look like a person? When you were first conceived in the womb?

I believe that your life began at conception, but not just the moment your Mother and Father conceived you. I believe your life began the moment God conceived you. And that could have happened a long time ago.

Take a look with me at Jeremiah, chapter 1, verses 4 and 5:

“The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ”

I love that passage. For me, it lets me know that we aren’t here by accident, that God gave us a purpose for our lives even before we were born. And even more amazing, that God knew us even before we were formed in the womb.

As I’ve read through the Bible, I’ve found that many of the people mentioned on its pages were conceived in the mind of God before they were ever conceived in their mother’s womb. Before they were born, God had already given them names and purposes for their lives.

Jesus, of course, is one of the most obvious examples. God sent an angel to Mary to tell her she was going to conceive a Son, and that she was to give Him the name Jesus, and he would save the people from their sins. Luke 2:21 says that this is exactly what happened:

“On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.”

But Jesus isn’t unique in that respect.

God spoke to Abraham 25 years before the birth of Isaac, telling Abraham that he would have a son from whom would come many kings and many nations. God told Abraham to name him Isaac a year before he was even born. Genesis 17:19, and 18:10 says:

Then God said, “Yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.”… “Then the LORD said, ‘I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.’ ”

And that’s exactly what happened. Sarah did have a son, they named him Isaac, and his descendents include a long list of kings, including King David, King Solomon, and even Jesus, the king of kings. All of which God knew before Isaac was even conceived in his mother’s womb.

God sent an angel to Zechariah and Elizabeth before they conceived John the Baptist. Luke 1:13, 16 and 24 says:

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. … Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.” … “After this, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant…”

How did the angel know about John even before Elizabeth even became pregnant? The angel tells us in verse 19:

“I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.”

Gabriel knew because he stood in the presence of God, and God knew because He is the one who first conceived of John, gave him his name, and the purpose for his life.

These are just a few of the people who were conceived in the mind of God before they ever took their first breath. David (Psalm 139:13-16), Paul (Galatians 1:15-17), Adam (Genesis 2:4-7), Eve (Genesis 2:18-22), Ishmael (Genesis 16:11-12), Josiah (1 Kings 13:2); God had given all of them a special purpose for their lives before they took their first breath.

I like the way David puts it in Psalm 139, verse 16:

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

I do believe that your life began at conception, but not just at the moment your Mother and Father conceived you. I believe your life began the moment God conceived you. And He has a purpose for your life, too.

I think one of the tragedies of abortion, miscarriage and experiments on human embryos is not just that these things deprive a person of their life, but they also deprive God of the purpose for which He created that life.

God’s given us all something to do, we’re all precious to Him, and what we do with our lives really does make a difference.

Your life is more than just a dash.

Take a look with me at Ephesians 2:10:

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

God has created us for a reason, and he’s already prepared good works for each one of us to do.

The question now is this: will you walk in the calling God has on your life, or will you walk away from it? Will you choose to follow Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, or will you choose to walk away from Him? Will you seek Him until you find Him, or will you give up before you’ve even given Him a chance to show you what your purpose is?

Maybe you think you don’t have a purpose because of the way you were born. Maybe you think the only reason you’re here is because of an “accident.” Maybe you think you’re here because of someone’s lust but not because of their love.

Maybe you think you’re here because someone thought having you would save their marriage, or give them a purpose, or fulfill their dream. And when you didn’t save their marriage or give them a purpose or fulfill their dream, you felt like you were unwanted.

But I love the words of Mother Theresa. When people would tell her that it was better to abort an unwanted child than to bring them into this world, she said:

“There is no such thing as an unwanted child. If you don’t want them, give them to me, I want them.”

And she took in thousands during her lifetime. If Mother Theresa had that kind of love for children regardless of how they came into the world, imagine what kind of love God has for you, regardless of how you came into the world.

King Solomon didn’t come into the world under the best circumstances. His father had an affair with a another man’s wife. After killing the woman’s husband, his father then took the woman as his own. This wasn’t God’s plan, as is clearly recorded in 2 Samuel 11 and 12. But God was able to use that situation to still bring about His purposes. The second child of that relationship was King Solomon, who went on to become one of the wisest and wealthiest kings in the history of the world. Not only that, but Solomon is listed as one of the forefathers of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1).

When you think about it, none of us had control over how we came into the world. But all of us have control over how we live in the world.

You are not just defined by your parent’s genes. Who you are is not defined by the color of your hair, or the color of your eyes, or the shape of your mouth. Who you are is primarily defined by the choices you make, what you choose to do with the gifts God has given you.

Suppose we were to take a skin cell from someone like Billy Graham, and through the process of cloning, created an exact genetic replica of Billy Graham. This new person would look just like Billy Graham, from the hair on his head to the shape of his toes. If scientists were to create such an embryo, place him into a woman’s womb until he was born, would we have another Billy Graham?

Not at all. Why? Because this new person would have his own choices to make, having grown up in an entirely different environment, with different parents, and different influences. He may choose to turn away from God, instead of following God like Billy did. That one choice alone would make him a drastically different person than the Billy Graham we know.

Or suppose we cloned Adolph Hitler from a strand of his hair, and this new child were to be born today? Would he be another Adolph Hitler? Not necessarily. If this new child chose to follow Christ at a young age, loving the Lord with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving his neighbor as himself, he would be a totally different person. Even though he shared the same exact genetic code.

If we cloned Madonna, or Michael Jordan, or Mother Theresa, would we have exact replicas of those people? It all depends on the choices they make, and how they choose to use their gifts.

More than anything else, the choices you make today will define who you will be tomorrow.

And the most important choice is what we’ll do about following Christ.

When does life end?

We talked about when life begins, but when does life end? Does it end when you take your last breath? When your heart stops beating? When you’re no longer recognizable as a person? When does life end?

I believe that if you believe in Christ, your life never will end.

A French priest named Teilhard de Chardin said,

“We are not just human beings having a temporary spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a temporary human experience.”

Jesus was dead on the cross by all measures, except one: God’s. Three days later he appeared again, alive, and still appears to people today, 2,000 years later. Lazarus was dead in the tomb by all measures, except one: God’s. Four days later Christ raised him to life again. Tabitha was dead in her bed by all measures except one: God’s. That afternoon Christ raised her to life.

How can we live forever? Jesus says in John 11:25-26:

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

I love Christianity!

Get this: If you don’t feel precious because of the way you were born, there’s good news: you can be born again.

Even none of us have a choice about when we’re born or to whom we’re born physically, God gives each of us a choice as to when we’re born spiritually.

In fact, Jesus told Nicodemus how he could have eternal life. In John chapter 3, Jesus said:

“You must be born again.”

Nicodemus asked:

“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”… “How can this be?” (verses 4 and 9)

Jesus answered:

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (verses 14 through 16).

Although none of us had control over our physical birth, we all have control over our spiritual birth.

John 1:12-13 says this about Jesus:

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”

When you’re born again, or become a child of God, doesn’t depend on anyone but you.

Of all the choices you’ll face in your life, this one is the most important because it will determine where you will live forever. Jesus said if you want to live with God forever, you must be born again (John 3:3, 7). And the day you take your last breath here on earth won’t be the end of your life. If you believe in Christ, you will live forever, even though your body doesn’t.

When the famous preacher D.L. Moody realized he would soon be gone from this world he said:

“Someday you will read in the papers that Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now…. I was born of the flesh in 1837; I was born of the Spirit in 1855. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit shall live forever.”

Summary

Let me summarize what I’ve been saying with this:

God has a purpose for every life, including yours. You are extremely precious to Him. So precious He was willing to let His Son die in your place. There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you.

The question is what will you do in response? What choices will you make that will define who you are? And what choice will you make that will determine where you’ll spend eternity?

Before we close, I’d like to give you a few minutes of quiet time to respond right now to what God is speaking to your heart. While I play the piano, I hope you’ll talk to God in prayer. When I’m done playing, I’ll close our time with a final word and a prayer for you.

Music and Closing Prayer

(Music: “As the Deer” written by Martin Nystrom)

Lord, I pray that you would show each one of us just how precious we are to you. I pray that you would help us know that we’re here because you wanted us to be here, and that you have something special for each of us to do. Lord , I pray you would help us all to make the choices you want us to make, to do the things you want us to do, and to turn away from the things that are killing us. Lord, I pray for those who need to put their faith in You for the very first time, that you would help them to make that decision to be born again, even right now.

You might say some words like this:

I love you Lord, and I’m sorry for the sins I’ve committed. I believe that You died in my place so I would not have to die, but have eternal life with You. Please forgive me of my sins, help me to turn away from them, and let me live with You forever. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Final Thoughts

God has a purpose for your life and He’d love to help you fulfill that purpose, your destiny. 2 Chronicles 16:9a says this:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

My hope and prayer is that you will choose to follow Him today and every day for the rest of your lives. And if you believe in Christ, that will be forever.

Thanks for coming and I hope you’ll join me again here at The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

A Thoughtful Look At Human Cloning

Human cloning is now here. What’s a Christian to think about it? And how should we respond? Join me for look at three ways I believe a Christian can respond to human cloning in a thoughtful, compassionate, and Christ-like manner. (Recorded January 11, 2002)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Hi this is Eric Elder and Welcome to The Ranch.

Human cloning is now here. What was once the stuff of science fiction has now become a reality. A few months ago, a company in Massachusetts announced that they had successfully cloned the world’s first human embryo.

Although the embryo only lived for a few days, it signaled that the next step towards creating a fully developed person through the process of cloning is much closer than many people thought possible. In fact, it is conceivable that within the next year or two, the first human clone could be born.

While this news may come as a shock to many people, it is the culmination of over 50 years of cloning research, beginning with the cloning of frogs in the 1950’s. The successful cloning of Dolly the sheep in 1996 demonstrated for the first time that cloning was possible in mammals, and could eventually be applied to humans as well. That eventuality is now here.

In our time together, I’d like to describe and discuss human cloning so that Christians can understand and respond to it in a thoughtful, compassionate, and Christ-like manner.

Before we go further, I’d like to give you a minute to pray. I’ve included a scripture from Psalm 139 a little further down on this page. While I play the piano, take a minute to read the scripture and ask God to speak to your heart through our time together.

Scripture (Music: Exodus XV written by Frank Gallio)

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

What is human cloning?

The word clone basically means to make a copy of something. In the case of humans, a clone is someone who has the same genetic makeup as someone else. The word clone may conjure up images of gray-faced people walking and talking more like robots than humans. But in reality, it’s much more useful and appropriate to think of clones the same way we think of identical twins.

When we think of identical twins, we don’t think of one being the original and the other being a copy. Both are fully human, with their own personalities, interests, and lives, but both happen to share the same genetic makeup. The main difference between identical twins and clones is that while twins are conceived and born at the same time, clones could be conceived and born years apart.

Scientifically, what makes cloning unique is the actual process of conception. Whereas the usual process for creating a human embryo involves uniting a sperm with an egg, cloning can bypass this process.

The reason this is possible is that every cell in our body contains the full genetic code which describes the rest of our body. A skin cell, for example, not only defines the color of your skin, but also contains the genetic information which defines the color of your eyes, the length of your bones, and the shape of your mouth.

Every cell in your body contains this full set of instructions which define your physical body.

Every cell that is, except for two: a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm. These cells are unique in that they contain only half the genetic code required to define a person. During fertilization, when a sperm comes in contact with an egg, the two strands of code intertwine, forming a new life with a full set of body-building instructions: half from the mother and half from the father.

Cloning, at least in the process used a few months ago, began with a women’s egg. Because the nucleus of this egg contained only half of the necessary genetic instructions, scientists removed the nucleus, thereby removing those instructions. They then took the nucleus from another cell, in this case a skin cell from an adult, and they transferred it into the egg. The egg was then given an electric stimulus, which initiated the growth process. The egg, now with a full set of genetic instructions on hand, had the potential to grow into a fully developed human being.

(Note: Although they tried this process with skin cells, none of those cells began the growth process, but when they tried “cumulus” cells, which are found near a woman’s ova, a few of those began to grow.)

This process was similar to the one used to successfully clone Dolly the sheep five years ago and other animals since then. Although the human embryo in this case lived only a short time, it was long enough to demonstrate that this technique could potentially be successfully applied to humans as well.

With the rush to be first in this rapidly expanding field, it is only a matter of time before someone, somewhere will implant a cloned embryo into a woman’s womb. Nine months after that happens, the world may see its first human clone.

How can Christians respond to cloning in a thoughtful, compassionate and Christ-like manner?

Let me share three ways that I think we should respond.

First) Recognize that as amazing as our scientific achievements are, they still pale in comparison to the incredible achievements of our God.

On one hand, cloning is an incredible scientific achievement. Years of research and millions of dollars have gone into understanding the inner workings of cells, genetics, and the reproductive process. For man, this is an amazing accomplishment.

On the other hand, cutting and pasting cells in a lab is a remarkably crude way to create a person, compared to the intimate sexual experience God has designed between a man and a woman. While we can marvel at what scientists can do, we have to marvel much, much more at what God has done.

God says in the Bible in Isaiah 55, verses 8 and 9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

This reminds me of the story of a group of scientists who got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God.

They picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him. The scientist walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you. We’re to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don’t you just go on and get lost.”

God listened patiently to the man and when the scientist was done talking, God said, “Very well! How about this? Let’s have a man making contest.”

To which the man replied, “OK, great!”

But God added, “Now we’re going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.”

The scientist said, “Sure, no problem,” and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God just looked at him and said, “No, no, no. You go and get your own dirt!”

As Christians, we can marvel and wonder at what man is able to achieve. But we must also keep it in perspective with the matchless gift of sexuality that God has already created.

Second) Recognize that God is very interested in abundant life, but unfortunately, cloning leads to abundant death.

The first words God spoke to the first people on earth were these in Genesis 1:28a:

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”

If cloning were to advance the cause of life and help husbands and wives be fruitful and multiply when they couldn’t have children any other way, cloning could possibly help people to fulfill this command.

Unfortunately, when scientists have tried to clone animals, only 1 or 2 out of every 100 attempts are successful. 80 out of 100 die before they take their first breath, and those that are born often have to be killed soon after their birth because they are so deformed that it would be wrong to let them live. This means that 98 or 99 of every 100 cloned animals die prematurely. If a company came out with a new drug that killed 98 or 99 out of every 100 patients who used it, the government would quickly tell that company to never sell such a product again.

It took 277 attempts to create Dolly the sheep. That means that 276 sheep died in the process.

Ian Wilmut, one of the scientists who helped create Dolly, said it would be “criminally irresponsible” to try to clone human beings. Mr. Wilmut said that another sheep they cloned appeared to be born perfectly formed, except that it hyperventilated because the arteries leading to its heart were too small. He wondered out loud what the fate of a child would be that had to pant all of its life because of a scientific experiment.

Just a few days ago, he even said that Dolly has prematurely developed arthritis and may therefore have to be put to sleep because of the pain. Even in the rare case that cloned animals are born successfully, they are still not living full lives.

In its current state, cloning is not a technology that leads to abundant life, but to abundant death.

Third) Recognize that God is very interested in people’s healing, but that He calls us to lay down our lives for others, not ask them to lay down their lives for us.

God doesn’t want us to suffer from incurable diseases any more than we do. Jesus spent much of his life healing people. The Bible says in Matthew 4:23 that

“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”

Some scientists believe that we will be able to find cures for diseases by using cells from cloned babies. Unfortunately, to get the cells they need, scientists have to kill the cloned babies within just a few days after they have been conceived.

Jesus said in John 15:13,

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Love, as Jesus defined it, is laying down your life to save someone else, not taking someone else’s life to save your own. God has provided us with all kinds of cures to diseases that scientists have discovered to heal people. But God never suggests that we should deliberately kill people in order to find a cure.

President Bush was asked what he thought of the cloning experiments on human embryos. His answer is worth repeating. He said, “…the use of embryos to clone is wrong. We should not as a society grow life to destroy it. …this evidence today that they’re trying to achieve that objective, to grow an embryo in order to extract a stem cell, in order for that embryo to die is bad public policy. Not only that, it’s morally wrong in my opinion.”

As compassionate Christians, our heart’s desire should be to see people healed. But if we have to kill someone else in order to receive our healing, we don’t have the love of Christ in us at all.

Let me summarize these three responses again:

1) As amazing as our scientific achievements are, they still pale in comparison to the incredible achievements of our God.

2) God is very interested in abundant life, but unfortunately, cloning leads to abundant death.

And 3) God is very interested in people’s healing, but He calls us to lay down our lives for others, not ask them to lay down their lives for us.

Some people have asked, “Isn’t it illegal to clone a human being?” While several countries have passed laws banning or restricting human cloning, the process is still legal in 170 countries, including the United States. Although President Bush banned the use of federal funds for new stem cell research, private companies and individuals can still use their own money to experiment on human embryos.

My hope and prayer is that we will pass laws to prohibit cloning altogether. Not because it may be an “unusual” method of creating a new life, but because the technology at this stage inherently leads to the death and destruction of the vast majority of those new lives. I am also disturbed that people will be cloned for the sake of research, many of whom will die in the process, many of whom will be horribly and painfully deformed, and many of whom will never even get to take their first breath.

Will you pray with me right now? As I play the piano, will you pray that God will intervene on behalf of those facing destruction. Then let him speak to your heart. When I’m done playing, I’ll close our time in a prayer together.

Personal Prayer (Music: “Good to Me” by Craig Musseau)

Closing Prayer

Will you join me in prayer?

Dear Lord, we do ask that You would stop the destruction of children. Lord, we pray that You would do it, and we pray that You would give us the strength and the wisdom and the understanding to know what we can do to help end this process that is killing people unnecessarily.

Lord I pray that throughout the world, Your Words would go forth, and people would hear, and they would know that You want this to stop. Lord, I pray that this needless destruction of lives would not go one step further.

Lord, I thank You that You are an awesome God. I thank You for the processes that you have put in place that are so much higher than ours, and so much more incredible than anything we could accomplish.

God, I also pray that You would put in our hearts Your love for people so that we would be able to clearly express Your heart to them, letting them know that You love them very much, that you died for their sins, that they can be forgiven and have a new life with You, both here on earth and in heaven forever. We pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thanks for coming and I hope you’ll join me again here at The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

If God Were Here

What difference would it make in your life right now if you knew that God were here? What difference would it make in your situations, in your relationships, in your work, in what you do or don’t do? The Bible says that God is here and, in fact, he is not far from each one of us. Join me as I share some of my own encounters with the living God and three things I believe He would tell each of us. (Recorded February 23, 2001)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

Acts 17:27

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

Outline

Introduction: God really is right here with us. Knowing this fact changes the way we live and think.

An Easter Egg is something creators hide in their creations, such as this on in Star Wars Episode I. You’ll see an exotic yet strangely familiar species in the senate rotunda if you look closely. Click the link below to see it:

God is visible throughout His creation as well, so that those who seek Him will find Him.

Acts 17:26-27 says “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

I want to tell you about three times when I sensed Jesus was very close to me. What He said to me during those times is what I believe He says to each one of us, all the time, if we’ll listen.

1. “I Love You.”

I remember walking down a busy street in Houston and suddenly wondering what it would be like if Jesus were to walk right beside me. I remembered passages in the Bible where the disciples were walking to Emmaus and Jesus walked up beside them, but they didn’t recognize Him. Suddenly I sensed that He was right with me as well. I didn’t see His body or hear His voice, but I sensed He was right there with me.

I had not yet put my faith in Christ, but I told some friends later about this experience. I realized that God has been doing things for us long before we ever thought about Him. The Bible says,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The first thing God wants to tell each of us is this: “I love you.” He’s being trying to tell us this long before we ever gave Him a thought. He even sent His Son Jesus to tell us and to die in our place, while we were still sinners. He doesn’t wait for us to clean up our act to tell us, He’s trying to tell us this all the time, and when we realize it’s true, that’s when we’ll clean up our act.

If God were here, the first thing He would want to tell you is: “I love you.”

2. “I Need You”

Another time I remember sensing the presence of Christ was one of the most profound experiences of my Christian life. Watch the message to hear the story!

“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

The Holy Spirit lives in those who have put their faith in Christ. If you don’t sense His presence, you can pray and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit in a way that you will sense Him, know Him, and be a vessel to be used by Him.

The Holy Spirit will not force himself on you, but waits to be invited in. Jesus said in Luke 11:9-13:

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

3. “I Know You”

Another time I remember sensing Jesus right near me was about five years ago. I had just quit my secular job to go into full-time ministry and God was calling me to do something I couldn’t believe. I felt He specifically wanted me to go to Israel right then at the beginning of my ministry.

I had never thought about going to Israel and wasn’t sure what to do. I was alone in the house laying down on the couch with my Bible in hand and just wished God would sit right next to me. Everything was moving too fast and I just wished I could feel His presence and know that everything was all right.

Then these words came into my mind, just a thought more than anything: “Open your Bible and look at the third line down.” Now the Bible’s a powerful book and God can speak through anything in it, but I know that it’s not magical in the sense that we can just open it and think that whatever it says is what God wants to say to us right then. But I felt clearly directed to do this.

So there I was lying down on the couch, and I opened my Bible. It turned to Psalm 139 and I read from the top of the page to the third line down. It said:

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. (Psalm 139: 1-3)

God said to me as I laid there on the couch, “Eric, I know you’re lying down!” He really was right there with me on the couch. He’s never far from any one of us. In fact, the Bible goes on to say that there’s nowhere we can go that He won’t be there with us.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in– behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:4-10)

If God were here, this is a second thing I believe He would say to each of us, “I know everything about you.”

This is both comforting and convicting, for God will never leave you alone. If you’re doing what’s right, hallelujah, you’ll feel His comfort. But if you’re not, you’ll feel His conviction. I encourage you to live your life knowing that He’s right beside you all the time. I assure you it will change the way you live and think.

Conclusion: If God were here He would tell you three things: “I love you, I need You, and I know you.”

Put your faith in Christ, ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit, and live each day knowing that He’s not far from any one of us.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Secret Of Happiness

It’s been said that “every man dies, but not every man truly lives.” God wants us to “truly live.” But how? The apostle Paul, even after being beaten, robbed, imprisoned, shipwrecked and left for dead, said “…now we really live.” How? He knew the secret of happiness and he shared it with us in one of his letters. I’ll share it with you, too, in this practical message on “The Secret of Happiness.” (Recorded May 19, 2000)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

1Thessalonians 3:7-8

Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

Outline

Introduction: God has given us some practical ways to experience a deeper and more intense joy in living.

A lots of things can happen to us that try to steal our joy. But regardless of what happens “to us” there are three practical things each of us can do to have happiness.

How could the apostle Paul be happy with everything that happened to him? Yet he was not only happy, but overjoyed with living. Paul wrote a letter to the people of Thessolonica where he talked about how he was “really living” in spite of persecutions. A few paragraphs later, give encourages the people to do three things that I believe were also the secret of his own happiness.

Take a few minutes to read Paul’s words, written almost 2,000 years ago. These are not old, dead words, but they are words of life.

1Thessalonians 4:1-18

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1. Live Holy

I once heard Madeline Murray O’Hair speak. Among other things this famous atheist told us that day, she said, “If it feels good, do it.”

She felt that it was OK to enjoy whatever brought us pleasure. I bought into that for awhile, but have discovered, as everyone does at some point, that just because it “feels good” it doesn’t mean it will make us happy. When we do things that make us feel good, but that aren’t right, they usually begin to tear us apart. Drugs, sex, and alcohol are a few things that come to mind.

And yet it’s not those things in themselves that tear us apart, but it’s engaging in those things in a way that is not holy, not God’s intended way for us to engage in them, that destroys us.

God is all for pleasure. He created some of the most incredible experiences in sight, sound and sensation I can imagine. And when done God’s way, the experience is off the charts. But done outside of God’s way, lead to death and destruction.

To be happy, we need, first of all, to live holy. Sin always tears us apart. It may give a brief high, but will inevitably be followed by a sustained low.

This is one of Paul’s first instructions to the people of Thessolonica: “avoid sexual immorality,” for “God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

God has given us many practical ways that we can live holy. Colossians 3:5-10 lists several. But most of us are fully aware of what God wants us to do and not do, for God says in Jeremiah 31:33

“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”

We usually already know what’s right and wrong. But if you’re in doubt about doing something, a good question to ask yourself is this: “Can I (we) do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (based on Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”)

If you’re looking for happiness, start here: drop any sin in your life, because it’s sure to pull you down.

2. Love Others

Living holy is the first step, but it’s not the only step. For there are many people who “live holy” but aren’t happy. It’s like they’ve been baptized in lemon juice. There are two more things to do that will round out our happiness.

The second is this: love others.

Paul tells the Thessalonians to love others and do so more and more.

Love involves helping others, serving others, as Jesus when he washed the disciples feet. After Jesus did this, he said,

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 3:17)

Jesus said we would be blessed when we humble ourselves and serve others, helping them, loving them. Blessed is another word for Happy.

If we live holy lives, but don’t help others, we’ll simply be hypocrites. We won’t be happy, nor will the people around us. Our holy living benefits us, but we also need to allow it to benefit others, by letting God’s spirit work through us.

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were holy, even giving a tenth of their spices back to God to obey his tithing laws (Matthew 23:23-24). But they wouldn’t lift a finger to help others. Hence, they became judgmental, unhappy, and were the one’s who eventually killed Jesus. (Matthew 23:4 “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”)

We can live holy ourselves and preach against various sins, but if we’re not helping those who struggle with those sins, we’ll simply be holy hypocrites. God wants us to be holy, and through that holiness, to express His love to others.

3. Look Forward

1) Live holy. 2) Love others. This is good, but there’s a third leg to this three-legged stool that holds up happiness, and if it’s missing, the stool will fall down. All three must be in place.

The third thing is this: to look forward. Look forward to the return of Christ.

There are some social workers who don’t have the promise of heaven in their hearts. They live holy, the love others. But without the hope of heaven, they wear out. This world simply takes a toll on any of us. Paul himself knew that the key to what he did and the joy he had in doing it was that it was not just about this life, but about the life to come. In fact, he went so far as to say this:

“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Our faith is not simply to get us through this life, although it can do that! The core of our faith rests on the resurrection, and the life to come. Paul knew this as well as anyone, saying that he should be pitied if this was all his faith was for. If that was the case, forget faith…it just brought on shipwrecks, beatings and imprisonment.

But Paul’s faith was focused on the next life.

He reminds the Thessalonians that Jesus died and rose again, and will bring us to be with him one day. Read 1 Corinthians 1-20 for a great picture of why our faith must be centered our coming resurrection.

There is a resurrection from the dead because Christ was raised. And if you believe that Christ was not raised, then none of us will be raised. But Christ was raised, and he promised that we will be too, if we simply put our faith in him, for he is “the way, the truth and the life” and he said that “no one comes to the Father except through me.”

Our holy living, our loving others, springs from our looking forward to the return of Christ to take us to be with him.

These three things, when put into practice in our daily lives, will bring us a greater and fuller experience of happiness, and we’ll know what it is to “truly live.”

Conclusion

If you have any sin in your life that is keeping you from the joy God has promised, drop it now. Confess it, repent of it, and turn back to God.

If you’ve judged others but have not reached out to help them in their distress, humble yourself this week to reach out, lift a finger and more, to be both holy and helpful.

And if you don’t have the assurance in your heart that heaven is real and that we who believe in Christ will one day be taken there with him, put your faith in Christ now.

And as Jesus said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Gift Of Rest

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the gift of rest. But like many gifts He offers us, we sometimes let this one sit in our closet unopened. In this message, I’ll help you unwrap this great gift so you can begin to enjoy its benefits in your life. If you’re tired and weary, this is a message for you! (Recorded March 15, 2000)

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Message Notes

Matthew 11:28-30

Outline

1. Rest Really Is a Gift

God wants to give us rest. Its not an “extra” in life, but a necessity for growth. God has designed us (people, dogs, cats, horses) to rest daily (sleep) or we could not function. Bears and trees even rest the entire winter every year, and both grow bigger than people ever will! Rest is not only a good idea, but God’s idea, for us to have peace and to grow.

Throughout the Bible, God has offered rest as a gift to his people. Here’s one example:

Joshua 1:13-15

“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

This same rest is still available to us today. In the New Testament the writer of Hebrews tells us the promise of entering God’s rest still stands.

2. Unwrapping the Gift of Rest

Hebrews 4:1-2

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

Chapters 3 and 4 unlock one of the keys to rest: combining what we hear with faith. Faith in the One who made us, Faith that he will do what he says he will do, Faith that He loves us and is working on our behalf.

The other key noted in this passage and others is that we must combine our faith with obedience.

Hebrews 3:19

So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Jeremiah 6:16a

This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls…”

We must be obedient to the words the Lord has given us. Whether those words have been to stop a certain sin, go a certain direction, do a certain task. When we take God at his word, and by faith, begin walking in what he says, we will begin to have rest for our souls (even if it may be full of activity).

Faith plus obedience yields rest:

Faith + Obedience => Rest

3. Practical Ideas for Rest

1) Block out the time for it. Just as God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, He’s called us to also work for six days and rest on the seventh.

This is not only a good idea, but it is so important, it’s one of the ten commandments!

Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Find something to do on the Sabbath Day that will bring rest to your souls, then do it! You’ll find it restores and refreshes you. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for us, so let’s make the most of it.

Mark 2:27 “Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'”

2) Take your vacation. God himself called people to take several days or weeks off for various festivals so people could enjoy the fruits of their labor. This is not only a break, but very productive time to be refreshed for the next season of work.

One example of God calling his people to rest is in Leviticus 23:39-41

“‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month.”

3) Take quiet time before the Lord. Quiet your heart daily by listen to music, reading the Bible, or praying.

I’ve created the CD and devotional “Clear My Mind” for this purpose, which you can listen to on this website or send me a note and I’ll mail you a copy. The main thing is to take some time alone and allow yourself to be refreshed. Jesus often got away to a quiet place to pray in between many demands and ministering to thousands.

Luke 6:11-12 records when Jesus was having “one of those days” and went out to pray.

“But they (the Pharisees) were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

Conclusion

Jesus invitation to come to him for rest is open to all of us. If you’ve never come to Jesus before, today’s a great day to do it. You’ll not only get rest, but when you repent of your sins and put your faith in Him, you’ll also get the ultimate rest at the end of this life: eternal peace with God in heaven. Without a commitment to Christ, you’re headed for a lifetime of hell here on earth and beyond. Respond to Jesus’ invitation and come to Him today.

Matthew 11:28-30

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Stocking Up On Your Faith

When Y2K was just around the corner, no one knew exactly what would happen. But there’s one thing we can stock up on anytime that will help us through anything: FAITH. This message will give you some practical ways to “stock up on your faith.” (Recorded December 16, 1999)

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Message Notes

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)

Outline

Faith is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets. Here are some practical ways to stock up on your faith.

1. Read the Bible regularly

The Bible is full of stories of ordinary people just like you and me who faced impossible circumstances. Yet, “by faith” they accomplished extra-ordinary things. As we continually read the stories of how God worked in other people’s lives, we can have confidence he will work in ours, too.

Here are some suggestions for great stories to read from the Bible:

Exodus 16 – Manna from heaven

I Kings 17 – Elijah fed by ravens

Exodus 1-14 – The flight from Egypt

Jonah 1-4 – Jonah and the whale

Genesis 37-50 – Joseph’s dreams come true

Luke 1-3 – The birth of Jesus

John 1-21 – The life of Jesus

2. Pray regularly and listen for God’s direction

God has many things he wants to tell you and he has a purpose for your life. By talking and listening to him in prayer, we can get his input on everything in our lives, from what to do for the day, to what to do for the rest of our lives. Bring your requests to God, and then listen for his answers, and his direction.

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” (Psalm 5:3)

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9)

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

3. Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

I recently heard someone talking about how much she liked having a treadmill in her house. She said she hardly ever used it, but just knowing it was there made her feel better.

We sometimes do the same thing with the Bible and prayer. We feel better just knowing we have a Bible and knowing that we could pray anytime we needed to. But if we don’t make a habit of reading and praying, we will be in non better shape than if we didn’t have them at all. Read your Bible. Pray and listen. Then put into practice what you read and hear. Just like a muscle, your faith will get stronger every time you put it to use.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22, KJV)

God still sends manna from heaven

“I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

48 I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (John 6:47-51)

Closing Prayer

Lord, help us to build up our faith to face the things coming in the days ahead. Help us to read your Word regularly, to talk to you regularly, and to act on what we read and hear. Lord, increase our faith. Help us where we have unbelief. And strengthen us to be good servants for you in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

What’s God Up To?

Do you ever feel like life is going nowhere? And do you sometimes wonder if there’s an overall plan for life on this planet? I want to assure you that life is going somewhere and that there is an overall plan. Regardless of what it looks like around you, God is up to something. In this message, you’ll learn more about his plan for the world and how you can be part of it as it unfolds. (Recorded September 5, 1999)

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Message Notes

Matthew 24:3-14

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Outline

Introduction

I’ve just finished a web site called the Window of Opportunity. I hope you’ll take a look at the site not because I worked on it (although I very much like the way it turned out). But I want you to see what God is up to regarding carrying out his plan for the world. The address is 1040window.org.

Working on it has reminded me that there are many people who still don’t know what God’s plan is for the world. Even people who know Bible stories may know the facts about the stories, but somehow have missed God’s overall plan for the world. I know I did until twelve years ago, when someone walked me through the entire Bible, showing me what God has been doing all along, and what he will continue to do until the end of the world.

Today I’d like to take you on that walk through the Bible, pointing out God’s plan throughout history, and then I believe God wants to invite you to join him in that plan. He will accomplish his purposes, but he is looking for people through whom he can do it. I’ll tell you about a few of those, but know that they were people just like you, but they became extraordinary people when they joined God in what he was doing.

1. The Cover-to-Cover Plan

Many people have heard Bible stories like Moses and the plagues in Egypt, or David and Goliath, or Daniel in the Lion’s Den. There are good things to learn from those stories but often people simplify the message as to how it applies to our lives today.

Here are some common lessons taught from these stories: Little David faced big Goliath and won. Moral: you can do anything even if you’re little. Or Daniel faced the Lions and lived. Moral: you can face the IRS and live.

But there’s something bigger going on in these stories that you can see if you look at all these stories from God’s perspective. They describe what God is doing in the world. The purpose, at the end of all these stories, is the same: God is trying to tell people that he is alive, and that He is God. Let’s look at a few of these stories.

In each one, you’ll see that God is trying to make his name known to people all over the earth.

David and Goliath

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel (1 Samuel 17:45-46).

Daniel and the Lion’s Den

Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations and men of every language throughout the land: “May you prosper greatly!

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions” (Daniel 6:25-27).

Moses and The Plagues

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharaoh and say to him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my People go, so that they may worship me, or this time I will send the full force of my plagues against you and against your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth. For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth (Exodus 9:13-16).

Joshua Crossing The Jordan

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God” (Joshua 4:21-24).

Be Still

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10).

In every case, God used the situations to spread his name to people around the world.

2. Jesus Came to Give Us One Last Chance

God so much wanted to save us that he sent Jesus the first time to give us the chance to be free from the coming judgment of the world. And than he called us who believe in him to take his message to the whole world.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (

Jesus will come back again one day for that judgment, a day called judgment day when the earth will be finally destroyed by fire. Even scientists confirm that this blazing inferno will occur one day when the Sun goes out. The sun will become a “supernova” collapsing on itself and exploding into a cloud of fire that will consume the earth.

3. But When Will This Be?

Jesus told us when it would be. He had a mission for us to do before it could happen. He wanted people from every nation to hear about the way of escape before the earth is destroyed.

Jesus answered: …..

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:3, 14).

Before Jesus comes back again, the gospel must be preached throughout the whole world. As you’ll see if you visit the 1040window.org website, there are still entire groups of hundreds of thousands of people each who have never heard of the name of Jesus.

Many people want to predict when the end will come, but I promise you it’s more fun to be involved in bringing it about, than just predicting it. It will come when we go and take the message to every nation in the world.

A researcher at MIT University was asked about his predictions about the future. He replied: “We don’t predict the future, we’re inventing it.” I want to encourage you not to be satisfied to just predict and discuss and analyze when you think Jesus is coming back. You can actually speed his coming, but going yourself and sharing what Christ has done for you. Won’t you join God in his plan starting today?!

You’ll find meaning and purpose…you’ll defeat giants, you’ll cross the sea on dry ground, you’ll face the lions and live. Not to say that many won’t give up their life like Jesus did to achieve the same thing, but the point is, if you’ve found God, there’s nothing greater than to live for him, and to share that with others, regardless of what it costs you. There’s a purpose that goes way beyond your life here on this earth. And you can take part of it whenever you’re ready to say “I will.”

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

True Intimacy

One of the deepest longings of our heart is the longing for true intimacy. Yet all too often we settle for something less, not because we don’t want the real thing, but because the risk is simply too great. But true intimacy does exist. It starts by being honest with God, and it continues in our relationships with others when we are honest with them. This message will help you take steps toward True Intimacy. (Recorded August 29, 1999)

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True Intimacy

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3).

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ– the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:8-9).

Outline

1. What is True Intimacy?

Intimacy means “into-me-see” – to let someone else see into you, and when they let you see into them.

John 17:3, Philippians 3:8-9.

2. Steps Toward Intimacy

– Spend Time with the one you want to be intimate with…whether with God or others.

“One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4-5)

– Be Honest with the one you want to be intimate with…whether with God or others.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. (Proverbs 24:26)

3. Don’t Settle for Less

You can try to find intimacy in many places that are misplaced, and will not satisfy, and in fact be very destructive. Don’t go there. Go to God and to God-ordained relationships for true intimacy. His ways are always best.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Value Of Friends

Taking and keeping friends can be difficult, elusive, and quite risky. But in the end, it’s worth the risk. There is an inherent value in friendship that satisfies the deep long that God has put in each of our hearts. If you’re wanting deeper friendships, but don’t know how to start, join me for this message with my special guests from Wales, John and Jennifer Evans. (Recorded August 22, 1999)

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Message Notes

John 15:15

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

Eccl 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Outline

1. The Risk of Friendship

John 13:21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

2. The Joy of Friendship

Friends help us along the way

Eccl 4:9-12

Friends help carry each other’s burdens

Gal 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Friends can help bring God’s forgiveness and healing

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Friends can bring the love of God

Matt 5:13-16

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jesus had genuine friends

John 11:34-36

“Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

3. It starts with a friendship with God.

John 15:15

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Resurrection Power

We need faith to get through many things in this life. But ultimately, the true power of our faith hinges on one thing: our belief in the resurrection from the dead. It is so critical that Paul said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied above all men.” We must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, for only then can we have hope that he can raise us also. (Recorded August 15, 1999)

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Message Notes

1 Corinthians 15:3-20

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Outline

Some people think that they have great power when they can hold a gun in their hands, pull the trigger, and take someone’s life. Let me say that there is a certain amount of power in that. But how hard is it to take someone’s life? Anyone can do it.

On the other hand, though, how hard would it be to bring someone back to life. Imagine if you could do that: raise someone from the dead? Now that’s power. Resurrection Power.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10).” What Satan does is awful, but the real power comes from Christ.

Our faith, if it is to have any kind of power, must start with the belief in the resurrection, that God can breathe life into something that was dead. In fact, if we don’t have faith in the resurrection, our faith is useless.

1. Our Faith Hinges on the Resurrection

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith (1 Corinthians 15:13-14).

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:17-20).

Our belief that God raised Jesus from the dead is not just optional. It is essential for us to be saved!

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart

that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9).

2. Once you believe God raised Jesus from the dead, you can believe he can do anything.

My wife and I both have seen powerful effects in our own lives from believing that Jesus was raised from the dead. My own belief that Jesus was raised from the dead is what gave me the faith that Jesus could heal me of homosexuality in my life.

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives inyou (Romans 8:9-11).

My wife’s belief that Jesus was raised from the dead gave her the faith to believe that the same Spirit could raise our son from the dead, who had been proclaimed medically dead in her womb.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead can do all kinds of things here on earth.

3. Whoever lives and believes in Christ will never die.

What does this kind of faith buy us in the long run? When we put our faith in Christ, we will never die. We gain immortality; something that has been sought after for thousands of years. But it doesn’t come from a secret fountain, or a special cup, or a miracle cure. It comes from faith in Christ.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Closing and Prayer

Additional Powerful Scriptures on the Resurrection

John 11:1-45

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

“Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Parenting – From Heaven’s Point Of View

Sometimes we have to get our head out of the clouds, but then there are times when we need get them back up there and breathe in a little bit of heaven. It’s particularly helpful when changing a diaper. If you need a breath of fresh air right now because of troubles in raising your kids, join me for a look at parenting – from heaven’s point of view. (Recorded August 8, 1999)

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Message Notes

“Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate” (Psalm 127:3-5).

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).”

Outline

As a parent, we have at least two things to look forward to in heaven! If you have a newborn baby, you’ll be glad to know that the Bible says that in heaven, there will be no more crying!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

Second, God’s planned a special event in heaven, and I think he may have done it just for parents:

“When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour (Revelation 8:1).

Now that’s heaven from a parent’s point of view!

No matter what age your children are, it’s easy to lose heaven’s perspective on parenting. Our eyes are so often looking down (changing a diaper, disciplining a teenager, dealing with a grown child’s divorce) that it makes it hard to focus on God’s perspective.

I want to give you a breather today…help you come up for air! To help you get your head in the clouds for a little bit and take a deep breath. To let God give you his perspective on parenting.

1. Children are a gift from God: treat them as gifts.

There are some things in the Bible that are obvious…love God, love your neighbor…and yet there are others that aren’t. For instance, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). That’s not an obvious approach to life. We have to be told to do that because we’d never come up with it on our own.

In the same way, God put this verse in the Bible to tell us something that we often forget:

Children are a gift from God, but sometimes we wonder if maybe they were sent as a curse! I assure you they haven’t been. But it’s worth reminding ourselves that they are gifts from God. Jacob did this when he was asked who were the people with him. Jacob answered,

“They are the children God has graciously given your servant” (Genesis 33:5b).

We can read this and believe it, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.

We homeschool our kids, and the recent addition of our 1 year old to the mix of teaching the other 3 has thrown a monkey wrench into the schedule. He requires so much time and attention.

As I was praying about what we could do to relieve some of this “complication,” I ran across a scripture that I had marked in my Bible on September 25th, 1997. The verse was

John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

At that time, we had just had our 4th miscarriage in a row. It was a very difficult time. And we just found out we were expecting again. I wrote in the margin of my Bible, next to the verse where Jesus said he came to give us life to the full, “Lord, I pray this for our baby.” Then next to that was another note on September 24th, 1997: “again today Lord.”

That baby that I had been praying for was our little one year old. The one I was now praying about how to deal with this “complication” in our lives. So I wrote in the margin: “Thank you Lord 8/4/99 for he was born 5/21/98.”

God brought me back to his perspective…through his word, and through those notes I had written and forgotten about almost 2 years ago.

When I married Lana, I wrote this in my vows. “Lana, you are a gift from God, and I plan to treat you as a gift.” It’s the same with our children. They are gifts from God, and God wants us to treat them as gifts.

2. Children are spiritual beings: don’t neglect their spiritual life.

A french priest, Teilhard de Chardin, said, “We’re not just human beings having a temporary spiritual experience. But we’re spiritual beings having a temporary human experience.”

Sometimes we get so focused on the “here and now” that we forget there’s a spiritual aspect to our parenting. God wants us to help our kids come to Jesus, and not to hinder them in this. Jesus said:

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14-15).

Encourage them in their spiritual growth. Encourage them to read the Bible, go to church, go to Sunday School. Encourage them to pray at meals, at bedtime, and in times of trouble.

And mostly, let them see you doing all these things.

Growing up, we always prayed before meals. I’ve told my Dad that his example in this has stuck with me all these years. I pray before every meal, whether in public or in private, because I just don’t feel right if I don’t. That was the way we grew up. The Bible says:

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

God has a way of bringing kids back around as they grow older. Keep focusing on their spiritual lives. It will be well worth it in the end.

3. Children belong to God: entrust them to his care.

There’s one more word of comfort I want to give. After we’ve done the best we can do as parents, and our children aren’t turning out the way we’d hoped, what can we do then?

The same answer applies whether or not the kids are turning out as we had hoped. It is an answer that is rooted in heaven’s view of parenting: ultimately, our children belong to God. We are all children of God.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a).

In the view of eternity, and even our time here on earth, our children are in our care for a very short amount of time. God needs our human hands, but our children are ultimately his.

God needed Mary and Joseph to raise Jesus. A baby in the manger wouldn’t have lasted even a day without them! But Jesus always referred to his Father as the one who was in heaven. And in the Lord’s prayer, he instructs us to do the same when we say, “Our Father, who art in heaven…” (Matthew 6:9, ASV).

There is a point where we must consciously entrust our children to God’s care. Where we must say, “Lord, I give you this child.” That may be early on in their lives, like it was for Hannah:

After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh.

When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. (1 Samuel 1:24-28)

She literally gave him to the Lord, to live with the priests. And notice in the rest of the passage that those priests weren’t the greatest in the world. Eli was the one who had told her to get out cause she looked like she was drunk, then later he died when his own kids went astray.

But she wasn’t giving Samuel to Eli, she was giving him to the Lord, and the Lord was the one who cared for Samuel, and raised him up to be a great man of God.

There’s great comfort in this, that we can entrust our children to the Lord, regardless of their circumstances. It may look terrible all around them, and they may even be straying as well. But we can continue to pray that God will Father them, guide them, and bring them back to His ways and His plans for their lives.

Our children are gifts from God, spiritual beings, who can be entrusted to his care.

Closing and Prayer

I’d like to pray for you as parents, and then lead you in a prayer for our children.

(If you don’t know that you’re a child of God, or if you don’t feel much like one today, you might want to talk to visit Lover’s Leap below.)

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Love Of God

There’s one set of words you can hear over and over and never get tired of them: “I love you.” And this is what God says to us, and wants us to hear from him, every day. No matter where you are, what you are doing, or what you have done, God loves you. He desires you to know that love, feel that love, walk in that love, and act on that love. Let Him tell you again today: “My child, I love you.” (Recorded August 1, 1999)

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Message Notes

Psalm 36:5-7

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O LORD, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

I John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Ephesians 3:17b-19

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Outline

God Loves You. He says it over and over through the Bible, and he says it every day you’re alive. And he’ll say it throughout eternity. His love is everlasting. Let me tell you over and over today: God Loves You.

1. He loved you when he created you.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (

2. He loved you while you were sinning.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions– it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).

3. He loved you when you came back to him.

So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him (Luke 15:20).

Conclusion and Prayer

He will love you forever. His love is everlasting. I pray you’ll be able to know it, sense it, feel it, walk in it, act on it, and lavish in it.

Psalm 36:5-7

I John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Ephesians 3:17b-19

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Blankity Blank, Blank, Blank

Does your tongue ever get you into trouble? Do other people’s tongues ever cause you trouble? In this message, we’ll take a look at how to get control over our tongues, and how to counteract the negative words that others have spoken to us. Find out the difference this can make in your life and the lives of those around you. (Recorded July 25, 1999)

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Message Notes

James 3:9-11

Matthew 12:36-37

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Outline

Introduction

For some reason, last week seemed to be a week of cursing. Not by me or my family (thankfully!). But almost every day I overheard someone cursing at the top of their lungs at someone else.

I was on sitting down in a park when a couple almost tripped over me as they hurried past, cursing at one another with no concern who over heard them.

I was riding bikes with the kids when we stopped to watch a work crew pour concrete when one of the guys made a mistake and another guy tore into him with a stream of obscenities (we decided to keep riding!)

I overheard a man in his garage cursing at his grown son.

Maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of such language. Maybe you’ve done some of your own cursing, even this week.

I want to encourage you that God can help you break the chain of cursing in your life. And if you’ve been hurt by cursing, God wants you to know you that He has a way to counteract that hurt.

Some of you may wonder how you can possibly break this chain. It helps to know a little bit about cursing.

1. Cursing starts in the heart.

Cursing doesn’t just happen with your lips. It starts in your heart. Matthew 12:33-37 says:

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

Cursing starts when something happens to us that makes us bitter, angry, frustrated. Then it comes out of our mouths. But unfortunately, our cursing is very destructive. God tells us why cursing is so devastating to Him.

2. The Tragedy of Cursing.

If you’ve ever been cursed, you know how it hurts. The reason it saddens God when we curse is because He has called us to bless others and bless him, but instead we curse others and curse him.

James 3:9-12 tells us this should not be.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

But how do we stop?

3. Cursing stops in the heart.

If cursing starts in the heart, then it stops in the same place.

Paul tells us the secret of how to stop when he instructed the Ephesians to rid themselves of unwholesome talk.

Ephesians 4:29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The key to stopping is through forgiveness.

Forgiveness is at the heart of Christianity, and everything we do.

I recently heard about a famous athiest who was famous for her cursing. Yet when I think of famous Christians, like Billy Graham or Mother Theresa, it’s hard to imagine them cursing. Why? I think the difference lies in the heart of Christianity: forgiveness.

When we give our lives to Christ, our old ways are buried, and ought to stay buried. And we can put on a new life. Paul says in Colossians:

Colossians 3:8-10

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

If you want to break the chain of cursing from continuing on to those you love as well, Jesus has the answer.

Luke 6:27-38

“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

God has called us to bless others, even those who don’t deserve our blessing, even those who curse us. When we do this, we will diffuse the hurt and anger in our own hearts, and not allow the roots of bitterness to grow. As we forgive others, we will be released from our own chains as well.

Closing and Prayer

Let’s pray that God would fill us with his Spirit, and enable us to do what he’s called us to do.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

If you’ve never received the forgiveness of God through Christ, you’ll have a hard time forgiving others. If you’d like to receive his forgiveness right now, you can do it by asking for his forgiveness, putting your faith in him, and following his ways.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Be My Lord

Many people want a Savior…someone to help them out when times are tough. But not every wants a “Lord,” because they’re afraid to hand over control of their life to someone else. But rest assured that there’s Someone we can hand our lives over to Who really does know best…and will do us right every time. Join me to hear how great it can feel to say to God, “Be My Lord.” (Recorded July 10, 1999)

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Message Notes

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9, NIV).

Outline

Introduction

Whether we realize it or not, someone is in control of our lives. It might be a boss, or a spouse, or a child, or a friend. It might be a neighbor, or it might be ourselves. Someone is calling the shots. Someone is in control.

A man named John Wimber says it this way: “I’m a fool for Christ. Who’s fool are you?”

The purpose of this message is to encourage you to allow Jesus to be the one who has control over every are of our lives. It’s good to know that there is at least one person we can turn our lives over to and know that we’re in good hands.

I’ll tell you three stories from my own life of how letting Jesus “be my Lord” has made a difference in my life. They hit on three areas that are common to each of us

Be My Lord – over things I shouldn’t do.

Be My Lord – over things I should do.

Be My Lord – when I’m doing what you’ve called me to do.

After listening to these stories from my life and from the Bible, I hope you’ll be willing to say to Jesus, “Be My Lord.”

1. Be My Lord – over things I shouldn’t do.

Some of us allow Jesus to be Lord over parts of our lives. But we hold back certain areas…often things that we know we shouldn’t do, but just don’t want to let go of, even though they are killing us.

The reason we hang on is that we’re not sure we can trust God to provide the same level of fun, or comfort or security that our sin offers to us. But any of those things are simply false impressions of the real fun, comfort and security that can have from God when we do what’s right.

But I know from experience that it’s worth it to let go of sin and grasp onto what God has in mind for us.

Twelve years ago God pointed out a sin in my life. My sexual life was not under his lordship. I was doing what I wanted to do. But when I asked God about that area of my life, he clearly showed me that what I was doing would lead to my eventual death. And He wanted to put me on the path to life.

I told him I was willing, and He lifted me up, and put me on the new path. I’m now thrilled to be married and have four children that I very likely would not have had otherwise. It’s a great thing to give up sin for the Lord.

Paul calls us to let Jesus be Lord over these areas this way in his letter to the Colossians:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:1-17, NIV).

2. Be My Lord – over things I should do.

Some of us don’t struggle so much with sin, but do struggle when God calls us to do something that we’re not comfortable doing. God wants us to let Jesus be Lord over those areas, too.

I was praying one week for a friend of mine. She was having doubts about her work and wondered if that’s what she was to be doing. I told her I’d pray for her.

As I did, I sensed that what God really wanted for her was to have a husband so she wouldn’t have to work in that particular job. I began to pray that God would give her a husband…

And I heard these distinct words in my mind, “Why don’t you marry her?” Now that wasn’t on my mind at all! But the question wouldn’t leave me for two weeks straight until I finally had to just tell the Lord, “I’ll pray about it.”

I did, for three months, and by the end of the three months, God had put a love in my heart for her like I’ve never known for anyone before or since. We were married a year later and it changed the course of my life, her life, and now a new generation of children’s lives.

When Moses encountered God in the burning bush, he put up these arguments as to why he wasn’t the one to do what God called him to do.

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11)

Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” (Exodus 4:10)

But Moses said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” (Exodus 4:13)

But Moses did it, and it changed the course of his life, half a million Jews, and history of the world.

3. Be My Lord – when I’m doing what you’ve called me to do.

Some of us need encouragement when we’re already doing what God has called us to do, but the going gets tough.

Four years ago God called me to leave my job in the business world and go into ministry full-time. The call was clear, the desire was there, but the road looked tough.

In obedience, and with the trusting knowledge that God would do what was right, I quit and followed the Lord. It’s been an incredible four years! And God has been faithful! But I can’t say they have been easy, or comfortable, or without anxious times of wondering what was next.

But Jesus never promised us those things. He told us to count the cost up front, then “Come, follow me.” Many have paid great prices to follow the Lord, even to the point of giving up their own lives. But the cost is nothing compared to the results. And God is gracious to encourage us through the tough times.

I believe this may have been going through John the Baptist’s mind when he was put in prison for preaching to Herod to repent of his sin. John was put in prison, and seemed to begin to have doubts about whether Jesus really was the Lord he earlier had thought he was.

When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.

He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 11:2-15)

If even John had questions and needed encouragement, and he was greater than anyone born of women, we can trust that Jesus will encourage us through our struggles, too.

Closing and Prayer

We all have choice to make. Either we let Jesus be Lord, or we let someone else be Lord. Either way, someone’s going to have control over our lives.

As for me, I like the way Joshua put it when he faced this choice. Joshua said:

“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:14-15).

God wants us to completely surrender to Him. And that absolute surrender can be an awesome feeling. We can abandon our lives to God and experience a great joy in the process.

Madame Jeanne Guyon described abandonment this way over 500 years ago in the book “Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ.”

Abandonment is practiced by continually losing your will in the will of God; by plunging your will into the depths of His will, their to be lost forever.

About lordship, Henry Blackaby, in his book, “Experiencing God” says:

Two words in the Christian’s language cannot go together: No, Lord. If you say, “No,” He is not Lord. If He really is your Lord, your answer must always be “Yes.” In decision making, always begin here. Do not proceed until you can honestly say, “Whatever you want of me, lord, I will do it.”

Tell Jesus today, “Be My Lord.”

And if you’ve never made that initial decision to make Jesus Lord of your life, read a simple, clear explanation at the Lover’s Leap. Then make that decision today. It will make all the difference in your life. And you’ll never regret it.

Thank you Lord, for being such a good Lord, and for knowing exactly what we need in our lives. Take over control of every area of our lives so that we can be all we were created to be, and do all you created us to do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Random Acts Of Kindness

People love to hear stories about “random acts of kindness,” those thoughtful little things that people do to help one another. God calls us to do these and more. Join me as I encourage you to reach out with some “deliberate acts of kindness” based on God’s desire that we put our faith into action. (Recorded June 27, 1999)

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Message Notes

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:15-26, NIV).

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV).

Outline

Here’s a summary of the key points of this message.

1. Random Acts of Kindness are Good.

You may have heard of people who do “random acts of kindness.” Such people have stumbled onto one of the great truths of the Bible…it really is good to do to others as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12).

Yet Christ calls us to more than just “random acts of kindness.” He calls us to intentional acts of kindness. Random implies chance, haphazard, aimless, stray, casual, or hit-or-miss. Intentional implies purposeful, premeditated, conscious, calculated, or planned.

2. Intentional Acts of Kindness are Even Better.

Our faith in God is important, but if our faith doesn’t change us, doesn’t cause us to do anything different in our lives, then our faith is not a living faith. It’s dead. And God very much wants us to put our faith into action.

Here are two passages from the Bible that describe how our faith and our actions work hand in hand: James 2:14-26, Ephesians 2:8-10.

James 2:14-26

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that– and shudder.

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

3. What we do is vital.

Doing good is not optional for those who follow Christ. In fact, Christ himself said some very strong words to show that our actions are vitally important to proving our faith.

Here are Christ’s words from Mark 10:17-30 and Matthew 25:31-46.

Mark 10:17-30

As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good– except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'”

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields– and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

Matthew 25:31-46

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Paul and James were men of faith…men who put their faith into action, as evidenced by their words in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, and James writings in the book of James.

Galatians 2:9-10

James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Closing and Prayer

We’re saved by the grace of God, through our faith in Jesus Christ, believing that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for all the sins we’ve committed. But we were saved for a reason…to do the good works God has prepared in advance for us to do.

Don’t let you faith be inactive, inert, and dead. Bring your faith to life by putting it into action.

If you’ve never put your faith in Christ, and want to know more about it, read a simple, clear explanation at the Lover’s Leap. Then make that decision today.

Thank you Lord, for saving us, and sending Jesus to die for us. As He was willing to die for us, let us be willing to live for Him. Help us put our faith into action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Broken Trust

When people break our trust, what can we do? When they’ve let us down, or even deliberately betrayed us, how should we react? In this message, we’ll take a look at some famous and not-so-famous people who have given us an example to follow. You’ll find that even when people break our trust, we can still trust God. (Recorded June 6, 1999)

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Message Notes

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

John 13:21-28

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.

1 Samuel 24:12

May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.

Genesis 50:19-20

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Outline

We can learn from others who were betrayed.

Jesus, David, Joseph, (and William Tyndale)

1. Trust God.

John 13:27, 1 Samuel 24:12, Genesis 50:19-20

2. Continue to do what is right.

John 18:19-24, 1 Sam 26:7-11, Gen 50:21-23

3. Watch God work all things for His good.

Eph 1:19-23, 1 Chr 29:26-28, Gen 45:5-11

Closing and Prayer

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Increase Our Faith

Take a look with me at the words of Jesus when he commended people for their faith. When you see what happens to each person, I hope you’ll be inspired to call out to God like the disciples did: “Increase our faith!” Join me for this guided tour of The Walk of Faith. (Recorded May 30, 1999)

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Message Notes

Outline

Follow along at The Walk of Faith.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Broken Hearts

If you’ve got a broken heart, you may feel like even God has abandoned you. But I assure you He hasn’t. The Bible says that “the Lord is close to the broken hearted.” Let God heal your broken heart as you watch this message. Includes special musical guests, Chuck and Lynette Giacinto of Final Quest. (Recorded May 23, 1999)

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Message Notes

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 61:1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Outline

1. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.

Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 61:1-3

2. He will minister to you at your point of need.

1 Kings 19:3-8, Matthew 4:11, Luke 22:43

3. He heals you for a purpose.

1 Kings 19:9-16, Ephesian 3:18

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Trouble With Sex

If your sex life isn’t all you want it to be, or if you wonder if you’ll ever have a sex life at all, this message is for you. God doesn’t want us to be disappointed with sex any more than we want to be disappointed with it. And he’s thrilled to point us to answers to solve all of our troubles, even our troubles with sex. Includes special musical guest, Kent Sanders. (Recorded May 16, 1999)

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Message Notes

Colossians 3:5-19

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.

You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.

Hebrews 13:4

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…

Outline

1. The Trouble with Sex

The trouble with sex is that people use it to get what they want, rather than to give what God wants.

2. God’s Plan

Ephesians 5:25, 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

3. Our Plan

Hebrews 13:4, Colossians 3:5-19, John 15:13

Closing and Prayer

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Two Weeks With God

Care to spend two weeks with God? There’s nothing like spending time with him to bring peace to your soul. In this message, you’ll learn more about our new online devotional “Two Weeks With God.” It’s free, and it’ll encourage you to spend time each day with the One who cares about you more than anyone in the world. (Recorded April 25, 1999)

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Message Notes

Introduction from the devotional “Two Weeks With God”

I believe the music from Clear My Mind will go a long way in helping you to clear your mind. Music has a tremendous power to heal our hearts, soothe our souls, and clear our minds.

But I believe this music can help you in another way too: it can bring you into the very presence of God. And I’ve found that the best way clear my mind is to spend some time with Him. He promises that whenever we have anxious thoughts, we can bring our requests to Him and He will give us a peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).

God knows you better than anyone else. He knows the depths of what you’re going through. He knows where you hurt and how to heal those hurts. There’s nothing more soothing or peaceful than to let Him wrap His arms around you and hold you tight.

If that sounds good to you, I’d like to encourage you to go through this devotional. For the next fourteen days you can focus on Him in a way, perhaps, that you’ve never done before.

By the end of the two weeks, I hope you’ll feel better about yourself, about your situation, and about your relationship with God.

Even more, I hope you’ll finish with a strong desire to come back to God again and again. Because as much as you might look forward to spending time with Him, He is even more eager to spend time with you. That’s why He created you: to fellowship with Him. Always know that He loves you very much.

Enjoy the music – and enjoy your time with God.

Outline

The Lord says: “Come to Me”

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Practical Value of Coming to God:

1. He KNOWS you better than anyone else.

Ps 139:4

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

Ps 50:10-11

…for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.

Luke 12:6-7

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

2. He will bring FOCUS to your day.

Mark 6:46

After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

3. He will TRANSFORM your life.

Rom 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Go to the devotional: Two Weeks With God

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

God Is Very Real

When you realize that God is real, everything takes on a new perspective and a new meaning. And when we can realize this truth every moment of every day, it can change our outlook, our actions, and our attitudes. Join me for this message to see what a difference it can make in your life. (Recorded April 11, 1999)

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Message Notes

Acts 17:27

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Outline

1. God is very close.

Acts 17:27, Psalm 139:1-13, Jeremiah 23:23-24

2. God is very real.

Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 28:20

3. What you do makes a difference.

1 Peter 1:8, John 20:25-29

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Cross

I once visited the spot in Jerusalem where Jesus died. As I approached it, I was flooded with emotion and fell to my knees. In this message, I’d like to share with you in a very personal way what Christ has done for me. And in the process, I want you to know what Christ has done for you, too. (Recorded March 28, 1999)

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Message Notes

Luke 23:41

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

1 Pet 3:18

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.

John 21:25

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Outline

1. On My Knees

2. Standing Up

3. What He did for me, He did for you also.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Quest For Rest

Listen as Russell Pond describes “Entering into a Sabbath-Rest.” Russ has ministered on the Internet for several years to people who suffer from panic attacks. He brings his unique insights into this week’s topic on finding rest. For more information on Russ and his “Season of Peace” ministry, visit www.season.org. (Recorded March 21, 1999)

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Message Notes

Genesis 2:1-3

Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Hebrews 4:1-2

Hebrews 4:3-8

Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:11

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no-one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Matthew 22:36

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus replied: “`Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Proverbs 3:5

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Russell Pond has ministered on the Internet for several years to people who suffer from panic attacks. He brings his unique insights into this week’s topic on finding rest. For more information on Russ and his “Season of Peace” ministry, visit www.season.org.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Cheer Up!

This is a message of hope, so if you need some, listen in. I can assure you the sun is still shining, even if the clouds are blocking your view. You can be sure that if the sun weren’t there, we’d be flung out of orbit and die instantly. Don’t despair, God is there, too. (Recorded March 14, 1999)

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Message Notes

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2 Corinthians 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

1 Peter 1:7-9

These have come so that your faith– of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire– may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 John 3:2

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Outline

1. “I’ve seen the sun” story.

2. Our faith will become sight.

1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 John 3:2, 1 John 5:13

3. Hold onto your faith — it’s worth far more than gold.

Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 13:8, 1 Peter 1:7

Closing and Prayer

2 Corinthians 4:18

A quote worth remembering: “It’s the set of the sail and not the gale that determines the way we go.”

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Tempted?

If you struggle with temptation, watch this week’s “Live from the Ranch.” God has promised that when we are tempted, he will provide a way out. Join me as I share some powerful stories of how God has done this for others, and how he can do it for you. (Recorded March 7, 1999)

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Message Notes

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Hebrews 2:18

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are– yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Matthew 6:9-13

Outline

1. Seek God’s way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13

2. Know how temptation works.

Matthew 4:1-11, James 1:13-15, Genesis 3:13, Matthew 6:9-13

3. Draw near to God.

James 4:8-9, Hebrews 2:18, Hebrews 4:15-16, Luke 22:46, Matthew 4:1-11

Closing and Prayer

Know that this is why Jesus came…to die for our sins, so that we could be forgiven and come clean before God.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Joy Of The Lord

True joy eludes many people, even long-time Christians. But a simple change in perspective can be the key to unlock more joy in your life. Join me for this message if you want to find out more about the Joy of the Lord. (Recorded February 28, 1999)

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Message Notes

Nehemiah 8:5-12

Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

The Levites– Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah– instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a sacred day. Do not grieve.” Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.

Outline

1. The key to joy: Look from God’s perspective

Nehemiah 8:5-12, Zephaniah 3:17

2. A practical step: Trust in the Lord

Psalm 86:1-4, Psalm 28:7

3. Christ’s path to joy: Obey the Father

Hebrews 12:2, John 15:5-13

Closing and Prayer

Steps to Joy:

Come to Jesus: Ephesians 3:14-21

Be filled with the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23

Receive God’s blessings: Romans 15:13

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Will To Go On

Tired of the fight? I want to encourage you that it’s worth it. God will make it worth your while. Don’t give up. The Bible says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In this message, I’ll pray with you that you will have “The Will to Go On.” (Recorded February 21, 1999)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

John 16:20-22, 33

“I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Outline

1. Know that you’re in good company

Ecclesiates 3:1-8

This is not the end, but just the beginning.

Randy Clark, Billy Graham, Moses, David, Paul, Jesus.

2. Come to Christ again and again

John 16:20-22, 33; John 14:27, John 15:5, Matthew 11:28-30

3. God will make it worth your while

Galatians 6:9, Mark 10:29-30

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Recharging Your Batteries

If your rechargeable batteries run out of steam, you know what to do. Plug ’em in and give ’em a boost. We can do the same thing for ourselves when we run out of steam. If we only know where to put the plug. Join me to hear how to plug into the ultimate source of power. (Recorded February 14, 1999)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

Mark 6:31

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Matthew 14:23

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

Matthew 26:36

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Luke 6:11-12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Outline

1. Go where Jesus went: to the Father

Mark 6:31, Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:36, Luke 6:11-12

2. Stick to your knitting

Acts 6:2-4, Exodus 18:13-23

3. Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, Abandon Annually

Psalm 5:3, Mark 2:27, Leviticus 23:39

The art of in-flight refueling:

KC-130 Hercules refueling 2 F/A-18 Hornets

Additional Reading

A 1997 article by Bob Griner about enduring in ministry, which applies to all of our lives.

Ministry is a marathon,” Rick Warren insisted in the April 23 chapel service at Southwestern. Warren, pastor of the 13,000-member Saddleback Valley Community Church in Lake Forest, Calif., said “it’s not how you start in ministry, it how you finish.”

Using II Corinthians 4:1-18, he gave seven secrets to Paul’s ministry to explain “How Not to Perish in the Parish.”

1. (v. 1) Remember that God, in His mercy, “has given us our ministries. We do not have to earn our place as a pastor or leader in the church. Remember God’s mercy. You don’t have to prove your worth through your ministry and you don’t have to wallow in your mistakes.”

2. (v. 2) Heed the warning for Christians not to distort the Word of God and to be truthful and honest in everything. “Maintain your integrity, because integrity produces power in your life, while guilt zaps your energy. You need to finish with your character intact.”

3. (v. 5) Be motivated to work for Jesus’ sake, not out of selfish desires. “We need a right motivation. A lot of guys start off as servants and end up celebrities. You need to learn to live your life for an audience of one–Jesus Christ.”

4. (v. 7) Realize that Christians are only human. “We must accept our limitations, and the quickest way to burn out is to try to be Superman. Humility is being honest about our weaknesses.”

5. (v. 15) Develop a true love for others. “Churches thrive, grow and survive when love endures. You must love people or you won’t last in the ministry. Churches love and grow because people without Jesus die and go to hell.”

6. (v. 16) Allow time for inward rejuvenation. “Divert daily, withdraw weekly and abandon annually. Take time for recharging. Like the Air Force, we need to learn the art of mid-flight refueling. You don’t have to land every time you need refueling.”

7. (v. 17-18) Stay focused on the important things, and don’t get distracted by momentary troubles. “Keep your eyes on the goal, not the problem. Only he who sees the invisible can accomplish the impossible.”

To be a winner in the marathon of ministerial service, Christians need to realize that “great people are just ordinary people with an extraordinary amount of determination,” Warren concluded. “If we run from problems, we’ll never be able to become what God wants us to be.”

Transcript

Welcome

Hi this is Eric Elder and welcome to live from The Ranch. We are broadcasting this message tonight about recharging your batteries. If you are like me you get tired and you get worn out. You need a place where you can go, something that you can plug into so that you can renew your strength. You can come back again and do the things that God has called you to do.

But the problem sometimes is “Where do we plug in?” “How exactly do we rekindle our strength?” There is a story about a man, you may have heard this, who said, “I never get hungry, I never get thirsty and I never get tired.” Someone asked him, “How do you do that, not get hungry or thirsty or tired?” He said, “Well, I eat before I get hungry, I drink before I get thirsty and I sleep before I get tired.” As amusing as that may be there is actually TRUTH in that. That we can actually throughout our time we can do an in-flight refueling (I will explain that later). How sometimes we don’t even have to come back down to refuel. We can stay up there and refuel while we are in mid-flight. God has a way that we can do that. It is to plug into the same thing that Jesus plugged into.

So tonight I want to take you through some of the things that Jesus did as He performed some of His greatest miracles in front of some of the largest crowds. Yet He had a special source of power that He went to when He needed strength and when He needed to get plugged into and get recharged one more time. So if you would like to learn from a master teacher, Jesus Himself, I invite you to join me for the rest of this message – live from The Ranch.

Scripture to Read

We have some Message Notes on the screen that you can take a look at if you would like to follow along with me. I also would like you to read some of these because they contain scripture that you can look at and get some encouragement as well. If you would look at those on your screen right now, just go back to the screen where you came from and pull up the Message Notes (where it says Message Notes). I am going to play a little bit on the piano and I would like you just to read the four or five verses that are listed there while I am playing. You can just read those and talk to God while I play the piano. Just ask Him to speak to you tonight through this message.

1. Go where Jesus went: to the Father.

I love that last verse on there that talks about,

“It was one of those days when Jesus had to get away.”

I will come back to that in a minute. Have you ever had one of those days where you just needed to get away? You just needed to spend some time with the Lord? Look at some of those days with me. In Mark 6:31 where Jesus found His source of power. The first point of the three points I want to make tonight is to – PLUG INTO THE SOURCE. Go to prayer just like Jesus did. In Mark 6:31 it says,

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

This was something that Jesus was telling His disciples, as the crowds were so numerous. It says,

“because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Jesus and His disciples were so busy and they were so flogged by people looking for healing, looking for the way of eternal life that they would sometimes not even be able to eat – the crowds were so much. So Jesus very much validated a time to withdraw. Even when there were demands all around them and Jesus and the disciples could have healed many more people who were there. They knew that they needed to get away and get some rest and so they withdrew for a period of time. It wasn’t very long though because you will see in Matthew 14:23 that the crowd followed them and He did the miracle of bringing 5,000 people food. It was after that when He once again told the disciples, it says,

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.”

So once again Jesus was getting away. On His way to getting away people came to Him and He went ahead and did a miracle and worked with them but He continued on His journey to go ahead and get away and spent some time on a mountainside and prayed. In the garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36 He went with some disciples and He also said,

“Stay here for awhile while I go over there and pray.”

This last verse here in Luke 6:12, it says,

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

THIS IS THE POWER SOURCE!!! THE ULTIMATE POWER SOURCE THAT WE CAN PLUG INTO!

When we plug into The Creator of the Universe, when we can put our cord in and just go right to HIM and draw our strength from HIM. That is the ULTIMATE way we can get energy, we can get life and we can have the abundant life that Jesus talked about.

Look at what happened in this verse, in verse 11 it says, Jesus had done a great healing, it was on the Sabbath day and some of the teachers of the Law got very upset with Him and in verse 11 it says,

“But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.”

This is when they first began plotting to kill Jesus. The next verse says,

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

2. Stick to your knitting.

I would say that Jesus was having one of those days when here you do a miraculous healing and people are out to get you. They are out to kill Him. They actually wanted to come and take His very life. You may have had some of those days as well. Look at what He did when He went away to pray – this brings us to our next point. I call it “stick to your knitting”.

What Jesus did was He found out FROM THE FATHER what He was to do next. He knew that people were plotting to take His life and the very next verse after He prayed, He said,

“When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles.”

Somehow Jesus foreknew that something was going to happen to Him and that He was going to lose His life. So God had told Him to call twelve apostles who could take the message of Christ even further after Jesus was killed. So Jesus came down from that praying that night with His next step clearly in mind.

So,

1) when we go away to pray we are recharging our own batteries. We are getting strength. We are just getting time away to rest. But,

2) God will give us our next step. He will tell us what to do next so that we can go out and do what He has called us to do.

On this point I want to say that when God tells you what to do – do what God tells you – no more – no less.

Stick to your knitting is what it is called in business circles. When a company starts to stray too much from what they were created to do what the company was formed to do; they seem to lose some of their momentum. They lose their purpose; they lose their focus. In successful business books they say a company ought to “stick to their knitting”. Stick to what they know best and invest their time and energy in what God has called them to do. Now a company may not use God’s strategy or the knitting analogy that I have just used but God wants us to use that. He says, “I have called you for a reason. I have called you to do something. When you do that very thing you will find peace and you will find rest and fulfillment. Then come back to ME again when you need a little more peace and a little more direction in your life.”

Learning from the Disciples

Here are a couple of examples of people who needed to stick to their knitting. In Acts 6:2-4, if you have a Bible and would like to turn there with me. Acts 6:2-4 this is the story where the disciples were together and they were having some complaints that they needed help with the distribution of food to the widows. There were people that were needing food and the complaints came to the disciples of what were they going to do about this food problem and how are we going to handle it? You will see in verses 2-4 what they did:

“So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

Here the disciples, the Twelve, knew what they needed to do. Mainly to take the message of God forward and they needed to devote their time to ministry and prayer and not be distracted by something that was a very good thing and a godly thing (the distribution of food) BUT it wasn’t THEIR CALLING. They were called to minister. They were called to pray. So they said, “Let’s call some other godly people who God has called to do this.” They found seven who they believed were called to do it. They said, “Now you seven please take care of this. We will turn this responsibility over to you.” One of those was Stephen, who later became a martyr and who testified of the great power of God. He did great things for God even in the distribution of food, the thing that he was called to do. So as long as the disciples stuck to what they needed to do they wouldn’t lose their focus or be distracted.

Learning from Moses

The same thing was happening to Moses. If you will turn back to Exodus 18, where he began to be overwhelmed and overburdened by the things that God had called him to do. His father-in-law Jethro came to give him so advice. This is Exodus 18:13-23, but let’s just start at verse 17 and take a look there (you can look at the rest later),

“Moses’ father-in-law looked at what Moses was doing and he said, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice,

What was happening is all the people were coming to Moses, everyday, because they wanted to hear a word from God. They needed to hear from God on what to do, how to decide matters and cases, what God’s will was for their life. Moses felt that was what he was called to do – an obligation of his. But he had so many people out in the desert, 1/2 a million perhaps, that were out their wandering with him. They were all coming to him on various days wanting God’s will. So what Jethro, his father-in-law, says in verse 23,

“if you do this”

Which was to turn over his responsibilities to several other trusted men and appoint them over some of the people. So when the people had a problem they could come to another godly man, hear some wisdom and then go back. If it got to difficult they could bring it to Moses but otherwise the people, who were in charge, could take care of it. Jethro said,

“If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied. Moses listened to this advice and he did everything he said. He chose capable men…”

In this way Moses established a way that he could continue to do what God had called him to do which was to lead the people. But he could lead by turning over some responsibilities to others.

So I want to encourage you on this second point that as Jesus tells you what to do and God explains these next steps to you that you would just stick to those. “Stick to your knitting.” Do what God has called you to do. There may be things that come up that you need to do but for the most part make sure you stay with what God has called you to do. If you can find better people to carry out some of the other responsibilities, do that. They will be satisfied, the people who you are ministering to will be satisfied and you will be satisfied as well.

3. Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, Abandon Annually

Now the third point I want to mention tonight has to do with the concept called in-flight refueling. In fact I put a picture on your screen there in the Message Notes of an airplane who is being refueled as he’s flying in the air. There are actually two of those airplanes and there is a third airplane that is pulled up next to them and as it drops some tethers, gasoline cables, that go and connect to those planes. Because the third plane is much larger it can carry a lot of gas and it refuels those two fighter jets. So those two fighter jets never have to come back down. They can stay up in the air. The big tanker goes back down and gets more gas, whenever they need to, and refuels them while they are still in the air.

We need to do that sometimes. Sometimes we don’t have time to get away. We don’t have time to go and take a retreat. We don’t have time to take a vacation. But we need to mid-flight refuel. We can do that by coming to God.

Here are three practical steps for doing that. Rick Warren suggests these; he runs a church of 13,000 people. He has these three practical pieces of wisdom.

Divert Daily, Withdraw Weekly, and Abandon Annually

These are ways that we can get our focus while we are going and as we are going through the day. On the divert daily there is a verse in Psalm 5:3 that talks about coming to God everyday,

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

This is David and he says, “In the morning I come and lay my requests before you, God, and I wait in expectation.” This is a daily diversion from whatever David had to do for the day. You could divert in other ways. You could divert by just going and doing something that is enjoyable to you for a period of time just to get away from the distractions. It’s like if you are working your whole life just to get to retirement and hope to enjoy life by the time you are 65 you have missed the best years of your life by working up until that point. So you need to take moments throughout your life and not live for what is down the road but live for everyday. Divert daily.

Second point was to withdraw weekly. Once again it is a biblical concept, the concept of the Sabbath day. On the seventh day we take a rest. It is good that our society is still structured around this where we have the weekends away and we have a seven day calendar. Imagine we only had a three-day calendar and you take one day off. Imagine if we had no days off – no weekends whatsoever, like they did in communist Russia. You go straight through, there is thirty days in the month and you go. There is no such thing as weekends; there is no such thing as the Sabbath rest. It is so good that we actually take a break once a week to be with God, to be with our families, to get away from the things that we do all week long. If you are not doing that I encourage you to do that. Whether it is on a Saturday, Sunday, Monday or whatever day. Just take one day a week just to get away and to just do something that is different from what you do throughout the week. It is a good day for you to fellowship with God and to be refreshed.

Jesus himself said, Mark 2:27

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

Meaning the Sabbath was made for us. It was made for us to have rest. It was made as a God given example when He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. God made that example from the beginning of time for us to follow so that we could have a day of rest every week and get refreshed.

Thirdly, abandon annually. Again, this is a biblical concept of taking a vacation, getting away, and having a festival before the Lord. Various places in the bible there were these festivals where people were to get away. In Leviticus 23:39 there was one where it said,

“…celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days, the first day is a day of rest (Sabbath), and the eighth day also is a day of rest (Sabbath).”

And all the days in between to celebrate before the Lord as a festival. So there are times ordained by God in the Bible where we can divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually. In this way we will be able to refuel as we go through life in the day to day things that we do. We will be able to get refreshed and get the energy we need to go on.

If you need to go back over these notes and just take a look at them this week maybe everyday. Just take a look at these notes and say, “Ok, what can I do today to divert? What can I do this week to withdraw? Or this year to abandon?” It might help you to just digest some of these concepts.

Put Your Trust in Jesus

If you are not a Christian, if you have not followed Jesus Christ before, these same principles apply to you. They are truths, just like gravity is a truth that works whether you believe in it or not. You don’t have to believe that things fall from down to stumble and trip and fall down. These are biblical truths, they are spiritual truths that if you take time away, if you can divert yourself and take time away and get recharged like Jesus did they will work for your life. But there is one thing that won’t work for your life incidentally. That is your eternal life. If you wanted to get to heaven you do need to become a Christian. Jesus said,

“No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

We must as human beings put our faith in Jesus Christ so that we can have eternal life. If you want that rest that comes eternally for the rest of your life then you need to put your faith in Jesus Christ. It won’t just happen automatically. We actually have a decision to make. I want to invite you to make that decision as well. So if you have NOT made that decision to follow Christ it is very simple. He has already done the work for you. He died on the cross to pay the price for your sins so that you wouldn’t have to. You know that you have sinned. You know that you do things that God doesn’t want you to do. God says REPENT, turn from those sins and follow Christ. If you put your faith in Christ, that He already died for those sins and paid the penalty for your sins and mine. Then you don’t have to pay the penalty and you can come free to God again, not only in this life but also for eternal life.

We are going to pray after I play a song here and we will pray specifically for you if you need to make that decision tonight. We will also be praying for you if you need the refreshment and recharging of God. I want to play a quiet song here for a minute that you can just reflect before God and have a few minutes to just recharge right now, right where you are. Whether you are watching this at work during the week, later in the week, or if you are watching this live right now – I want you to just take some time, right where you are. Close your eyes and just focus on GOD. Just come to the Father as Jesus did and say, “God, I need You! I need Your strength. I need Your refreshment. Fill me up and show me what to do next.” GOD WILL DO IT! I believe it. He said it and HE does it for me and I know He will DO IT FOR YOU! Let me play and you just enjoy your time with God and then we will come back and pray together in Jesus’ name.

Prayer

Let me say a prayer for you,

Lord, I just pray that You would bless this person watching right now, this couple watching right now. Lord these friends and people I have never met before, but You know them, You know them very well. I pray that You would meet them at their point of need. I pray that You would refresh them, strengthen them, send Your Holy Spirit to fill them up to overflowing. So that they could go back out and do the things that You have called them to do. God, I pray that You would show them their next step and help them “stick to their knitting” and do those things, no more and no less. I pray that they would take great fulfillment in knowing that they are doing what You have called them to do and not feel the pressures of others or even of themselves. I pray that they would only feel the desire and a burden to do what You tell them to do and a great joy when that is accomplished.

God, for anyone who has not yet put their faith in You I pray that tonight, even right now, they would watch and they would want to follow You. For You have the words of eternal life! You are so worth following! I thank You for Your principles and Your guidance and I thank You that You make a way for us to come to heaven. Right now I pray that wherever they are at they would just say,

“God, I repent of my sins. I am sorry for the things that I have done. I ask You to forgive me. I believe that Your Son Jesus died for me so I wouldn’t have to. I ask You to take over my life and help me make my decisions. Be the Lord of my life.”

In Jesus’ name AMEN.

It’s a great thing to come to God and be refreshed and be recharged. I hope tonight has charged you up a little bit more and I hope it encourages you to charge up everyday, every week and every year. Life is to short not to enjoy from now until Jesus comes back. Every now and then we just need to get away and just enjoy some time with God. I know it is hard. I know that things are busy. I know it seems impossible sometimes but I encourage you to do it. God will meet you and He will refresh you and He will restore you. Even if it is like Jesus when He was trying to get away. He got interrupted and had to feed 5,000 people when He only had two fish and five loaves of bread, an impossible request, but He filled it through God’s power. The same way that He continued on His path to go and get away and I pray that you would do that. Even if you are interrupted in your plan to get away that you would go ahead and do it.

Devotional

I have just finished a devotional that we are going to put in print as well as put on the CD of this piano music. I am going to put it on the website and it’s freely available to you out on the website. I hope that you will take advantage of that and listen to some of the music “Clear My Mind” and just let God clear your mind and read some of the pages of the devotional. They will be up in another week or two where you will be able to read through this devotional called “Two Weeks with God” and enjoy just spending some quiet time every morning soaking up things from the Lord and telling Him what is on your heart. So look for that in the next two weeks or so on the website. If you would like a copy of it in print or on the CD you are welcome to send me an email and we will get a copy to you. We just want you to be blessed. We want you to know that God can clear your mind. God can recharge your batteries and He can restore your soul to eternal life.

How to Get in Touch with Us

If you would like to chat with us further I will be on the chat room after this broadcast at theranch.org. There is a Talk to Someone page, go to the Chat Room at The Ranch and I will be there and a few others will be there to talk and pray with you. We can also talk in private with you. If you would like to reach me during the week there is a way that you can reach me on ICQ (those directions are on the Talk to Someone page) or you can email me.

Goodnight

I am so glad that you joined me and I hope that you will come back again for another segment of live from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

What God Wouldn’t Do For You

There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Can that really be true? If you have doubts, I hope you’ll watch this message to give you a whole new perspective on what God is willing to do for you. (Recorded February 7, 1999)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Matthew 21:18-22

Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked. Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

(Stop and pray and I’ll join you in a minute to walk through the outline. You might ask God this in your prayer: Lord, show me again how great is your love for me.”)

Welcome

Hi, this is Eric Elder broadcasting live from The Ranch. I’m glad you are here tonight because tonight is a special message where I believe God wants to express His very great love to you. It is on my heart tonight that God really wants to let you know just how much He loves you. As I titled this message, I titled it “What God Wouldn’t do for You”. Now I just as easily could have called it “What God Would Do for You” but that list would be much longer. So it is easier just to say, “What God Wouldn’t do for You” because that list is very very short. In fact, it is just one word – NOTHING. There is nothing that God wouldn’t do for you. He loves you so much. Now if this is a message you need to hear tonight stick with me as we broadcast this message live from The Ranch.

Scriptures to Read

There are some Message Notes on your screen that you can read some scriptures just right now as I play the piano. Just let God speak to you. If you want to either open your Bible or if you just want to look at the Message Notes section of your screen. Look at Matthew 21:18-22 and just let those verses sink into your heart and then we will come back and we will talk about God’s very great love.

1. My convincing proof of this verse.

That verse that you just looked at from Matthew is one of the more perplexing in the Bible to me and yet God has revealed something to me about it in the last couple of years about it that has really helped me. Here is the verse I am focusing on in Matthew 21:22, it says here

“If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Another place in the Bible says,

“You will receive anything that you ask in My name.”

Sometimes God uses these superlatives that are so superlative that I can’t imagine anyone can fulfill them. This is one of those where, does He really mean you can ask for whatever you want? You can ask for anything and God will do it?

Well, I have asked God for several things over the years. Some of which I had no idea how God was going to answer and He has answered. But two years ago this verse burned into my heart and I believe that it was true as well. I found out that there was nothing that I could ask from God that was too much. God loves us so much and His love for us is so very great. I just want to tell you a brief version of this story of what happened to me two years ago. Then I just want to talk about you and how God loves you very much and wants to bless you and wants to speak to you as well.

The Story of The Piano

What happened in this story is about four years ago I had quit my job and went into fulltime ministry. My wife and I didn’t have any money and we had three children at the time. We were pursuing God and seeking what God wanted us to do next. One of the things that I wanted from God was a new piano. I had an old piano, a $350.00 piano, that I bought from a “Green Sheet” down in Texas. I bought this piano and it just wouldn’t keep its tune anymore. I had it for about ten years and it just wasn’t working very well. I was just saying to God, “I just wish I had a piano that I could just worship You on. Something that would just keep its tune.”

So I shared this request with some friends during a home group meeting. They said, “Why don’t you ask God for it? Why don’t we all come together and we will just ask God for something.” So I came to that time of prayer and I just said, “God, do you really want me to ask for this?” He seemed to say, “Yes.” He seemed to say, “Go ahead and ask Me.” The people in the group said, “Eric, what would you really like? What is the desire of your heart?” I said, “Oh, I don’t want to ask for that. It is too much. All I really want is just something that will keep its tune. That is all I really need.” They said, “No really. What do you really want?” I said, “Oh, if I had my choice I would really like a grand piano. Not that I need a grand piano for any reason except that it sounds beautiful. The longer the strings are on a piano the better it sounds. So when you have a grand piano, like this, the strings are very long and the sound is very deep and rich.” So I said, “A grand piano would be what I would really want if I could have anything that I wanted.” So they said, “Let’s just ask God for that.” I just wasn’t very comfortable with that. I didn’t want to ask God for too much. I didn’t have any money at all and I didn’t even know how I was going to get a new piano, even a good used piano just to get and play.

So I said, “Ok let’s pray.” We prayed and as we did they started saying some things. They said, “Eric, we see as you play the piano people will be healed. As you play the notes people will be healed. The more you play the more the anointing will come upon you for healing.” I was really surprised by this and they also had never heard me play. I was surprised that this might happen, I didn’t understand how this would work. Yet, I found in scripture where when King David played the harp people were actually healed. Saul, the King, who was tormented by evil spirits, was actually freed from that and relief came to him as he heard the music. So somehow God does use the music to soothe and to relieve us and to actually drive out demons and to heal people. I have found that’s been true.

After our prayer that night a woman asked me, “Why don’t you just go to the store and pick out a piano and then ask God for it? Find the piano you want and ask God for it.” I said, “I just couldn’t do that. I don’t feel comfortable with that at all.” I slept on it and that next morning I said, “What will it hurt? I will just go and look around.” I went to the store and I looked at the pianos. There were all these fancy pianos, Liberace looking pianos and pianos I wasn’t really interested in. Then in the corner I saw this old dilapidated piano and I said, “That must be it. That is the piano for me. I don’t care what it looks like I just want it to sound good. That must be the one.” I went and I played it and it was AWFUL. It was just terrible. I said, “Ok, that is not it.” I looked up and over in the far corner I saw “IT”. It was THE piano, beautiful classic and very nice. I just said, “Wow, that is a nice piano.” I walked up to it and I played a C chord on it. It was the most beautiful C chord I have ever heard. As I backed off from the piano I was saying, “Wow, God, that is so nice.” The salesman came up and he said, “Yep, that is the best piano we have in the store.” UHH, I just felt terrible. I am saying, “Oh God why would You lead me to this one. I don’t want this piano. I don’t want to ask for this.”

I asked the salesman, “How much would a piano like this cost?” The man said, “$44,000.00.” I said, “$44,000.00! I didn’t even know a piano could cost that much. I had no idea what a piano would cost.” So I asked the man what it would cost with all the discounts, the best you could do for me, with tax included and everything what is the final price. He said, “$42,673.00.” I took a deep breath and I just said ok and I told the salesman (I didn’t know who he was from Adam), I just told him what was on my mind. I said, “Well, sir, I’m going to ask God for this piano, that He would give me this piano.” I just stood there, I just folded my hands and I just prayed and I stood there in a puny little faith and I just said, “God, I ask You for this Steinway Model B piano.” As I had my eyes closed and I was standing there I just sensed, in my head, these words came to me from the Lord, “Eric, I will give you that piano or a better one.” I had no idea how to take that. I didn’t know how any piano could be better than this; this was already the top of the line piano. Yet, God had spoken to that. I just walked out of the store perplexed saying, “God, how could this be?”

Yet, two years later over the course of time and through many other circumstances, God made a way for us to buy a piano that wasn’t that piano – it actually turned out to be a restored older piano. Because of that we got to pay much less for the piano. It turns out that it was a piano from 1910 and in fact tomorrow this piano will turn 89 years old. It was made in the Steinway factory in New York on February 8, 1910. It is an 89-year-old piano that they restored for me over the course of three months. I will say that it cost us very much. It was a very costly thing for us when we bought it. In fact, it was like the pearl of great price, when you find the thing that is worth more than anything else in the world to you, you are willing to sell all of your possessions and buy that thing. That was something we did as well. We just said that this is an answer to prayer that God has given us. We put our investment; we put what we believe God wanted us to put into a piano like this because God miraculously over the course of time had provided us exactly what we needed for this piano. The rest of the story would make a believer out of you as well that this verse is true. I am not going to take the time to go into it tonight but another time I would love to share it with you. All the details of how God worked so meticulously to answer this prayer.

When I got the piano and when I actually received it and I saw it, I said, “God, two years ago there was absolutely no way that I could even conceive that you could provide this for me. And yet, here You have done it!” God very much quickened in my heart, this verse and He said, “Eric, I have told you that whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive it, IF you believe.”

2. This isn’t about what you want, but about how great is the love of God for you.

I started to believe that He really meant – WHATEVER we ask for. I realized that this isn’t a question of some prosperity gospel. What I am saying is that you can use prayer to get anything you want because you can use prayer to get a lot of things but this isn’t a message about how to use prayer to get what you want. This is a message about how great God’s love is for you. Let me explain how this works. Sometimes we come to God and we say, “God, I have this request but it is too much to ask. It is just too much and yet I just really want this. I know it is probably a lot God but is there any way that You can do this for me?” God must look down at us and He puts out this little scale of value.

Imagine us coming to God for $10.00 – very easy for God to do, right? For $100.00 – very easy God can do that. $1,000.00 – we are getting in the trickier range, $10,000.00 – a little trickier, a million dollars – even harder. Ten million, a hundred million, it seems to get harder as you go up the scale of money. But then I realized that there is a whole other scale once you get past the hundred million dollars or the billion dollars point. There is another thing that comes into play.

If you were a veteran of war you would realize that if you have ever had to fight and you lose your leg in battle. That leg is worth much more than say – $10,000.00. When you pay the price of giving up your leg then you have really paid a price. $10,000.00 would be nothing if you could get your leg back. You hear things cost an arm and a leg – now we are talking a price has been paid. If you had to give up both of your legs that is even a greater price, or both of your legs and your arms. Here we are talking on the scale of things; here is some money at $10.00, $100.00, $1,000.00, $10,000.00, $1 million dollars and now you start talking your leg, two legs, an arm, what is on this end? Over here is your very life. Now is there anything more precious than your very life, something that you would give up that would be harder to give up than your very life? I believe that there is one more thing. That would be the life of your child. If I had to give up something and I had to choose between giving up my life or my child’s life – I would give up my life first. But to ask me to give up my child’s life would be even a greater step, an even greater price, and an even greater sacrifice.

So you see how the scale of things of what we can ask God for ranges from over here to money to things to objects to other things that are worth more and more to us all the way to over here there is this very big price tag. You know what – God has already paid the price way over here for us. When He sent His Son, His only child to die for us. Jesus Himself said, (John 15:13)

“Greater love has no one than this than He lays down His life for His friends.”

God said, (John 3:16)

“He loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Now if God has already given up His Son for you and you are over here asking for $10.00 and you are saying, “Oh, God is this too much.” Or a $1,000.00 or a $1 million dollars and saying, “God, I don’t know if this is too much.” And God is saying, “Eric, there is nothing more that I could give you. There is nothing that I wouldn’t give you. I have already given My Son for you and Eric, I gave you My Son while you were still a sinner. While you were still sinning against Me I died for you. How much more would I do for you now that you love Me and follow Me and have given your life to Me.” It is the same for you. If you have already put your faith in Christ, imagine if God loved you that much that He would die for you before you even committed your life to Him, imagine how much His love must be for you once you have made that commitment to Him.

3. There’s nothing He wouldn’t do for you.

See God loves us very much. It is not a matter of there being too much. Sometimes we ask for the wrong things and God says, “That is not really what you need, let me give you something else.” Sometimes we ask for things that we don’t need. We ask for things that are wrong, that are sinful, that they are not what God wants at all for us. God has something better. I sincerely believe, I believe it has happened in the Bible and I believe that it happens in our lives – that if there is something we are asking for and God has something better, I say, “God, cancel my request. I want whatever you want for me. I want the very best thing.” Even Jesus in the Garden when He was going to die he said, “God, is there any other way I could do this than to give up my life?” God’s reply must have come back, “No,” because Jesus then willingly went to the cross and died. But how many of us have been saved because Jesus was willing to die. See God has something better than even what we ask – always. There is nothing that is too much that we could ask of Him.

I say this to you, as believers that you need to know that God will answer your prayers. God is in the process of answering your prayers right now. The things that you are asking of Him, the things that you are coming to Him with and you are saying, “Oh, God please could you just this one thing.” God is up there saying, “I would love to. I would love to pour out on you.” The only reason He may not answer your prayer right now is that He has something better in mind. Maybe there is something in your heart that needs to be changed, maybe there is something that He is waiting for that has to happen before that happens. Maybe He has something better in mind then even what you are asking and you don’t see it. God will answer it. I want to encourage you to come to God with your questions, come to God with your prayers.

If you don’t know Jesus, I just want to encourage you to get to know Him. There is nothing greater than committing your life to Him. He has given His life for you. Are you willing to give your life for Him?

Summary

Let me read what I sensed God was saying tonight. Just as a summary to this and then I just want to play a song over you about God’s great love for us. When I was asking God about the message for tonight, He said, “There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you or for any other person on the planet. I care for you like a mother cares for her babies. What mother wouldn’t do anything she could for her children whom she has born? What would I not do for my children whom I have created? This isn’t about getting what you have asked for, it’s about God’s great love for you.” He loves you very much.

As I play this next song, won’t you just receive that love right now? Just let God love on you for a little bit and let it wash over you. Then after I play I want to just pray for you and pray that God would continue to reveal His great, great, great love for you and to encourage you in your faith. Just listen as I play, “Oh How He Loves You and Me” and if you know the words you can sing along. It is just, “Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me. He gave His life, what more could He give. Oh, how He loves you and me.”

Prayer

Let me pray for you right now.

Lord, I thank You that You love us so much. God, I thank You that You would even send me to give a message like this for people that are listening this week, this month, even later on in the year and after this year is out. As people listen to this God I pray that Your great love would just wash over them. That they would just feel it in their heart, that they would just sense it and know it. That they would know that You have paid the great price and that there is nothing that You wouldn’t do for them. For You have already done the greatest thing that You could possible do.

I pray that You would encourage people in their faith. Encourage them to come to You and ask You Lord. Encourage them that they don’t have to fear about the future but that You would take care of them day to day. I pray that they would pray Your prayer everyday to give us this day our daily bread. I pray that they would focus on today and just say thank You Lord for the bread today. Tomorrow morning they would come to You again and say, “Lord, give us today our daily bread.” For there are going to be bills in the future, there is going to be worry in the future, there is going to be a lot coming down in the future.

God, if You need to speak to them about how to take care of that future I pray that You would. God if You have already spoken to them and they just now need to rest in You and trust You for tomorrow, trust You for the next day, I pray that they would have the faith to trust You. That they would have the faith to come to You again and again and just say, “God this is our request. You said whatever we ask for in prayer, if we believe it, we will receive it.”

Lord, increase their faith so that they could come and ask You for the things that they need Lord for their lives and that they need to live and minister out to others Lord. Many times the things that we are asking for are for our own purposes but God You have something better in mind. You have something that we can give out to others. God just like Solomon asked for wisdom and You said, “I will grant that plus since you didn’t ask for it I will give you riches and wealth beyond anything. Even things that you didn’t ask for I will give them to you because you chose My way over your own way. You chose doing what honors Me over doing what is just for your own benefit.”

So, God, I pray that You would help direct people’s prayers. If they are not asking what You want Lord I pray that You would direct their prayers to the thing that You do want – which is so much better than anything we had in mind anyway.

If there is anyone who hasn’t made a commitment to Jesus, I pray right now that they would feel in their heart the quickening and the warmth and Lord, just the desire to follow You with their whole hearts. I pray that they would just pray a simple prayer with me:

“God, we are sorry for the sins we have committed. We repent from our sins, we turn around and we receive the forgiveness that You have offered us through Jesus on the cross.”

Lord, if there are people who have made that prayer I pray that You would fill them and You would help them walk this out by reading Your Word, reading the Bible everyday so that they can be filled with the thoughts that You have. I just pray that You would keep us all in Your care until You come again to retrieve us and to take us to be with You forever in heaven. We love You Lord because You first loved us. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

God loves you very, very much. He sent this message just for you so you could hear that. I hope that you are able to receive it in your heart.

How to Get in Touch with Us

Thanks for coming. If you want to chat with us in the Chat Room after the live broadcast we will be there on The Ranch. Just go to the Talk to Someone page and you can chat with us there. Or during the week you can find me on ICQ or at email on the contact form and I would be glad to hear from you.

Ministry Support

We are a contributions based ministry and we would be glad if you have any desire to help us in this ministry to carry out this word to others. Please send me an email as well and I will be glad to put you on the list that lets you know what we are doing and how we do it. You will be able to make a wise and informed decision about whether this is a ministry that God is calling you to support as well.

Goodnight

Thanks for coming to The Ranch and I hope that I will see you next week, bye-bye.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Clear My Mind

Do you have trouble clearing your mind? Do you battle thoughts from the past, or worry about the future? God has a way to help you clear your mind. To hear more about this peace that passes understanding, join me for this message. Listen to the music that goes with this message from the CD “Clear My Mind.” (Recorded January29, 1999)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

1 Samuel 16:14-23

Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let ur lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp. He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better.”

So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.”

Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me your son David, who is with the sheep.” So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.

David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.”

Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Outline

1. God can touch us through Music

1 Samuel 16:14-23, 2 Kings 3:15-20, Genesis 4:21

2. Come to God to find his peace

Philippians 4:4-8

3. Ask God to Finish the Work

Philippians 1:4-6

Transcript

Welcome

Hi this is Eric Elder broadcasting live from The Ranch. Tonight I want to talk with you about what happens when words fail. Sometimes words are very helpful to us and we are able to hear people tell us things and we receive those words and say, “Oh, thanks that is great. That is good advice. That is comforting.” But there are other times when words simply fail. And no matter what people tell us, maybe they tell us we think to much or maybe they tell us we need to just forget about it or they will tell us other kinds of advice or pieces of wisdom and the words simply don’t do it. Well, what happens then?

God has another way to speak to us and to speak to our hearts. Tonight I want to focus on that. It is the way that God can help you clear your mind and that way is through music. God has a way of speaking through music and bringing clarity to your mind, bringing healing to those places in our lives where we simply can’t think straight enough – we can’t figure it out. God can do a deep work in us just through the power of music.

Tonight I want to look at some passages of how God has worked through music in the Bible and how God can work through your life and in your life through music as well.

Scripture to Read

To start this off I would like you to take a look at a passage on the screen it is from 1Samuel. If you will read about what happened when King Saul was being tormented by some evil spirit and what happened as David came and played the harp. I will play a little piece of music here while you read that. Maybe God will even speak as you are reading that passage.

I pray that tonight you will get some tips and some insight on how to clear your mind so that you can think better and have some peace that passes understanding. If you will look at your screen at the Message Notes you can read along with me in 1Samuel.

1. God Can Touch us Through Music

As you can tell in that story from 1Samuel God has a way of working through music. When David came and played the harp for the king you will notice that it said, “That the evil spirit fled and that relief came to King Saul and the King felt better.”

Well I believe that God can do that through other kinds of music as well. There is so much music around the world that it just gets ingrained in our thinking. I was listening to a Top 40 kind of station today and we were hearing about the oldies and they were playing just very short clips from songs of the 40’s and 50’s. People were instantly recognizing these songs without even a word being sung, just this one opening bar from a piece of music. It was amazing how I could recognize the songs as well, just from the little short clips.

This music gets ingrained in our lives. There is so much music around the world that is being used to profane God’s name that when God finds music that actually glorifies His name I believe that He has a deep desire

To plant that music in our hearts

To work through it and

To speak into it

He just loves it when we worship Him with all of our heart. He loves it when you come into His presence and allow music to speak to us. This is exactly what happened for King Saul when he heard these songs and somehow the notes and the Holy Spirit working through those notes caused the demons to flee so that he could have a clear mind.

There is another passage where God actually spoke through music and if you will look with me in 2Kings 3:15-20. Here is what it says, it happened to Elisha (a prophet of God) being asked a question and so he said:

“But now bring me a harpist. While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came upon Elisha and he said,’This is what the Lord says:

So as he called to the harpist the harpist came and as he was playing Elisha started to hear from God and he told the people what he had heard, he said

“Make me a valley full of ditches. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord; he will also hand Moab over to you. You will overthrow every fortified city and every major town. You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.’

Basically, God was saying, “I am going to free you from this drought that you have been in if you will just go out and make some ditches. I will fill them with water and you will have enough water for yourself and for your cattle. I am going to give you victory over your enemies.” Here is verse 20 it says,

“The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was – water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.”

So just the day before as Elisha was listening to harpist play God was speaking to him. He told him exactly what was going to happen the next day. People got ready and prepared and did what God told them to do and that very thing happened that God had spoke to Elisha.

God speaks through music. In fact, I was playing some of these songs for a friend and they were saying, “God, was speaking to me through the music.” I didn’t have any words written down and yet they actually got the words out of the songs that I had written to the songs. I had written the words down but I was not singing them and simply by listening to the song God spoke similar words to this person. So I know that God can really speak through music. I am going to play a little bit later tonight and just have God speak to you through the music as well and I am going to ask Him just to send His Holy Spirit to do a deep work of healing in you.

2. Come to God to find His Peace.

Before I get to that thought I just want to talk about preparing your heart to receive from God. There are some things we can do and I don’t want to give you to many words because I want God to do the work through the music. I just want to give you a few brief words about preparing your heart for God.

When you want your mind cleared and you have these anxious thoughts about the future or you have regretful thoughts maybe about the past – God says to come to Him.

That is the best way we can clear our minds. Simply to come back to God again and again and ask Him to clear our minds. You can find all kinds of ways to try to clear your mind: you can do drugs, or try alcohol or you can do wild sex or you can do anything you want to do to clear your mind. The best way you are going to find that will give you peace forever is to come to God and He will help you clear your mind.

Look with me if you have a Bible near you at Philippians 4:4-8. This passage talks about how to get that peace that passes understanding. Philippians 4:4-7 it says this whole concept of just coming to God. He says,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God says, through Paul, that there is a way that we can have the peace that transcends understanding, the peace in our hearts that passes all understanding, we can’t even understand why we have this peace. He tells us how we can have it.

1. WE REJOICE, Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS.

2. Let your gentleness be evident to all for the Lord is near.

1. Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God.

This is the concept of bringing your burdens to God and laying them down at His feet. Just come back to God and say, “God, this is what is on my mind. I am worried about Y2K. I am worried about the future. I am worried about my in-laws. I am worried about not having in-laws. I am worried about my children. I am worried about not having children. God, I am worried about various things in my life and I just lay it down before you. I just want to lay it down again.” Just say, “God, this is yours, I present this request to you.” The Bible says that the peace of God that transcends all understanding will come upon us. That is one way to get our minds clear and get our hearts prepared to just receive from God and say, “God, I just want You to speak to me. I want You to remove this and clear my mind. I am going to You for this answer and this peace.” God is the one who can do this.

3. Ask God to Finish the Work.

Let me give you one final note here. This is from Philippians 1:4-6, if you will back up a few pages. Sometimes we do all we can to have our minds clear, we say, “God, I want my mind cleared and I feel like I’ve done everything I can do. I have tried to right relationships with people. I have tried to make amends with people that I have hurt or people that have hurt me. But there is still some unfinished business God and I don’t know what it is. This unfinished business in my mind, I simply cannot get out of this mode.” Well, God says that He is can clear up those things. Here Paul tells us in Philippians 1:4-6

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. God didn’t come to save you just to leave you here to struggle, to leave you here with doubts, to leave you here anxious and fretting. God came to save you to give you abundant life. If you are not feeling that abundant life I just want you to ask God to fill you up with life that overflows. The life of the Holy Spirit that will just bubble up out of you.

You may not be that way a 100% of the time, I am not that way and Lana is not that way – 100% of the time of feeling that flow. But God says we can come back to Him again and again and ask Him to fill us up with His Holy Spirit. To ask Him to give us that peace that passes all understanding. To complete the good work that He began in us. God has been faithful to do that over and over in my life and in other people’s lives and I believe He will be faithful to you even today as you are watching this. Whether you are watching this live, or watching this recorded later I believe He will be faithful to complete what He has begun in you.

With those words I just want to play a song over you. I just want God to speak that peace into your hearts. I want you to be able to come to God and lay your requests before Him and just say, “God, this is what I’ve got. These are the concerns, the burdens. You know them God, whether they are healing, whether they are relationships, whether they are frustrations. Whatever they are, doubts, worries.” God can take those. God says,

“Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.”

We can cast our cares on God because God cares for us. When we come back from playing these songs and letting them minister to you I just want to talk about the absolute best way to clear your mind and that is TO BE AT PEACE WITH GOD.

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ I am going to explain to you how you have that. Without that

You are never going to have that peace that comes in your heart.

You will never be reconciled to God.

You will never be able to make things up to God until you come through Jesus Christ.

So if you don’t know Him yet join me after I play this. I just want to speak a special word to you. For those of you who have already received that gift I am going to pray for you as well. I’ll be praying while I play but I also will come back and pray a special prayer for you that God will really bring clarity to your mind. That He would right the wrong thinking that you have and give you that peace that passes all understanding. With those words would you just ask God with me as we pray to bring upon you that peace and that clarity of thinking?

Prayer

Lord, I do pray that You would fall upon Your people, clear our minds, clear our hearts, and speak to us even now. In Jesus Name, Amen.

I hate to even interrupt you or interrupt what God is doing but I do pray that God would just continue to minister to you.

Ministering Music

I have just finished recording about twelve of these songs and I have put them up on the website. If you would like to hear more of this music so that it can just minister to your soul I encourage you to click on the CD at the bottom of the screen. It will take you to this whole CD called “Clear My Mind”. You will be able to listen through some of these songs and just listen to about 50 minutes worth of music. Just let God minister to you and speak to you after you watch this or later on in the week or later on in the month (you can bookmark it) and just let God talk to you through this music. It is just instrumental music to help you clear your mind just as David played the harp and people were set free.

God has called me to do three things here on the Internet.

1. to preach.

2. to play.

3. to pray.

So through this combination of preaching the word and playing ministering music and praying minister through the Holy Spirit I just pray that the combination would bring about the fullness of God to you so that you could be free in your mind.

We are also just putting the final touches on a CD of the same music. If you want to take it with you we can make that available to you as well. This is not a fundraiser or anything like that. We just want this music to bless you and to give you just a peace that you can take with you on a CD or a tape. You are welcome to download it off the Internet anytime you want and listen to it on your computer. If you will just send me a note, I will be glad to get that out to you so you can have that piece of some of this quiet music.

In fact I read a story today about a man who heard a harpist play and just the peace that it brought to his soul. It was just an email that happened to come to me and it happened to be about a harp and about how God used that. At the very end it just brought tears to my eyes too. Just reading the story then even afterwards I realized that it was exactly what David did and exactly what I was planning on doing with you tonight. To just let the strings, just let the music of God minister to you.

How to Have Peace with God

Now if you have never made a commitment to Jesus Christ you may not be able to even grasp the peace that I am talking about. I want to turn with you to a passage in Romans that talks about the best way to clear your mind which is to be at peace with God through Christ. If you will look with me at Romans 5:1:10. Here it talks about having peace with God and being reconciled with Christ. I am just going to read you these ten verses and even through the verses, the word of God, I pray that this will speak to you more than anything else you hear tonight.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

What that whole passage says is that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. While we were still the enemies of God. You may not feel like you are an enemy of God but if you have turned and followed your own ways and haven’t consulted with God before then you have probably done some things that haven’t been pleasing to God. Those things that don’t please God are simply called sins. The penalty for sin is death. Someone is going to have to pay that price. Unless you find someone else to pay that price for you, you are going to have to pay it. That is why we as Christians are so excited to have found Jesus Christ. Jesus is the man that stood up and said, “I am going to pay Eric Elder’s sin. I am going to pay Lana’s sin. I am going to pay the sins of anyone who will believe in me and believe that I have paid their penalty of death already on the cross.”

That is how we have reconciliation with God. Jesus didn’t have to do this. In fact it says here in this passage “very rarely will someone die for a righteous man.” Even a very godly man is dying and you have a chance to take his place you may not do that, even for a very righteous man. Yet look at Jesus Christ who died for us when we weren’t even righteous. “We were enemies of God,” is what the Bible says because of our sins. He died for the ungodly so that we could have eternal life. THIS IS AMAZING LOVE! It says at the very beginning that we have peace with God through one thing, in verse one it says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Gospel Truth

Would you like to hear a clear explanation of how to get to heaven? Would you like to know a simple way to explain it to others? If so, join me for this message to hear the great news: the gospel truth. (Recorded January 17, 1999)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

John 3:14-18

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Numbers 21:2-9

Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities.”

The LORD listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.

They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.

The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”

So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

Romans 3:23, 6:23

…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I John 5:13

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Outline

1. God loves you.

Ps 103:8-18, 1 John 4:16

2. When we sin, we turn our backs on God.

Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:6

3. Christ provides the way back to God.

John 3:16, 1 John 5:13

Transcript

Welcome

Hi, this is Eric Elder broadcasting live from The Ranch. We have had a cold day today with a little rain melting the snowman outside here. But we are going to have a nice night here with you because we are going to talk about something that is basic Christianity. I call it Christianity 101 – but it’s a good thing to warm our hearts and remind us of exactly why we are here and why God loves us so much and exactly what He has done for us.

So whether you have been a Christian for many years or whether you are still discovering your faith and trying to decide what you want to be. I pray that tonight would be beneficial to you and just lift your spirits and give you something to think about as well change your life and change your eternal destiny.

Tonight I want to focus on the gospel truth. Have you ever wished that you could just hear a clear explanation of how to get into heaven? Or do you wish you had a clear explanation that you could give to others, your friends and relatives of how someone could get into heaven. How you could be sure that you have eternal life? That fact alone could bring such a peace to people’s hearts. It is a fact that we just want to share with people. So tonight I’m just going to give you the simple gospel truth.

Some people try to complicate it much more than it is. You don’t have to be a theologian to understand it. You don’t have to have secondary degrees to understand it. In fact it is so simple that even a child can understand it. A few years ago I shared with some neighbor children that came over to my house and they were from countries in Asia, there were three little kids. They were ten years and under. I just shared with them the simple things that I’m going to share with you tonight. At the end of the few minutes that I spent with them they all three decided that they wanted to accept Jesus into their lives. After they had prayed that prayer I asked them how they felt. They said that they felt such a peace come over them. One of the children could barely stand up. He said I just feel so warm and just so good. One of the other children just said they felt so clean, “I feel so clean now!” So this is a very simple thing because God wants to make it very easy for us to understand. I’m going to give you the simple gospel tonight.

Before I do that I want you to take a look on your screen at your Message Notes. There are a few passages from scripture that I would like you to read. They will help get your mind focused and really think about the topic we are talking about today and you will be able to get in tune with what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you through me today. I just want you to look at that on the Message Notes section of your screen. You will be able to see some of the passages that I would like you to read. I’m going to play a little bit on the piano and if you will read those and pray. I will come back and we will walk through the outline and share with you a message that I hope is essential to your life and essential to people around you.

1. God Loves You

Let me share with you the gospel truth. There are three points to what I want to share tonight. The first is very simple God Loves You. I heard Billy Graham this week and he was talking about his Tampa Crusade and he gave these words during his crusade, “If there is one thing I want you to remember from all these meetings that we have had here in Florida is that – GOD LOVES YOU!” For this eighty year old man to stand up there with all the authority that he carries with presidents and kings in the world and to have that simple message – “GOD LOVES YOU” – just struck me as profound. It is not a trite statement, it is not to simplistic a statement. , it is a very factual statement God very much loves you. You can look anywhere in the Bible and you will be able to find how much God loves you.

Let me just pick one particular passage, just for an example. Here is Psalms 103:8-18

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. ”

He is abounding in love. It just goes on to describe how He will not accuse forever, He will not harbor His anger forever, and He won’t treat us as our sins deserve. But He has great love for us. He will remove our sins as far as the east is from the west. He knows how we are formed; He knows what we are like.

“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him…”

So page after page of the Bible is filled with God’s love poured out for people here in the world. If you don’t believe me just take a breath right now, a deep breath in. That is God’s love for you – He created the air, that oxygen on this planet. Of all the planets that we know about, that air is created for us so that we can breathe. It is an offspring of the plants, the things that we need to eat and survive. God has provided everything that we need here on earth for our survival. He has created us; He has formed our blood our bones and us. Every piece of us has been created and knit together by God. He very much loves us and wants us to be blessed. He wants us to know that love in our hearts. 1John 4:16 puts it very simply,

“God is love.”

When you think of God you can think of love. You will be thinking of the God who loves you. That is the first point, God is love.

2. When We Sin, We Turn our Backs on God

The second point is also very simple and very easy to grasp. Man is a sinner. Men have sinned. We have made mistakes. If you think through your life are there any things that you regret having done. Anything at all come to your mind as regrets that maybe you have had over your life. Well, those regrets are just one inkling of what sin is like in our life. Because when we sin what we are doing – is that we have God who loves us and we can love Him back BUT when we sin we turn our backs on God. That is what sin is,- a turning away from God. That sin separates us from God. So anytime we do something that God doesn’t like or isn’t pleased with, we are turning our backs on God.

We can just go through the Bible and find a number of sins and the punishments for them. The Ten Commandments for instance have a list of sins: lying, stealing, adultery, sexual immorality, not honoring your father and mother, profaning the name of God. All of those are things that we do whether it is thought or word or deed. Those sins, the Bible says, have a penalty, there is a price has to be paid every time we turn away from God.

Now we may not think we have had very many sins but even those minor sins: gossip or slander (which are very major in God’s eyes – but they may seem minor to us) those add up. Imagine just how many sins you have committed over your lifetime – even counting all those little tiny sins. Now remember a sin is everything we THINK, everything we DO, and everything we SAY. Now if you think of everything you have done in thought, word, or deed that hasn’t been what God has wanted you to do – a very saintly person may have sinned ten times a day, let’s cut it down, maybe three times a day. Over your lifetime that is 70,000 sins! Only three little sins a day that is 70,000 sins and imagine that you walked in a court and you had 70,000 offenses against you. Even if they were minor traffic tickets – 70,000 of them! The judge if he is a good judge at all – is going to have to punish you for those offenses. The Bible says in Isaiah 53:6

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…”

This is the condition of ALL MEN. It is an evident fact; you can see sins in the lives of others around you. Sometimes we are blinded to our own sin. But God says,

“…All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

ALL have sinned – every person has sinned. The penalty for that sin varies in the Bible, but usually the penalty is death. There is a price that must be paid. That price is the shedding of blood. Whether the Jews had a to sacrifice an animal or whether finally Jesus shed HIS own blood for OUR LIVES. So the fact that man is a sinner is the second point. The first point was God loves us and the second point is that men have sinned and turned away from God.

Illustration

Let me give you a simple illustration to see the dilemma God has. Let me get a book here, the Bible says that there are books being recorded in heaven right now of everything that we say and everything that we do and everything that we think. So this could be a book about my life that is being recorded in heaven and in here is everything that I have ever done, everything that I have said and everything that I have ever thought about. The Bible says that one day these books will be opened and everyone will see what is in these books. It will be known to everyone. Now this is a terrible thing and some people’s books are being opened right now. But God one day will open everyone’s books and everything you have done will be shown to everyone. I don’t know how that makes you feel but to me that can make me a little nervous. It makes me not feel good that people would see what is in my book. So God has this dilemma.

Imagine that my hand is me, and God loves me very much. But the things in this book, the sins in our lives keep us separated from God and God must somehow punish what is in that book, without hurting us. (the book is in my hand, covering my hand) So how does He do that? How does He make us pay the price for these sins, without hurting us (book is now resting on his hand which represents himself)? Well, that is when He sent Jesus Christ into the world. So when He died on the cross, He took on Himself all of the sins we have ever committed (book is removed from hand and placed on Jesus – no longer covered by sin). So now we come free to God. That simple illustration shows the third point that I want to make tonight.

3. Christ Provides the Way Back to God

Christ provides the way back to God. The first point is God loves you. The second point is that men have sinned and turned away from God. The third and final point is that Jesus Christ has provided a way for us to come back to God.

You may not realize why you need Jesus Christ. You may say, “Why do I need Christ to come back to God? Isn’t it good enough if I just say I’m sorry and try to come back to God on my own?” Well, imagine some of the sins that some of us have committed. If you have had some sexual immorality prior to marriage is there any way that you can come back to God on your own and get back your virginity? Is there any way if you have murdered someone to come back to God and say, “Wow, I’m really sorry for that,” and somehow restore that life back? No there is no way you can do that. If you have had an abortion or some other thing that has been a tragedy in your life is there any way to get that child back? Is there any way when you have lied to someone to get that lie back and those hurtful words back? Or if you have gossiped about someone, is there any way to take back those words that have already come out of your mouth? NO. You can say you are sorry for them, you can try to do what you can to make amends but there is no amount of money, no amount of effort you can do to take back those things that have happened. That is why God has provided Jesus Christ. Jesus when He died on the cross, He took all of our sins upon Him. He took everything upon Him that we have done in our life and He paid the price FOR THEM ALL.

He restores us, the Bible says, He washes our sins as white as snow. He restores us to the pure state that we were once in before because only pure things can come into the presence of God. When we believe in Christ it is like we transfer all the purity of Jesus Christ onto us. Now God can see us as pure vessels. We can bring back people who have been hurt. We can bring back those words. We can have our sins removed from us, the Bible says as far as the east is from the west, that is how far we will be separated from our sins when we believe in Jesus Christ.

So Jesus Christ is absolutely essential for us to come back to God. It is important that we believe in Him. I had your read a passage earlier and it is from the book of Numbers about Moses and the snake. You may or may not have remembered this passage but it is interesting because it comes right in the middle of one of the most famous passages of the Bible – John 3:16. It talks about the Old Testament reference. Let me just look at John 3:16 for you. This is the proof and the evidence of God’s love for us,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Let me stop right there. In a nutshell that verse explains the entire gospel. That verse explains that God so loved the world that He demonstrated His love in a certain way. He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Through believing in Jesus we can come back to God. It says it’s the same, go back up to verse John 3:14, it says that this is the same as when

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”

That reference is back to Numbers that talked about the plague of snakes that came upon the people of Israel. They had sinned against God and God sent these snakes. The people cried out to God, “God, do something that we don’t get killed by these venomous snakes.” Moses came to God and said, “God, what do I do?” The Lord said to Moses, “Put up a pole in the desert and put an image of a snake upon it. When anyone sees a snake and gets bitten by it they can look up at the snake on the pole and they will be healed.” Simply by putting this pole in the community and having a bronze snake at the top of it and whenever anyone got bit they could look up at that snake and whenever they did they would be healed. It was as if they would be reminded of what God had done for them and that God was gracious to them.

We in the same way, this passage in John says, can look up to Jesus Christ who died on the cross. Whenever we look to Him and the sins that are in our lives overwhelm us, we can look up to Jesus Christ and we will be forgiven of our sins. We will be healed of the things that are killing us, the things that are destroying us. God says that this is possible only because He sent His Son.

God could have done a lot of things to tell us that He loves us. He could have sent us email messages that said, “Hey, I love you Eric, just wanted to let you know that.” He could have sent me a fax and said, “Eric, I love you, just wanted you to know that.” In fact He says that on many pages of the Bible. But sometimes we don’t believe words like this so God demonstrated His love for us in this. He sent His one and only Son for us.

Isn’t it great that God didn’t send a fax for you to tell you He loved you? But God sent His Son for you to tell you that He loved you. By faith we can have eternal life. Eternal life is what heaven is all about. When this life is over the next life is heaven or the next life is hell, depending on what you have done about what you know about Jesus Christ. If you have not believed in Jesus Christ throughout your life you will not have eternal life. For the Bible says you must believe in Jesus in order to get to heaven. Now this may seem narrow but to me this seems very broad. We just have to BELIEVE in Jesus Christ to get to heaven. We don’t have to jump through hoops. We don’t have to go to church every Sunday. We don’t have to give 10, or 20 or 30% of our money away. We don’t have to do any of those things to go to heaven. We go to heaven by believing in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 again,

“For those who believe in the Son of God will not perish but have everlasting life.”

This is a promise and it is promised again in 1John 5:13. You can be assured that you are going to heaven, even tonight. If you do not have that assurance we will pray at the end of the night that you can know these things. John expressed the same sentiments. John was one of the closest followers of Jesus Christ and He wrote in a letter these words,

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

John says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, Jesus, that you may know that you have eternal life.” You will live forever. John so much wanted people to know this that he wrote it down. He said, “I want you to believe this. I want you to know this.” Because then you can stand rock solid regardless of what comes your way. This is great assurance even if you have been a Christian for 10, 20 or 30 years to know that you will go to heaven and to know that you have eternal life.

Sharing The Gospel with Others

Let me give you a few words about sharing these truths with others. Later, after a few minutes I want to pray with anyone who wants to make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ. Right now, I want to talk with those who have already made that decision. There is a great compelling reason for us to share this good news with others. The word gospel simply means “good news”. This is great news for people who need to be set free from their sins. When we share about Jesus Christ we are not beating someone over the head with something they don’t want to hear. We are offering them something that they don’t have. We are offering them freedom or relief. This is like your Aunt dies and leaves you ten million dollars. The news of the death might not be good but the news of the ten million dollars might help someone. In the same way it may not be good news for people to hear that they have sinned but the good news that they can be forgiven and get abundant life here on earth plus heaven is great news.

There is a way that you can share the gospel that is positive and that gives this good news to people. The compelling reason for it comes from two passages of scripture and I will just call them the first and last commands of Jesus to His disciples. That is to preach the gospel throughout the world.

The first command of Christ to His disciples was in Mark 1:17 and it was this,

“Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The very last command of God to His disciples was Mark 16:15,

“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Preach the good news to every creature. Even from the first to the last and everywhere in between Jesus Christ has been sending us forth saying, “I want you to believe this for yourself and I want you to go and share this with others.” God is not going to send a fax. He is not going to send an email. He is going to send you and He’s going to send me to share the good news with others.

You may think, well it’s ok if someone in a remote island doesn’t hear about Jesus Christ that somehow God is going to take care of them. That wouldn’t be fair for God to send them to hell just because they haven’t heard about Jesus Christ. You would be right in thinking that. That wouldn’t be fair for God to send them to hell just because they haven’t heard about Christ. But that is not why they are being sent to hell. People are condemned to hell because they have sinned. The offer of Christ is great news. The offer of Christ is by grace. Unless they hear about Jesus Christ they will not hear that good news. They will be condemned to hell. This is exactly what John 3:16 follows up with. The very next sentence says, (John 3:17)

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

So you are condemned already. The fact that you have Jesus Christ is an added bonus. It is a blessing to us and He takes away our sins. There is the very compelling reason to go and share the gospel.

Let me give you the three points one more time so that you can know those and you can pass them on to someone else. The three points that are essential in sharing Jesus Christ with others is 1) God loves you – just let the person know that God loves them very much. You don’t need to beat them over the head with their sins. You don’t need to beat them over the heads with why aren’t they doing what they need to be doing. You need to let them know first and foremost that God loves them. It is on every page of scripture – God loves you. IT is in all of creation – God loves you. God has created everything for your benefit. 2) The fact that when we sin we turn away from God, we turn our back on God. This is on the fact that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Everyone has sinned. It doesn’t necessarily matter the magnitude of the sin. The fact is that there are times when we have turned away from God. 3) The way to come back to God is through Jesus Christ. When Christ died on the cross He paid the price for our sins so we can come back fresh and have our sins washed whiter than snow.

1. God loves you,

2. Men have sinned and turned away from God,

3. Christ provides the way back to God for those who believe in Him.

That book illustration that I showed you is one of the simplest and easiest to remember these three points. Your one hand represents yourself, this is you. God loves you (point number 1). Point two, men have sinned (the book). The things in our book that are being recorded in heaven right now is everything we have ever said, everything we have ever done, everything we have ever thought. All those are being recorded. Some people’s books are being opened right now – President Clinton is having his books opened right now, before the whole world, about some of the sins in his life. He’s just getting some of that a little earlier. The rest of us may have had our books opened in the past and some of us will have our books opened in the future. But one day they we will all be the same and they will be opened. So God loves us, represented by our hand. God hates our sin, represented by the book, and must punish us. And three Jesus Christ was sent into the world to provide a way of escape (the book is transferred to other hand). When He died on the cross He took our sins (hand representing us is now not holding the book). So we can now come free and clean to God. Simply by believing in Jesus Christ we can have the assurance that we will go to heaven.

God loves us, he hates our sin and must punish us, and He sent Christ into the world to die for our sins so that we could come free to God. I hope that makes sense to you. I hope that is a clear and easy way for you to remember the gospel and how to share it with others.

It is very important that you make a decision for Christ. It is very important that you make a decision even tonight to share the gospel with other people, your friends, your relatives and even people you don’t know. God wants that very much. Making a decision is one thing. But as the story goes about three frogs on a log you need to do something about it.

The story says that there were three frogs on a log and one of them decided to jump off. So how many frogs were still on the log? The answer is three. One of them only DECIDED to jump off, he had not actually jumped off yet. Tonight I want to cause you to jump off. Not only to make the decision to accept Jesus Christ and to share Christ with others but I want to cause you to jump in your heart and make that decision today. Make that commitment today. Put your trust in Jesus Christ that you will accept Him as your Savior and Lord and you will also share that good news with others.

I would like you to just think and pray for a few minutes as I play a song. I wrote this song and its called “Go Into All the World”. I’m not going to sing it. I’m just going to let you alone with God and the things that I have shared with you tonight. Just ask God, “God, is there something you want me to know from all of this today that I could share with others?” Then I will come back and I will close with a short story, one of the most compelling I have heard for faith in Jesus Christ and we will close with a prayer to help you make these decisions. Just ask God anything that He wants you to know about what you have heard today.

Are you ready to jump? Are you ready to make today a day not only of decision but a day that your heart changes and will be for God? The words to that song say, “Go into all the world, tell them that I love them and tell them that I need them.” Meaning that I need them to tell others that I love them. God loves you and God needs you. He wants to use you.

Story

Let me read this story and then we will pray. It is called

“God’s Only forgotten Son”

Suppose that the police were to break into this room right now with guns and draw and take me away hang cuffed to prison. You of course would be startled when you read in the newspaper that I was being tried for multiple murders and bank robberies. You would be even more surprised to hear that. After you heard that I had been convicted and sentenced to die in the electric chair you would no doubt be amazed indeed. Since however you know me and are supposed to love your neighbor even as yourself you decide to try to do something to help me.

So here I am a convicted criminal supposed to die and you wanting to love me would try to do something to help me.

So you go down to speak to the judge and say, “What can I do to help? I’ll do anything at all. I will even be willing to give my life for him.” To which the judge replies, “That would not be a sufficient sacrifice for this man that has killed many people. However, we would accept the life of your child. That would be an adequate sacrifice.”

You go home and agonize. You have but one child, a lovely young daughter. You pray, you wrestle with your decision and finally you decide that if you are really going to love me even as yourself that you must do this. And so you bring your child down to the prison where you are told, “You must do it. You shave her head. You put her in the chair and you pull the switch.”

So as your child looks pleadingly at you and says, “Mommy why have you forsaken me?” You cover her head and watch her wither and die as YOU pull the switch. The guards inform me of what has been done by you on my behalf, that because of that – I am free to go home.

A few days later you are sitting in a booth in a restaurant having dinner. I come in behind you with a friend and sit down not seeing you. You overhear my friend say to me, “According to the newspapers you were condemned to die in the electric chair. What happened? How is it that you are free?” Then to your astonishment you hear my reply, “Oh, it was all a big mistake. When they looked at the record of my life they saw that I was really a pretty nice fellow. There were a great many people that I had not killed and numerous banks that I did not rob. I had even put money into some banks and helped several old ladies across the street in years gone by. After weighing my whole life they decided to let me go and therefore I am free.”

As you listen to these words there flashed into your mind a picture of your daughter writhing in the electric chair. You know in your heart that the only reason that I am walking around alive is because on the other side of town there is a new grave with your daughter’s name on the marker.

How do you feel about me now? I think that is the same way God might feel about you. If you had come before Him today and told Him all about your good works without even a word about His Son who died on the cross.

A little boy in the first grade in Sunday school was reciting John 3:16 but he got it slightly mixed up. And I think that he is a picture of many of us. He said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only forgotten Son.”

There was a reason Jesus came to live and to die and to rise again. If we ignore that fact, if we say that it made no difference in our lives whatsoever – that His life and His death was a waste. But only because He came and died for our sins is the reason why you and I are alive today. He is why God didn’t wipe us out 2,000 years ago. He continues to offer grace and to extend His love and mercy to those of us who will believe in Him.

Prayer

Would you like to make that commitment tonight? JUST BY FAITH. Not based on any works that you have done. Not any of your good works and all the things that you feel you would be earning heaven for – because YOU CAN’T EARN IT! IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD! It is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Would you like to make that commitment tonight? I want to pray with you right now and then I want to pray that God would send you into the world to share this good news with others.

If you are ready, let’s pray (just pray after me)

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to die for me. I am so sorry for the things that I have done. I realize now that I am only alive because Jesus died. God I do believe in Jesus. I don’t want to stand condemned for my sins. I believe that because You sent Jesus I can be free. Please God forgive me. And please God put the assurance in my heart that I will be with You forever in heaven. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I won’t sin against You again and help me share this good news with others. In Jesus name, AMEN.

And now I would like to pray with you who may struggle with sharing this good news with others. It is great news. If you had $10,000 that God told you that you had to give away, you would do it. You would go out on the street and do it tomorrow. This is even better than $10,000. This will bring peace to people’s souls.

I pray right now God that You would send people forth to share the good news of Jesus’ life and death and resurrection. Lord, give them the words in that instant to speak, even if they forget some of the things that we have talked about tonight, it doesn’t matter. As long as they can share with others that You love them and that You sent Jesus to die for them. If they will simply believe in Christ they can have eternal life.

Lord, put that passion in their hearts. Put the compassion that goes with it in their hearts. Put that burden on them to share the gospel even right now. I just sense that someone is being touched so much that they are weeping and weeping with the burden that God is putting on their hearts to share Christ. God I pray that it would increase and that would only be alleviated by the sharing of the gospel with other people. As they share they would feel the peace of God come upon them, that they are walking in their calling, that they are doing exactly what You commanded the first disciples to do. “Come and follow Me and I will make you fishers of men. Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

God, we receive those words from You as direct commands and we want to obey You and we want to follow You. Thank You Lord for this platform on the Internet to do that. Thank You for the work places where we work and we can share the gospel. Thank You for the relatives and friends that we can share with. Thank You that we can GO Lord with the finances You have given us and will provide for us to GO into ALL THE WORLD, other countries, inner cities and outer fields Lord.

I pray that You would send us and You would equip us and You would help us to share Your good news. We want others to have eternal life and not to perish. Thank You God for sending Your Son. Thank You for giving us a purpose in our lives that will outlast anything else that we do. In Jesus name, AMEN.

It is fun to share Jesus Christ with others and it is fun to share Christ with you. I pray that it has been a blessing to you.

How to Get in Touch with Us

If you would like to chat further we will be in the Chat Room at The Ranch after the broadcast or you can find me later in the week through email me or you can chat with me on ICQ and find me throughout the day.

Ministry Support

Also, we are proclaiming the gospel through the Internet as our fulltime occupation. This is what my wife and I do as a fulltime outreach to people around the world, just as others do it on television or radio or travel by missionary. This means we are using a newer technology to reach out and share the gospel and we believe it will reach many many people.

If you would like to help us in that if you would be interested in praying for us and getting on our newsletter lists you can email me. Or if you would like to help us financially to overcome some of the obstacles that keep us from spending some of the money that we need to spend to get the word out to others. We would love to hear from you as well so we can take this gospel further and further than we have taken it before. Just send me an email and I will be glad to share with you just how you can help us out.

Goodnight

Thanks for coming and next week we will have another message live from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Keeping “Up” In Your Faith

Do you get discouraged by doubt? Does it bring you down or make you depressed? God gives us some great ways to keep up in our faith, ways that will change not only our attitude, but the outcome. In this message, I’ll give you some ideas on how you can keep “up” in your faith. (Recorded January 24, 1999)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

Note in this Psalm that when Asaph was in distress, he remembered what God had done for him in the past.

Psalm 77:1-20

I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah

You kept my eyes from closing; I was too troubled to speak. I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; I remembered my songs in the night. My heart mused and my spirit inquired: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” Selah

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.

Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. With your mighty arm you redeemed your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

The waters saw you, O God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the skies resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth. Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked. Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Contrast these words with the very next Psalm and see what happened to the people who forgot what God had done for them.

Ps 78:9-11, 17-33

The men of Ephraim, though armed with bows, turned back on the day of battle; they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them…

But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the desert? When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?” When the LORD heard them, he was very angry; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel, for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.

Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.

He let loose the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south wind by his power. He rained meat down on them like dust, flying birds like sand on the seashore. He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents. They ate till they had more than enough, for he had given them what they craved. But before they turned from the food they craved, even while it was still in their mouths, God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel.

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.

Outline

1. Remember what God’s done for you in the past. (Psalm 77, Psalm 78)

2. Remember what God’s called you to. (Joshua 1:9, Exodus 4:2, Mark 4:35-40, Romans 8:32)

Joshua 1:1-3, 9-11

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them– to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses…

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'”

Exodus 4:2

Then the LORD said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied.

Mark 4:35-40

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all– how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

3. Remember what the future holds. (John 14:1-4, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

John 14:1-4

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Romans 8:31-32

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all– how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Transcript

Welcome

Hi this is Eric Elder, broadcasting live from The Ranch. It is Sunday night, January 24th and my wife and I are here in our living room of our home just to bring you a special warm message and a warm greeting in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Tonight we are going to talk about what to do when you are discouraged. What to do when you are depressed. What to do when you are losing your faith, when it seems to be tapering off and you are not quite sure how to get it back. Well, I’m going to give you some tips tonight and even better than just tips, I’m going to give you God’s ways that are in the Bible. How to encourage your faith and build up your faith and really how to keep your faith when you are struggling with doubt and discouragement.

I believe even the things that I mention tonight, the scriptures that I mention and the practical steps that I give you will lift your spirits. I believe it will lift you up out of depression. I believe it will also give you things to think about during the week and to walk you through your week so that you will be able to keep up in your faith. Having faith can just enable you to move mountains. It can enable you to go forward. It can enable you to do what you need to do. Discouragement and doubt just disables you. So I hope that you will stay with me and just watch this message on keeping up in your faith.

Scriptures to Read

On your screen there are some Message Notes. If you will go back to the screen where you clicked on this image of me, if you would go back and look at those Message Notes. I am going to play a short piece on the piano here and just give you some time to read some scriptures about faith.

Tonight we are going to be talking about remembering the things that God has done for us, the things that God has called us to do and the things that God will do for us in the future. So I want you to look at Psalms 77 and Psalms 78. You will see two different groups of people. One group who was discouraged and distressed but they remembered the things that God called them to do. The other group was discouraged and they forgot what God had called them to do. You will see the difference between Psalms 77 and Psalms 78 when you take a look at it. So if you will read those passages and just ask God to open your eyes to whatever you might need to hear tonight. Take two or three minutes to just look at those passages.

1. Remember what God’s done for you in the past.

Tonight I’m going to tell you a little bit about some things that I brought with me – a grapefruit bag, a little statue, and a child’s necklace here. I just want to encourage you with these things that God is faithful. You many not know how I’m going to use these but you will find out. God can use some little things like this to encourage you too.

Let’s look at that passage in Psalms 78 and Psalms 77. The three things that I want to focus on tonight are the ways of keeping up in your faith. The three that I sensed from the Lord that He wanted to say this particular week was, 1) Remember the things that I (the Lord) have done for you. Remember the things that God has done for you in the past. 2) Remember what God has called you to. Remember what He has called you to do right now. 3) Remember what the future holds. Remember what is coming up.

The battle of faith really begins in our minds. That is where the doubts come in. That is where our faith takes its biggest hits. Because once Satan gets a hold of your mind he’s got the rest of you. All the rest follows from whatever our mind is thinking, from what is in our hearts. From what is inside us and then our actions follow. Satan can knock us out right there in our minds and if he knocks us out at the level of our faith then he has got us. But we CAN STAND UP TO him by the ways suggested in Psalms 77.

Let’s take a look at the first way, remembering the things that God has done in the past. As you looked at Psalms 77, this was a Psalms by a man named Asaph. Now Asaph here he was in a desperate place it says in verse 1

“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; ”

So he was definitely struggling. He says he mused in his heart and his spirit (down a little further) he said

“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? ”

He goes on and on and says has God forgotten about me, is this ever going to happen? And then look at what he does, Asaph,

“Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”

Asaph goes on through to remember the great things that He did, performing miracles, displaying power to Jacob and to Joseph. Talking about how the water was in the heavens was convulsed and how the skies resounded. How they led Moses and Aaron and the Israelites through the water. As he remembered these things, you can just see everything in Asaph changing. He is remembering that yes, God is faithful. God has done these things in the past and God will continue to do them.

You probably have things in your life as well that you can remember that God has done. Maybe it has been a few years ago or last year or a few months ago. But you can remember things if you look back and see what God has done for you. As you recall those to your mind it will encourage you that God can be faithful again. Maybe you wonder, “Well, He did it then, but I don’t know if He can do it again.” Well, that is the trouble with Psalms 78.

If you will contrast with what we just talked about with what happened to the men of Ephraim, this is a group of the Israelites. It says that

“On the day of battle they turned their back … They had forgotten what God had done and the wonders that He had showed them.”

So instead of remembering what God had done they had forgotten them and when the day of battle came they turned their back and ran. It says they spoke in the desert against God,

“They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the desert? When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. ”

So here in the desert they watched God bring forth streams of abundant water in a dry desert. But the people said,

“But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?”

So it was like they were saying, “Well, yea, He did that but can He do this, and can He do this?” Every time God answers, it says

“When the LORD heard them, he was very angry”

But He did sent meat; He sent them birds to eat from heaven. He sent them the bread of angels. In spite of all this it goes on to say that,

“In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror.”

God literally wiped them out because they continued to in their disbelief, they continued to forget what God had done for them and not believe that God could take them to the next step.

Practical Steps

On the practical level there are a couple of things that you can do to bring these things back to your mind. One is simply to write them down. If you have never journalized before or if you have done it before but have passed that off as something in the past maybe it is time to rekindle that. Bring that back up and write down some of the things that God has done for you. Recall them to mind. If you have old journals of things that God has done or other things that you could dig through, pictures or times of when God was really working in your life. If you will go take a look at those, go back and look and see how God has worked, see what God has brought you through in the past. Those memories will trigger some faith in your mind and you will say, “Yes, God can do this. I do believe He can do what I am facing now.”

Also, if you want to share those stories with others I would be glad for you to send them to me and I will publish them on The Ranch. We have a special section called The Hall of Faith where people can share the stories of how God has been faithful to them. It actually brings encouragement to other people around the world. We had at one time 800 people a month coming in to read these stories. That just continues to grow as God continues to use stories like this to encourage others.

If you don’t have a story of how God has been faithful to you there are plenty in here (the Bible). People like Moses, Paul, and Peter have written down stories of how God has been worked in their lives. The apostle John said, “If all the stories that Jesus did in people’s lives was written down the entire world could not hold all the books that would be written.” God is working in so many people’s lives everyday that John at that time, 2,000 years ago, said; “We couldn’t even contain all the books that would be written.” God is so much at work and yet the day to day struggles gets us down. So the first thing we want to do is to remember the past, to remember what God has done for us.

If you need to write it down, if you want to send it into me by email we can encourage you while you encourage someone else at the same time.

2. Remember what God has called you to.

The second point tonight is to remember what God has called you to. You may be walking in a situation where it is very desperate and you are just not sure that God is going to pull you through it. I would say, “Has God called you to do it?” It could be one of two things. 1) God has not called you to do it and you are going the wrong way and God wants you to get on a new track. The other, 2) if God has called you to do it, God will see it through to completion. I believe that and God believes that. It will not be without opposition.

Michael Jordan didn’t get paid what he got paid when he was playing in the NBA to go and make baskets at the other in with no opponents coming at him. He got paid to do what he did so that he could dribble around, move through, pass and jump, shoot and dunk that ball while all these other people were putting their hands in his face. That is what makes it so exciting to watch him play and what makes him such a great player. But in the face of all that opposition he is able to move forward with what he was called to do, what he was paid to do.

God calls us to do things. There may be great opposition that will come against us. In fact, there was against everyone who was called to do anything in the Bible. But we can press through that by keeping our faith up and walking in trust and obedience to God’s word.

My Personal Visual Reminders

Now, God has called me to do this particular ministry on the Internet fulltime. I will just share a couple of little things about how I have had to keep my faith up as over a couple of years we have continued to try to do this and bring this forth to people. As we are now in a new phase of doing the live broadcasts I was at one time worried about the funding and how we were going to pay for such a ministry.

One night I had a dream. In this dream God spoke to me, similar to the way He spoke to Moses, the way He spoke to Joseph (Jesus’ earthly father) and the way He spoke to Abraham in dreams. In this dream I was praying about what God exactly wanted me to do. This is what I saw in this dream. It was a letter, wrapped in what looked to me like grapefruit netting (the bag on a grapefruit). I opened the letter in the dream and in it was some money. This place had written and said, “I don’t know why you sent this money in. We are sending you your money back. Why are you paying to do what other people would gladly pay you to do?”

I woke up and somehow in my spirit I immediately knew what it was. The netting represented the net, the Internet, and the envelope and the money was that coming back in the form that we could use to go and spread the gospel. God was releasing me from my current job so that I could do this fulltime. He was saying that, “I will provide for you.” So that may be a strange dream to you but to me it spoke volumes. It answered some questions that were at the very core of what I was called to do.

As we started the ministry and as we were praying for the funds to come in and not really knowing where to go for them or who was going to provide them or how God was going to lead. We continued to pray. Every two weeks I would pay the bills here at the house. I have a draw where I put the bills in. I take those bills out and I take the checks out and I make the deposits and pay the bills. We continue to have to trust week to week, day to day that God is going to provide. Just like many of you have to do – exactly the same thing even if you are on a salary. You just never know what the next day will bring.

So I share this with you, this is what I had to do. At one point I was getting very discouraged and wondering, “Wow, God are You going to make it this time? Is this week going to be different? We are getting very close to the wire here.” I would struggle in my faith with whether He was going to provide. So I took out a real grapefruit bag and I put it in my bill draw. Every time I open the bill draw and looked and saw lots of bills and no checks to pay them I would open that and lift this up (the grapefruit bag). I would say, “God spoke to me and He said that He called me to do this and that He was going to fund it.” So I would look at this (the grapefruit bag) and there was no special magic in this. This (the grapefruit bag) is not a lucky charm or a rabbit’s foot or something. It was simple a visual reminder to me that God had spoken. I would have a peace that came over me and I would put it back in the bill draw and say, “I will wait until the two weeks is up.”

For a year this went on, last year. By the end of the year God had provided. Every two weeks we had received exactly what we needed and sometimes more so and sometimes right to the wire. We continued to meet the bills of what we needed to do what God had called us to do. God said He was going to do it and the struggle that I had was just in my faith. Whether He was really going to be true to His word and whether I had heard correctly. This (the grapefruit bag) gave me a visual reminder.

In a similar way there are times when I struggle with technical difficulties with putting out a broadcast. Or I get frustrated when I go out to show someone what is going on and I have to spend two hours taking down equipment and two hours setting it up somewhere else – it gets tiring and time consuming.

I have this little statue that my Mom had given me years ago when I used to love walking on my hands. This little boy was excited about life, full of the joy of living. This reminds me of what it feels like to be free in what you have been called to do. As a child you are called to play and just enjoy life. In this ministry God has called me to do what I am doing. I actually take this statue with me sometimes and I set it up. You will see it here sometimes. I will set this up so that when I get frustrated with various aspects of this and get discouraged and down – I can just look at it and say, “God has called me to do this. He has ordained me to do this from the beginning of time. I am going to sense the joy of the Lord and take the joy of the Lord and press on through. God is not going to let technical difficulties get in the way. He is not going to let discouragement and tiredness get in the way. He is going to do what He has promised He will do.” Again, this isn’t some statue that you would worship. This is simply a reminder to bring back to mind that God has called you to do this.

Other Visual Reminders

It is very biblical. People would set up standing stones. They would set up large markers when God did something memorable for them. Joshua set up a pile of stones to remember that God was faithful. Whenever anyone would look at it and ask, “What is that statue about?” They would say, “These are the markers that God is faithful. He has brought us through the river. In fact, these stones came from the center of the river, right there, when it was dry and we walked across it.” In other ways, when the priests would wear special garments. They had twelve jewels on it for the twelve tribes of Israel to remind them that they were a special chosen people. Twelve groups of people that were one nation called Israel. Every time they went before God, they went with that particular outfit that would remind them and remind God of the covenant that was made God and the people of Israel.

These are simple reminders to us that we can use. You can use anything from a grapefruit bag, to a statue, to a piano to whatever God has put in your life that might remind you that He is going to do something. Some people just use their wedding ring to keep them faithful to their spouse. I heard a man that said that he would never be able to have an affair as long as his wedding ring was on. If he ever had an affair he would have to take his wedding ring off. He would never have an affair because he would never be able to take his wedding ring off. That would be to deliberately break a covenant he had made with his wife. To deliberately go against the covenant he had said before the Lord. So he would look at that ring as a reminder that he needed to be faithful to wife and to stay with his wife and to never be unfaithful to her.

The Cross is a Visual Reminder

There are various reminders that you might have. Maybe you don’t have any particular reminder come to mind right now. But I know one reminder that all of us can relate to and we see it all over the place. It is the reminder of the cross. Here even on a child’s necklace on a string in a bright lime green is a plastic cross. Crosses are everywhere. People where them around their necks, they wear them on their shoes, they wear them on the shirts, they put them on their churches, they put them up at their office and at their home. The cross is a visual reminder of the great thing that God has done for us. If you can’t recall to mind one good thing that God has done for you – YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT THE CROSS. Jesus Christ, when He died for you and when He died for me, did the GREATEST thing anyone could ever do for us. In fact there is no greater thing a person could do than to lay down their life for another person, to shed their own blood. That is what Jesus said,

“Greater love has no one than this, than he lay down his life for his friends.”

That is what God has done for you and me. Whenever we look at the cross we can see a VISUAL reminder of what Jesus Christ has done for us, what God’s love has done in the world. To destroy death forever so that we can rise again with Jesus Christ one day and be with Him forever. It is a great reminder that God is with us.

This week we were at a mental floor of a hospital in the psyche ward and a woman who had been plagued with mental problems for maybe ten years (was it Lana?) nineteen years she had. She came in and saw Lana with her Bible and she said, “That’s great to have that Bible. I am so glad you have that Bible. I read that Bible every day. Those are the words of life.” She said that she had this problem for nineteen years.” She said, “Where is my cross? Where is my cross? I need my cross right now.” Now, I don’t know what she was going to do with the cross, as far as I don’t think she worshipped the cross. But she knew even in her deluded mental condition that the cross held power for her. People know that there is power in the cross. There is power in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the power to overcome death; the power to overcome any sickness and God has that power available to all of us.

Jump down with me to Romans 8:32. This is a great passage if you think that God can’t do what you are currently facing. You say, “Maybe He did something a few years ago but can He do this.” It says here in Romans 8:32,

“He (meaning God) who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all. How will He not also along with Him graciously give us all things.”

If God didn’t spare His own Son for us, God was willing to let His own Son die for us. What else would He withhold from us? What more could there be that He would not graciously give us if it wasn’t in our best interest? If you are pleading out to God for something, I can guarantee you He will give you that thing or He will give you something better. If He doesn’t give you what you are asking for the reason is He has something better in mind for you. I believe that with my whole heart and I have seen that work out time and time again in my life. As I see prayer sometimes not answered in the way that I had expected them to be. Then I see later that God has an answer that is above and beyond all that I could have expected or imagined.

It will be the very same way in your life with what you are going through right now. It doesn’t matter if it is something in your marriage; I have seen it work. Something with your children, I have seen it work. With your parents, with your friends, with your coworkers, we have seen it work in case after case. With finances, with problems, with sickness, with problems of frustration, with depression, God can solve all of those problems. He can and will work through those things.

I want to encourage you in your faith to remind yourself of what He has called you to do – what He has put you here for. If you don’t know that I would encourage you to get in your Bible and start reading. I would encourage you to spend some time everyday with the Lord. Just some quiet time and ask Him questions and then wait for a response. Say, “God, what do you want me to do today? God what do you want me to do this week? God what is the purpose for my life?”

Sit and listen and say, “OK, God,” and wait until an answer comes. You may be waiting a few seconds or you may be waiting fifteen, twenty, thirty minutes. Or you may be waiting two hours. But it is so worth the wait. It is worth getting up early in the morning just to go and spend some time with God and say, “OK, God,” and as things come to your mind. Maybe it will remind you of a scripture. If things aren’t coming to your mind, open up the Bible, you can really open it anywhere and you will see God’s love poured out to you. You will be able to see how people went through similar situations and you will be encouraged that He will speak to you as well.

So that is point number two. Point number three is a shorter point but nonetheless very important.

3. Remember what the future holds.

Remember what the future holds. What has God have planned for all of us in the end? Those of us who believe in Jesus Christ believe that He will come back again. That He will come back and take the believers into heaven with Him forever to be with Him forever. In Heaven there is no discouragement, no doubt, no despair, no crying, no darkness, none of that. Heaven is light, heaven is life, heaven is joy. It is not a boring place it is a very exciting place to be. It is going to be a great place. We always have heaven to look forward to. We always have the future that Jesus Christ has promised us to look forward to.

Take a look at a couple of passages where Jesus has promised us this. John 14:1-4 says,

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

If you don’t know the way to that place I will tell you in just a minute but let us look at one more passage and that is in 1Corinthians and that is about what Jesus Christ will do in the future. Every time we take communion Jesus says we are remembering something. I want to show you exactly what we are remembering. In one sense we are remembering His death on the cross, but look at this in 1Corinthians 11:24

“… This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me… This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

When we take communion we are not only looking back to the past and what Jesus Christ did for us – we are looking to the future of what Jesus will do for us. He will come again. He has promised that He will come again. He will take us to be where He is. He has promised through the remembrance of communion that we can be assured that one-day He will come back for us.

We won’t see all the answers to our prayers in this lifetime I know that as a fact as well. But we will see our prayers answered. God will not let your tears go unanswered. He will not let those cries be unheard. He will answer them and He will bring them about. He is faithful to do what He has promised He will do.

Now if you don’t know Jesus Christ some of this won’t make sense and you won’t have anything to stand on whatsoever. You won’t be able to remember what God has done, you won’t be able to remember what He has called you to and you won’t have any assurance that He is going to take you anywhere. But you can be assured of that right today as you watch this. It is a simple thing. Just repent of your sins, and say, “God you are right. I am sorry for the thing that I have done wrong. I realize that there is a penalty and a price that must be paid.” As I mentioned last week in the broadcast, there is a simple way to understand it.

There are books being written in heaven about our lives. In those books everything that we have ever said, thought or done is recorded. God doesn’t like some of the things in your book, in my book, in Lana’s book – and He must punish those things. But He loves you (imagine my hand is you) but He hates the things in this book (book on top of hand). How does He punish what is in the book without harming you? He sent Jesus (represented by other hand) into the world so that when He died on the cross He took your sins and mine (book transferred to other hand – Jesus). So that now we could come free to God (hand representing you is not holding book, but free to come to God). All we need to do is to believe in Jesus and He will take us to be with Him where He is.

Prayer

I want to pray with you tonight if you want to repent and believe in Jesus Christ today so that you can have that assurance. You can also have that assurance that you will be with Him forever.

I want to just sing a song first. “Blessed be the Name of the Lord” and then I want to pray with anyone who needs prayer. In fact, let me just pray right now and then we can all worship together because I want you to sing this song with me and I want you to sing it with all your heart. So let’s just lift some burdens off of you first and then we will sing.

Lord, I just pray for anyone who is struggling with discouragement, struggling with doubt, struggling with even suicidal thoughts, with depression to a magnitude of that only You, God, could understand.

God, I just pray for those who are just facing the normal trials of life and who are just frustrated this week. I pray for those people who are discouraged in their faith and wondering if You are going to show up.

I pray right now that You would bring to mind things that You have done for them in the past. Tonight, tomorrow and this week I pray that You would bring those back vividly to their memory, through pictures or words, or them writing it down. Through whatever means You want to use to get their attention to remind them of how faithful You have been in the past and You will be faithful in the future and You will be faithful to them this week. I pray that You would bring those things to mind so that they could remember them.

For people who are struggling with what You have them to do. God, you haven’t called us to a lifetime of one thing but you have called us to a daily walk of obedience. If we are faithful to You in the daily things it will add up to a lifetime.

God, for people who are struggling with what they are doing today, this very day, I pray that You would encourage them to ask You, “God, is this what You have called me to do? God, do You want me to do this today? God, what exactly do You want me to do this day?” I pray God that when they do that very thing that they would take great satisfaction in knowing that they have been obedient to what You have called them to do.

God, bring them reminders, visual cues. If it is grapefruit bags or pianos Lord, statue or crosses – God nothing to worship – but something to remind them on a regular basis that You are faithful. That will bring them through until they have accomplished the things that You have called them to do. I pray that You would bring those visual cues to them as well.

God, for Your future. For those people who don’t have the assurance that You are going to come back for them or they are afraid that maybe they are going to miss out. You are going to come and take the believers and they won’t be counted among them – I pray tonight that they would repent of their sins. Lord, that they would receive You into their heart and invite You to take over their lives and be Lord of their life – to let You call the shots for once in their life. That they would believe and have that assurance, just like You say in John, “Those who believe in the name of the Son of God will have eternal life.” I pray that they would have that assurance that John talked about. That they would be assured in their heart of hearts Lord that You are their Savior. That You are their Lord. That You are going to come back for them again because God this life has its ups and downs, but we aren’t home yet. When we get home with You in heaven we will all rejoice.

I pray Lord that there are people this very week, there are people who are watching this broadcast, later on Lord, even months or years later that have stumbled onto this broadcast and that You would not let these words go out void but that You would call people. Quicken their hearts and they say, “Yes, I want to believe in Jesus.” And that they would DO IT THIS VERY INSTANT! No greater decision could they make Lord for no greater love could You have shown then to send Your Son and allow Him to pay the price for their sins. In Jesus Name I pray this – AMEN.

I know that some of you love to worship and I want you to just worship with me to this song “Blessed be the Name of the Lord”. The words are on your screen if you don’t know them. I’m going to sing out with all my heart and if you don’t like the way I sing then I encourage you to sing out with all your heart and to sing even louder than I. Then you and I and all of us can enjoy it. If you want to play this back later and play along with your guitar or whatever you do, it’s in the key of F. I hope that you will just have fun worshipping the Lord with me.

Well, I hope that gets you going. I hope that pumps your blood that the Lord is glorious, the Lord is Holy, He is worthy to be praised. He assures you, He can keep your faith “UP”. I pray that God will encourage you with that.

How to Get in Touch with Us

If you need more encouragement you can join us in The Chat Room after this live broadcast. Or you can find me later on at The Ranch under ICQ or you can email me anytime at pokey@theranch.org . To find The Chat Room just go to any page on The Ranch and click on Talk to Someone and then you will be able to click on The Chat Room and come and join us there.

Goodnight

I hope that you will come back next week to hear more about the glory of the Lord and hear more about how God can work in your life. For tonight this is Eric Elder and Lana Elder, my great cameraman and blessed wife. I just pray that God will bless you. Goodnight.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Power Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness brings healing to some of the deepest places in our lives. If you’re in need of forgiveness, or you struggle with forgiving someone else, join me for a message that could heal the hurts you never thought could be healed. (Recorded January 10, 1999)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

Matt 6:9-15

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Luke 23:34

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Mark 11:25

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”

Outline

Need forgiveness?

Receiving forgiveness from God

– God can forgive the worst of sins (I Timothy 1:16-17)

– Jesus forgave you while you were still sinning (Romans 5:8)

– Jesus forgave you even when you didn’t know you were sinning (Luke 23:34)

– What can you do to receive God’s forgiveness? (Acts 2:38)

Need to forgive someone?

Offering forgiveness to others

For your sake

– you must forgive if you want God to forgive you as well (Matthew 6:9-15)

– it’s not easy to do, but you can ask for help like the apostles did (Luke 17:3-6)

– God will turn you over to the torturers if you don’t forgive after he has forgiven you (Matthew 18:21-35)

For their sake

– forgiveness is one of the greatest expressions of love (John 3:16, John 15:13)

Prayer

– to help you receive forgiveness from God and offer forgiveness to others.

Lana’s Christmas Message

Need some hope for the future? While we celebrate Christ’s first coming at Christmas, we also look forward to his second coming soon. My wife, Lana, shares how this affects her hope for the future. Come and listen to what God might to say to you, too. (Our kids sing, too!). (Recorded December 20, 1998)

Watch The Video

Verses To Read

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” (Rev 3:11) “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.” (Rev 22:7) “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” (Rev 22:12) He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev 22:20) For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor 11:26) But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. (2 Pet 3:8-14) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (Luke 11:2-4) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you– even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. ( Acts 3:19-21)

Read The Transcript

Hi this is Lana Elder and we are broadcasting a special Christmas message here at The Ranch. I am actually going to share with you in a few minutes what the Lord wanted me to share this time. As we celebrate Christ’s birth this time of year, He also wanted me to share with you about His Second Coming, when He comes again. I have my kids here and they wanted to sing a special Christmas song for you.

(Song)

Thanks for coming to hear a special message today. It is Christmas time here at The Ranch and we are getting ready to celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. My kids just cannot wait for Christmas day to get here. They are just so excited about Christmas coming each year, it just seems like it will never get here (they say). To me as an adult, Christmas seems like it is coming so quickly every year. Before I know it, it is Christmas time again.

Jesus Is Coming Again Soon

When I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share with you today. I felt like He said, He wanted me to let you know He was coming again soon. It just reminded me of my kids. We think Jesus is coming again “soon” and we can’t wait for Him to come the second time. But when I think about it more and I realize how much has to be done before He comes. How everyone needs to hear the gospel, the good news that Jesus came and is coming again, and they need to believe in Him. Then I think it is coming to quickly, His Second Coming. There is so much that has to be done.

I just wanted to share some scriptures with you that talk about His second coming and what we can do to be prepared for that. In Revelations, many times He mentions,

“I am coming soon.”

{You can take a look at these scriptures on the Message Notes portion of your screen.} He talks about His coming and how He is coming soon. We just need to be ready for that and to do what He has called us to do.

Paul even reminds us in Corinthians, that when we take communion we are proclaiming His death until He comes. It says in 1Corinthians 11:26

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

So He is coming again. Also, there is a great scripture in 2Peter 3:8-14 that talks about His coming again. Like I said before with my kids, you may think it’s NEVER going to happen. After all it has been almost 2,000 years since He came the first time as a baby in a manger. In the words of Peter it says,

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

That part right there, where it says, “God does not want anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” That makes me think that things are going almost too quickly. That He is coming soon and we need to share with those that don’t know that they need to repent and turn to Him and make Him the Lord of their lives.

We Can Speed His Coming

It goes on to say in 2 Peter 3:10

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.”

You see the verse 12 he says, “As you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.” We can speed His coming by both praying and doing what He has called us to do. Which is sharing the gospel of Jesus. God wants everyone to come to repentance so that no one would perish. As we share the gospel, as we share the good news, it is actually speeding His coming. Everyone needs to hear before He comes back. There is another scripture in Acts 3:19-21

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you– even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.”

So this scripture is just talking about how we need to repent and turn to the Lord Jesus before He comes back. And He will come back.

Jesus even in the Lord’s Prayer talks about praying for that kingdom to come. Here’s part of that scripture, he says, Luke 11:2-4

“When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done,

Jesus was praying for that kingdom to come. In summary, I just want to say this; Jesus is coming back again and soon. I just want you to be prepared for that and to prepare others as well by sharing with them the good news.

My kids wanted to sing another Christmas song for you and I’m just going to let them share that song with you right now. I will come back and share the most important news about His coming again and what we need to do to prepare others for His coming.

The Reason Jesus First Came

I just want to share with you the reason that Jesus came in the first place. This time of year we celebrate His birth and some people don’t know why it is that Jesus came in the first place.

There is a scripture that says,

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 6:23.

We have all sinned, I myself have sinned, and every single person on this earth has sinned. The scripture says, “Everyone has sinned.” In the Old Testament when someone sinned there needed to be a sacrifice to God for that sin. Many times they would take a spotless lamb, one without blemish, and sacrifice it to God for that sin they had committed. When Jesus came into the world, He became that spotless lamb. He had no sin in His life – He had never sinned. He was willing to give His life up on the cross and sacrifice His life so we could be clean and go to heaven and be with God forever.

There is a scripture in John 3:16 that you may know,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believed in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

My pray is that you would BELIEVE in Jesus, who died for your sins. So that you could be with God up in heaven when your time ends on this earth and before He comes the second time. I would just like to close in pray. Just to pray that if you have never prayed to receive Jesus and to believe in Him that you could go and be with Him. I would like to pray with you and also to pray for those who believe and are anticipating His Second Coming. I pray that you would be able to speed His coming by sharing with others the good news of His Son Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Let’s just pray

Oh dear Lord, I just thank You for this time. I thank You that You are so good and that You sent Your Son Jesus. The first time as a baby in a manger and as He grew He became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Lord, I pray for those people right now that want to believe in Your Son, I pray right now Lord that you would forgive their sins

If you want to pray right now, I pray that you would just say these words

“I have sinned Lord and I am sorry. I confess that I have done wrong in my life and that I need You, Jesus Christ, to save me from my sins. Lord, I just want to follow You and make You the Lord of my life. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross for my sins.”

I am just so excited if you did pray that prayer and I just pray that you would feel the peace that only Jesus can give.

I also just want to pray, too, for the believers out there who are anticipating Your Second Coming. I pray that You would put a burden on their heart to share this message with others. That they would want others to know about Your Son Jesus. That they would be able to share what He has done for them so that the whole world can come to repentance and believe that You are the Lord and You are coming again a second time.

I just thank You, God, for being such a good God. We just pray Marantha Yeshua that you would come a second time and that You would come quickly Lord. In the right time that we would have enough time to share with those we love. I pray in Jesus Name. AMEN.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Prayer-Squared: The Power Of 2

Wonder how to increase the power of your prayers? Jesus gave us a hint: “… if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Join me for some touching stories about prayer-squared: the Power of 2. (Recorded December 20, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Matthew 18:18-20

“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

James 5:13-16

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Outline

1) Praying with others brings the presence of Christ.

2) Praying with others brings the healing of Christ.

3) Praying with others brings the power of Christ.

Transcript

This is Eric Elder and my wife is here with me, we just want to wish you a Merry Christmas. Many of you may be watching this Christmas week and you may even watch it on Christmas day. We just want to wish you the happiest of holidays because this is time when Jesus came. I have written a song that says, “I am Alive Because Jesus Died.” Any of you who know Christ also know what a great thing it was that Christ came into the world because many of you also are alive because of His coming and His death and His resurrection to the right hand of God. So that is just why we take this time at Christmas time to celebrate God and enjoy Him. I just wish that you would have that peace in your heart as well.

Tonight I want to talk about the power of two. Also known as prayer squared. There is a passage in the Bible that says if two or three of you are gathered together in my name I will be there with you. God says He will answer those prayers when we pray together in agreement. So I want to encourage you tonight and just tell you a few stories of how God can take our prayers and when we get together with other believers He actually multiplies the impact of those prayers. I don’t understand exactly how it works, but the Bible says it and I believe that it is true. After eleven years or so of experiencing praying with others and watching God’s power come through I just know that it works.

I want to encourage you to find someone and to ask God to reveal someone with whom you can pray and just be able to share the things that God is doing in your life. Also, pray that God’s presence would be with you and He would answer the prayers that you pray.

I want you to read a few passages and they are on your screen, if you would take a look at your Message Notes from the screen that you just came from. On the Message Notes there are about three passages there, one from Ecclesiastes, one from Matthew, and one from James. Tonight I want to go through three of those things with you. We are going to talk about praying together with others. When you pray together with others that brings the presence of God, when you pray with others it brings the healing of God, and

it brings the power of God. We are going to see how Christ accomplishes all three of those things. So if you will read those with me and then I will play the piano a little bit so you can have time to read those. Just ask God to speak to you through this half-hour message tonight.

Prayer Brings the Presence of Christ

Several years ago I heard a man speak and he talked about his parents. He watched them, every night, they would kneel together at the end of their bed and they would pray for each other. He was so encouraged by that. When he grew up and got married he did the exact same thing with his wife. Every night they would pray together. I was so struck by that. It made me want to do the same thing when one day I would get married as well. I made a commitment that day that it was one thing I wanted to do, pray with my wife every night just before we went to bed.

I wasn’t even married at the time, but I was living with a roommate. I decided that I would try it out with him first. So we made that commitment to just pray with each other every day. So every day we would have someone praying for us. He would have someone praying for him. So everyday we were covered in prayer. We went for a year that way.

It was remarkable, even if one of us was asleep and the other one was out at some event, they would come back and since we had made that commitment we would wake each other up and say, “Ok, we’ve got to pray.” Whether it was for thirty seconds or thirty minutes – we would spend that time just praying to God and asking Him to have His blessing on each of our lives.

I wrote to that man this week and ask him anything that he remembered, particularly power from that. He said,

“One of the things he remembered was just the sheer accountability of it. He would pray one night that the next day he would have the words to speak at work. The next night he would know that he would be asked if he had spoken those words or not. And whether he was able to hear from Christ.”

So he was actually being able to be encouraged and have very specific prayers answered because he able to verbalize what prayer requests he had and what he needed.

Then when we got married, my wife and I started that. For almost ten years now we have been praying every night together. Like I said, sometimes it’s thirty seconds, sometimes it’s thirty minutes. It just depends on how God is leading us and how tired we are. But every night before we go to bed we each get pray from someone else.

I want to encourage you tonight just to find someone to pray with. It may not be every day; it may not be for a lifetime. I’m going to tell you a few stories of how God can honor those prayers. This first aspect of it is talking about the presence of Christ when we pray together. If you will look at that passage in Matthew 18:19, Jesus is saying these words

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name, there am I with them.”

Jesus promises that He will be with us when two or three us come together. Now Jesus is with you anytime and you can pray anytime. Throughout the Bible there are plenty of stories of people who prayed alone. You can certainly do that. God will certainly answer those prayers. But tonight I am really focusing on the praying with others and how Jesus actually comes in our midst when two of us are together or three of us are together. When we praise His name, it says, (the Bible) “The Father in heaven hears us and He does what we ask for.”

Those two stories of praying with my roommate, prior to marriage, and praying with my wife are just some of several prayer partners I have had over the years. I have been able to pray and watch specific prayers be answered. As I have had prayer partners for short term and long term and all different events and opportunities. It has always remarkable to me to see how that brings a unity. Praying with each other brings a presence of Christ into that relationship.

We have some friends back in Houston who when they prayed together before they were married the future husband said that was some of the most intimate times he ever had with his wife, before they married. After they were married and they were able to be fully intimate in a physical way some of their pray life actually slacked off because that up to that point was the most intimate they had ever been, when they were praying together.

When you compare those two levels of intimacy being able to be that close and intimate. I believe that its because the presence of Christ descends and comes down upon us when we are praying. When you have the presence of Christ in your relationship with another person that makes all the difference in the world.

It allows you to forgive each other. It allows you to talk to each other. It allows you to reconcile your differences so that when Christ is the center of it, Christ comes down when you pray together it brings such a unity and a common purpose. That presence cannot be ignored.

Prayer Brings the Healing of Christ

One of the second things that prayer does is when we pray together it actually brings healing. There is a way that we can pray together and be healed. If you will look with me at the passage in James 5:13 it starts with this:

“Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is anyone of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

So here he is going to call some people to and have them come and anoint him and pray for him. So that pray will actually bring healing. It says, in verse 15:

“And the pray offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

He says it right there in James. He says, “Pray for each other, confess your sins to one another, pray for each other and you will be healed.” We have experienced this many times even on the Internet.

Just these past three months I have met a man who wrote to me and confessed some sins to me that he was struggling with in his life. He asked if I would pray with him and hold him accountable to some of these things. So I said, “Let’s do this for three months. Every week I will write you a note, an email, and ask you how you are doing. I will pray with you online.” He would write back and tell me how his week went.

As the weeks went by he continued to see more and more freedom. He continued to see what he was doing was a lie, he didn’t want to walk in that anymore. He continued to read his Bible and read some other Christian literature that encouraged him in his faith. By the end of the three months he made some comments about the process that he had come through. Here is one of the comments, he says,

“I am in some ways accommodating my sin and I realize I must totally divorce myself from it. I am no longer that way. I am a redeemed sinner with one awesome Savior.”

He commented later that with the technology, sin is so much more pervasive. It is so easy to get into trouble on the Internet and other places. When you can reach out and use the technology to help get out of that sin, it is a great tool. It can be a great benefit.

I want to encourage you too. If you need someone to pray with about a particular sin, you want to confess something that you have never confessed to anyone before – I encourage you to write me here at The Ranch. We are very confidential; the prayers don’t go any farther than this. We can really pray with you and somehow the anonymity of the Internet and somehow just the distance of I don’t know anything about you. I don’t know who you are.

I have had people from England write me who are leading Bible studies and yet struggling with a sin inwardly and they don’t know what to do about it. They write to me because they can’t share it with their Bible study group or they feel people will think badly of them. Pastors write me, I have had other people in ministry, some major ministry, write to me and say could you please pray for this. I am uncomfortable sharing this with other people, but I feel comfortable I can share this with you and you will keep it in confidence.

Many cases these people will write back later and tell me exactly what has happened and they see a sense of freedom that they have never known before. I believe it is simple coming together in agreement, confessing your sins to one another, so that you may be healed. If you are sick, the pray offered in faith will make a sick person well.

I am going to call on you to agree with me in pray. Last week I got a cold and I have been fighting it all week and I am still fighting it a bit in my voice. It is much better this week some people have been praying for me and I want to call on you to pray for me as well. That I would have the strength to continue on in what God has called me to do. It says here (in the Bible), “the pray offered in faith will make a sick person well.” the pray offered in faith will make a sick person well.” If you will agree with me, I would pray that our whole household would be completely well and healed. I believe God will answer it because He says in James, “the pray of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” the pray of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” None of us are righteous on our own but Christ when He died made each one of righteous. So we are all righteous people in the eyes of God. So our prayers really do make a difference.

Prayer Brings the Power of Christ

So we talked about the presence of Christ in a relationship when we pray. We talked about the healing of Christ. The third thing I want to mention is the power of Christ when we pray.

Look back with me at Ecclesiastes. This is one of those side benefits of coming together. Ecclesiastes 4:9 says,

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm together? Though one may be overpowered two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

When we come together in agreement we can see a power there just in helping each other out and building each other up. Also, God says He will answer those prayers. This story I hope will encourage you.

Even speaking now I can tell that some of you may be discouraged if you are not married, you don’t have someone that close to pray with. I am going to pray that God will reveal someone with whom you can pray. Maybe on a weekly basis or on a monthly basis even. Or if you want to write to me here or write to my wife here if you are comfortable writing to her and asking her to pray. I am going to ask God to reveal someone that you could pray with and see this kind of power in your life as well. It should be available to all of us as believers. We are here to help encourage believers in their faith.

Several years ago I was praying for a friend of mine. Neither of us was married at the time. We were praying for spouses for each other. I would pray for him and he would pray for me. Then I got married and that was great, but it was several more years before he got married. We would pray and would continue in prayer.

Sometimes he would falter in his faith and just feel like he was never going to get married, that it was never going to happen for him. It was a real struggle. But because the two of us were there we were able to encourage each other and build each other back up. We would say, “God has a purpose for me, God has a plan for me. I believe God has a mate and He’s going to reveal it. If He doesn’t He has something in mind for me and my life.” It was very encouraging just to be together and to pray like that.

Anyway, when he got married a couple of years ago I gave the toast at his wedding. I had not met his wife before that weekend and we were at the reception. It was in a huge ballroom and many of her friends were there as well and I didn’t know who they were. I gave this toast and a glowing review of my friend and what I thought of him. Then I held my glass up and I said,

“To you, (and I spoke the woman’s name), I just met you this weekend (everyone burst out laughing because I had nothing to say about her, but they didn’t realize that I had a lot to say about her.)” I said, “As for you, even though I just met you, I have prayed for you for years. I have prayed that God would make you the woman that you need to be and be the perfect wife for my friend. I have prayed that you would be going through the things that you need to go through to build you up in the character of Christ. I have prayed that you would be a Godly woman and that you would have the strength, determination and the love for my friend that he deserves and that I want him to have. The kind of love that God wants him to have. I have prayed for you and the things that you have gone through over the last several years I believe are a result of my friend and I getting down on our knees and praying for you specifically. So even though I had just met you tonight you are an answer to all of our prayers. I just want to toast them.”

I toasted to them and I had tears in my eyes and other people did too. Just as we realized the power of God had brought a miracle forth. I just raised up my hand and said,

“Today is pay day. This is pay day when all the prayers pay off.”

The power of Christ answered the prayers and brought them together. That was over years and years of praying in faith that God would do it. Now when I talk to my friend he can’t remember when he was single. He says that it has been just so incredible and he’s been just so in love. It has been just the perfect situation and a perfect wife for him.

I want to pray that for people as well tonight. That they would see the power of Christ demonstrated as they pray. Sometimes it can get really discouraging. Lana and I know. We have had several things that we have been praying for, for years. Other friends that we have been praying for breakthroughs and they haven’t come yet. But in faith and by Christ we believe that they will be answered. These prayers will not go unanswered. Our God has promised, look back in Matthew again,

“Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My name there I am with them.”

Stick with me for just a couple of more minutes. I am going to play a song and would you just ask God to reveal to you if there is anyone He wants you to pray with. If this has struck a chord in your heart and you are saying, “Yes, I do want someone to pray with.” I just pray that God would show you who that might be.

It might be your spouse already and maybe you would just like to start praying with her. Maybe just for tonight. Just say, “Let’s just pray together tonight. Just try it tonight. Or just let’s do it for a week. Let’s just pray together for a week. Or a month.” Soon that will turn into months and months and years and years. All of those prayers will add up.

Or maybe you can think of a friend that you would like to call and pray with. Just say, “Could we just pray, just once. I would like to pray with someone over the phone. I have never done this before but I just really need someone to pray for me right now. I am going through a hard time. Could you just pray for me and I will pray for you.”

Or maybe you just want to write to us here at The Ranch. Or you can chat with us after this live broadcast. We will be in the Chat Room and you can chat with us as a group or we can go in a private Chat Room and chat one on one. Pray one on one about what is going on. I just love to do that.

As I play this song would you just let God speak to you? Just encourage God and say, “God, speak to me. Tell me is there anyone that I need to be praying with for my sake or for theirs?”

Joseph Garlington makes a comment, this is his interpretation of that verse in Matthew, he thinks Jesus is saying, “If two of you on earth agree about anything I will come down to earth and see that for myself!” Sometimes it is so hard for us to agree. Sometimes it is so hard for us to agree in prayer that Joseph thought maybe God just wants to come and show up so that He can see it. It would be such a feat!

I don’t believe that is what He meant at all. That is not what Joseph believes as well. He knows that there is power in praying together. I want to pray with you but before I do – this is Christmas time. You may not realize the importance of Christmas. The importance of what happened on Christmas day. When Jesus was born and came into the world.

You Can Experience Jesus’ Power

As I said earlier I am alive because Jesus died. I found myself in a sin that I didn’t want to be in. I wanted a way out. God showed me a way out. He said, “Believe on My Son Jesus and you will be saved.” I put my hand up in the air that day, not literally but just in my mind, and I said, “Lord, I believe in you. I believe you can take this sin away. That you died for this sin so that I could come to heaven and be cleaned and healed.” God healed me that day, that instant, of that sin. He took it away from me and it has been gone ever since, for eleven years since I gave my life to Christ.

THAT IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS – that is the power of Christ when He came to the earth. That is the good news. Here is says in Matthew, when Jesus was born. That whole story talking about His birth and how it came to happen. Before He was born, God spoke to Joseph in a dream. God told him what the name of Jesus was going to be. He said,

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins.”

God gave that little baby the name Jesus. Why? The Bible says, so that He could save His people from their sins. That is what He can do for you. All you have to do is say, “Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I confess that and I am sorry. It is wrong. I have realized that Your penalty for sin is much harsher than any of the laws in America, much harsher than some of the laws in other countries.” When we sin the penalty is death. That is what the Bible says. Yet, Jesus says, “I came to give life and give it to the full. Anyone that believes in me will be able to be free from death.” Not only here on this earth but once you die that death there is a second death to come. You will be freed from that death and you won’t have to die that death. You will get to go to heaven and be with Jesus forever.

I tell you what there is no crying in heaven like you might have had here on earth. There are no tears in heaven. There is no sadness, no weeping, there is no pain, there is no hurt, there is no darkness, no trouble, no anxiety – only TOTAL PEACE, TOTAL JOY. Some people think that sounds so boring. I tell you what that sounds pretty good to me right now. That sounds pretty good, that kind of peace, that kind of joy, that kind of love. Being with the Father every day.

You can have that just by saying, “Lord, I just confess my sins. I believe that Your Son Jesus died in my place so that I don’t have to. I invite Him into my heart so that I can live a full life. Life abundant here on earth and in heaven.” It is that easy. If you are watching us this Christmas week I pray that you would do it. Now is a better time than any other. I just encourage you to do that.

Prayer

I want to take a minute to pray with all of you watching. Whether you are a believer or not.

Lord, I just pray that You would encourage us in our prayer life. Lord, whether it is our devotional life, our life just reading the Bible, just seeking your will on our own or whether it is praying with others. I just want to encourage these believers to as well as these people questioning whether they even should believe. I pray that You would reveal Yourself to them. You would reveal the power of coming together in prayer. You would reveal the healing that is available when we come together in prayer. You would reveal Your presence to us when we come together in prayer.

I pray that You would do this. I pray that You would reveal prayer partners. I pray that You would reveal if there is someone new that ought to be added to our prayer list. Lord, you would build deep and close relationships from these prayer partners that develop after this. I pray that they would be deep and abiding for life. I know that you have the power to reveal these people and I pray that you would do it – even right now all over the world. I pray that you would be joining hearts together so that people would be able to walk forward arm in arm that when one falls there is someone there to pick them up. That they would be able to experience the power of Christ, the presence of Christ and the healing of Christ.

I pray for anyone that doesn’t yet know Christ that they would commit their life to the Lord right now. That they would repent and say, “God, I am sorry for my sins.”

If you don’t believe you have sinned ask God. Just say, “God, have I really sinned worthy of death?” That is what I did. I didn’t believe that I had sinned worthy of death. I asked God and within two weeks He answered me. God will answer that prayer pretty quickly. If you are open to it and you receive it from God. But there is a solution on the other side and you just say, “God, thank you. You are right, I agree I confess it. I believe in Your Son Jesus that He died for me. So that I could have a life abundant here and in heaven.”

That is the Christmas message. That is the message of Christ. I just pray that God will bring you a prayer partner.

Goodnight

Have a great week and I pray that the end of your year will be terrific as well. Join us again next week as we get ready for the New Year and we have some more encouraging words here – live from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Having Trouble Believing?

Do you need faith for something, but have doubts instead? You’re in good company. Some of the main characters of the Christmas story had their share of doubts, too. In this message, you can find out what happened to change their doubt to faith, and how you can do the same. (Recorded December 13, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Luke 1:1-66

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous– to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home. After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me– holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God. The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Outline

1) You’re not alone

2) Faith is a Choice

3) Step out in Faith

Transcript

Hi, this is Eric Elder, broadcasting live from The Ranch. It is December 13, Sunday night and it is Christmas time here. We are really excited about the things that God is doing and I want to talk a little about Christmas and a little about the coming of the Lord and Savior who has come to save us from our sins.

But I want to put it in context of your life. If you are having trouble believing God for something; if you are having trouble believing that God is going to come through for you – I want to let you know that you are in good company. In fact, most of the characters, the major characters in the Christmas story, had trouble believing God when He told them what was going to happen.

I want you to read a passage that I have put on the Message Notes portion of your screen. I just want you to read with a new eye towards watching how these characters, these central characters in the bible story, move from doubt and doubting God, to faith and putting their faith in God and actually believing Him.

God has called me to encourage you in your faith. Whether you believe in God or whether you don’t believe in God. God has told me to encourage people in their faith. Jesus will come back one day and the Bible says he is going to ask, “Whether there is any faith on earth at all?” I want there to be faith on earth. God wants there to be faith. It is going to have to take faith to get through what God is bringing about in these end days. So, I just want to encourage you in your faith and I want you to step out in faith.

Luke 1:1-66

So, if you will take a look at the story on your Message Notes. If you don’t have that in front of you, you can also look in your Bible, Luke 1:1-66. I am going to give you plenty of time right now to read that story, to read it with a fresh eye. Look especially at the characters of Zechariah and Mary and how Zechariah and Mary both doubt God and then at one point they each believe God. They trust that God is going to do what He says He is going to do. The entire world was changed through the birth of their two children, Jesus and John the Baptist. Believing in God can make a big difference in your life too. So enjoy reading the Christmas story one more time.

Happy Hanukkah, if you are celebrating the menorah starting tomorrow. I pray that it would be a blessed time for you as well. Just as we celebrate all the things that God has done in our lives, I pray that this message would speak to you tonight.

At the end of the night I have a special story that I think you will find touching. So I hope that you will stay around for the whole half-hour, so you can see how God can work in your life. Enjoy reading Luke 1:1-66.

You are Not Alone

Let me tell you, if you have doubts about God and what He is going to do, three things tonight: One, you are not alone. Many people have had doubts that come right after believing what God has said. When God speaks to you, all of a sudden doubt follows right on its heels. Doubt comes right into your head. It has happened for these characters that you just read about, it happened for Moses, for Abraham, for Sarah, Peter, and Thomas (of course). There is a choice that we have to make. Everyone is going to have to make the choice whether they are going to believe in God or they are going to continue in doubt.

So tonight I want to talk about the fact that you are not alone. I want to talk about he choice we have to make and also I want to encourage you to step out in your faith.

Let us take a look at those characters first. I am reading from the Amplified Bible, which is a little bit different from what is on your screen, but it gives you a fuller sense of what was going through their minds. Look at Mary, I have left the verses there on the screen if you want to look back with me. After, in Luke 1:28, the angel comes and says,

“Blessed – favored of God – are you before all other women!”

And in verse 29, here is the doubt that she goes through, listen to these words,

“But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said, and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.”

Here she was, she was greatly troubled, she was disturbed and she was confused. All feelings that you think you wouldn’t get when you hear clearly from God, when you see an angel from God. It says that these thoughts kept revolving in her mind about what such a greeting might mean. It is like her head was spinning around. You have probably had that happen, I know I have, where you just feel like your head is spinning with thoughts and you can’t seem to stop them. You are confused and disturbed.

Then the angel said, “Do not be afraid, for you have found grace and favor . . . with God.”

The angel goes on to describe what will happen (you can pray for me as well that I would have faith to overcome a cold that I’ve been fighting. But God has said for me to focus on giving you this message tonight. I know there are some of you out there this week that really need to hear this. So I am going to continue to give it out.)

Zachariah – here is where he expresses his doubt in Luke 1:18 (if you will back up a little bit) after the angel tells Zachariah what will happen.

And Zachariah said to the angel, “By what shall I know and be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the angel replied to him, “I am Gabriel; I stand in the very presence of God, and I was sent to talk to you, and to bring you this good news. And lo, you will be and will continue to be silent, and not able to speak till the day when these things take place, because you have not believed what I told you; but my words are of a kind which will be fulfilled in the appointed and proper time.”

So here is where he has the doubts and even the angel recognizes it and says even though you don’t believe I am going to continue to fulfill my word. Which God is sometimes going to do it whether you believe it or not. He will show you when the time comes to believe. But here he says, “because you have not believed it, I am going to do something. I will keep you from being able to speak until the time comes when the birth has taken place. Then your tongue will be free to speak again.”

This is common. This was common with me as well. Just doubts have flooded my mind, as I have had to make decisions about God. Eleven years ago when I made my initial decision to trust Christ, just prior to that the doubts just continued to go through my mind, until that moment when I made a choice to believe. On various other things in the past eleven years when God has spoken something to me and that doubt immediately comes in my mind. It is just good to know that you are not alone. None of us are alone; we are in good company.

Faith is a Choice

God does not leave it there. He does not want us to continue in doubt or persist in doubt. He wants us to step out in faith. As Paul says,

“Fight the good fight of faith.”

Jesus said to his disciples many times, he rebuked them for their lack of faith, he said,

“You of little faith! Why did you doubt and not believe?”

It was as if they had a choice that they could have chosen to believe or to doubt. At times they chose to doubt. God wants us to believe. I am going to pray with you later tonight that you will be able to make that choice.

Look at where these people did make their choice and just what an effect it had. Mary made her choice somewhere between when the angel spoke to her and when she went to visit Elizabeth. In Luke 1:45, here is Elizabeth speaking to Mary and Elizabeth says,

“And blessed is she (Mary) who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord.”

Elizabeth recognized at that moment that Mary had believed and Elizabeth says, “Blessed are you who believed that there will be this fulfillment.” Mary was just full of faith at that time said,

“My soul magnifies and extols the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for He has looked upon the low stations and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be envied.”

So here Mary finally gets that faith. She says, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” She just can’t contain herself as that faith wells up inside of her.

Look at Zachariah. This is even more compelling to me and more interesting in the way that he is able to express his faith. In Luke 1:59, this is many months later when that baby has been born and it is on the eighth day and they are going to name the child. Zachariah still can not speak at this time. Verse 59 says,

“And it occurred that on the eight day when they came to circumcise the child, they were intending to call him Zachariah after his father.”

Now these are all of his relatives that are gathered around and others and they are going to name the baby Zachariah after his father.

“But his mother answered, “Not so, but he shall be called John.”

It is a shock to everyone in the room. They say,

“None of your relatives is called by that name.”

How can you call him John, we don’t have anyone in your family line called John. Amidst this it says,

“they inquired with signs of his father what he wanted to have him called.”

Here is a point where Zachariah had to make a choice. Either he was going to just let this go and ignore what the angel said or what I believe happened is he finally had the faith. Throughout this process after the angel spoke to him and said he was going to have a son and his name was to be John. He told him what the son was going to do, all of a sudden Zachariah (well not all of a sudden, but over time) his faith built up. He saw his wife gets pregnant, and this is the days before ultrasounds so they didn’t know what sex the baby was going to be. Low and behold the baby is born and IT IS a boy, just like the angel predicted. That sure had to increase his faith, if it was a daughter I don’t know what he would have done. But he had the son, just like the angel said he would. The angel said the next thing that would be is that they would name him John.

So here is where Zachariah had to step out in faith and make a choice. It is very hard, I believe for Zachariah who has all these relatives around, people were saying, “No, his name is going to be something else, it is going to be Zachariah. There is nobody named John in your family. Why would you name him John?” But Zachariah makes that choice. And it says, in verse 63,

“And Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, His name is John.”

I believe when he wrote those words, “His name is John” that he was expressing his faith, he was making a statement of faith. Look what happens,

“They all were astonished. And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed and he began to speak, blessing and praising and thanking God. And awe and reverential fear came on all their neighbors.”

It goes on to talk about how Zachariah could not contain himself and that faith came out and he prophesied what John was going to be, what kind of child this was going to be. All the people were filled with awe and fear just by seeing that the angel really did speak to Zachariah.

I know I had a choice eleven years ago where I had to say, “God, I think I know enough about Jesus, but I am not sure I can make that decision to really follow him or not.” Then I heard that Jesus was going to come back one day and when He came back it would be too late, He would shut the door and He wouldn’t let anyone in who hadn’t believed up to that point. They would be knocking on the door and following after him and saying, “Please let me in!” And he would say, “I never knew you.”

I didn’t want to be one of those people. So in my faith, in my spirit when I went home that night I just got on my bed and I said, “Lord, I do believe in You. I do believe in You.” It just welled up within me that I just had to pour it out to God. I just had to say, “Praise be to God! You are going to do incredible things!” God filled me with that faith that has persisted eleven years later, everyday for eleven years straight. God has given me that faith and that confident assurance, just like Mary got, just like Zachariah got, just like Moses got, the same faith that many believers have gotten as they have stepped out in faith. They have made that choice and from then on they are without a doubt of what God has done.

We have talked with a woman this week that just last week had an incredible spiritual experience and every time we spoke to her we would say, “Wow, do you realize that God was talking to you!” She said, “I KNOW GOD was talking to me!” We would say, “Do you realize what God is doing?” She said, “I KNOW GOD was working!” She was very convinced and very clear that God was working and there was no convincing that we could do otherwise. She was totally certain because she had been given that faith right down in her heart. That is what I want to encourage you in as well tonight.

Step out in Faith

What I am here to do is to feed your faith so that your doubts will starve. That is a famous statement that someone made, and it is very true. As you feed your faith and your faith increases your doubt will starve and go down. So if you feed your doubts your faith is going to go down in direct proportion to how much you feed your doubts.

So my encouragement to you is to feed your faith. The best way I know how to do that is to read your Bible. Look in here; read the stories of how God has worked in other people’s lives. It will give you faith that He is going to work in your life too. It will give you faith that He will be there for you. It will give you faith to know how He is going to answer your requests because He has answered many other people’s requests just like yours for the last 6,000 years. So I want to encourage you to look in your Bible. I want to encourage you to feed your faith by reading some of the stories at The Ranch. Read some of the testimonies of how God has worked in people’s lives. Even one woman this week she said she came to The Ranch, I don’t know this woman (she left her name here, but I will leave it off for the sake of anonymity). She said,

“I just wanted to write you and let you know how much I have enjoyed the trails at The Ranch. I knew of Jesus ten years ago, but I have struggled all ten years because of the way I grew up. Much abuse in every way. I don’t know why I have never fully trusted Christ before, but the other night I was searching around and came to The Trails. I first wanted to write you and your wife for help or to explain what a failure of a Christian I was. God stopped me and said, “Talk to ME.” I did. I poured out my heart to Him instead of another human person who could only point me to Him. I have been set free from fear and much more. Thank you for The Trails. I know God has used it to do what has occurred. Thank you, Free in Him. And she signed her name.

Here she says, “I don’t know why I never fully trusted God before but as I came and as I read these things it just encouraged me to talk to God.” She did and she got things right with God. God spoke to her, healed her and freed her from things that had been plaguing her she said for ten years. She had never fully trusted God like that before.

I say this because God is working in people’s lives without even our intervention, without someone else’s intervention; it is the Holy Spirit Himself who is just coming down and touching people and instilling faith in them. So I want to pray that the same faith builds in you tonight.

I want to sing a song as well. As I was preparing this message and working on it this week, I was just worshipping God and playing the piano – really just ministering to God. It was just a sweet time with me, the Lord and playing and just saying Lord, “I just pray that these sounds would be pleasing to You.” I just played, I am not even sure what I was playing, but I continued to play before God.

As I did God just started pouring out things into me about this Christmas story. One of my questions has been – “Are we really that special? Is every person made special? Does every person have a special purpose? Or are we all just called to do the same thing? We are all called to be good people. We are called to follow Jesus. We are called to proclaim His name, wherever we are in the work place.” God really showed me that God does create each one us special. That He has given each one of us the special and unique role in what He’s going to do.

Here is how He touched me. He showed me Mary, who was a humble handmaiden, and God chose her and said, “You are the favored one. Your role Mary is to carry My Son into the world. Out of all the people that are alive in this generation I have chosen you to carry My Son. Out of all the people that have ever lived, I have chosen you to carry My Son.” I realized that He did the same thing for other people.

He chose Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. He chose Paul to take the message to all the non-Jewish people, all the people who had never heard about God before. He told Paul to do that. He told John what was going to happen at the end of the world. John wrote that down in Revelation. We have that now for all time until the end comes. God has a unique role for each one of us. It is encouraging to me that He has one for me and I want to pray with you when I come back from the song that He has one for you as well. You will be able to know what it is and to walk in that calling that God has given you.

Here’s the song and it was about Mary. Some people raise Mary to a different status than I would raise her to but there is no doubt from reading this story that Mary was blessed of God. That she would be called blessed among all women. As I read this I just thought about God and how He came upon Mary and how the Holy Spirit conceived a child within her. I just realize how special and precious she was to God, just like each one of us is special and precious as well. So I just want to sing this song, then we will come back and pray. I just want to give you one touching Christmas story (get your Kleenex if you don’t have them handy). Enjoy this song and let God speak to you about how special you are as well.

Prayer

God really loves you. He really does have a purpose for your life. You are not alone when you have doubts. You can make a choice. I pray right now that the choice would be faith.

Lord, I pray for these people listening that You would give them the faith to make the decisions they need to make. I pray that they would be filled with faith. Just as you filled me with faith. Just as you filled Lana with faith. Lord, as you filled Mary and Zachariah, Paul, John, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, and Peter. Lord, you filled each one of them with faith for the particular calling you had on their life. I pray that You would fill these people with faith right now. In Jesus Name. AMEN.

Now you are not going to have faith to walk in any of this until you believe in Christ. I know some of you may be watching and you have never fully trusted God before either, just like the woman that wrote to me this week. Said she became a Christian maybe ten years ago, but she never fully trusted Christ. I just want to pray that you would trust God tonight.

Really it is a simple thing although it sometimes seems like the hardest thing in the world. There is a way that you can just say, “God, I am sorry for my sins. I am sorry for what I’ve done. I believe Jesus died for my sins so I could be with you in heaven forever. Please forgive me. I invite Jesus into my heart to take over my life. To be the Lord and Ruler over everything that I do, say and think.” That is it. Just REPENT, BELIEVE, and RECEIVE what God has done for you through Jesus Christ.

Story

Let me read you this story that came to me this week on the Internet. It happened back in 1994, it is a true story from two Americans who were invited to by the Russian Department of Education to come over to Russia. They were to teach morals and ethics (based upon Biblical principals) in the public schools. They also spoke at prisons and businesses and one place they spoke was an orphanage where there were about 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned and abused and left in the care of the government run program. This is the story that they related in their own words.

It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple

went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger.

Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of

cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city.

Following instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away as she left Russia, were

used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States.

The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project.

As I looked at the little boy’s manger, was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously.

For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happening accurately-until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own

ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.

I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I

wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought that maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.

So I asked Jesus, “If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?” And Jesus told me, “If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him—for always.”

As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him,

someone who would stay with him-FOR ALWAYS. I’ve learned that it’s not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

Goodnight

Thanks for listening to my story. Thanks for coming to The Ranch. You know it is not about what we have in life, it is about WHO WE HAVE IN LIFE. We can have the most precious thing in life. The most precious person in life that has ever lived and that is Jesus Christ. All you have to do is invite Him into your heart. You can lay your head down with Him every night. You don’t have to be alone.

I want to talk at some point about the power of two, which is prayer squared; which means you and Jesus praying together, you and others praying together. We don’t have to walk through life alone. We have Jesus with us anytime we want. He can be there for us anytime we need. I encourage you tonight to say a prayer to Him tonight. Just recommit your life to Him. Recommit your ways to Him, your plans and your actions. Say, “God, just anything You want to do with me I give it all to You! I give it all to You! Take me wherever You want to go. Do whatever You want to do with me. Let Your purposes me fulfilled in me.”

Have a great week. I hope to see you next week at The Ranch. If you would like to stay and talk some more or share with others how you have overcome your doubts or if you have a particular prayer request – would you come and join us right now at The Ranch Chat Room. It is on the page called Talk to someone. It says Chat Room at The Ranch. This is open after the Live broadcasts here on Sunday nights.

Those addresses are on your screen. Also, you can find me on ICQ and we can chat during the day if you would like to talk about something particular that you would rather have a private conversation. We would love to do that too.

For my wife and I here in central Illinois on a cool night in the winter coming up on Christmas – we just say good night from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Rewards Of Perseverance

If you’re wearing out waiting on God, watch this message! You’ll hear about the great rewards for perseverance. God is faithful. He will answer. He will come through, not only for you, but for those who will be touched by what he does for you. (Recorded December 6, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Daniel 2:1-30

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.

So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed.

When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”

The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.”

This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.

He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel.

At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”

The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:

“As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.”

(After Daniel tells him the dream and the interpretation…)

Daniel 2:46-49

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

Outline

1. The Rewards for Us – Both Now and Later

God rewards those who earnestly seek him

Psalm 27:14

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

2. The Rewards for Others – Good Fruit is Born

He chose us to bear fruit.

John 15:8

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

John 15:16

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit– fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

3. How to Persevere? Remain in Him

Apart from Christ, we can do nothing.

John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Story: The Painting

Transcript

Hi and Merry Christmas, this is Eric Elder broadcasting Live from The Ranch.

I want to encourage you tonight that there are rewards to perseverance. You may be going through some things right now where you are not sure you can endure, and you are not sure you want to endure. Well, I want to encourage you that it is worth it to endure.

Your endurance is not in vain. And your perseverance will not go without a reward. God will give you two kinds of rewards: First, You will get rewards here on earth and second, you will get rewards in heaven. Thirdly today, I want to tell how you can persevere.

If you will take a look at your Message Notes, there is a chapter in Daniel that I would like you to take a look at. Daniel 2, and if you will look at the Message Notes on your screen you will be able to read that. I am going to play a portion of music here so you will have plenty of time to read Daniel 2:1-30.

The reason I want to point you to this passage is to show you that Daniel is in a position of life and death. He was in a position where he had to hear from God. If he didn’t hear from God his very life was at stake. God miraculously and mysteriously came through and spoke to Daniel and many people were saved through it. Daniel was blessed by it, other people were blessed by it, and Daniel went on to be the second in command over all of that country. I just want you to read that in Daniel and take a look at the predicament he was in and how God got him out by his perseverance.

Daniel 2

I love that story in Daniel it is so good. When it gets to that part and he has to explain the dream to the king. Here the king of Babylon has asked him an impossible task and he says, “I want some wise man, some prophet to tell me what my dream was and interpret it.” The other wise men and prophets say, “There is no one who can do such a thing.” But Daniel, when he hears of this decree he says, “I will interpret that for you.”

He prays to God, he says, “God, show me whether this dream is from you or not and how to interpret it.” During the night, it says, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. He praises God and he says,. During the night, it says, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. He praises God and he says,. . . “He reveals deep and hidden things. He knows what lies in darkness and light dwells with Him.”

When the king asked Daniel, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it.” Daniel replies, “No wise man can do that. No man on earth can do that. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.” He goes on to say,

“There is the revealer of mysteries who has shown you what is going to happen. As for me this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom that the other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what when through your mind.”

When the king hears the interpretation he says to the Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.” The king lifted Daniel up put him in a high position and lavished many gifts on him.

God used that time of answering Daniel and answering that plea that Daniel said. He used it to blessed Daniel, raise him to a high position, to made his name known to the king, and to spare the people of Israel as Daniel’s life went on to play out. As he prayed for other people, God spared an entire nation through those later prayers. So Daniel very much had a purpose to remain alive and God kept him alive by revealing the mysteries of heaven to him.

Rewards for Us – Both Now and Later

You may be in a position where you are saying, “God, please come through. I don’t know if I can persevere any longer.” I just want to tell you it is worth the wait. Let me tell you from my personal experience, I was in Israel one night at the home of a Muslim family. I was sleeping in that home in a bedroom that had bullet holes in the windows. They assured me that there had been no violence there recently. I was sleeping there because God had called me to go to Israel.

He called me to quit my job and to go to Israel and he told me to visit two spots over there. This was about day seven or eight while I was on this trip living with this Muslim family in the West Bank in Israel. I was starting to become very discouraged and saying, “God, why in the world did you call me here? Why is this that I am here and in dangerous situations and in a dangerous country?” Having just left my job, I said, “God, I need you to show up, I need to hear from you.” As I went to bed that night I read this Psalms 27:14

“Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope and expect the Lord.”

I put my CD walkman in my ears and I went to sleep that night listening to praise music and listening to the glories of God and just saying, “God, I am waiting for you. I am expecting you. I am hoping that You would show up.”

That next day God answered one of my significant prayers which was to bring someone there, to anoint me with oil for the purpose that God had called me into ministry. I had no idea how God was going to answer that. That next day after I had prayed this and after I had read this Psalm, that said it was worth it to wait for the Lord and expect the Lord. That next day I got up and went to the temple mound, the temple where Solomon built was located. Right there a man from Kentucky showed up and started talking to me about praying for the sick. He asked me if I had ever had luck using anointing oil to pray for the sick. I asked him, “Do you do that?” He said, “Yes, I do.” I said, “Boy, I have just been praying that God would send someone to anoint me with oil for the purpose that He’s called me to.”

That man and I walked for the next couple of hours down the Via Del La Rosa, which is the way of the cross, the way that Jesus went. At the crucifixion site that man anointed me, he put oil on my head and said, “I commission you and send you out in the name of Jesus to do the purpose for which He’s called you.” That day, God spoke to me and said, “Eric, this is why I brought you to Israel. I brought you to the place where Jesus died so that I could now send you out into the world and gather my people and help bring my people back in to the new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven one day when Jesus returns.”

It all happened the night after I read that scripture in Psalms, that says, “Wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.” I am going to pray later in the night that you will have the strength and the courage and the enduring heart to wait for the Lord as well.

Part of our faith is believing that God rewards those who earnestly seek Him. In fact, the Bible says in Hebrews that without this kind of faith it is impossible to please God.

Look in Hebrews 11:6 “we must believe that God exists and we must believe that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”

This is what the Bible tells us. We must believe not only that He exists but that He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek Him. If you are earnestly seeking God I can assure you, based on my experience, but even more so based on the Word of God that He will reward you. If you earnestly seek Him, He will reward you.

Now that reward may come here on the earth or it may come in heaven. Either way you will get your reward. I got a letter a few years ago from a very famous author. He has written many books, more books than anyone else in America has. He had written a letter to some of his supporters and I happened to be on his mailing list. He was not a Christian. He believed in things that were not of God.

He started the letter like this, “You will get your reward in heaven” (he puts that in quotes) then he followed it with this, “We’ve all heard that empty promise before”. Here’s a man very intelligent, very smart, writer of many many books and yet he called what Jesus said and empty promise.

Now many people believe that Jesus is a good man. Many people believe that He is a moral teacher. I don’t know of many people who have called Jesus a liar. Not outright like that. Yet, he called Jesus a liar, by saying that was an empty promise, “that you will get your reward in heaven.” Here is what Jesus said in Matthew 5:12 “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”

Many places in Scripture God speaks about the rewards we will get in heaven. Jesus himself speaks about the rewards that we will get in heaven when we earnestly seek God, when we earnestly seek to do His work. We will get rewards here on earth, it says in this age and in the age to come we will be rewarded. But they are not always in this age.

You may be discouraged just like John the Baptist was. After he had baptized many many people in the name of Jesus, after he had baptized many people to repent of their sins, he was in prison and he asked this questions, “Jesus are you the one who is to come? Or should we wait for someone else?”

He got discouraged towards the end of his life and eventually he was beheaded. Yet, Jesus said about him, “Greater man had not walked on the earth than John the Baptist.” John the Baptist will get his reward in heaven. We can be assured of that.

Paul here is some of the rewards he got here on earth: to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, and we are homeless. But, Paul left a legacy to all of us by writing much of the New Testament. In fact, words in the book of Romans that inspired me to have a faith in God 2000 years later. Paul finished the race well. He is getting his reward in heaven.

Jesus himself died on a cross, died a gruesome death while He was here on earth. But, He has been raised to the right hand of God and was given all authority over heaven and earth. Even if we don’t get our reward on earth, which I believe we do get rewards on earth. I believe many of these people I mentioned saw much of their reward on earth. There is even a greater reward waiting for us in heaven. It is no empty promise. Jesus Himself promised us that great is your reward in heaven.

Rewards for Others – Good Fruit is Born

Now these are the rewards just for YOU. Tonight I said I would talk about two kinds of rewards. One was rewards for you. The other is rewards for others. Here is how the reward system works. We get rewards just by carrying out God’s commands. But God gets rewards because other people are born from fruit from our lives. Good fruit comes from disciples of Jesus. That is the reward. It is a blessing to others and well as to us when we do what God tells us to do.

Look in John 15:8 this is why he chose us, it says, to bear fruit. Jesus said, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Again in John 15:16 he says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

See how God blessed people through Daniel. God not only saved Daniel’s life and elevated him to a high position but He also saved an entire people. He saved all of the other prophet’s lives as well as a nation of Israel.

He also did this for David. When David fought against Goliath God saved David by letting David throw one stone and it killed Goliath on the spot. Also God made his name (David’s) known throughout that entire part of the world and He also raised David up to be king over one of the greatest nations that ever ruled on the earth. They were victorious, all those people, over many nations. God not only saved David but He saved an entire group of people through David.

Jonah was the same way. God saved him out of the mouth of the whale. As Jonah went and did what God told him to do He saved 120,000 people in the city of Ninevah by preaching to them that they needed to repent and receive what God had offered them. Which were their very lives back.

Paul was the same way. He was crucified, they say in the history books, upside down. Yet, much of the New Testament was written by him. I am one of Paul’s fruit. I am fruit from what Paul had done while he was here on this earth. God had not only saved Paul’s life when he was in a bad state himself. He saved Paul’s life and He called him to a purpose. He called him to a purpose, which was to bear fruit. That fruit has changed many people’s lives throughout the history.

So God not only rewards you when you do what He asked you to do, but he also rewards others. You yourself are a reward to God.

How to Persevere? Remain in Him

The question is how to persevere? You want to persevere. You know it is good. You know it is good for you here on earth and in heaven. You also know it is good for others if you persevere. But how do we do it? How can we get the strength that we need to persevere?

John 15 tells us, remain in Christ, abide in Christ, and dwell in Christ. Here’s what it says in John 15:4-5

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in ME. I am the vine you are the branches. If a man remains in ME and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from ME you can do nothing.”

Remain in the vine and God will give you the strength to persevere. It is just like that vine is growing up, Jesus is the vine and we are these branches off of it, and as we stay in the vine we get strength, we get nourishment, we get encouragement from Jesus, the Giver of life. If we distance ourselves from the vine we will find ourselves fading and weak. But as we come back and remain in the vine and stick with Jesus, hang onto Jesus, cling to Jesus we will bear much fruit.

In a newer translation of the Bible called the “The Message”, (now just take this to heart) this is what God wants you to do, this is what Jesus is calling you to do, “Live in Me, make your home in Me, just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch cannot bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine. You cannot bear fruit unless you are joined with Me. I am the vine you are the branches. When you are joined with me and I with you the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated you cannot produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is dead wood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listed to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who He is. When you produce grapes, when you mature, as my disciples. Live in Me, make your home in Me, just as I do in you.”

This is the way to persevere. This is the way to get your strength. Come back to Jesus, hang onto Jesus, cling to Jesus, and fix your eyes on Jesus – the Author and Perfector of our faith.

I want to say a prayer for you if you are eager to remain in Christ. I also want to conclude with a story that if you don’t know Christ, I pray it would just make it very clear to you how important it is to cling to Jesus and to come to Jesus. I just want to take a minute to just let you pray on your own and to look over these scriptures on your Message Notes. Just ask God to open your heart while I play a song. I just want you to say, “God, help me to persevere. Give me the strength.” When we come back after this short pause I will pray with you and I will ask God to come through on your behalf. I will share with you a touching story that I don’t think you will want to miss.

I received this story on the Internet this week and just let me share this with you. First, we watched last night a Christmas program at a church and there is a particular scene that touched me as God spoke to Joseph. While he was doubting and wondering whether he should divorce Mary. And while he was in his dilemma wondering, we saw a touching scene last night, when God was speaking to Joseph. As Joseph doubted whether Mary’s child really was from God, he was considering divorcing her. As he pondered this and debated over this and wondered over how Mary could possibly do this to him. He fell asleep. The angel of God spoke to him and said, “Joseph, this is what is right. This is from God. Mary is going to bear a child and you are going to give him the name Jesus.” Joseph woke up and did what God called him to do. It was revelatory to me just that God would speak in a dream like that. He would speak the very name of Jesus in a dream. That is what Joseph needed to hear right then. Joseph needed a word from God. He was torn apart in his heart, he was torn apart over what was going on. He didn’t know what to do; he came to God and pleaded out to God. God said, “Joseph, this is absolutely from me and here’s what I want you to do.” I pray that God will do the same for you.

Here’s a story called –

The Painting:

Once there was a father and son who were very close and enjoyed adding valuable art pieces to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.

The widowed, elder man looked on with satisfaction, as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action.

The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holiday with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season, a season that he and his son had so looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, a soldier greeted him with a large package in his hand.

He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” As the two began to talk, the solider told of how the man’s son had told every one of his, not to mention his father’s, love of fine art. “I’m an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.”

As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the painting above the fireplace.

A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief.

The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation! Unmindful of the story of the man’s only son, but in his honor, those paintings would be sold at an auction.

According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift.

The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim “I have the greatest collection.”

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a painting of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.” More voices echoed in agreement.

“No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now, who will take the son?” Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. “Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it. I have ten dollars.”

“Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, “Going once, going twice. Gone.” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!”

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room.

Someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a painting of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what’s going on here!”

The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son, gets it all.”

And because of God’s love for us, whoever takes His Son, Jesus Christ, gets it all. See when you believe in Jesus, when you cling to the vine, the true source of life YOU GET IT ALL. You get life abundant, you get a purpose in your life and you get fruit bearing from your life. Just as he said His disciples would bear fruit. If you don’t know Jesus, Jesus said, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” If you don’t know Jesus you will have no reward. In fact, you will get what you deserve which is eternity in hell and separated from God. Because we have all sinned and the punishment for sin is death. I don’t like that. I don’t like that anymore than you like that and yet that is the fact. We have all sinned. Our punishment is death. But thanks to God who sent His Son Jesus to die for us and He said if you will believe in My Son then I will give you life abundantly here on earth and I will give you heaven as well. So we can have it all but first we have to believe in Jesus.

Prayer

I want to pray right now for you and for also those who are persevering, who believe in Christ – that you would have the assurance that God will reward you. That is the faith that pleases God. Let us pray

Lord, for anyone that does not know you yet, who has not committed their life to you, who has not clung to you – I just pray that they would do that right now. That they would repent of their sins, confess that, and say they are sorry and simply invite Jesus into their hearts and to be the Lord of their life.

Lord, for those who are struggling with perseverance, who wonder if they can make it and wonder if they even want to make it. I pray that you would give them life and life abundant. I pray that you would convince them of the rewards both here on earth and in heaven that Jesus promised to those who believe in Him, cling to Him and those who follow Him.

Lord, I pray that you would reveal your mysteries to these people – even tonight in their dreams. Lord, I pray that you would reveal mysteries to them so that they can save their lives and the lives of others. Reveal mysteries to them so that they can know what to do with their life next. Reveal mysteries to them God so that they can know the deep things of you.

Lord, I pray that you would instill in them a purpose, a direction, a drive, strength, and a confidence so that they can finish well. Just like Paul said, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race.” I just pray that these people would also be able to fight the good fight. That you would help Lana and me as we sit here that you would help us to have strength to fight the good fight that You called us to. For Lord we want to finish well. We want to persevere. God, we don’t do it just for the rewards because we know that we just do it out of obedience to You. You have done so much for us Lord. This is a very little thing we can do for You.

God, we just thank you that you promised us that there are rewards as well and that it is worth the fight. It is worth the battle. It is worth standing firm. I thank You for all this Lord, in Jesus Name I pray. AMEN.

Goodnight

If you would like to talk further we can talk right after this broadcast on the Chat Room at The Ranch. Just go the spot that says Talk to Someone and click on the Chat Room and you will be able to chat with myself and a few others that are interested in hearing what is going on in your life. We can talk about this a little more. We will be glad to pray with you personally over the things that are going on in your life.

If you are watching this later you can find me by e-mail or you can find me on ICQ. The information on how to find me throughout the day is also on the Talk to Someone page. I would really be glad to talk with you, I would be glad to pray with you and encourage you in your faith. Because God has called me to help people persevere in their faith so that we can finish well.

Thanks for coming. I hope you will join me another time. Hope you have a happy holiday and a Merry Christmas and that Christ will be central in everything you do. Join us next week live from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Need A Change?

Restless? Unfulfilled? Want to change a few things in your life? If anyone can change things, God can. Because God is in the life-changing business. It’s one of his specialties. So if you need some faith that God can change a few things in your life, watch this. (Recorded November 29, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Transcript

Hi! This is Eric Elder and welcome to tonight’s message – live from The Ranch!

Are you needing a change in your life? Well, you are in luck tonight because God is in the life changing business. He has changed a lot of lives in the past and I know I am one of them. My wife is here and she is one of them as well. We have read and heard and talked to many other people who have been changed by the power of God. So if you are needing a change in your life,

Maybe you are struggling with a sin and need to be freed from it. God can free you from that.

Maybe you are struggling with finances and you just need a break through in that. God can change that circumstance.

Maybe you are needing a change in your job. God can change that as well.

Maybe you need a purpose for your life or a meaning. God can give you that.

Maybe you are struggling with what to do with a child, what to do with a parent, what to do with a spouse – God can give you insight and direction to help you overcome those things and to change those things in your life that need changing.

Tonight, I am going to talk about various Bible characters who were changed and myself, my own story, of how I was changed. Just to give you some encouragement that change will come for you too. Sometimes change comes in ways that we don’t expect it. But it is always for the best when it comes from God. So I want to encourage you tonight that God is in the life changing business and He can change what you are facing.

If you will take a look at your Message Notes on the screen there is a passage there that I would like you to read. It is a passage about the woman who was praying and she was eager to get God to answer her prayer. God came through and answered because she prayed and prayed and prayed. I just want you to take a look at that because tonight we are going to focus on how we can get those changes in our life that God wants for us. So take a look at that passage, just read through that, while I play a song on the piano. Just let God speak to your heart tonight.

God is in the Life-Changing Business

Let us pray before we begin.

Lord, I just ask that you would come into our hearts. You would speak to us; you would do a new thing within us. I pray that we would be able to see it. God you say that these changes can come quickly and sometimes it seems like forever when you are waiting. But God I pray that you would bring about change in people’s lives as they watch this and as they hear Your words Lord. I pray this in Jesus’ name. AMEN.

Freedom From Sin

Change is possible. God has brought about many changes in my life. He has freed me sin. I was involved in homosexuality for several years and God has freed me from that – almost eleven years ago now. I am now married, have four children and have a joy of life that I never had when I was back in that life. God can really change you and free you from sin.

God has given me purpose and meaning for my life. He has shown me what He wants me to do for my life. That has given me great fulfillment and satisfaction. God brought me a wife. As I was seeking the Lord and praying for that in my life, God delivered and answered that prayer even though it seemed like a long time. God brought me the desire of my heart in a wife. God can do so many things for you. He has done so many for me. It seems like forever sometimes – waiting. Let me take you and give you a look at some people in the Bible who God also changed. This is nothing new. This is God’s reason for being really. He loves to change our lives. He loves to bring about change and redeem us, restore us, refresh us, and renew us. He is in the life changing business.

Look at this in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Paul is talking about some people in the church in Corinth. It talks about how they were changed from certain problems that were affecting them. Some were sexually immoral, some were idolaters, others were adulterers, some were male prostitutes, homosexual offenders, some were thieves, and greedy and drunkards, slanderers, and swindlers. But Paul says in verse 11, “And that is what some of you were.” That is a little word “were” but it is a HUGE word to God. God changed those people from drunkards – they are no longer. From homosexuals they are no longer. From adulterers they changed and they are no longer that. That is what some of you WERE and here is the solution, here is how they changed. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

“You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

God has a way to wash us, to sanctify us and to justify us in the name of Jesus Christ. By His Holy Spirit He can bring about a new work in your life. I am going to pray at the end of this broadcast for you, that God would change you, that God would by His Holy Spirit do the same thing in your life, give you a life change.

Change in Direction

Let us look at home people who were changed. You may know the famous story of Saul who became Paul on the road to Damascus. This is the famous Damascus Road experience. For there was one day that Saul was trying to kill the Lord’s disciples, he was trying to kill followers of Jesus. In Acts 9:1

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He asked for letters from the High Priest so that if he found any people who belonged to the Way (who followed Christ) whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” he replied, “Now, get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”

So here is Saul, he is heading out and trying to kill the followers of Jesus. Jesus shows up and stops him on the road and turns him around and says I am going to send you a new way. Saul was blinded that day and for three days he was blind and he did not eat or drink anything. God told another believer, Ananias, to go and pray for Saul, which he did. And when he prayed for him he said this, in Acts 9:17-20

“Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. He got up, was baptized, regained his strength. . . At once began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Here is a man headed this way, trying to kill people who followed Jesus, meets Jesus on the road, gets blinded, restored to his sight, and then starts preaching about Jesus and telling people, immediately it says. At once he started to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Talk about a life change. Here is a man who was taken from death and moved towards life.

I am also struck in the story that the fact that he had scales falling from his eyes and he could see again. Some of us are simply blinded to the truth. As I was reading that I was thinking that there are some of you out there who are simply blinded to the truth and you have got scales on your eyes. I just want to pray right now.

God would you remove those scales from their eyes, that they would immediately fall off. Just like the power that Ananias had to remove the scales from the eyes of Saul. I pray God that you would remove the scales from anyone’s eyes watching, who needs a clear vision, who needs to be able to see clearly what is ahead of them. In Jesus Name. AMEN.

I pray that God will take you from a road of death, destruction and persecution of people who do not follow Jesus and put you on a path to where you can worship God and tell people about Him.

Receiving Purpose

Here is another guy who received purpose in his life. He was tending sheep out on the backside of the desert. Moses then saw a vision of the Lord that gave him purpose and direction for his whole life. The angel in the burning bush spoke to Moses.

“Moses thought I will go over and see this strange sight, and why it does not burn up,” this is in Exodus 3:1. “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush. And said, “Moses, Moses!” . . . “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face . . . the Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. . . I have come down to rescue them. . . and to bring them out into a land flowing with milk and honey. . . so now go I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

And that was the rest of Moses’ life: spent going to Egypt, getting the people and bringing them out of the desert and into that Promised Land. Eventually they did make it into that Promised Land. It took Moses having that life change, that life-changing encounter with God, where he saw that burning bush, he was curious and he sought further and God spoke to him and showed him, “Moses, here a purpose for your life. Here is what I want you to do. Go and free my people.”

Some of you may be praying for a purpose in your life. I believe God will answer those prayers. He will show you what your purpose is. You are going to get it.

Before I go any further – all of these stories have a common denominator. One of them is that God not only gave Moses a purpose but it also fulfilled God’s purposes. God was trying to free His people in Egypt. He used Moses to do it. So, it not only answered Moses longing for a purpose for his own life but he answered God’s own purposes and desires by saying, “I know you have got other things you want to do God, go ahead and do them through me.” As he yielded to God, God was able to set an entire nation free from persecution and free from slavery. So God may want to do that for you too. He wants to give you purpose in order to fulfill that longing in your heart – but He also to fulfill His will. Maybe to free some people, to set them free, to let them know that God has a purpose for their life too.

Finding A Mate

Here is another Bible character, whose name is Isaac. He was seeking for a wife. He was seeking and praying, this is in Genesis 24. Isaac was looking for a wife and finally he sent his servant to go and find a wife for him from his father’s family. He wanted someone from within his own tribe to marry. His servant went and started praying and asked God to reveal who it would be. He prayed a very specific prayer, “Let it be a woman who brings water, and gives me water and water for my camels as well.” That is exactly what happened. A woman came to draw water her name was Rebekah. She said, “I will draw water for you and your camels too.” The servant said, (Genesis 24:26)

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.”

It was exactly what Isaac wanted and Rebekah became a mother of descendants to numerous to count. Again, fulfilling a promise that God had made to Abraham before and also gave Isaac a wife and gave Rebekah a husband. Several prayers were answered there and fulfilled each of them. God changed Rebekah’s life that day, just like he changed Isaac’s life that day by giving him a mate.

Healing

The final story of a change in life; maybe some of you are needing some physical healing. Here is a woman who came to Jesus and she was bleeding for several years and it says she had suffered a great deal under the care of the doctors and had spent all she had (Mark 5:25-34). Yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. She thought that if she just touched His clothes she would be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. Jesus realized this and later he said to her,

“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free from your suffering.”

Here was a woman freed from an ailment that had plagued her for years. The doctors could not cure it and all her money was exhausted – she had no where else to turn, except to the Lord. And at that moment, the Lord healed her. The Lord changed her life.

Practical Steps

Are you wanting some changes in your life? Maybe it is something that I have mentioned. Maybe it is something that I have not even touched on yet. I want to assure you that God is in the life changing business. Here are a some practical steps on how to go after seeking this change in your life. It may just come upon you, but more likely it will happen as your are seeking the Lord. Here are a few verses that talk about this.

Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desire of your heart.”

So if you will delight yourself in God, He will give you the your desires.

Luke 18, Jesus tells the story that you read earlier. It is a parable in Luke, it says,

“. . . to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

Always pray and not give up. Always pray and not give up. God wants you to always pray and not give up. He wants you to seek Him with your whole heart. He wants you to come after Him and say, “Oh, yes, this is what I want. Please, God, answer this!” This is exactly what happened to this woman in this story. She was saying to a judge grant me justice, grant me justice. The judge would not listen. Finally the judge said, “She will wear me out with her coming. Here I will just go ahead and grant her request.”

Jesus says, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen one, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Jesus very much knows that God hears those prayers and that God wants to make those changes in your life sometimes and especially sometimes even more than you want them made. You are calling out to God, “God! Change this in my life! Change this in my life!” Believe me God wants a change in your life too. He wants you to be whole. He wants you to be fulfilled. But it is going to come through HIM. It is going to come through seeking HIM and searching after HIM. “Ask and you shall receive” is what the Bible says. Sometimes we are asking for the wrong thing. In that case we need to follow some advice that Henry Blackaby gives,

“Oh, Lord, if I ever give you a request and you have more to give me than I am asking, cancel my request!”

Sometimes we are asking the wrong things of God and it is simply a matter of saying, “Ok, God, if this isn’t the right thing, I yield it to You, I give it up to You. I know you have something better than even what I am asking. Please cancel my request.” God will answer it.

So if you are needing some changes in your life, I just want to urge you to seek God. Seek Him with all of your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.

Here are a few ways to do it:

1. Read your Bible. Get a good Bible that you can read that you can understand the words. There are so many at the bookstores now. You can buy a Bible and just read it; read it day and night. It says in the morning read it and in the evening read it. Talk about it as you are going and as you are coming. Talk to your children about it. Just look in the Bible because God has so many answers for YOU that are already written down in there.

2. Go to church. Go to a Bible believing church. A church where they believe God is real, that God has power and listen to what they have to say. You will hear other people who have had their lives changed. You will hear about a God who works. That will increase your faith to believe that He can do it in your life.

3. Pray. Not just call out to God but you might want to write down your prayers – Journal. Just write down what you need and that just helps you clarify your thinking. “God help me. God this is the change I want.” You will be amazed as you look back over your journal, over a few weeks, over a few months or even over a few years – you will see that God has answered prayer after prayer. God has brought about change after change. Sometimes quickly, sometimes very slowly. But you will see the change as you write these things down and look at them over the years.

So I just encourage you to read your Bible, go to church, talk to Christian friends, pray and journal. God will give you the desires of your heart. God will fulfill those things. God will free you from your sins.

In a minute after I sing a song here (I just want to take a break just to sing and worship the God of our lives with all our hearts – just for one song). Then I want to come back and talk about the biggest change that you can make. If you have not yet committed your life to Jesus – God can give you a new heart. It says in the Bible,

“That I will give you a new heart and exchange your old heart of stone for a heart of flesh.”

That is the biggest change that anyone can make. If you haven’t made that stick around for after this song so that I can explain how exactly works so that you can have that transformation take place. Until that one is done none of the others will happen either.

I also want to pray for you believers who have already made that decision. When we come back I just want to pray for you and pray for those specific things that are happening in your life. So stick with me here and let us just worship God with all our hearts. This is a song called “Glorify Thy Name”. It is very simple to sing, it just says, “Father, I love you, I praise you, and I adore you. Glorify Your name in all the earth.”

Prayer

Lord we Do want to glorify You. We just want to serve You. We just want to pour out our hearts to You. God, I know there are people here have been frustrated, who have been concerned that changes haven’t come quick enough. I just want to pray for them right now.

For those that are waiting for a change and have been waiting for a long time, I pray that you would renew their faith right now. Increase their faith God. Increase their faith. Help them in their unbelief. Help them know that you do bring about change sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. But you will bring it about. You say in the Bible,

“Do you not perceive, I am doing a new thing.”

I just pray that you would show them, You would help them perceive that You are doing a new thing. That You are bringing about a change that is good and lasting. Lord, even if it looks like its not good right now, I pray that they would know that IT IS good and that IT IS You. I pray that you would bring them into the place of milk and honey, the place that is flowing with the good things of life. I pray God that you would fulfill your purpose in them as well.

The Best Change: A New Heart

I said that I would tell you about getting a new heart and here is the simple way it happens. You simply come to God and say,

1. “God, I have sinned. I am a sinner. I have made some mistakes that can’t recover from and can’t get out of. I just don’t know what to do. God I am sorry and I just confess it to You.”

2. Then say, “God, I believe in Your Son Jesus. I believe He died for those sins. Only through Him can I have those sins washed away. Then I can be cleaned and sanctified and washed and justified.” Just like those other people in the city of Corinth were who were at one time drunks, adulterers, swindlers, homosexuals, and idolaters. Lord I just want to be like one of those who can be changed by Your power, by Your Holy Spirit because I believe in Jesus.”

3. Just receive Him into your life. Just say, “Lord, I thank you and I invite you to come into my life. Just take over and just take out my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh.”

GOD WILL DO IT! That is all you have to do. Let me pray for you right now if that is what you want.

You don’t even need to hesitate – just say, “God I want it!”

Lord, I just confess my sins to you. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I invite Him into my life right now. Take out my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. In Jesus Name, AMEN.

Prayer

For those of you needing a change in job. A change in marital status (any of you looking for a wife or looking for a husband). You are looking for children. You are looking for purpose, looking for meaning in your life. If you are looking for healing, looking for forgiveness – I am just going to pray right now that God would bring that about in your life. God will heal you and restore you.

Lord, I know there are people who need a job change right now and I just pray for them that You would bring that about. I pray that You would accelerate that and move that forward. I pray that You would open up a job that is just right, that is just what they need for this next season of their life. I pray that You would bring that change about. I pray that You would answer their prayers Lord.

For you who are struggling with sin, I just pray right now that you would be free from that. That you would be able to lay it down and not give into temptation, just leave them at the feet of Jesus.

For people looking for a mate, I just pray right now, that You would answer their prayers – just like You answered Isaac’s, just like You answered mine, just like You have answered people throughout the centuries Lord. You say, “If we delight ourselves in You, You will give us the desires of our heart.” I know some people who are watching that desire a mate Lord more than anything right now. If it is not for them right now I pray that You would give them patience. If there is some spiritual hold up I just pray right now that it would be released and You would give them a peace in their hearts that they would know a spouse is coming.

God for people who just need purpose and meaning in their life, who need a change of direction so they can be fulfilled in what they are doing. I pray right now for those changes. I pray that You would give a purpose to their life and that You would show them a way to fulfill that purpose. I pray that You would give them resources to fulfill that purpose. I pray that You would walk with them every step of the way.

Lord, I just thank You for being here us. Thank You for being in the life changing business. I pray that You would continue to change our lives and mold us image of Your Son Jesus Christ so that we can walk as He walked, talk as He talked, live as He lived, and die and He died – with grace, with dignity, with purpose. In Jesus Name, AMEN.

Goodnight

You need a change? Well, you have come to the right place. This is a place where you hear about God and how He changes lives. You might want to take a look at some of the stories on The Ranch. In the Hall of Faith they are called “Stories of Living Testimonies”. People who are alive today who have had their lives changed by the power of God.

Also, if you want some specific prayer. We will be in the chat room – myself and a few others, who believe in the power of God. We would just like to pray with you or talk with you about any other spiritual matter that has come to your mind so that we can encourage you in your faith. Just to pray with you that God will be there for you. So, if you would join us in the chat room at The Ranch – you can find it under the menu Talk to Someone, then choose the chat room. We will meet you there in just a few minutes and we will be able to pray with you.

If you are watching later in the week, you can always find me on ICQ. There is a way to find that on my chat page as well or you can e-mail me using the contact form.

For my wife and I here in wintry Illinois – Live from The Ranch – this is Eric Elder. Good night.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Looking For Answers

Looking for an answer? Wish God would speak to you, and tell you what he thinks? Be assured, God wants you to know his will for you even more than you want to know it. Come and find the answers to your questions. (Recorded November 22, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Proverbs 2:1-6

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,

and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Outline

The Search for Wisdom is Not in Vain

Let me assure you the search is worth it. It will not be in vain. Listen to what God said in Proverbs. Look for it, search for it, and you will find it.

James makes this promise:

James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

John records this promise from Jesus:

John 14:26-27

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

The Beginning of Wisdom

George Washington Carver: God, tell me the mystery of the universe.

God: That’s too vast for you to comprehend.

Carver: Then can you tell me the mystery of the peanut? God: Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.

And God told him. Up till then the peanut was only used as food for pigs, but Carver invented over 300 uses for it, including oils, grease, paint, cosmetics and peanut butter. The peanut became a chief product of the state of Alabama, affecting their entire economy.

Where do I look for answers?

Keep your eyes open. Keep your ears open. Keep your heart open. I love to pour out my wisdom on those who seek it.

Look through the Bible and see how many ways he spoke to people.

Just a simple search on the words The Lord Said, reveals hundreds of times God spoke to people. The Lord said to Adam, The Lord said to Eve, the Lord said to Cain, the Lord said to Moses, the Lord said to Noah, the Lord said to Abraham, the Lord said to Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Solomon, Elijah…and on and on.

Paul tells us that Jesus was right, the Spirit does speak to us about the deep things of God.

I Corinthians 2:9-10

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”– but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.

As I prayed for Lana, almost a year earlier, this verse came to my mind. I asked God if she was the one, and I pictured the Spirit going, going, and going deeper into the heart of God to find the answer for me.

He’s spoken often through dreams. He revealed the name of Jesus to Joseph in a dream. He revealed to Abraham that he would have a son in a dream, and that his descendents would be as numerous as the sand. And he’s wakened me on several occasions from a dream that gave me pivotal answers to questions, one of which was the beginning of this Internet ministry.

He speaks through other people. David got many words from God from the people around him. David was very close to God, yet God still spoke significant things through prophets named Gad and Nathan that changed the course of his life forever. God speaks to me through other people: pastors, friends, even strangers.

He is speaking all the time. Keep your eyes open. Keep your ears open. Keep your heart open. God loves to pour out his wisdom on those who seek it.

James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for giving us life and breath.

Thank you for speaking to us and answering our questions.

Lord, we revere you, we respect you and we rightfully fear you. We ask that you would pour out your wisdom upon us that we may serve you with everything we’ve got.

Amen.

Transcript

Hi! This is Eric Elder broadcasting live from The Ranch. Are you looking for answers to your questions? I hope that you are staying with me tonight because we are going to take a little bit of time to look at how God really does answer your questions. That search is not in vain. If you are searching for answers, I want to tell you tonight that God WILL answer your questions. In fact, He has spoken to me tonight – He just wanted to tell me a very simple message to tell you. This is the message:

Keep your eyes open, keep your ears open, and keep your heart open. For I, the Lord, am so eager to pour out my wisdom on those who seek it.

So God just really wants to do that for you. He wants to answer your questions. We are going to take a look at how He does that. Some different ways He might answer your questions and ways that you can keep your eyes, ears and heart open.

The Search for Wisdom is Not in Vain

I want you to look with me at a passage in Proverbs 2. So if you will open your Bible or if you don’t have a Bible in front of you, if you will look at the Message Notes that are on your screen. You can pull up the Message Notes and you will be able to read from Proverbs 2:1-6. I just want to play a short piece of music here while you read that passage. I just want those words to sink into your heart so you can really believe that this search is not in vain. That God really will answers your questions because He wants to show His will to you. In fact, He wants you to know His will more than you even want to know it. So, why don’t you take a look at Proverbs 2:1-6 and I will be back in a few minutes to talk with you about looking for answers and finding them in God.

So you see from reading in Proverbs that God really does want to answer your questions. He really is interested in you. In fact, He wants you to know His will more than you even want to know it. Doesn’t that just sound like God though? He really has your best interest in mind. He also has things that He wants to accomplish.

So He really wants to tell you what to do with your life. He wants to tell you whom to marry. He wants to tell you where to go to school. He wants to tell you what kinds of things to do with your money. What kinds of things to do with your life. What kinds of things to do with your talents and your gifts. God is very interested in revealing those things to you. So I just want to encourage you in that tonight. I just want to encourage you that God really will answer your questions. It is really worth asking and that the search is not in vain.

The Beginning of Wisdom

There is a funny story that I heard. Actually it was funny to me but it turned out to be a very truthful story. A man named George Washington Carver, he was an inventor, he came to God one day and said, “God, tell me the mystery of the universe.” And God said, “Oh, George, that is too vast for you to comprehend.” So George said, “Ok, God then tell me the mystery of the peanut.” Then God said, “Ok, George that is nearly your size.”

So He gave him insights into the peanut and how the peanut could be used. Up until that time the peanut was only used for hog food. So George Washington Carver came up with over 300 uses for the peanut. Everything from cosmetics, to oils, to paints, to greases and even peanut butter were invented by George Washington Carver. Simply by asking God, “God show me the mysteries of the peanut, show me Your wisdom, give me Your wisdom.” God graciously poured out the wisdom on that man and it changed the entire economy of the state of Alabama. The state of Alabama needed a turnaround and it turned out that the peanut, all the by-products and all the industries turned into a $300 million a year business. All because of a man named George Washington Carver simply asking God for wisdom.

God is very eager to give you wisdom. Let me just quote a few passages from the Bible where He makes this promise.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

You see, God is eager to give that out, and He gives generously to ALL without finding fault. Regardless of your education level, regardless of your color, regardless of your background, regardless of your situation or your past sins. God very much wants to give you wisdom. Even Jesus said He would send someone to give us wisdom. That “someone” is the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

So, Jesus promised when He was with His disciples and said, up to now I have taught you everything but when I leave I’m going to send another. My counselor, the Holy Spirit, He is going to reveal everything to you. He is going to teach you all things. He will remind you of everything I have said to you.

So we are not alone here. God very much wants to speak to us. Let us look where wisdom starts because we need to understand that God is the giver of all wisdom. As you looked in Proverbs 2, you noticed a key verse at the end, but look what we need to do up to the point where God speaks:

Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if you accept my words”

That is something right there, just accept His word.

“and store up my commands within you,”

That is something God wants us to do, store up His commands

“turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,”

He is saying turn your ear, apply your heart to understanding

“and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

It is God that is going to answer your questions, and God who is going to give the wisdom. Our part of the deal is to search for it, to look for it, to open our eyes, to call out for understanding, to cry aloud for it. Many of you I know have been doing that for a long time. You have been crying out to God and saying, “God, please answer me.”

I know that I was crying out at one time for some wisdom and I was asking God who I should marry. There was a girl in mind that I was wondering God is this was the girl? Is Lana the girl for me? I got down on my knees (literally) and I just pleaded before the Lord and asked, “Is this the one? Is this the one? You say your Holy Spirit will tell us. Will you tell me now?” This verse is one that I stuck with at that time. It is in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 and this is what it says what the Spirit of God will do for us.

“However, as it is written: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has hearts, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit.”

So, here Paul was saying, no one has seen or heard or conceives what God has prepared, but God has revealed it to us through His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things even the deep things of God.

As I was sitting there on the on my knees, saying, “God, what is the answer?” I was picturing the Holy Spirit searching all things, even the deep things of God. I could practically see, in my mind’s eye, the Holy Spirit going deeper and deeper and deeper into the heart of God to find the answer to my question. I just said, “God, please show me, please show me, please show me.” As I did I just saw the Spirit going further and further and further to ask God. And then all of a sudden – all my prayers stopped. Everything shut off. I just said, “Ok, God, where is the answer?” There was no answer that came that night. But I had a peace in my heart that the Holy Spirit had gone to find the answer for me.

Later, He came back with that answer. He revealed it to me and I will share that with you later about how you look for answers and where you look. I just wanted to let you know that it starts with God, it starts with searching out the deep things of God and saying, “God, I pray that You would show it to me.” As the end of Proverbs 2:6 says, “You will the knowledge of God.”

Where do I look for Answers?

So where do we look for answers? Once we start asking the question, where might we find some answers? I found this on my shelf – this is a book that we had gotten a few years ago. It is called The Book of Questions. As if we don’t have enough questions in life, they have written a book full of questions. For $3.95 you can buy this book and have all kinds of questions that you can ask.

Well, wouldn’t it be nice, if we could buy a book with the answers that would go with The Book of Questions, that we already have got, each of us, in our heart. Well, luckily for us, there is a book of answers and it is priceless. It is called the Bible. If you are looking for a word from God, here is over 800,000 of them. God has recorded in His written word all kinds of answers for us.

I get answers from the Bible more than any other way of getting an answer from God. When God speaks to me, He uses the words on the pages of this book. In fact, as I was asking God about Lana one more time – whether she was the girl to marry – I was reading Adam and Eve’s story. How Adam was sitting there in the garden and doing all his work, but he was all alone – there was no suitable helper found for him. And God said, “I will create a woman and bring that woman right to Adam.” So He put Adam to sleep, He created Eve; He created that woman and brought her to Adam. And He said, “Here, I have created this woman just for you.”

In that moment, God spoke to me and said, “Eric, I have created Lana just for you. Here she is, she is yours. She is a gift and I have brought her here to this city for you. I have brought her here so she can be your wife.” I was just thrilled and overjoyed that God had answered me through the Bible. God had given me a gift, just like He had given to Adam, a gift of a wife. I proposed to Lana that very day, in fact within ten minutes of hearing that from God. I went and I talked to Lana, and I said, “Lana, God has just spoken to me and has given me the most clear answer that I have had.” We were married a few months after that and almost eleven years later we have a terrific marriage. God knows He knows what is best for us; He knows those answers to our questions even before we ask them.

So God will speak to us through the Bible. It is one of the primary ways that I hear from God. God also speaks to us directly from the Holy Spirit. He tells us things; He quickens things to us in our hearts. He speaks to us directly even through His direct words. Many times He `spoke to people through the Bible. I did a simple search when it says in the Bible, “The Lord said” or “God spoke to someone”. Hundreds of times throughout the Bible it says: “The Lord spoke to Adam”, “The Lord spoke to Eve”, “The Lord said to Cain”, “The Lord said to Moses”, “The Lord said to Noah”, “The Lord said to Abraham”, “The Lord said to Aaron, to Joshua, to Gideon, to Samuel, to Solomon, to Elijah, and on and on and on. God speaks to His people. God speaks and He loves to speak to us. He loves to tell us what is on His heart.

God speaks to us through dreams. Some people are curious whether dreams come from God or whether they come from a pepperoni pizza that they ate that night. Well, some of each. But throughout the Bible God spoke through dreams. He spoke to Joseph in a dream and told him the name of His Son, Jesus. The very name Jesus came to the man Joseph in a dream. He spoke to Abraham in a dream, he spoke to Joseph in a dream and He spoke to them about what their future would be.

In fact, He spoke to me about this Internet ministry a year ago, in a dream. I woke up in the middle of the night, shot up out of bed and said that is it. That is exactly what God wants me to do. It was through a dream that God confirmed it and spoke it to my heart. So I would know that this is what He wanted me to do full time. So don’t discount how God speaks through dream. I got an e-mail from someone in Canada who shared with me a dream that I would love to share sometime if I get her permission. It spoke to her the love of Christ and how God really loved her and how God wanted to take care of her. God really does speak through that.

He speaks through people. Many times in the Bible, I would not think that we would need other people to us, even a man like David, King David, who is very close to God. He is called a man after God’s own heart. Even he would hear from other people sometimes what God had in mind for him. He heard from a man named Gad, about his future. He heard from a man named Nathan about his sin and about how God was going to deal with him on that sin when he committed adultery with Bathsheba. There were various times when other people spoke to a person about God’s will. That happens to us often, when we hear from a Pastor, we hear from someone on TV, we hear a friend, sometimes even a stranger – what God’s will is for us. We know in our hearts at that time that it is exactly right and that is what we are to do.

I want to encourage you that God is speaking all the time. He wants to answer your questions. I was asking Him what He wanted me to speak tonight. He spoke this into my heart, tells the people this,

Keep your eyes open, keep your ears open, keep your heart open. I love to pour out my wisdom on those who seek it.

So I want to pray and sing a song. Just worship God with me. I am going to come back after the song and just pray with you that God is going to open your eyes and He’s going to open your ears and open your hearts. He’s going to begin to answer your questions. So that you can know the wisdom of God. James 1:5 says

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and if will be given to him.”

Let us sing and worship God and then I want to come back. I have a special message if you don’t believe in God. I want to share that with you when we come back as well. God has such a plan for you; He wants to answer the biggest question that I believe you have in your mind – and that is “What is the purpose for my life?” “What is the meaning of Life?” When we come back after this song I’m going to share with you exactly what that is and how you can know that in your heart today. You can know that answer before you leave today.

You know this song, “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. God is very faithful. If you just want to sing it with me, if you have a guitar, we are in the key of D. You can just sing along with me, play along with me and just worship the Lord because He is going to answer your questions.

Are You Searching for the Meaning of Life?

If you are searching for the meaning of life, if you are searching for what purpose are you put here for – I just want to tell you in a nutshell. God created you so that He can fellowship with you, so He can be with you and talk with you. He can’t fellowship with the stars; he can’t enjoy talking with the trees, the ants or the monkeys. He created someone in His own image and that someone is YOU. God said, “I just want to be with you.”

We unfortunately have turned away from God. We have sinned. If you are married you know what this is like. When you have sinned against your wife, you have committed adultery or something; you are not that close with your wife anymore. If you have not told her about it, if you have not confessed that and repented of that, then you are going to feel terrible. You are not exactly going to want to be around your wife very often, you are not going to be intimate with her. You are sort of going to want to runaway actually.

That is what it is like when we sin against God. We want to have an intimate relationship with God, but when we sin and turn away it pulls us away and that sins keeps us separated from God. God wants us to repent, turn around, confess our sins, and come back to Him. So we can be intimate with Him and talk to Him. That is why you were created so that you could be intimate with Him and enjoy God’s fellowship. Unfortunately, that sin is blocking you. The only way you can turn around and come back and be forgiven of that sin is to believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

It was very simply stated in the Bible,

“For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

If you repent of your sins and believe that Jesus died on the cross for you, that you wouldn’t have to die for your sins – God will forgive you, He will forget those sins, they are washed away in a sea of forgetfulness. He forgets them as far as the east is from the west. You can come right back with God into fellowship with Him, be intimate with Him and enjoy a personal relationship with Him. Just like Noah did. Just like Moses, Paul, Amos, Obadiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah – all of these people had an intimate relationship with God. They walked with him and talked with him and they enjoyed his presence. There you have found the purpose of life.

We talked with a girl today who has found that a few weeks ago. Her whole life has changed. She has found the purpose of life she has found the meaning. She says she has learned more in the past week about God then I have in 35 years from going to church because she found it wasn’t about going to church, it wasn’t about the religious things we do. It was about walking with God and being intimate with him. God loves to change lives – He is in the life changing business. That is why He came, and Jesus that is why he died. He wants to do it for you.

Prayer

I want to pray with you. If you want to know this meaning of life more personally, but I also want to pray with the many believers who are watching us as well. Who just want to some answers to their questions, their day to day questions. What do I do today? What do I eat? What do I wear? Where do I go? Who do I marry? There are a lot of questions that we have and God wants to answer them. Let us pray for those right now.

Lord, the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. For anyone who doesn’t know you God, who has not come into that fellowship with You, who doesn’t walk with You. God I pray for them right now that they would repent of their sins. That this instant they would say, “I’m sorry, please forgive me, I believe in Your Son, I want to go to heaven, and I want to have eternal life with You God.”

That is it that is all it takes. And God will forgive you and wipe them clean. I want to pray now for you who are asking tough questions of God and you are pouring out your heart and crying out to God. Let us pray right now for you.

Lord, You promised us that if any of us lack wisdom we just need to ask You and You will give generously to All without finding fault. That if we believe You and not doubt we won’t be tossed to and fro but we will have that sure foundation and we will know with certainty that You have answered us. God, I pray that You would pour out wisdom on those watching, that You would pour out your wisdom right now in this instant and as well as for the people watching later. I pray that You would pour out that wisdom so that they would know and have the assurance that even if You don’t answer today that You will give an answer. You promise us Lord and you say that if we seek for wisdom we will find it. We will find the knowledge of God. We will understand the mysteries.

God, if we are asking too much, then please shrink our request down to the size of a peanut. But then when you answer, I pray that you would give us 300 answers Lord so we would know what to do with it.

For the people who are wondering who to marry, if they will ever marry – God answer their questions. God, bring them a mate. Lord give them peace in their heart.

God, for people who are praying about children, I pray that you would answer them today. That they would know whether or not they are going to conceive. They would know whether or not to adopt. They would know whether or not that You are going to be there for them. I know Your answer is that You will – that you will be there. For you say that You will never leave us or forsake us.

God, I pray for those people who are really struggling with eating disorders, struggling with homosexuality. Struggling with adultery, struggling with affairs. Lord, for people struggling with what to do and how to get out of it – they have gotten in such a situation and they don’t even know how to get out of it. God give them wisdom and show them the way out. For God I know that you want to give them the way out. I know You want them to know how to get out. For You don’t want them to struggle in that mire, that muck, in that yuck that entangles all of us. I pray God that You would deliver them and show them the way out.

God, for people who are wrestling with what to do for the holidays, how to apply Your word to their life. For people who are struggling with what to do with their money. For people who are struggling with where they are going to get money. I pray that you would give them wisdom. I pray that they would seek You out, diligently and with their hearts Lord and that You would answer.

God, thank You for answering our questions, thank You that You have provided a Book of Answers, that is free to each one of us. Thank You that You have sent Your Holy Spirit, who searches out the deep things of God, so that we can know the answers to our deepest questions.

Lord, I love You, I worship You, and all of us watching tonight – we say thank you, thank you Lord for being so good to us. I thank You for my wife, who is in this room. I thank You God for answering my question for who to marry. I thank You for answering the question that I have had about the meaning of life. God, You are so good. We just bless You tonight and worship you and ask that You would continue to be with us as we sleep and as we go through our days. In Jesus Name. AMEN.

Boy, it is good to talk about the Lord. It is really good to share with you what He has taught me with you and I pray that you will share some of the things that He has taught you as well with me and with others. We have a chat room on The Ranch. I am going to go there right now after the live broadcast and we are just going to spend some time chatting.

If you are watching this later you can send me an e-mail or find me on ICQ, there is a way on our Talk to Someone page where you can locate me and we can talk. I would be glad to pray with you about any specific instances or any specific questions you have. Right now in the chat room we are going to talk a little more about these questions of how God answers prayers. I want to hear from you about how God has answered your prayers so that we can share that as encouragement with others.

Thanks for coming! I have enjoyed this time here at The Ranch. Join me again next week as we broadcast another message Live from The Ranch.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Scared To Life

Looking for a truly scary story this Halloween? Here’s one that’s got thrills and chills galore. It may not scare you to death, but it may just scare you to life. The ending depends on you. Find out why in this message. (Recorded November 1, 1998)

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Luke 16:19-22

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

“In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

“So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”

Outline

1. The Reality of Hell

My first encounter with the reality of hell

What Jesus said about hell

– There is fire in hell (Matthew 5:22)

– Hell is more painful than cutting off your hand (Mark 9:43-49)

– Hell is worse than dying (Matthew 10:28)

What others say about the coming destruction

– Revelation

– Scientists

– Cataclysmic Ending

2. What Are You Waiting For?

Many go to hell, but few find the way to heaven (Matthew 7:13-14)

Waiting for a miracle? (Luke 16:19-31)

One day the door will be shut forever (Luke 13:23-28)

3. Choose Your Own Ending

You can choose life or death (Romans 6:23)

What kind of people ought you be? (2 Peter 3:9-14)

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for warning us of the coming destruction.

Thank you for providing a way out through faith in Christ.

And Lord, we recommit our lives to you right now.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Transcript

I am glad you are with me tonight. I am going to talk about a subject I do not usually touch on. Tonight, since it is Halloween week, I want to talk about a truly scary story. I want to talk about hell. I want to give you a very clear picture of what hell is like, from my perspective as well as from what the Bible says and what Jesus says. I think it could very well scare you to life. This is not just a message that will scare you to death, but I believe that it can actually have eternal consequences and it could scare you right to life with Jesus forever in Heaven. So I want you to may close attention to what I say tonight. Just hear what God has to speak to you as well.

There is a message note section on your screen and if you will read that passage right now. I am going to play a song, so that you can read and hear from God what Jesus described hell is like. You will read in a passage of Luke 16:19-31. You will read about a man that went to hell and another that went to heaven, and the difference between those two places. So I want you to just take a few moments and read that story while I play a song. Then we will come back in a few minutes and talk about it. Thanks; I hope you will join me for this topic tonight about hell.

I was just thinking about a joke I heard. It was about a man who died and went to heaven and he stood before St. Peter at the pearly gates. St. Peter asked him, “Why should I let you into heaven?” The man said, “Well, I helped a lot of sick people. They were sick and I managed a healthcare organization. I determined their time in the hospital. So that was my job. And I just helped a lot of sick people.” St. Peter looked at him and he thought about it for a minute and he said, “Hmmm, well ok you can come in, but you can only stay three days.”

The Reality of Hell

Well thankfully, heaven is not like that. But unfortunately hell is not like that either. Once you make your choice, whether to follow Jesus Christ or not, you are going to be in heaven forever or you are going to be in hell forever. And frankly, I do not know a lot about hell, but I know enough that I do not want to go there.

I first encountered hell, at least the reality of it, eleven years ago. I was sitting in an auditorium and I was hearing a man describe how Jesus came into the world. He explained that God had sent Jesus for a very specific reason. That throughout the whole Bible, men had been turning away from God and every time they turned away, God was grieved in His heart. He said that some day He was going to have to destroy the world and punish all men for this. But He said, “I will send my Son to make a way out for them. And anyone who believes in Him can have eternal life.”

Jesus is going to come again another day and bring that ultimate destruction. It (the Bible) says that there will be a day when it will be too late to make that decision. Those who had not made that decision for Jesus Christ would be sent to hell for the deeds that they have done. I decided that night that I knew enough at that point that I did not want to go to hell. I repented of my sins and I accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my Savior and it changed my life the very next day. Everything in my life changed. I had a whole new perspective on my life and it has been the same for many, many thousands of people who have made a similar decision. So that was my first encounter with hell. The reality hit me that there really was a hell and the great joy hit me that there really is a heaven as well.

You do not have to take my word for it – you can take God’s word for it. Here is what Jesus says about hell. Many people admire Jesus and respect Him as a great teacher. They believe what He says about heaven because they are very eager to go there. But some people do not believe what He said about hell. Yet, Jesus talked about a very real hell. Here are three things that he says about hell:

1. In the book of Matthew 5:22 He describes hell as being a place of fire. In fact an unquenchable fire, where the fire never goes out. He warns people not to kill others or even be angry with them. Or they will be (this is His quote) “in the danger of the fire of hell.” Also in Mark, the place of hell is where the fire never goes out. Where it is not quenched.

2. Hell is more painful than cutting off your hand or plucking out your eye. In Mark 9:43-49. He says, “If your hand causes you to sin, it would be better to cut it off than to be sent to hell.” Having sinned with that hand He would rather you cut it off that sinful hand rather than being sent to hell with your whole body. In the same way he says, if you eye looks lustfully at someone, it would be better to pluck your eye out and go to heaven maimed than it would be to go with your whole body to hell. So in that passage, I get out it, that hell is more painful than cutting off your hand or plucking out your eye.

3. Jesus said that hell was worse than losing your whole life. Matthew 10:28. It is worse than dying itself. Many people are afraid of death. Many people who have the assurance of salvation; they know what is going to happen after death. They are still afraid of the process of dying. What is going to kill them? Is it going to be a car accident, some painful trauma, or a disease that is going to take their life? People are actually afraid of the process of dying. Well, Jesus says this. “Do not be afraid of Satan, the one who can kill the body but who cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One that can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Imagine if dying is more pleasant than hell, it must be a pretty scary place. Not a place I would want to go to.

For instance the book of Revelation speaks about the destruction of the earth. That there is going to be a great fire that comes down from heaven. In fact, in nine of the chapters of Revelations, (almost half of the chapters) it talks about fire coming from heaven and destroying parts of the earth, people’s bodies as well as the entire earth itself. So almost half of the book of Revelation, which describes the things to come, talks about this fire that is going to destroy the whole earth.

If you do not believe that, you can look at what scientists say. A few years ago when I was doing technology research I read a book that was talking about technologies of the future. This book was written by an atheist, a secular man, who didn’t believe in God, didn’t believe in Jesus Christ. In the book he went on to describe how he laughed at people who believed in the Bible and what the Bible says. Yet, do you know what he said about the destruction of the world and how it would eventually end?

It was interesting to me because he described in the beginning of the book how the world was formed. He said, ” I do not believe the Bible at all, that is all a bunch of baloney, it does not make any sense.” He mocked people. Here he said that we all evolved from amoebae that grew in some water that was around. So we all evolved from this water like substance and then out of that the whole earth and everything else came. Well, it’s interesting that the Bible says the exact same thing. Not describing evolution, but describing the water that starts the whole process of the earth. The earth was covered with water.

Then, he got to the end of the book, and he described what was going to happen at the end of the earth, as we know it. He said at the end the sun would simply go out. I started reading that and I said, “Oh, he must believe that we are going to freeze to death if the sun goes out. That directly contradicts what the Bible says.” But NO, he went on to describe that if the sun goes out that it would actually turn into a super nova, it would explode, like all stars do when they go out. When that exploding sun hits the earth it would consume the earth in a great ball of fire. So here, even this man who is an atheist, who does not believe in the Bible, says the earth started with water and its going to end in fire. Exactly what the Bible says!

Cataclysmic Endings

So you can take my word for it, take the scientists word for it, or take Jesus’ word for it – THE WORLD WILL END IN A GREAT BALL OF FIRE. He wants us to escape from the flame. Tonight, I pray that you will make the decision that you too would escape from the flame.

What Are You Waiting For?

What are you waiting on in making a decision for Jesus Christ? Here are a couple of things straight from the Bible. Even though there is a difference between heaven and hell, many people will go the route to hell. Only a few people will choose the route to life or heaven. You have to wonder why that would be. Only few people find the path. I believe that only a few people are seeking God and that is why it will be this way. But God does not want anyone to perish. That is why He sent His Son into the world.

In fact, in was like an Agatha Christi novel when I heard it. It was one of the BEST endings to a story that could not even be conceived by man. The end of the world, is actually a double ending. There are two comings of Jesus Christ.

The first coming, GOD SAID I AM going to destroy the world, I AM going to do this thing. I AM so grieved at what man has done that I AM going to destroy them. But first, I AM going to make a way for them to escape. I AM going to send Jesus Christ down, my Son, down to the earth to warn people and to die as a sacrifice for their sins. Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ will have a chance to go and be with Me in heaven forever. Anyone that does not believe in Jesus Christ does not believe that He is the one that I sent, then they will simply get the punishment for the sins that they had coming anyway. I, God, have provided an escape route, for people who want to escape the coming destruction. Then His Son was raised from the dead, raised to the right hand of God.

Here comes the double ending: He sends Jesus back again into the world to destroy the earth, like He promised He would do. Just before He does, He will pull His people out, and they will escape from the flames, before the whole earth goes up in a ball of fire.

Are you waiting for some more information? Do you need a miracle to believe in Jesus? Maybe you need someone to come back from the dead to tell you exactly what hell is like. Well, that’s exactly the passage I told you to read earlier. Let us take a look at it now, Luke 16:19-31. It describes two men. One was a rich man and one was a servant (Lazarus) of the rich man. Follow what happens in verses 23-31.

In hell, where he the rich man was in torment, He looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”

So all he wanted was Lazarus the servant to come and dip his finger in water and to touch his tongue with it – hell was so tortuous; the fire was so hot.

But Abraham replied, ” Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.”

So heaven and hell are very separate places and you CANNOT go back and forth between the two. You don’t get three days in one to make your decision. You don’t get three days in the other to make your decision. YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION HERE ON EARTH. Then you are sent to one or the other and there is a great chasm between the two. You will not be able to cross it later.

He answered, (this is the rich man), “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.” Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; (basically they have the Old Testament, the scriptures) let them listen to them.” “No, father Abraham,” he said, “but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

Basically, Jesus was saying that we have all the facts to make the decision right now. You know whether you have sinned or not. You know the sins you have done cannot be paid for by any amount of money you give. They cannot be paid for; they cannot be made up for in any way that you could think of. In fact, the only way that they could be made up for is for someone to die. That someone was Jesus Christ. He died for you and for those sins. He made it very clear on the cross that it was finished – it was done. All you have to do is believe in Him and those sins would be paid for, that debt would be paid, and you could be free to come to heaven. That is what you need to do if you have not made that decision.

You do not need anymore convincing. You know that you are sinful. We all know it – we have all seen it. Yet, we still wait for a miracle. We wish that someone would come back from the dead. But let me tell you this passage in Luke 13:23-28, this is the one that tipped me over the edge as well. When I heard this passage I said, “OK, I need to make my decision today.”

It says that Jesus will return and He will take His people and when the door is closed people will be standing outside, knocking and pleading to open the door. But He will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from.” So this door will be closed, people will see Jesus, it says that everyone will see Jesus when He comes back next time. Everyone will see Him coming in the cloud. And I can tell you that many people will be running after Jesus, saying, “JESUS! We believe you now! PLEASE TAKE US WITH YOU!” But then Jesus, in His own words, say, “It will be too late, the door will be shut, and you will be outside banging and screaming saying ‘Let me in’.”

Just like the people in the days of Noah, when God destroyed the earth the first time with the flood. They were banging and screaming on the doors of the Ark, but it was too late to open the door. They had already made their decision. Even if they made no decision, they had made a decision. You cannot sit on the fence on this one. YOU ARE EITHER FOR JESUS CHRIST OR YOU ARE AGAINST HIM. You cannot be in the middle. I want to urge you to make that decision – TO BE FOR JESUS CHRIST. Once you make that decision, you need to be for Jesus Christ for the rest of your life. This is a matter of being for Jesus Christ in everything you do and in every aspect of your life.

Choose Your Own Ending

The nice part about this story, that truly scary story, that I’m telling you tonight, is that it has an interactive element to it. That means that you can choose your own ending to the story. You can choose life or you can choose death. Romans 6:23 puts it like this: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus Our Lord.” So you can choose the wages of your sin, which is the penalty of your sin, and that is death. Or you can choose eternal life that is, choosing to receive the free gift of eternal life through Christ Jesus, Our Lord. I URGE YOU TO CHOOSE LIFE! CHOOSE LIFE!

We are going to pray in a few minutes when we come back. I am just going to sing a song to the Lord. I want you to think about that, I want you to think about a passage from 2Peter as well. And if you already made that decision there is a powerful passage that says that we need to be very careful how we live our lives once we have made that decision. God will come back, the world will be destroyed, and that is going to impact how we live.

Look at this (before we go to a song and then we are going to come back and pray) in 2Peter 3:9-14:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”

Peter believed in hell. Jesus believed in hell. John believed in hell. I believe in hell. I pray that you too will believe in hell and you would choose heaven. Here is what he says to believers,

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?

Let me read that again:

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.”

We are going to pray after this song and I want to tell you a short story about the city called Nagasaki. That God’s destruction is worse than any destruction that we can imagine. Come back with me in a minute. I just want to sing a song that says, “Glorify Thy name God, glorify Your name in all the earth.” I just pray that His would be glorified tonight and throughout the world until He comes again.

What Happens when God Chooses to Destroy Something?

The story I want to share with you is that God’s destruction is imminent. It is coming, and it is going to be more total then anything we’ve ever imagined. I read in the paper that there is a city called Nagasaki in Japan. And after Hiroshima was bombed back in World War II, that ended that war, they also bombed a city called Nagasaki. People estimated that it would be centuries before either of those cities would ever be inhabited again. It would be centuries before anything grew again, because of the radiation levels and because everything else that had happened, because of this destruction power of the atomic bomb.

Yet, that has only been fifty years ago. Do you know what remains in Nagasaki; do you know that if you went there and saw the landscapes, do you know what you would see? You would see trees, buildings and houses. It has all been built back up; its been rebuilt. The flowers have grown. The trees have grown. In fact the only reminder that there was every a bomb is in the city of Nagasaki is in the center of a Central Park, it is just a memorial to the bomb – where the bomb had dropped at that spot. But otherwise things have grown back.

In fact, volcanic eruptions do not cause the destruction that we are talking about. When a volcano erupts it actually provides a nice rich soil for things to grow. When Mount St. Helens erupted they were concerned that things would never grow back again. Yet, everything grew back in a few years, things started sprouting again. In fact, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful paradises of the earth and all it is a bunch of volcanoes that have been erupting over the years. So even a volcanic eruption does not match what God is going to do.

Here is what happens when God sets His mind to destroy something. He said He was going to destroy the city of Sodom and Gomorrah, this was four thousand years ago, because of the wickedness of the people. In fact, He was quite willing to spare it even if there were ten righteous people in the city. But, he could not find ten righteous people. So He had to destroy the city and when He destroyed it, He said nothing would ever grow here again and no man would ever live here again. And four thousand years later do you know what you see when you go to that spot on the earth – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! It’s a desert, it is dry, there is no growth, nothing on it whatsoever!

God, when He chooses to destroy something, He does it totally and completely. And that is what He is going to do at the end of the world. There will be nothing left of it whatsoever. There will be no reverse; there will be second generation of the planet earth. There will only be a total destruction. God has promised us that will happen.

So the question is – How ought we to live our lives, with this imminent destruction in mind? I beg you, as well as Peter begged you, TO LIVE YOUR LIVES HOLY, BLAMELESS AND RIGHTEOUS. REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND CONTINUE TO WALK WITH GOD.

Prayer

Let’s pray that we would be able to that:

Lord, I thank you that you loved us so much, that you were willing to send Jesus to warn us of the coming destruction. That you did not want anyone to perish but that you said, “I am going to provide a way of escape for anyone who wants it, for anyone who believes in my Son.” Thank you Lord for that warning, thank you for sending Jesus to die as a sacrifice for our sins, so we would not have to.

God, if there is anyone out there listening right now. Listening to this broadcast, now or months later even, as it is recorded, years later – I pray that they would make that decision right now to believe in Your Son, Jesus. That they would not want to be like one outside the door banging, knocking, and screaming to get in. And Jesus says, “I am sorry I never knew you.” Because it would be true. If you do not have fellowship with Jesus, He never did know you. He never fellowshipped with you because you never invited Him in. I ask you now to invite Him in. He is knocking at your door right now, saying please I am trying to give you another chance – repent of your sins and believe in me and we will walk together forever. If you want to do that, just tell the Lord you are sorry for your sins, that you believe in His Son Jesus and that you want to be in heaven forever. I pray that it would scare you right to life.

Now, for people who have already made that decision, I want to pray for you now – that you would be able to walk holy, upright and blameless.

Lord, I just pray that you would help the people watching, that you would help me and Lana right here Lord, you would help our kids, you would help other people’s kids to live holy and blameless before you. To live their lives in a way that is fully aware of the imminent destruction of the earth. Lord, I do not know how soon that is, but You in Your own words said it was soon. I imagine that means SOON! I just want to be pure and blameless before You when that day comes. I just ask that You would keep me holy, convict me of sin that would help me to understand how I can live a better life for You. Help me to know how to follow You. Help the people that are watching to do the same thing Lord.

God, we sure do love You. We sure do glorify Your name throughout the earth. We just thank You for providing a way of escape from this truly scary story. In Jesus name I pray. AMEN.

I hope tonight has been a blessing for you. If you want to talk further, we have a chat room here at The Ranch and you can just go to the area that says Talk to Someone and there will be someone there. I will be there and there will be a couple of other people there to talk with you and pray with you further, if you would like further follow up.

Also, throughout the week, you can E-mail me on the contact form. We will be glad to pray with you and send a note back to you or you can find us on the ICQ as well. That is also on the page, how to download the software and to get to that.

I am so glad that you are able to watch this broadcast and I pray that you will join me next week as well when we are going to be talking about “The Fear of the Lord” and really how that is the beginning of wisdom. So if you need wisdom in your life, if you need answers to questions, we are going to talk about how you can enter into that relationship with God so you can get the answers from Him that you need to life’s toughest questions.

Thanks for joining me at The Ranch! Have a great day or great night and we will see you next week.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Catching A Glimpse Of God

You’ve got to admit, if there is a God, He must be pretty big. That would mean it’s pretty hard to hide. Yet God can hide Himself from us, just as He can reveal himself to us. Although it may seem like a cosmic game of hide and seek, God promises that when you seek Him, you’ll find Him. (Recorded October 25, 1998)

Watch The Video

Scriptures

Job 33:14

“For God does speak — now one way, now another — though man may not perceive it.”

Luke 24:13-53

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Outline

1. A cosmic game of hide and seek that resulted in this web site

2. God can hide himself, and God can reveal himself.

II Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Luke 24:31-35

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

John 21:4-7

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

3. God promises when we seek him, we will find him.

Deuteronomy 4:29

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

Acts 17:26-27

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for revealing yourself to us.

Thank you for promising that when we seek you we will find you.

Lord, we commit right now to seek you out, to look for you, for Lord, we do want to find you, and be with you forever. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Transcript

Hi, this is Eric Elder broadcasting Live from The Ranch. I am glad that you are with me tonight.

I was thinking this week, that some people spend tens of thousands of dollars to build a studio that looks just like their living room. We actually broadcast directly FROM our living room. So it is sort of like you and me – whether your sitting there at home at the computer or sitting at work, on a break, and watching this message. So I just want to invite you to come in. I will just pray a little bit and we will just speak a little bit.

My main purpose in coming to you with these messages is that you would be encouraged in your faith in the Lord. God is everywhere. In fact, He is all around us. That does not mean He is in the trees. That does not mean He is in the earth somehow. But God is a VERY BIG GOD. In fact, if He created all of this and if He is really omnipresent, which means everywhere at once, and capable of being everywhere at once. Then, it would make sense that we are able to see Him occasionally from time to time. In fact, I would think it is pretty hard for God to hide at all from us. Yet, somehow He is able to reveal Himself and hide Himself.

A Cosmic Game of Hide and Seek

Tonight, I want to talk about that cosmic game of hide and seek. I want to encourage you and God especially wants to encourage you that THE SEEK is worth it. God promises that if you SEEK Him – YOU WILL FIND HIM. So I just want to encourage you that God is here, God is with us, and God is with us right now, too.

If you have not been with us before – would you take a look at the Message Notes on your screen? There is a little spot on the page that you came here from, and it says Message Notes. On that, there are some scripture references from the Bible. If you have a Bible you can look them up in your version – and if you do not have a Bible you can just read them on the screen (I typed them up beforehand, and you can take a look at that).

I am just going to play a song and let you clear your mind and just give you a chance to unwind from the day and let your mind have a little break. Why don’t you read that passage on that page listed from Luke? While you read that just ask God to open your heart and reveal Himself to you again today.

Job 33:14 For God does speak, now one way, now another thought man may not perceive it.

God does speak, now one way, now another though men may not perceive it. Do you realize that God is speaking all the time? It is just like your TV or your radio. Unless you have your TV turned on or your radio tuned to the right channel you are not going to hear any of it. God says, there is a way to get your channel tuned into Him, so you can hear Him 24 hours a day. He can reveal Himself to you and you can just put your hand up just like an antenna and start receiving prayers from God. Your receiving answers from prayers to God. It all comes through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.

Maybe you have walked with Jesus for years or you are new to Jesus. Well, let me explain up front before we go any further, in explaining how God speaks.

1. You are only going to hear God speak when you can be reconciled with God. When we sin we turn away from God. We cannot hear Him when our back is to Him. We need to come back to God and say, “God, I am here and I want to do what you want me to do.” That is called REPENTING and it is just saying, “God, I have turned away from You and I have sinned and done things in my life that I know You do not want me to do. And now I am turning back.”

2. Then you need to BELIEVE that Jesus died for your sins so you do not have to. Otherwise, you would pay the penalty for those sins and you would die here on earth and in eternity. You would be separated from God forever if you continued to walk that way, not believing in Jesus.

3. You just need to RECEIVE Jesus into your heart and say, “Jesus, come into my heart and I thank you for forgiving me and I ask you now to come in and take over my life and be Lord of my life.” That is what it takes to get your antenna up and get tuned into God’s plan.

Now, back to hearing from God. We will pray with you at the end of the program if you would like to have some prayer regarding accepting Jesus Christ. I also want to talk to those of you who have been walking with God for years, because I think it will be an encouragement to you to hear that God still speaks now this way, now another. God does reveal Himself and sometimes He just lifts the veil right off our eyes. Let me take you to some passages where that happens.

God Can Hide Himself and God Can Reveal Himself

Let us start with the passage that you looked at in Luke 24:31. If you look down in that passage there is a part where He says,

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.”

Now this is about two men who were walking along the road after Jesus had died and they were lamenting over how Jesus had gone away from them. Jesus was disguising himself and hiding Himself from them so they could not recognize Him. He explained why Jesus had to come and why Jesus had to die. The men were walking along and asking Him all kinds of questions. Then they said, “Would you come and eat with us”, and Jesus looked like He was going to go on. But they begged Him to please stay and so He stayed. He broke bread with them and He handed it to them.

At the instant, that He broke the bread, they realized that it was Jesus and it says, “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us.”

Unfortunately Jesus disappeared at that same moment. God is like that many times. We look and we look and we are seeking for Him and all of a sudden we say, “That is it God!” and He disappears just like a Dad playing hide and seek with His kids. He will be able to play hide and seek and His kids are looking for Him and it brings great delight to His kids. This is the same way that God brings delight to us.

It is not really a game to Him. He just wants us to search Him out just like you would search for someone that you loved. You would look for them and try to find them and you would do anything to search for your lover, for your mate, for someone you really loved and had a passion for. That is the way that God wants us to be with Him. And He promises that when we seek Him we will find Him.

II Kings 6:14-17

Let us look at another passage, this is back in II Kings. An older passage, but God also hid Himself and revealed Himself to a man named Elisha. Here Elisha was hiding; he was running away from a king who was trying to kill him. He was hiding with his servant in a particular place and it turned out that the king it says in II Kings 6:14,

Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

So here are all the horses and chariots of the king surrounding the city where Elisha and his servant are hiding. Verse 15 says,

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh my Lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.

Because he saw all the horses and chariots.

“Don’t be afraid”, the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more then those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Oh Lord, open his eyes so that he may see”. Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike these people with blindness.”

So they all became blind and could not even see Elisha. And he said, “He is not over here, he went this way, let me show you the way.” Elisha led them to another city and disappeared again. So God is not only able to reveal Himself to the servant but He was also able to strike the other people with blindness.

So God has the capability of revealing and hiding, revealing and hiding. I want to encourage you to LOOK FOR GOD. Look for God and He promises you will find Him.

John 21:4-7

Let us look at one more passage before we close for the night. This is in John 21 where Jesus once again reveals Himself to His closest disciples. In John 21:4-7

Early in the morning Jesus stood by the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friend, haven’t you any fish?”

So here the disciples are there and Jesus cries out to them “Friend, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

It says that they did not realize that it was Jesus.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some”. When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” And as soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

Here somehow the disciple whom Jesus loved, who we know as the apostle John, this apostle realized the act of hauling in this large number of fish was just like what He had done when He first called them. When he realized that this man said, “Throw your net in on this side,” and he caught the fish. He said, “That is just what Jesus did and in fact IT IS JESUS.” He was able to see that it was the Lord and he said, “It is the Lord.” They all recognized Him at that moment and ran to the beach.

God Promises When We Seek Him, We Shall Find Him

It is an amazing thing when God reveals Himself to us. I want to pray tonight that God would reveal Himself to us right now as we are speaking. If you look back in that passage in Luke that is exactly what He did. As soon as they were talking about it, God revealed Himself to them. In Luke 24 those two disciples, whom God revealed himself to and then disappeared from just like that, it says that those disciples went to the others. This is in Luke 24:33

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those assembled with them, and said, “It is true the Lord has risen and appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke bread. While they were still talking about this Jesus himself stood among them and said “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened thinking it was a ghost. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled and why do these doubts rise in your mind? Look at my hands and my feet, it is I myself!”

Even, as we speak about God revealing Himself, I pray God, right now, that You would reveal Yourself to me, to Lana as we are sitting here in our living room. I pray that You would reveal Yourself to the people watching, both live and as this is stored God, at their home or their office or wherever they are watching. I pray right now as we speak about You, that you would reveal Yourself in ways that we can’t imagine. I just pray that You would do it. In Jesus Name. Amen.

God has told me, when I began tonight. I asked Him what do you want me to tell the people? What do You want me to tell those listening? This is what God said to me, “Tell them I AM alive. Tell them to look for ME and I promise they will find ME.” Tell them I AM alive. Tell them to look for me and I promise they will find Me.

Additional Scripture

You know what, you may not believe me, but I hope that you will believe these words from scripture that promise the exact same thing.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

This makes since, because God wants to be found by you.

“For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ” Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?”

God Will Continue to Reveal Himself

I will close with one more Scripture after a song here, and I hope you will join me after the song. I just want you to say, “God, continue to speak to me. Continue to reveal Yourself to me through these scriptures.” If you want to look over the scriptures that I have given tonight, if you want to just pray right where you are. I’m just going to sing a song where God just said, “Go and tell the whole world about Me. Tell the world what I’ve done. Ask them to come and follow me, too.”

Thanks for joining me. I want to share one more scripture with you and then pray with you. Pray that God would continue to reveal Himself. Even as He did as I was singing the song, I was just thinking that God had given me that song a few years ago as I was praying for Brent, and praying that he would be able to stretch his missions activities throughout the world. He now runs his own missionary endeavor where he takes groups throughout the world and they are able to see what God is doing. I just pray that his ministry would be blessed as well.

I was also able to see that God has called me to preach the gospel throughout the world. Through this medium He is allowing me to do it. I am just thankful for Him that He would bring this to pass in my life.

Let me share this scripture, because it relates to The Ranch vision sketch. When we were living at that house, near the Dallas Cowboys practice field, I also got a verse of scripture that I heard for the first time. It struck me as very interesting, because God had shown me that He had brought me to that exact spot on the earth. He had known it a year beforehand. He had known exactly where I was going to live the following year. That was great comfort to me. Here in Acts 17, it says that is exactly what is going to happen.

“From one man God made every nation of men. That they should inhabit the whole earth and He determined the time set for them and the exact places where they should live.”

It hit me for the first time that God has determined the exact places where we will live. He determined that we would live right here. Now sometimes we can walk outside of His will. I cannot say that I understand how it all works and how God’s perfect will works out in the world. But I do know that God at that moment spoke to me and said, “Eric, this is exactly where I want you.” That was a great comfort to me for what was going on in other parts of my life at that time, just in knowing that God had me right where He wanted. You can know that too. You can know that God has you right where He wants you. And if you are not there, He will show you the way. If you seek Him, you will find Him.

Prayer

Lord, I just thank you for this time with these friends. I know that you have called me to preach to them and to share with them an encouraging word in their faith. And it is not just because I want to share it with them, but You, Yourself, have said You want to speak to these people. You want to let Your words be known. I just thank You that You so much want to touch their hearts. As they are tuned in watching this God, they have their antennas up they are listening God.

Are You Wasting Your Life?

For anyone who doesn’t know Jesus Christ yet, I just pray right now with them, just say a simple pray with me, you can just repeat it after me, if you want, if you want to just accept Jesus Christ right now tonight. You do not need to wait any longer.

In fact, I watched Billy Graham last night do his first live Internet crusade from Tampa, Florida. On that crusade he told a story about a juggler who threw a diamond up in the air and was able to catch this diamond. He had bought this diamond at a great price; he spent all of his life’s savings to buy this diamond. He was also a juggler, and he was on this ship, taking his diamond back home with him.

He impressed the crowd saying, “Look at this, look at what I can do.” He would juggle that diamond, throw it up in the air and catch it and everybody would gasp. They would say, “Oh, that is great!” and they would clap. Then Billy Graham, went on to tell that the man got bolder and said, “Here, watch this!” He threw it up higher and caught it. Everybody clapped and was amazed. He said, “Now, I want to show you this. I’m going to throw it so high that it will go out of sight.” He took that diamond and he threw it up in the air and as he did the boat lurched, he lost his balance, the diamond fell down, hit the deck, and rolled into the sea. Lost forever, the man never got his diamond back.

Some of you are like that with your lives right now. You are playing with things in your life that are like fire and they are going to burn you. God doesn’t want you to get burned. You are taking something that is very precious, in fact, YOUR VERY LIFE, and you’re throwing it up in the air, trying to impress your friends. When actually you could just lose it in a moment! Just like that. God does not want that to happen. I do not want that to happen for you.

So tonight, do not delay any longer. Just say Lord, I do not want to waste my life. I want to be used for you. I want to repent from these things that are fire and are going to burn me. And I want to believe in you.

Prayer

So just, pray with me and say,

“Lord, I am sorry. I am sorry for the things that I have done wrong. Please forgive me.”

Jesus says you are forgiven.

“Lord, thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for loving me and dying for me. I do believe in Jesus, I do believe He died on the cross for me. Thank you that He took that penalty for me so I do not have to endure that death. God, right now (say right now) I receive that free gift of eternal life, that Jesus is offering to me. Thank you Lord.”

I just pray that the peace that passes understanding would fill your heart. You would be filled with the joy, like all of us who are watching and all of us who are in this room, me and Lana, when we have done that and God has just brought that peace to us. I just pray that the peace would overwhelm your life as well.

Now, for you, who have believed and just need to catch a glimpse of God like we have been talking about tonight. I just want to pray for you.

Lord, I pray that you would reveal Yourself to us in new ways. Sometimes this way, sometimes that way, though we may not perceive it. I pray that God, You reveal Yourself to us that we would perceive it. Thank You for ever revealing Yourself to us. Thank You for Your promise that if we seek You we will find You. And right now I just commit and these people with me watching, commit to seeking You with our whole hearts and our whole souls. God we commit to that right now – we will seek You, we will read Your bible, we will look for You, we will pray for answers from You, for words from You, for visions from You, for dreams from You. Whatever, way You want to speak to us I just pray that You would speak to us. Fill these people up with Your joy, that passes all understanding, Your joy that brings laughter, Your joy that will get us through these days when we need your strength. For Your joy IS our strength.

Thanks for Joining Me

I pray that you will join me next week as well. I just ask that you would continue to come back and get some feeding from the Lord every week, from this. Have a look around the web site.

Also, if you want to chat for awhile after the broadcast, you can join us in the chat room. It is on the icon with the two chairs and you can come pull up a chair with us and just have a chat. We will be glad to talk with you. There are people that can pray with you, one on one. If you will just go into the chat room and we will be glad to pair you up with somebody or you can just join us all in the chat room. We will pray with you individually or talk to you as a group. Just enjoy the fellowship of common believers around the world through the Internet.

Thanks for coming, glad you are here! Come Back Again!

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

In God We Trust?

We put our trust in many things…our jobs, our spouses, our home, our family, our friends, our wisdom, our talents. But it’s only when we put our trust in God that we’ll see true success. Explore with me how things will change for you when you renew your trust in God. (Recorded October 18, 1998)

Watch The Video

Read The Transcript

Jeremiah 17:7

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Jeremiah 17:5-8

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

Transcript

Hi! Welcome to the Ranch!

I’m glad you are joining us tonight. Tonight we are going to talk about whom do we put our trust in. Is it God whom we really trust?

Sometimes we think we are trusting in God but really we are trusting in ourselves. We are trusting in our finances. We are trusting in our spouse. We are trusting in our children. We are trusting in our parents, our family, our pastor, or our church. We trust in a lot of things and it’s good to put your trust in other people, but there are people who will fail you. There are things that will fail you. There are technologies that will fail you. Many times we just run across things that simply break down, simply fail us.

Tonight, I want to talk about One whom you can put your trust in, who will never fail you. Who will never leave you, never forsake you. That is the name of the Lord our God.

Tonight, I just want to address that with you. I just want to speak to that topic. So I pray that tonight will be a blessing to you and it will be a blessing to me and my wife as well as we broadcast this message live from the Ranch.

Take a moment just to look on your screen at the message notes. There’s a special section on the page that you clicked on to get here that says “message notes”. And you can pull that up on your screen and you will be able to read along with me the passage we are going to look at tonight, Jeremiah 17. If you will pull up those message notes and on your Real Video player you can click on that and tell it in the preferences that it will always be on top. So if you choose always on top you’ll be able to see me in one corner and read the message notes in the background. You’ll be able to watch me as you follow along with the message. Why don’t you take a few moments to sit before the Lord, read through Jeremiah 17 and just ask God to open your heart to anything He has to say to you tonight.

Can God speak to us through His word about things that are going on in our lives right now? Through this Bible can God really speak to us about things that were not even invented when the Bible was written? Can God speak to us about the Internet through words written over 3,000 years ago even though the Internet has only been in existence for less than 10 years?

Well, He did to me this week. I was sitting down with my Bible and I was getting ready to work on my Web site when I was having some technical difficulties. I said, “God I really don’t want to spend time reading the book that I’m currently reading.” I was reading the book of Job and I was on chapter 8 and I really wanted to work on my web site so I could get some things working on it, rather then read the Bible. But I just decided, no, I’m going to sit down and read the Bible and maybe God will speak something to me anyway. Here is what I read in chapter 8 of Job:

“Such is the destiny of all who forget God, so perishes the hope of the Godless. What he trusts in is fragile, what he relies on is a spider’s web. He leans on his web but it gives way. He clings to it but it does not hold.”

Here I was having trouble with my web site and God says, “Eric, you are leaning on your web and it is giving way. You are clinging to it but it won’t hold.” And I said, “Wow! God, You have done it again. You have spoken to me about the web that was not even created back then.” I know that is not what Job was talking about when he initially had these words on the page. But God, through His infinite wisdom spoke to me about something that was going on personally in my life. That is the kind of God we serve. That is why I believe HE IS ALIVE, HE IS ACTIVE, and HE IS WORKING in people’s lives today.

So I sat there and I said, “Okay God, what do I need to do?” Right in the same passage God showed me what to do. He said, “You are trusting in what is fragile, you are relying on something that will give way. Do not forget me, because that is the destiny of all those who forget God.” I have not forgotten God. Yet, God is reminding me that we need to renew our faith in Him. We need to renew putting our trust in Him. We think we are trusting in God, and doing what God has called us to do. Yet constantly we need to come back before God and say, “God, I am putting my faith in You again. I am not trusting in this technology. I am not trusting in even the things that you have called me to do. I am trusting in You alone. And You will bring it about.”

You know what, I went back to work on my technical problems and some got fixed and some did not. But I have the confidence that God was with it, God was with me, and God was going to work me through these problems over the next few days and weeks. And that is exactly what God has been doing.

So, I just want to encourage you in two things. One is that God still speaks through the Bible. Pick it up, read it everyday. Stay in His words because that is where you will find life. God gives us words of life here. Secondly, renew your hope in the Lord. Renew your trust in the Lord. Are you trusting in God or are you trusting in your strength, your wisdom, your talent?

I was reminded of this again Sunday morning, last week, when I preached at a church here in town. We tried to broadcast it live on the Internet. It worked for about half of the message. I was just to the point where I said, “We are about ready to broadcast this live on the Internet,” when I looked over and saw the computer screen had gone down. Our connection to the Internet dropped, and for the rest of the service we were not connected to the Internet. I could have been very frustrated about what happened there. But I just said, “No, I am going to keep on preaching and we are going to let these words go forth.” And at the end of the service about half a dozen people in that room accepted Jesus Christ and prayed to receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

What it taught me was that even though I am relying on technology and the technology fails, God does not. Even when everything around us seems to be falling apart, God is not. Even when the web that we are clinging to does not hold, God still holds on to us. He still remains faithful to us. In fact He remains solid as a rock.

Tonight I want to pray with you, at the end of the night, that you would put your trust back in God whatever your situation, whatever you’re going through. Those things that are on your mind, those things that are bothering you that are keeping you down. I want to pray about those tonight, that you would be able to put your trust back on God for those things as well. I think that God will really bless you through this.

Look with me at the passage in Jeremiah. Here’s the promise that God gives us. This is in Jeremiah chapter 17 starting in verse 5. There’s both a promise and a warning here. If you trust in man or trust in yourself certain things will happen to you. But if you trust in God other things will happen to you that are great and unimaginable. This is what the Lord says in verse 5:

Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wasteland. He will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert in the salt land where no one lives.

But in verse 7 He says:

But blessed is the man who trusts in Him, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in the year of drought and it never fails to bear fruit.

Wow! That is a great promise. If we trust in the Lord:

We will not dry up

We will not be weary

We will not fear

We will not have worries in the year of drought

We will not fail to bear fruit.

Even though there is a drought around us. Even though prosperity is not falling all around us. Even though there are reasons to worry. God has promised that if we put our trust in Him we will continue to bear fruit. We will not fear and we will not worry. That is a great promise and one that I am taking to heart this week. I want to pray that you will as well.

There is another passage listed on your screen. You can read that later. Psalm 1 and I think that will encourage you as well in trusting in God.

I want to close this short message with something that I found the other day, actually it was awhile ago. I found this dollar bill that was probably from about 1910. I looked at this dollar bill and there was something drastically missing on the dollar bill and I was very surprised. And do you know what was not on that dollar bill back in 1910?

These words: In God We Trust.

They weren’t on it, and I thought that those words were on it since the beginning of time. I thought they were always on the American dollar bill. I found out that they were only added later in the 40’s or 50’s. When we had come out of a war and people said, “We need to continue to put our trust in God. We need to renew our trust in God.” They put it on the money, put it on all the denominations and all the coins and bills. And it is still on there today. Here, I thought it was something that was on there a long time ago. But even though it was not on there, I have been thinking about how God has called every generation to put their trust in Him.

We can not rely on trust from long ago, we can not rely on something from two hundred years ago, or 2,000 years ago or from even twenty years ago. God calls us to renew our trust in Him everyday, every week, every generation. And so that is what I want to pray.

I want to sing a song with you tonight, a worship song that we can just worship the Lord. I also want to ask you to consider putting your trust in God tonight. Now this may be something that you have done several times before, but for some of you it may be absolutely new. You have never once put your trust in God. You have been trusting in your own strength, you have been trusting in your parents, and you have been trusting in something else to get you through. But you realize that you are bankrupt, you realize that there is absolutely no way you will be able to make it without putting your trust in God. Well, I want to pray with you especially tonight and just ask that God would show you that He is faithful. God will show you that He is alive. And as you put your trust in Him, He will be faithful to that. He will prove to you that He’s rock solid.

So would you consider that tonight? It just requires three simple things.

1. You have to repent of any sins that you have done. Say, God I am totally sorry for that.

2. You have to believe in Jesus Christ. That is the one He sent to die for your sins. The penalty for sin is death. If you do not believe in Jesus then you have got to pay the penalty and that will cost you your life one-day. But, Jesus said that if you believe in Him, you would not perish, but have everlasting life. So two is believe in Christ, the one that God sent to save you from your sins.

3. To receive that free gift of life. You just have to say “I am open God, I receive it.” And God will pour into you a new life that will well up inside you, God says like a spring of water flowing out.

And so I want to pray with that in mind as well tonight.

So wherever you are tonight, if you trust Christ for the first time or whether you are putting your trust back in Him for a particular situation, we are going through to pray in just a minute.

Why don’t you just worship the Lord with me for a minute here?

There is a great song I want to read to you before we pray. This is the song:

“We Trust In The Lord.”

Some trust in power.
Some trust in banks.
Some trust in armies, missiles and tanks.
Some trust in people while God is ignored,
But we trust in the name of the Lord.
Yes, we trust in the Lord.

Some trust their feelings what they can touch.
Some trust computer, software and such.
Some trust attention, being adored.
But we trust in the name of the Lord.
Yes, we trust in the name of the Lord.

Some trust in fashion.
Some trust in looks.
Some trust in teachers, classes and books.
Some trust in freedom, in cutting the cord.
But we trust in the name of the Lord.
Yes, we trust in the name of the Lord.

I want to pray with you right now. And I just know that God answers these prayers because He promises that when we ask, we shall receive. So let us pray right now that we would renew our trust in the Lord.

Lord, I thank you for those watching live right now and those watching later, months later, days later and even years later or even 20 years later. Someone may watch and decide that it is time to put their trust in the Lord. God I pray for them as well. God I pray for me and my wife here in this room tonight that we would renew our trust in the Lord as well. Thank you Lord that you speak to us through your words written 2,000 and 3,000 years ago. Thank you God that you are worthy of our trust and that you are solid as a rock.

God, right now for the thing that we are facing, that thing we are in right now God. We just put our trust in you. We do not trust in technology, we do not trust in people, we do not trust in things, we do not trust our feelings. God we trust in You. We trust in You God. God, we just would transfer our trust from ourselves to You. We transfer our trust in those to You. God even the things that you have called us to do, God we can not do it without You. There is no way we can do it without you.

God, for those who are just now for the first time believing in You, the first time putting their trust in You. I pray a special prayer Lord that they would repent of their sins, telling you they are sorry. Believe in Your Son, and receive Him as their Lord and Savior. God, I pray right now that you would make that transaction that would boost them from here to heaven, Lord. They would have eternal life and that they would know deep in their soul that they have eternal life. God I thank You for this time tonight.

God, I just want to pray a little longer; that You would renew in our hearts that You are trustworthy, that You would lift that burden off of us Lord. You say that You will take our burdens. And Your burden is light, Your burden is easy. You exchange our heavy burden for Your light one God. I just pray right now that that transaction would occur as well. As we put our trust in You for these things that are weighing heavy on us God, You would lighten our spirits, lighten our hearts, that You would lift us up God. We would be able to feel that God is in our hearts and in our lives. We would experience that. We would walk in that and that we would find peace and rest and joy in that.

For you, those are watching right now, I just pray for you and I just speak blessing on you and I ask God to come into your life and to just give you that supernatural peace that passes all understanding. That blessing Lord and that you would be like Jeremiah described that tree that is planted by the water. That you would be a tree that draws its roots from the water, draws its strength from that water, that source of living water. That these people would be prosperous, they would be blessed, and they would not worry or fear that they would continue to trust in You. And they would continue to bear fruit. I pray this all in the strong name of Jesus!

Have a great night! Thanks for coming to the Ranch and I pray that you will join me next week for this message live from the Ranch. God bless you.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Our Light And Momentary Troubles

Are your burdens too heavy? Hear how Jesus can lift them, for he said, “Take my yoke upon you… for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Also includes some of my personal testimony of how I came to Christ. (Recorded October 11, 1998)

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That story reminded me of something that Keith Green said, “That if God created the whole world in six days imagine what heaven looks like because Jesus said He went to go prepare a place for us over 2,000 years ago. It must be awfully nice.”

If you’ll open with me in your Bible to Luke 17:11. In the pew bible it’s on page 80. Luke 17:11:

“Now on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village ten men with leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us.” When He saw them He said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. One of them when he saw he was healed came back praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him. And he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And then He said to him, “Rise and go, your faith has made you well.”

Rise and go, your faith has made you well. Jesus healed that man on the spot. And the Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. You know what? Jesus heals people on the spot today too. Sometimes He doesn’t heal, but sometimes he does.

I know this because God has healed me. I was a man who grew up in church all my life. I heard over 1,300 sermons by the time I was 25. Yet I was living in a sin called homosexuality. I thought that was okay. I was very much enjoying my life. I had a good career, a good job. I was doing just fine and I had gotten into a Bible study down in Texas. They said that the penalty for sin is death. I said, “Well I don’t think I’ve done anything worthy of death. I certainly wouldn’t have gotten the death penalty in America for what I’ve done. I don’t do drugs or drink, and I haven’t killed anyone.” But they said, “Why don’t you ask God what He thinks.” And so I said, “Okay, God if I’ve done something would You please show it to me.” Within two weeks God answered me in Romans 1, it talks about homosexuality along with gossip, slander and anger. He said those who do such things deserve death. I was cut to the quick. And I said, “God, if this is true, what do I do about it?” I don’t want to do something against you, I had no idea how this affected You. And I said, “How can I change? How can I get out of this situation? A counselor can’t change me, my parents can’t change me, my friends can’t change me.”

Then I was reading in the Bible about the blind men who came to Jesus and said, “Jesus we want our sight back.” And Jesus looked at them and said, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” Jesus sometimes just touched people and healed them but not with these guys. He said, “Do you believe that I can do this?” And I was saying the same thing to God. I said, “God, I don’t want this anymore. I don’t want to be this way God. If this isn’t glorifying to You then please take it away.” Jesus said, “Eric, do you believe that I can do this?” And I thought about all my church school lessons and all my kid church things and all the things that Jesus did: healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water. And I said, “If anyone can do this, You can.” And I like the blind man said, “Yes Lord, I believe.” And like the blind man Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you.” And they were healed from that day forward.

I was healed that instant eleven years ago. God took me from a path that was headed toward destruction. He put me on a path of life and fruitfulness and abundance. Now I’m married to the most beautiful woman in the world, except your wife of course. I have four children that I would not have had other wise. This is no condemnation on homosexuals, for I was one. Yet, the Bible says that there were people who were changed even back in the days of the Corinthians. He says there are homosexuals and adulterers and alcoholics and swindlers among you. But that is what you were. You are no longer. You have been healed, you have been restored, you have been washed, you have been cleansed in the blood of Jesus Christ. Even back then God was healing this disease as well. And I just praise God that I can stand up and say, “Thank you Lord, that I’m alive. I will return to you God and say thank you like the leper who by his faith was healed.”

I want to encourage you in your faith today that God can do things for you that you can not possibly do on your own. Faith is not just an intellectual game that we play. It is not a psychological tool that we use. Faith, that little stuff as small as a mustard seed, has power to move mountains. A little tiny bit of that stuff is so powerful that it can blast you from here to heaven in a blink of an eye.

If you have faith in Christ you will be with Him forever. He promises us this. By your faith you were made whole. By your faith your sins are forgiven. Jesus says throughout scripture that it is by your faith that these things happen. In fact nothing can happen without faith. God says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Me.” You can not even please God if you don’t have faith.

For some reason God has gifted me with faith. And all the gifts of the body are to be used to encourage others. For some reason when I pray with others that gift of faith is transferred from me to them. So at the end of the service today I want to pray with you as a body, and with anyone individually who would like to have the faith that God is alive, God is active, God is powerful! God will do what He says He will do. I’ll be glad to pray for you and by the Spirit of God I will pray that He wells up in you a faith that will be able to move mountains.

That is not the primary thing I came to talk to you about though. Jamie asked if I would share a little about the Internet ministry that I do and I want to do that, but first I want to ask you how your week was. On a scale of one to ten, how was your week? Eight? Pretty good, pretty good. There’s a smiling couple there. Can I say that is probably rare. For the rest of the congregation: they might say five or under, three or under, one bordering on zero.

I had a week like that this week. My ups and downs go quickly. I got this on the Internet, on electronic mail a man sent me this little story. I thought I would share it with you. The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out he dropped to his knees in prayer. “Lord, I can’t go on,” he said. “I have too heavy a cross to bear.” The Lord replied, “My son, if you can’t bear it’s weight, just place your cross inside the room and pick any cross you wish.” The man was filled with relief. “Thank you Lord”, he sighed. He did as he was told. As he looked around the room he saw many different crosses, some so large that the tops were not even visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against the far wall. “I’d like that one Lord”, he whispered. I was doing the same thing this week. I was saying “Oh Lord, give me that little one over there.” And the Lord replied, “My son, that is the cross you brought in.”

That is the cross you brought in. I do not want to minimize what you have gone through this week. Lord knows you have been through a lot. I can not even fathom some of the things that you are going through. Facing incurable illness, facing children who are getting divorces, facing parents who you are not sure how you are going to take care of. I know that you are going through things as I look across the room with your friends and with your family that I have no concept of. I do not want to minimize what you are going through, I want to magnify what Christ has done for you. For He has gone to the cross for you. And He said, “Take my yoke upon you. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

By the end of the service today I just want to pray that God would lift those burdens off of you. You can put that right on to Christ because He has already done it for you. And I’m just going to pray with you and give you that power just to say, “God, please take it. This cross is too heavy for me to bear.” And He will. He is much more gracious then saying, “Sorry buddy, you have got to keep that one.” God says, “Yes, let me take that upon me. That’s why I came, that’s why I died.”

About the Internet, I met Jamie about eight months ago when we moved to town. He found out what we were doing and he was very interested and he said, “Would you come share that with our people. Even though many of them are not on the Internet yet. I think many of them would be fascinated by how God is redeeming this technology that so often is filled with so many unseemly things.” And God is using it for His own glory. And let me share with you what happened.

Three years ago I was working for Texaco, an oil company, down in Texas. I worked in their computer department. I was responsible for analyzing all new computer technology and explaining how that might work within the company. Trying to find place where we could put it. Things like virtual reality or speech recognition, or handwriting that you can write right on the computer and it will translate it into text for you. My last project there was to develop their worldwide web site for the Internet. So I created, over two years, a web site that Texaco could put out and communicate with their customers and investors worldwide.

About a month before we went public with that I got a knock on the door from God and He said, “Eric, I need you full time now. I want you to quit that job and I want you to work for me. And I want you to take my message throughout the earth.”

So I quit two days later. I passed down the project and it went on successfully. God called me to start an Internet ministry where we have created a worldwide site. Basically, it is a computer that sits somewhere. Ours sits in Peoria, Illinois. From that computer we are able to tell people about Christ all around the world. And on that computer I started gathering testimonies from people around the country and around the world. I just said, “Could you just share how God has impacted your life and how walking with Christ has made a difference in you.” And I put my own story out there. And within a few months we had over 800 people a month reading these testimonies of the power of God. In the last two years over 12,000 people have come from 72 different countries. The countries list reads like the United Nations list: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the US, England, Canada, Mexico. You go through the list and we can read the statistics of who has spent time in there. They spent an average of 7 minutes and 22 seconds reading the stories about how God has touched them. And then they write in through electronic mail to us and say, “How can I have this happen in my life?”

One woman had a testimony, she was Buddhist, and she simply, in her marriage, struggling. And she one day, even though she was Buddhist, she heard about Christ and she just looked up and said, “Jesus, get me out of here!” She had just heard about the name of Jesus, she called on the name of Jesus and He saved her on the spot, turned her life around, and now she is serving Him with all her heart.

Another woman in Malasia read this story on our web site in Illinois and she said, “That’s exactly what’s going on in my life! I’m a Buddhist too, how do I do these same things that this woman did? Can you tell me how to be saved?”

They are just writing and saying, “Please tell me about Christ.” Now if I went knocking on doors in Streator, I don’t know how many people I’d get with that response – “Please, please, tell me about Jesus”. Yet there are so many hurting people around the world. When they see that someone is reaching out to them and they can share their struggle in a confidential way, over the Internet, for some reason they come in. We’ve had hundreds of people write in that we’ve been able to pray with, write back to and encourage them to go to their local church. Encourage them to get involved in the Bible. It turned into such a ministry that even though I went to Dallas to be an Associate Pastor for a year, God said, “No Eric, I need you to go and preach to these people live on the Internet.”

(Due to technical difficulties, only the first half was recorded.)

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

The Power Of Faith

Faith is more than a state of mind, it actually contains power, strong enough to move mountains. Like atomic energy, just a little atom of it can blast you from here to heaven in the blink of an eye. See how you can put it to work in your life. (Recorded October 4, 1998)

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John 14:6

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'”

Outline

1. You can take a car to California, or a plane to Hawaii, or a shuttle to the moon. But how do you get to heaven?

2. The Simple Truth

– Repent

– Believe

– Receive

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

3. That kind of power works on earth too!

– Two men were healed by faith – Matthew 9:27-30

– A man’s servant was healed by faith – Matthew 8:5-13

– A man’s sins were forgiven by faith – Luke 5:17-26

– A dead girl was raised to life by faith – Luke 8:41-42,49-56

– A woman’s bleeding was healed by faith – Luke 8:42-48

– A tree was destroyed by faith – Matthew 21:18-22

– Peter walked on water by faith (and sank by lack of it) – Matthew 14:25-33

– Miracles didn’t happen where there was no faith – Matthew 13:54-58

– A woman was saved because of her faith – Luke 7:36-50

Prayer

Lord,

Thank you for making a way for us to come to heaven.

Thank you that we can repent, believe and receive your free gift.

Please increase our faith that we could use that same power here on earth. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Transcript

Hi! This is Eric Elder broadcasting live from the Ranch! I’m really glad you are here tonight, or whenever you are watching this. I just pray that tonight would be a blessed evening for you.

I want to talk tonight about your resources that you have available to you. I just want to know tonight: Are you feeling drained and worn out? Are you feeling like all of your resources are exhausted?

We hear that the gas is being depleted, the oil is being depleted, and all of our world’s energy sources are being depleted. We even hear that in the year 2000 all the computer chips in the utility companies are going to fail and that we are going to have a power grid that will go out. We’ll be without power for a period of time. We have all these concerns about what is going to happen when the energy runs out.

Well, I want to tell you that there’s hope tonight because Jesus says that there is an energy source that’s available all the time. It never runs out. It’s always available and it’s totally free. It’s the POWER OF FAITH.

Faith isn’t some intellectual game that you play or a psychological term that will make you feel better. Faith actually has power. It’s like a little atom that you can’t see. It has so much power in it that those little things when they combust, they have the power to blast entire cities off the face of the planet. That’s what a little atom can do. So imagine what a little piece of faith can do. Jesus said that that stuff is so powerful, that it’s got the power to move mountains.

So tonight we’re going to talk about the power of faith. And talk about an energy source that won’t give up. So if you’ll open with me to John chapter 14 and if you’ll just take a few minutes just to clear your mind. I’m going to play a song here and you can pull up the message notes on your screen, so that you can follow along with me. Go ahead and pull those notes up and also just look at chapter 14 of John. Just read on that, reflect on that, and ask the Lord to clear your mind so you can hear what He has to say to you tonight.

If you wanted to go across town, how would you get there? What kind of transportation would you use to get from here to there? Chances are you would probably use a car. I brought one here to show you. Here is one I would use to get across town if I had a choice. I’d take this little convertible that my wife gave me several years ago and here you can watch it run. This is what you could use to drive around town. And he drives just about like I do. Here’s a little girl, she’s taking a picture. And then she goes on her way. It’s a great little car. You can go just about anywhere in a car, right? You could go from here to … California in a car. Or could you? Maybe there are some places you could not get to in a car.

I guess then, how would you get to Hawaii? How would you get to China? I guess then you would need something different, you would need a plane maybe. Here’s a plane. Ah, now we’re talking. Now we have a plane. With this you could go just about anywhere right? You could fly anywhere in the world that you could touch down. They have planes now that can touch down anywhere: the arctic, any remote island. You could fly just about anywhere. You could get anywhere in a plane couldn’t you?

Or maybe you couldn’t. How would you reach the moon? Could you make it to the moon in a plane? Not really, you would need something more like a Space Shuttle. You would need something that takes off and could jettison across to the moon. Now we’re talking. Now you could get places. Now you’ve got power. Now you can get very far. Now you can go probably to Pluto with a Space Shuttle or some type of rocket device. So you can get anywhere with a rocket right? Or can you?

Well, how about heaven? How would you get from here on earth to heaven? Your feet aren’t going to take you. You’ll be dead when that time comes, their not going to take you very far. A car’s not going to get you there. A plane? That won’t get all the way to heaven. Even a rocket ship can not get up to heaven where God is. How would you get to heaven?

Well, here is what you would use to get there. Smaller than a plane or a rocket ship. It is a little seed. This is a mustard seed and you probably can not even see it there on the camera. But this is a mustard seed. This little tiny thing, Jesus said, had the power to get you from here to heaven. He said this mustard seed represents faith. Just like an atom, this has the power to blast you from here to heaven. Not a mustard seed of course, but this mustard grows into one of the largest garden plants where even birds can nest in the tree of a mustard seed. The mustard seed is the same as your faith. Jesus said if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move mountains.

Now to get from here to heaven there is one way to do it. He said, “I am the way.” And the message tonight focuses on that. “I AM THE WAY”. Jesus is the way to get you into heaven. And it’s very simple to do. It’s a very simple process and sometimes we make it harder then it is. The simple truth is Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He says the only way your going to get to God is through Him.

He died on the cross for you. He died so that your sins might be forgiven. And if you don’t know that you’ve sinned simply ask God like I did. I said God, “I don’t know that I’ve sinned. I certainly have not done anything worthy of the death penalty. Yet Your Bible says that I have sinned and that the penalty of sin is death.” So I asked God that question and in two weeks he answered my question. He said, “Eric, what about this in your life.” And my eyes were opened and I was able to see the truth. I said, “Wow, God! You were right! And if you took my life tonight, that would be fair – for what I had done.” God said, “Eric I would take your life, but I’ve made a way out. If you will believe in Jesus, if you will put your faith in Jesus Christ, and believe that He died for YOUR sins. He died on the cross in place of YOU. Then your sins will be forgiven, wiped out, totally erased from My mind. I will put them as far as the east is from the west.”

And that night, eleven years ago, God changed my life. Through faith I received a power that I didn’t know existed before. It’s resurrection power. I know that when I die now I will go straight to heaven. That God is sovereign that those who believe in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. He says that in John 3:16, “If you believe in Jesus Christ you will not perish but have everlasting life.”

You will live with Him forever. It is the best thing you can do in your life. It is the best thing I did in my whole life! It changed my whole life! And I just want to convey that to you, because there is a power in that faith that can not only blast you straight from here to heaven but it can work wonders right here on earth, too.

So the point about Jesus being the way to heaven is really the central part of tonight. And what it takes is that you need to repent of your sins, believe in Him and receive Him as your Lord and Savior. Repent, believe and receive. It is that easy. We are going to pray at the end of the night that if you have never done that before in your life that you would be able to receive Jesus Christ tonight through faith so that you can have assurance that you are going to go to heaven. It is better than any rocket ship that man could ever design.

Now for you believers that have already heard this and you know what the gospel can do in your life. I want to tell you, that power is also available to you here on earth. You can have that power to move mountains right here. You can have the power to heal the sick, raise the dead and walk on water. And I’ll take you to some scriptures that will show you that power is still available today.

That power of faith is what gets you from here to there. And it’s always a good reminder to know what Christ has done for us. When we remember that everyday it really sinks into our heart. There’s nothing we can do here that will mess up what God has already done. We have messed up bad enough, but God had said that He’s going to redeem that and He’s redeemed it already on the cross and just to be reminded of that is enough.

Look at this, here’s some things that the Bible says can happen through faith. In Matthew 9 it says that two blind were healed by faith. They were not healed just because Jesus touched them. They were healed because of their faith that Jesus could heal them. Here it says that Jesus asked the blind men “Do you believe that I am able to do this, to heal you?” “Yes, Lord”, they replied. He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith it will be done to you.” According to your faith in Me it will be done to you.

A soldier’s servant; he was healed by faith, it says in Matthew 8. Jesus came and was talking to the soldier. The soldier said, “Please heal my servant.” Jesus said, “I will go and heal him”. And the centurion said, “No, I don’t deserve to have you under my roof, just say the word and my servant will be healed.” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Go and it will be done just as you believed it would.” He commended the man for his faith and said it will be done just as you have believed it would. By his belief the man’s servant was healed. So on their way home they found out that the servant was healed that very hour that the soldier believed in Jesus. That he believed he would be healed.

Here a man’s sins were forgiven him by faith. If you don’t know that your sins can be forgiven then maybe you think the thing that you’ve done is too much for you. The bible is full of adultery, murderers, homosexuals, all kinds of people who have sinned and said, “God could not forgive me of this. God could never forgive me for what I have done.” But here’s someone who came and Jesus said when He sees their faith He said “Friend your sins are forgiven.”

A dead girl was raised to life by faith. A man came and said, “My daughter has died.” Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe and she will be healed.” Just believe and she will be healed. This is a daughter that is dead. And Jesus said, “Just believe, and she will be healed.” They went, Jesus took her by the hand and said, “My child get up.” Her spirit returned and at once she stood up.

Here a woman’s bleeding was healed by faith. She touched Jesus’ garment, the hem of His robe. He said, “Someone has touched me, I know that power has gone out of Me.” And the woman said, “I touched you because I believed that you would heal me.” And Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” Jesus didn’t even say to her, “I healed you, I touched you and healed you.” Jesus did not touch her. SHE just touched the garment, the hem of His robe. And by her faith Jesus said she was healed. “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

A tree was destroyed by faith. Jesus talked to a tree that was not bearing fruit and said, “May you never bear fruit again.” And immediately the tree withered. The disciples were amazed and said, “How did the tree wither so quickly?” Jesus replied “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain ‘go throw yourself into the sea’, and it will be done. If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for, in prayer.”

Peter of course walked on water by faith, but he sank when he lacked it. He said, “Jesus, if that is you, tell me to come to you.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter said, “Here I come.” He came and he walked on the water and he came toward Jesus. Jesus wasn’t the only one who walked on water. Peter also, it says, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt?” They climbed into the boat and the wind died down. Here Jesus even said, “You of little faith”. It’s because of your faith, you saw the wind and your faith faltered and you sank.

I want to tell you tonight – YOU have a choice to make. It is a fight to keep your faith. Paul says to Timothy “Fight the good fight of faith.” It is of faith. Faith is a choice. Jesus would tell us if it wasn’t a choice, but Jesus said, “You of little faith, had you had had the faith I would have been able to do miracles in your town. Had you had faith you would have been able to stand on the water. Had you have had faith you would have believed the woman who came to you and told you that I was still alive.” Yet he rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith. They didn’t really believe that it was He who came back from the dead.

Jesus says there is a CHOICE. You can choose life, or you can choose death. You can choose faith or you can choose fear. You can choose faith or you can choose doubt. God says choose faith. And I say to you tonight CHOOSE FAITH. It is a battle! It is a fight! And I want to encourage you if you fight the good fight of faith, look at all these people. The sick were healed. The dead was raised. Trees were withered. People walked on water. Just because of faith.

Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done to you.”

This little mustard seed is just a tiny little seed of faith. But Jesus said even if you have something as small as this little seed of faith you can move mountains. God does want us to have faith. And He says that faith will move mountains. That’s what the Bible says, that is what it promises, and I am going to stand on that promise that He will do what He says He is going to do.

Let me tell you too that Jesus is the way. He’s the only way that we can get to heaven. And He’s also the way to follow here on earth. There was a time a year ago when I was sitting before the Lord and I said, “God I’m not sure what’s next, I’m not sure what you want me to do. But I’m just going to trust You and I’d like to write a song on the piano.” And I came over here to the piano and I said, “Okay God, what would I write a song about?”

I looked down at the piano and I saw here on the piano it said “Steinway and Sons” and for some reason the light was focusing just on the word “way”, out of Steinway. And I just started to write and I said, “God you are the way. You are the truth. You are the life. And I will follow You. I will follow You wherever you tell me to go. You are the way. You are the truth. You are the life. And I will follow you. Wherever you tell me to go.” I just kept singing that song over and over.

That afternoon I found out from my employer at the time, that there was no longer any money to keep me on staff. And he said, “I’m sorry but we’re going to have to let you go.” And here I had just said it that morning “Lord you are the way. I will follow You. I said, “God I guess You were the one that gave me the song. You’re the one that shined the light on the piano at that moment. God you spoke to me through that. And you showed me that this wasn’t a dead end. This was the way. This was the path. Your were calling me to something new.”

Within a week God had told me that I want you to speak on the Internet. I want you to preach, I want you to play and I want you pray for people that they can have the same power of faith. Do you know what? I received a note from the IRS that I was receiving a check back from them, and within a month I got a check back that was the exact same amount of the salary that I had received a month before from the other organization. And every month after that God has taken care of us, He has provided for us. He has provided for us sometimes double what we were making at that time. And only by faith and only by following God could we have been able to walk in that and to trust that He would provide.

God said He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the way to heaven. He is also the way here on earth. He is the one that we want to follow. I just want to sing that song for you. And then we will come back and pray that God will give you faith in Jesus name.

Let’s take a few minutes and pray before the Lord that He would give you the faith to do what He has called you to do. That He would give you faith if you do not believe in Him – to believe in Him. A man came and said, “Increase my faith Lord.” I’m going to pray that God would increase your faith tonight as well. Faith has power. Powerful enough to move mountains.

Lord, I just thank you for these people. I thank you that you have brought people to hear a message of faith. And God, right now in the name of Jesus, I pray that you would increase their faith. God for anyone who doesn’t know You I pray for them first right now. If they don’t believe God, that You exist, that Your Son died for their sins. God right now I pray that You would spark that into their minds, spark it in their hearts, that they would believe and receive your forgiveness.

Just pray with me,

Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Lord, I confess that I have sinned against You. I confess that I have sinned against others. And I am truly sorry. Lord, please forgive me. You say that when I believe in You that You will take me into heaven. You will forgive my sins. And You will wipe away all those failures. Lord, I believe in You and I trust in You. I repent of my ways and I come back to You and thank You Lord, In Jesus name. Amen.

Now Lord, I want to pray for those who already believe in You. Those that just need faith to get through what they are going through. For God You are the way. You are the way to get us from here to there. Whether it’s across town, across the country, across the world, or to the moon and back. Lord, I just pray that right now you would increase their faith, that they would have the faith and not doubt. Lord, that they would not receive any rebuke from You or any condemnation from You for their lack of faith. Lord, but that they would have the full assurance and that You would come to them and say “According to your faith it will be done.”

Let me ask you, do you believe that God can do this? Do you believe that God can do the thing you are asking Him to do? In fact, do you believe that there is no way that you can do it? If you are at that point, that is a good point to be at because your resources are totally exhausted. Faith can definitely kick in. Sometimes we do not believe that God can do something until we have to believe that He can do something. And when we are in that position that we are forced to trust in Him, then faith will take over and we’ll be able to see a demonstration of God’s power in our lives. I want to encourage you right now if you have exhausted all your resources and you are at the point where you say, “God, I can not go one step further unless you supply the way. And I trust in you, I believe in you and I believe that You can do it. You can take me to the next step. That you have got more power then any gas or oil or nuclear power, Lord. You have got the power of faith and You promise that when we believe, we will receive.”

If you need that now, pray with me,

Lord, I ask right now that you would increase my faith. Increase my faith. Increase my faith. Lord I believe that You can do it. I believe that You can make the next step, and I trust You God. I trust you with my whole life. Lord, where else would we go. You have the words of life. You are the life. You are the truth. You are the way. I believe you, Lord. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen and Amen.

I’m going to worship one more song and you can just worship along with me if you want. Just relax before the Lord, and just say Lord, I’m yours. I’ll follow you, in Jesus name. Amen.

Thanks for coming! Come back to The Ranch again sometime! Feel free to E-Mail me. I look forward to hearing from you!

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Stepping Into The River

Is God calling you step out in your faith? Do you need a little reassurance that God will carry you to the the other side? Then watch this message for a boost in your faith. (Recorded September 27, 1998)

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Joshua 3:13

“And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord – the Lord of all the earth – set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

Outline

1. He Guides, We Step

2. Whose Will?

– George Meuller – 90% of hearing from God

3. Stepping In

Transcript

Tonight’s our second live broadcast from The Ranch. And for me, this is what I call “Stepping into the River.” Tonight we’re going to look at what it takes to release the power of God in our lives. If you’ve been wanting to see God work in your life, if you’ve been wondering if he’s around, I’m going to give you some practical steps you can take to find out. Because God is alive, God is around, and he is eager to demonstrate his power to you, so that you can walk in his will. Join me as we take a look tonight at Joshua and “Stepping into the River.”

Joshua’s Step

Open with me if you will to Joshua Chapter 3. If you don’t have your Bible in front of you, I will read a little bit of it, but you will want to take a look at this later if you get a chance. Take a look at Joshua Chapter 3 and you will enjoy reading how God came through for Joshua.

What God wanted to do was to display his power to the people of Joshua. Here’s what he says in Joshua Chapter 3, verse 7: “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so that they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, when you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.”

This is the word of the Lord to Joshua. Joshua’s hearing this and God tells him, “I want you to cross over this river, I want you to possess this land. But before you do, you need to take a step of faith, you need to take a step of obedience to me. And when you do, I will display my power so mightily, that you’ll know once you get into the land that I am giving that to you as well, so that when you come up against the Cananites and the Hitites and the Jebusites, and all the other “-ites,” I will be there with you to fight for you and to be your defender, and I will help you possess the land. I want you to know that I am with you.”

So this is what he tells Joshua to do: take your priests and all the people and go stand in the river. He didn’t wait till the river parted like he did with Moses, he said, “I want you to go and stand in the river. When you do, the river will back up, all the people will be able to cross on dry ground, you’ll get across, and when you’re done crossing, the river will flow again. This will be a demonstration of my power to you.

God Guides, We Step

Tonight I want to talk about God’s guidance and our steps.

God will guide our steps. It says in Proverbs 20:24: “A man’s steps are directed by the Lord.” So it’s God who is guiding our steps. God, if we will listen to him, will guide our steps. He’ll tell us whether to go to the right or the left. He’ll speak to us and direct us. But’s it’s we who have to take the steps.

We have to step out in faith. So I’m speaking to you tonight if God is telling you to take a step of faith, but you don’t see any manifestation around – you don’t see anything around you that would indicate that anything is going to happen once you do – and yet you sense in your heart that God is telling you to take that step, then I want you to trust God and I want you to go ahead and take that step of faith.

It may be a small step. It may be stepping in the river. But what God wants you to do is just take the step. And then he will demonstrate his power, and somehow that releases faith. Here’s an example: this piano I received from the Lord was as a result of a few steps of faith.

Piano Example

As God directed me, I asked God for a piano. And I asked him for a particular one and he said he would give me that piano or a better one.

And I said, “Well, God I don’t know if I can believe you. How can you do that?” And God said, “Believe me. I will do it.”

I thought, ‘God that’s great. I’ll just wait for it.’ And God said, “Well Eric, what about you? Is there any step of faith that you can take that will indicate to me that you believe that I’m going to do this?”

So I decided that my step of faith would be to move my old piano out and give it away to someone else, even though it was the only piano I had in the house. I was going to give it away to someone else and make room for the new piano that I believed God was going to send.

This was a difficult thing to do. I love playing the piano. And to not have a piano would be very difficult for me. But to make room for the new piano, God called me to take a step of faith. And as I did, I promised the piano to someone. I gave it away that week, and by the weekend, someone else had shown up to give a piano to me, unknowing that I had made any of these prayers, or any of these requests to God, and also that I had moved the piano out of my house.

But God answered. God provided. And ultimately he provided this particular piano a couple of years later as a result of that and other steps of faith.

So God will honor those steps of faith. But it requires some action on our part. Then he demonstrates his power to us, and that will give us the encouragement to go to the next step.

So I want to encourage you to go to the next step, just like Joshua did.

Take a look at me what happened. Joshua 3, verse 9, says that Joshua told the Israelite this. He said, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out the Cananites, Hittites, Perezites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.”

He says, “Choose 12 men… and as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

“Now the Jordan is at flood stage during all of harvest.” So this is a huge river and it’s also flooded. “Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan, and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing.”

“The priests who carried the ark of the covenant,” (verse 17) “stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel passed by, until the whole nation had completed and crossed on dry ground.”

When they were finished, in Chapter 4 verse 18 it says, “The Jordan returned to flood stage as before.”

And the key verse at the end of Chapter 4 says, “God did this so that all the people’s of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Whose Will?

You may be asking God for things and wanting him to work in your life just for your own sake. And that’s fine, God wants to answer those requests too. But God ultimately wants to demonstrate to you his power and his faithfulness.

He wants to show you that he is real, that he is alive and he is active. As you take that step of faith, as you see the waters back up, know in your mind that it is God who is answering those prayers. It is God who is answering that and giving you the faith to step in that and to walk in that. And God will continue to direct your steps once you get across the Jordan. So that you might know that God’s hand is powerful and that you would have the fear of the Lord.

Let me just stop and ask you right now: Do you really believe that God exists? You may have been a believer for a long time. You may believe in Christ. You may believe in God. You may have given your life to the Lord. If so, that’s great.

But is your life acting like you believe that there’s a God in heaven, a God who sees your every action? A God who is with you? A God who wants to reward those who diligently seek him as the Bible promises?

Because if you are convinced, ultimately convinced deep down here in your heart that God exists, and God is for you, and God loves you, and God’s going to carry you through, then I believe it’s going to have a profound impact on the way you live your life.

It’s going to have a profound impact on how you minister to people. It’s going to have a profound impact on how you treat your kids. It’s going to have a profound impact on what you choose to do tomorrow and next week and next year.

Because when you believe that God exists and he’s there for you, everything in your life will change. So I want to pray that at the end of the night for you that you would have that confident assurance. And if you don’t know Jesus Christ already, let me say this: He died for your sins so that you could go to heaven and be with God forever. So you don’t have to pay the penalty for your sins.

God doesn’t like sin. The penalty is death. But God has provided an escape clause, if you want it, to stick your hand up right now, right where you are and say, ‘Jesus, forgive me of my sins. I’m sorry. I’m going to turn around and go the other way. I commit to you God that I will not do this any longer, and I will follow you.’

That’s what it takes, and when you believe that in your heart, God will forgive you and release a power in your life like you’ve not known before. He’ll give you some joy that you’ve never known before. He’ll give you some understanding, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Back to you who are wanting to take a step of faith.

Whose Will? (2)

So, back to you who are wanting to take a step of faith. One of the questions that frequently comes up is “Is this God that is telling me to do this or is this my own desire?”

I want to take point 2 just to address that. Point one was simply that God does have a desire for your life. He has a purpose, He does exist and He wants you to step out on faith. But point 2 is How do you know if it is God’s will or not? And I want to clarify some people are timid in stepping out in faith and they couch it behind the word “Well I’m not sure if this is what God wants me to do or not, I’m still waiting for Him to clarify if this is God’s will or not”. When really what they are saying is “I don’t know if I believe that God exists, I don’t know if I believe that God is going to catch me if I take this step of faith.”

There’s a very slight distinction there, but I want to make sure that you don’t have the second one. That you don’t miss out that God really is there, God will be there, He will catch you when you take the step. But one of the ways to know for sure that it is God’s will is first and foremost to know that it is not your will.

This is what George Mueller said a man who prayed in many things over a hundred years ago. And this is a quote from Henry Blackaby’s book “Experiencing God.” George Mueller says here is where nine-tenths of the error comes in knowing God’s will.

“Number 1) I seek at the beginning to get my heart in such a state that it has no will of it’s own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally exists here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the knowledge of what His will is. So God says right there, as far as Mueller found to be the case, when he could get to the point where he said “God, not my will but yours be done.”

I am dead to this issue, whether is succeeds , whether it fails. It doesn’t matter to me . What matters to me is that I get in your will.

And so I’ll pray with you later in the night that you will be able to pray a prayer like that too and say “God, . I have this desire in my heart to go and do something, to take a step of faith, but I’m not sure if it’s you. And so we’ll just pray tonight that God will make sure that it is His will and not your will, because that is where we can get into mistakes . The heart is deceptive and yet God does want us to take some risks and take some steps of faith. So that’s my cautionary statement, just make sure that it’s God’s will by making sure that it’s not your own will.

The third point tonight is to step into the river.

Step into the River

Here’s where it gets very difficult and also where it just requires sheer faith on your part. For you to say “I am going to do it. I’m going to step out, I’m going to step into the Jordan even though it is at flood stage. And I’m just going to stand up, I’m going to see the water and I’m going to take a step and walk into the river and see what happens.”

You may sink, but you may, like Peter find that you can walk on the water at least long enough to know that it is the power of God holding you up. I want to encourage you to stand firm in your faith. It is a fight, we have to “fight the good fight of faith,” Paul said to Timothy. And it is a fight to keep your faith. It’s a fight. And I know the struggle, and I know that you know the struggle.

Tonight’s broadcast is one of those steps of faith for me. I’m not ready with my web site, I’m not ready with all the technicalities, and yet God has said, “I want you to preach on the Internet. Preach with all your heart. Worship with all your heart. Pray with all your heart. Those are the three things He has called me to do.

So I’m doing that tonight out of obedience to Him even though I’m not comfortable with it, I’m not ready. I said “God, I need to step into the river just like you called me to do. And even though it’s not all there, it’s not the way I’d like it, I’m going to step in and see what kind of power You release. Because you’ve called me to do this and I’m going to do this in obedience to you.”

And if your watching, if you would pray for me that God would demonstrate His power, that He would show us that this is exactly how He is going to work. He’s promised us that and convinced us of that , but we need to walk in that. And over the next year we are going to be walking in this and this our full time occupation.

This is what we are going to do, this isn’t just some carry-over ministry, or something else we do, but we are here to preach to you on the Internet. To give you faith and just to have a one-on-one conversation with you. So afterwards you can come converse with us in our chat room at The Ranch and we can pray for each other. You can build up your faith because that’s what it is going to take over the next few years to get through the end times and to see the return of the Lord Jesus.

The final point of three is to step into the river. Just go ahead and step in. Once you know it’s God’s will , even though you don’t see anything around you that would tell you that the water is going to back up, you need to step in. Step in, step in, step into the river of life.

Let me pray with you and we’ll sing another worship song and we’ll come back to this at a closing time.

Lord, I just thank you for the time tonight. I thank you Lord for giving me the strength to step into the river tonight. I pray God that you would give others the strength too. God I pray that each person listening to this tonight, Lord, and later as it is stored on the computer, I pray God that you would give them the power, right now in Jesus name, to step out in faith, to know your will, to do your will.

You say you’ll guide us and you’ll direct our steps. God I pray You would speak to your people. I pray that you would give them confidence. I pray that they would walk in faith. And God, I pray that You would give them the strength to take the step. In Jesus name, Amen.

Following the Lord is a great thing to do and I just pray that god would give you the strength and courage to step out in faith.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Jumping Into God’s Plan

God has a plan and he’s carrying it out. You can jump into it anytime. And when you do, you’ll find purpose and fulfillment in your life like you’ve never known before. (Recorded September 20, 1998)

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Esther 4:14

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Outline

1. Know the plan.

2. Know your part in the plan.

3. Do it.

Transcript

Hi, this is Eric Elder, broadcasting live from The Ranch.

Tonight’s our first night of doing a live broadcast. I read yesterday where Garrison Keillor…if you know Garrison Keillor, he’s been on “Prairie Home Companion” for the last 25 years or so. He does a weekend radio show, and he’s done that since 1974. I read last night when he did his first live broadcast, there were 12 people present for it.

And now he has an audience of 2 million people, 25 years later, every week listening to him. So you have got to start somewhere, and here I am starting. This is where God called me to be so I’m glad to do it.

Esther’s Jump

Tonight I want to talk about jumping into God’s plan. We’re going to take a look at Queen Esther and how she jumped into God’s plan. She had a choice to make, and God was going to do what he was going to do one way or the other, and Esther just had to decide whether she wanted to be involved in that or not.

The decision she had to make really was a matter or life or death to her. It could have meant life to her. It could have meant death to her, but God was going to have his way, regardless of what happened to her. So it was much better for her to jump into God’s plan.

So that’s what I want to talk about tonight too, that you would also want to jump into God’s plan, because when you do, you can get a purpose for your life, fulfillment and you can really come to know your ultimate destiny, once you understand what God’s will is for you, and once you want to walk in that will.

So I just want to pray right now and we’re just going to start with a song too, so just worship the Lord with me for one song and we’ll come back and do the broadcast.

Prayer

Lord, I just thank you God for this time, I thank you for the people that are watching this, and people watching it later Lord as it’s stored on the computer. And God I just pray that your presence would be here, that your holy spirit would flow out Lord, I pray that it would bring life, I pray that people would know their purpose in life, and know what you have called them to do, and I pray they would do it, Lord. I pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Esther’s Dilemma: To Jump or Not to Jump

Here’s the key verse for the night: Esther 4:14. “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.”

If you don’t know the story of Esther, Esther was the queen. She was married to the king of Persia. And at the time, she was a Jew when she got married to him, but she didn’t tell him that she was a Jew.

And Mordecai was her stepfather. Mordecai took care of her and brought her into the kingdom, and he was the one that counseled her not to tell the king that she was a Jew. When he insulted someone – he wouldn’t bow down to this man – the man got very mad at Mordecai, and also mad at all the Jews. In fact he had the king sign an order to kill all the Jews in the land.

The king at that time went ahead and signed the order and said on a certain day we will kill all the Jews and anyone who is wanting to kill the Jews can do that and they would simply exterminate them all from the face of the earth.

This was tough because Esther was a Jew and she was married to the king, but the king didn’t know this. So she had a dilemma. Mordecai came to her and said, “Here is what you need to do. Perhaps God has raised you up for exactly this time.” That’s where this verse comes. It says, “You can go into the king and tell him to take back that order.”

But the last queen he had married did something wrong and came against him and was put out for the rest of her life from his presence. So this was a very serious thing for Esther to do. In fact, it says in the book of Esther that if she approached the king, he would have the right to kill her immediately. She could only approach him if she was invited. If she happened to approach him uninvited, as long as he extended the scepter to her, then she would be OK and she would be able to come into his presence. Otherwise she would be put to death.

So here’s what happened. Esther says, “I’m not sure what to do Mordecai.” And Mordecai says this, “You can do whatever you want to do Esther, but if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place.”

What that means is, God’s got a plan and he’s going to carry it out one way or the other, Esther. He’s going to deliver the Jews, because he loves the Jews and because they are his people. So he says, “I know that God’s going to deliver the Jews whether you do this or not. But,” he says, “you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.”

So all the sudden, Esther has a choice to make. She can either say, “I’m going to jump into God’s plan, and as long as he’s going to deliver the Jews, I may as well be a part of it. Because I know what God wants. I know God’s favor is on the Jews, so I’m going to jump into God’s plan.”

Or she could have said, “I’m too afraid, I’m not going to do it.” God would have carried out his plan anyway, but she and her father’s family would all perish.

You can see the choice is pretty clear. I don’t know what you would do. It’s a very fearful situation. I can’t say that I would know what to do at the same time, but once praying about it and asking the Lord, he can conquer those fears, and you can go forward and say, “I’m just going to do it. I’m just going to do it. I know what God’s will is, I know what my part is, and I know what I need to do. I’m just going to go ahead and do it.

Three Steps for Jumping into God’s Plan

These are the three points that I want you to know tonight. There are three things about jumping into God’s plan. One is to “know the plan.” Two is to “know your part in the plan.” And three is to “carry out the plan – or simply just do it.”

1) Know the Plan

First off, to “know the plan.” Do you know what God’s plan is? Do you know ultimately what he’s about and what he’s trying to accomplish in the world? What he’s trying to accomplish in the earth?

If you don’t let me tell you real quickly. God is sending his Son, Jesus Christ, back into the world. He’s going to reclaim his people, and he’s going to take them to reign with him in heaven forever.

This is all confirmed throughout the Bible. In fact, back at Genesis 6, only six chapters into the Bible, God had already at that time said that he was frustrated with man, that he was grieved that he had made them, because they were becoming so wicked and so sinful. So God said, “I’m going to wipe out all the men from the face of the earth, everyone that I’ve created because of what they’ve turned into be.”

He said he was going to destroy the whole world. But then he saw Noah and Noah was a righteous man. He said, “For the sake of Noah, I will spare the world.” And he did. He saved Noah and his family and they restarted the earth again once the earth was destroyed and wiped out.

We know it’s already be destroyed once and God has said that he’s going to come back and next time he’s not going to do it with rain, he’s going to do it with fire.

So God is going to come back, Christ is coming back. In fact, we know that God has already come because he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross. That’s part of the plan. God has started his plan of saving his people. He said, “Once again, the people of the earth have become too wicked and I’m going to have to destroy it all again. But before I do, I want to get my people out.” And he said, “My people are anyone that will believe in me, and anyone who will believe in my Son and ask for forgiveness of their sins, turn and repent and come back to me.”

So Jesus came and he died on the cross for your sins and mine. And anyone who believes in him, will not perish but have eternal life. You can look that up later in John 3:16.

So we know that God destroyed the world once. We know that he wants to destroy it again, and he sent his Son to get the people out who will believe in him and repent. And the ending is made very clear: God is going to destroy the earth by fire.

If you’ll look in Revelation 19:11-16, he describes the destruction and also the return of Christ when he comes in on his horse, riding in, and everyone will see it at the same time. And everyone will bow their knees, everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

But at that time it will be too late to make a decision for Christ. Because if you’re going to make it you need to make it now before he comes back again. Because when he comes back, he’s going to know who’s his and who’s not. And he’s going to come and claim his own, and the rest are not going to make it.

So that’s the plan. God has a plan. He’s carrying it out. He’s already got it progress. But number two is you need to know your part in the plan.

2) Know Your Part in the Plan

And if you don’t know it, God speaks today. You can hear him. He speaks through his word, he speaks to us in many ways. God will be glad to tell you what your part in the plan is. In fact, he’s more excited to reveal it to you than you are to know it. Because he very much wants you involved in it. He will show you. God promises that those who seek him, will find him. And if you keep seeking his plan for your life, you will find. Because he has promised it and he is faithful.

3) Carry Out the Plan

Third is, to carry out the plan. The first two are hard enough. One, just to reveal and to know what God’s plan is and two, to know your part in the plan. But the third one is where the rubber meets the road- whether you are going to carry out the plan that God has for your life.

You have a choice, just like Esther. God’s going to do it, one way or the other. You can jump in and join him and you can have life abundant. You can have a full life. You can have purpose for your life – meaning and destiny. Or you and your father’s family could perish. That’s the choice.

I will tell you it’s very fearful to choose life. It is very fearful to choose God’s way. But God has promised that he will carry you through it. And here is how.

How? Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

We do it the same way that Jesus did it, who fixed his eyes on the things to come. He knew what he was about. He knew where he was going. And he focused on what God had called him to do. He said, “God, not my will, but your will be done. And I will do it, whatever you call me to do.” And Jesus went to the cross. He died for our sins so that we could go to heaven.

And that’s the way that he got through – on the third day he rose again from the dead and he reigns victorious with God, at his right hand. So this is what awaits us, but sometimes we have to go through the struggle of carrying out the plan.

It’s very difficult. Things come against us. Many times throughout the Bible, when people started acting on God’s plan for their life, many things came against them. People tried to discourage them. Other hired hands tried to discourage them. People tried to fight them. People tried to kill them.

It’s amazing, even Lazarus who was raised from the dead, the people that didn’t believe in Jesus tried to kill Lazarus again because they said, “This guy is too much proof that people can be raised from the dead and their is a resurrection. So if we kill him one more time, maybe people will stop believing.” They didn’t succeed in their plan, though, and many people believed in Christ because Lazarus remained alive.

God has a plan for you to succeed in your mission and he wants you to succeed.

The Results of Jumping into God’s Plan

This is the summary. God says he wants you to know the plan. He wants you to know your part in the plan. And he wants you to carry out the plan.

And just like Esther, we can make that choice.

And if you’ll read on in Esther, you’ll find out what happens. Esther chose to follow God’s plan. She and her family were spared. Mordecai her stepfather was put second in command of the land. And the man who claimed that he was going to kill all the Jews, he himself was hanged on the gallows.

A Prayer to Jump In

That’s the ending for tonight. I want to pray with you and then I’m just going to spend some time in worship here. Let me just pray.

Lord, thank you for this night, thank you for a day of new beginnings. God, thank you for revealing your plan to us. Thank you for showing us our part in it. God thank you for helping us to do it. God I pray for continued revelation, for everyone listening, for everyone watching Lord. I pray that you would reveal your plan to them, God.

If they don’t understand about you and your coming, if they don’t understand how you want to touch them and how you want to touch other’s through them, I pray that you would reveal that right now, in Jesus’ name, whether they are watching it right now or whether they are watching it two years from now.

Lord, I just pray that you would speak to these people, and that your Word would not go out void. Also God, I pray that they would know their part in the plan. I pray they would not only know just what you are about and what you are trying to do, but I pray they would know what you want them to do.

God I pray they would know how they fit in. Where they and their family fit. Where their kids fit, Lord. Where their families, their parents, their friends fit Lord. I pray that you would show them how all those pieces fit together, Lord, so they can carry it out with diligence, Lord.

God, I also pray that you would give them the strength to carry out the plan once they know it. I pray that those who are already embarking on God’s plan for their life, I pray that you would give them strength, give them wisdom, give them courage, Lord, give them boldness, and give them the resources to move forward in the plan that you have called on their life, Lord.

I pray this all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Good night!

Thanks for joining me. Won’t you join me in following the Lord? It’s a great thing to do.

God bless you. Hope to hear from you by email. (Use the contact form here). This is Eric Elder. Good night.

April 1, 2002 by Eric Elder

Dealing With Discouragement

Even home-run hitters have their share of bad days. But how can you break through an extended losing streak and still achieve your goal? Find out how in this, our first, live broadcast from The Ranch. (Recorded September 11, 1998)

Watch The Video (Message Only)

Watch The Video (Full Test)

Recorded live on Friday, September 11th, 1998.

(Our first live broadcast on The Ranch website.)

April 1, 2000 by Eric Elder

How To Know For Sure That You Are Going To Heaven

God wants you to be sure whether or not you’re going to heaven. Knowing this truth will make a difference in how you live and how you die. If you have doubts about where you’ll spend your eternal life, watch as my special guest Bill Allison clearly presents, “How To Know For Sure That You Are Going To Heaven.” (Recorded April 1, 2000)

Watch The Video

Message Notes

Special Guest: Bill Allison
Verse: Romans 10:13

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (ASV)

Outline

Introduction: God wants us to know where we’ll go when we die

In our society, those who plan for the future are rightly considered wise. Yet, many of us, even those of us who attend church regularly, are NOT absolutely sure that when we die, our souls will go to Heaven! This is not wise! None of us know when we will die!

If you want to ultimately get to Heaven, now is the time to check the road map! God doesn’t want us to be here on earth “HOPING” we are going to Heaven! He wants us to be sure!

These two questions can help clarify what you believe will happen to you when you die:

If you were to die right now, where would you go?
If Jesus asked you, “Why should I let you into my Heaven?” what would you say?

We’ll come back to these questions at the end.

Here are four foundational facts that we must understand and believe so that we can know for sure that we are going to Heaven.

1. Everyone is a sinner

We are sinners from birth, thanks to Adam and Eve. We know what is right, but we don’t always do it. Worse yet, if we know we are not supposed to do something, we want to even more!

Our newspapers bear the truth of the fact that we are all sinners. The Bible says that ALL have sinned:

“… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

This is not saying we are not capable of being nice, but we are all sinners.

Our sin separates us from God:

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

2. Our good works can’t save us from our sin and separation from God

Many think this: I know that I am a sinner, so I must make up for it by doing good things. People try to do so many things to get to Heaven on their own good works, BUT according to the Bible, there is nothing we can do to get to Heaven!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6).

3. Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sin

If we could get to Heaven by our own good works, why did Jesus bother to die on the cross for us? The Bible says:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

It was our sin that put Jesus on the cross. Because Jesus never sinned, he could bear our sin.

4. We must make a choice: Believe or not believe in what Christ has done for us

Here’s the difference between being religious and being a Christian: Religion is spelled “d-o.” Christianity is spelled “d-o-n-e.” Salvation is a gift, all we do is receive it, by believing in Christ:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Conclusion

Now is the time to make sure you are going to Heaven. The Bible says that God wants us to KNOW that we’re going to heaven:

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13)

You can make sure today by praying to God. I’ll give you some words you can pray with me, but know that God doesn’t care so much about the words, but about your heart. If you have any doubt about your salvation, please pray with me:

“Heavenly Father, I know that you love me. I know that my sin has cut me off from your love. And I know that being good, going to church, being religious will never be good enough to get me into heaven. I know that Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed his blood for me. I know that I should have been punished for my sins, but Jesus took my place. I know that that’s a gift that you’re holding out to me, and today, right now, I say thank you for that gift. Thank you for Christ’s death on the cross for my sins. And I receive it and I believe it with all my heart. Thank you God for helping me to be sure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you said that prayer and made sure today, send us a quick note on our contact form and we’ll let Bill know.

And memorize this verse to remember for sure that you will be saved:

” Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13, ASV)

By the way, if Jesus asked me “Why should I let you into Heaven?” I would say: “I don’t deserve it but you said if I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin, I could get in!”

And I believe, and according to God’s Word, God will say to me: “If you believe in me, you’ve trusted in me, whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

You can read more about my special guest Bill Allison and Cadre Ministries at: cadreministries.com.

September 11, 1998 by Eric Elder

The Ranch Archives: Popular Topics

Here are the first 50 videos that we broadcast live from The Ranch in the early years of our ministry (1998-2002).

We’re thankful to have been able to restore and convert these videos from a time when it was exciting to be able to watch live video over the internet in little windows the size of postage stamps on our computer screens . Even though life wasn’t broadcast in HD back then, I assure you that the quality of life was just as good… and God’s Word was just as true.

Hope you enjoy these classic messages from The Ranch!

CHOOSE A TOPIC

Dealing With Discouragement

Even home-run hitters have their share of bad days. But how can you break through an extended losing streak and still achieve your goal? Find out how in this, our first, live broadcast from The Ranch. (Recorded September 11, 1998)

Jumping Into God’s Plan

God has a plan and he’s carrying it out. You can jump into it anytime. And when you do, you’ll find purpose and fulfillment in your life like you’ve never known before. (Recorded September 20, 1998)

Stepping Into The River

Is God calling you step out in your faith? Do you need a little reassurance that God will carry you to the the other side? Then watch this message for a boost in your faith. (Recorded September 27, 1998)

The Power Of Faith

Faith is more than a state of mind, it actually contains power, strong enough to move mountains. Like atomic energy, just a little atom of it can blast you from here to heaven in the blink of an eye. See how you can put it to work in your life. (Recorded October 4, 1998)

Our Light And Momentary Troubles

Are your burdens too heavy? Hear how Jesus can lift them, for he said, “Take my yoke upon you… for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Also includes some of my personal testimony of how I came to Christ. (Recorded October 11, 1998)

In God We Trust?

We put our trust in many things…our jobs, our spouses, our home, our family, our friends, our wisdom, our talents. But it’s only when we put our trust in God that we’ll see true success. Explore with me how things will change for you when you renew your trust in God. (Recorded October 18, 1998)

Catching A Glimpse Of God

You’ve got to admit, if there is a God, He must be pretty big. That would mean it’s pretty hard to hide. Yet God can hide Himself from us, just as He can reveal himself to us. Although it may seem like a cosmic game of hide and seek, God promises that when you seek Him, you’ll find Him. (Recorded October 25, 1998)

Scared To Life

Looking for a truly scary story this Halloween? Here’s one that’s got thrills and chills galore. It may not scare you to death, but it may just scare you to life. The ending depends on you. Find out why in this message. (Recorded November 1, 1998)

Looking For Answers

Looking for an answer? Wish God would speak to you, and tell you what he thinks? Be assured, God wants you to know his will for you even more than you want to know it. Come and find the answers to your questions. (Recorded November 22, 1998)

Need A Change?

Restless? Unfulfilled? Want to change a few things in your life? If anyone can change things, God can. Because God is in the life-changing business. It’s one of his specialties. So if you need some faith that God can change a few things in your life, watch this. (Recorded November 29, 1998)

The Rewards Of Perseverance

If you’re wearing out waiting on God, watch this message! You’ll hear about the great rewards for perseverance. God is faithful. He will answer. He will come through, not only for you, but for those who will be touched by what he does for you. (Recorded December 6, 1998)

Having Trouble Believing?

Do you need faith for something, but have doubts instead? You’re in good company. Some of the main characters of the Christmas story had their share of doubts, too. In this message, you can find out what happened to change their doubt to faith, and how you can do the same. (Recorded December 13, 1998)

Prayer-Squared: The Power Of 2

Wonder how to increase the power of your prayers? Jesus gave us a hint: “… if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Join me for some touching stories about prayer-squared: the Power of 2. (Recorded December 20, 1998)

Lana’s Christmas Message

Need some hope for the future? While we celebrate Christ’s first coming at Christmas, we also look forward to his second coming soon. My wife, Lana, shares how this affects her hope for the future. Come and listen to what God might to say to you, too. (Our kids sing, too!). (Recorded December 20, 1998)

The Power Of Forgiveness

Forgiveness brings healing to some of the deepest places in our lives. If you’re in need of forgiveness, or you struggle with forgiving someone else, join me for a message that could heal the hurts you never thought could be healed. (Recorded January 10, 1999)

Keeping “Up” In Your Faith

Do you get discouraged by doubt? Does it bring you down or make you depressed? God gives us some great ways to keep up in our faith, ways that will change not only our attitude, but the outcome. In this message, I’ll give you some ideas on how you can keep “up” in your faith. (Recorded January 17, 1999)

The Gospel Truth

Would you like to hear a clear explanation of how to get to heaven? Would you like to know a simple way to explain it to others? If so, join me for this message to hear the great news: the gospel truth. (Recorded January 24, 1999)

Clear My Mind

Do you have trouble clearing your mind? Do you battle thoughts from the past, or worry about the future? God has a way to help you clear your mind. To hear more about this peace that passes understanding, join me for this message. Listen to the music that goes with this message from the CD “Clear My Mind.” (Recorded January 29, 1999)

What God Wouldn’t Do For You

There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Can that really be true? If you have doubts, I hope you’ll watch this message to give you a whole new perspective on what God is willing to do for you. (Recorded February 7, 1999)

Recharging Your Batteries

If your rechargeable batteries run out of steam, you know what to do. Plug ‘em in and give ‘em a boost. We can do the same thing for ourselves when we run out of steam. If we only know where to put the plug. Join me to hear how to plug into the ultimate source of power. (Recorded February 14, 1999)

The Will To Go On

Tired of the fight? I want to encourage you that it’s worth it. God will make it worth your while. Don’t give up. The Bible says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In this message, I’ll pray with you that you will have “The Will to Go On.” (Recorded February 21, 1999)

The Joy Of The Lord

True joy eludes many people, even long-time Christians. But a simple change in perspective can be the key to unlock more joy in your life. Join me for this message if you want to find out more about the Joy of the Lord. (Recorded February 28, 1999)

Tempted?

If you struggle with temptation, watch this week’s “Live from the Ranch.” God has promised that when we are tempted, he will provide a way out. Join me as I share some powerful stories of how God has done this for others, and how he can do it for you. (Recorded March 7, 1999)

Cheer Up!

This is a message of hope, so if you need some, listen in. I can assure you the sun is still shining, even if the clouds are blocking your view. You can be sure that if the sun weren’t there, we’d be flung out of orbit and die instantly. Don’t despair, God is there, too. (Recorded March 14, 1999)

The Quest For Rest

Listen as Russell Pond describes “Entering into a Sabbath-Rest.” Russ has ministered on the Internet for several years to people who suffer from panic attacks. He brings his unique insights into this week’s topic on finding rest. For more information on Russ and his “Season of Peace” ministry, visit http://www.season.org. (Recorded March 21, 1999)

The Cross

I once visited the spot in Jerusalem where Jesus died. As I approached it, I was flooded with emotion and fell to my knees. In this message, I’d like to share with you in a very personal way what Christ has done for me. And in the process, I want you to know what Christ has done for you, too. (Recorded March 28, 1999)

God Is Very Real

When you realize that God is real, everything takes on a new perspective and a new meaning. And when we can realize this truth every moment of every day, it can change our outlook, our actions, and our attitudes. Join me for this message to see what a difference it can make in your life. (Recorded April 11, 1999)

Two Weeks With God

Care to spend two weeks with God? There’s nothing like spending time with him to bring peace to your soul. In this message, you’ll learn more about our new online devotional “Two Weeks With God.” It’s free, and it’ll encourage you to spend time each day with the One who cares about you more than anyone in the world. (Recorded April 25, 1999)

The Trouble With Sex

If your sex life isn’t all you want it to be, or if you wonder if you’ll ever have a sex life at all, this message is for you. God doesn’t want us to be disappointed with sex any more than we want to be disappointed with it. And he’s thrilled to point us to answers to solve all of our troubles, even our troubles with sex. Includes special musical guest, Kent Sanders. (Recorded May 16, 1999)

Broken Hearts

If you’ve got a broken heart, you may feel like even God has abandoned you. But I assure you He hasn’t. The Bible says that “the Lord is close to the broken hearted.” Let God heal your broken heart as you watch this message. Includes special musical guests, Chuck and Lynette Giacinto of Final Quest. (Recorded May 23, 1999)

Increase Our Faith

Take a look with me at the words of Jesus when he commended people for their faith. When you see what happens to each person, I hope you’ll be inspired to call out to God like the disciples did: “Increase our faith!” Join me for this guided tour of The Walk of Faith. (Recorded May 30, 1999)

Broken Trust

When people break our trust, what can we do? When they’ve let us down, or even deliberately betrayed us, how should we react? In this message, we’ll take a look at some famous and not-so-famous people who have given us an example to follow. You’ll find that even when people break our trust, we can still trust God. (Recorded June 6, 1999)

Random Acts Of Kindness

People love to hear stories about “random acts of kindness,” those thoughtful little things that people do to help one another. God calls us to do these and more. Join me as I encourage you to reach out with some “deliberate acts of kindness” based on God’s desire that we put our faith into action. (Recorded June 27, 1999)

Be My Lord

Many people want a Savior…someone to help them out when times are tough. But not every wants a “Lord,” because they’re afraid to hand over control of their life to someone else. But rest assured that there’s Someone we can hand our lives over to Who really does know best…and will do us right every time. Join me to hear how great it can feel to say to God, “Be My Lord.” (Recorded July 10, 1999)

Blankity Blank, Blank, Blank

Does your tongue ever get you into trouble? Do other people’s tongues ever cause you trouble? In this message, we’ll take a look at how to get control over our tongues, and how to counteract the negative words that others have spoken to us. Find out the difference this can make in your life and the lives of those around you. (Recorded July 25, 1999)

The Love Of God

There’s one set of words you can hear over and over and never get tired of them: “I love you.” And this is what God says to us, and wants us to hear from him, every day. No matter where you are, what you are doing, or what you have done, God loves you. He desires you to know that love, feel that love, walk in that love, and act on that love. Let Him tell you again today: “My child, I love you.” (Recorded August 1, 1999)

Parenting – From Heaven’s Point Of View

Sometimes we have to get our head out of the clouds, but then there are times when we need get them back up there and breathe in a little bit of heaven. It’s particularly helpful when changing a diaper. If you need a breath of fresh air right now because of troubles in raising your kids, join me for a look at parenting – from heaven’s point of view. (Recorded August 8, 1999)

Resurrection Power

We need faith to get through many things in this life. But ultimately, the true power of our faith hinges on one thing: our belief in the resurrection from the dead. It is so critical that Paul said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied above all men.” We must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, for only then can we have hope that he can raise us also. (Recorded August 15, 1999)

The Value Of Friends

Taking and keeping friends can be difficult, elusive, and quite risky. But in the end, it’s worth the risk. There is an inherent value in friendship that satisfies the deep long that God has put in each of our hearts. If you’re wanting deeper friendships, but don’t know how to start, join me for this message with my special guests from Wales, John and Jennifer Evans. (Recorded August 22, 1999)

True Intimacy

One of the deepest longings of our heart is the longing for true intimacy. Yet all too often we settle for something less, not because we don’t want the real thing, but because the risk is simply too great. But true intimacy does exist. It starts by being honest with God, and it continues in our relationships with others when we are honest with them. This message will help you take steps toward True Intimacy. (Recorded August 29, 1999)

What’s God Up To?

Do you ever feel like life is going nowhere? And do you sometimes wonder if there’s an overall plan for life on this planet? I want to assure you that life is going somewhere and that there is an overall plan. Regardless of what it looks like around you, God is up to something. In this message, you’ll learn more about his plan for the world and how you can be part of it as it unfolds. (Recorded September 5, 1999)

Stocking Up On Your Faith

Do you ever feel like life is going nowhere? And do you sometimes wonder if there’s an overall plan for life on this planet? I want to assure you that life is going somewhere and that there is an overall plan. Regardless of what it looks like around you, God is up to something. In this message, you’ll learn more about his plan for the world and how you can be part of it as it unfolds. (Recorded December 16, 1999)

The Gift Of Rest

One of God’s greatest gifts to us is the gift of rest. But like many gifts He offers us, we sometimes let this one sit in our closet unopened. In this message, I’ll help you unwrap this great gift so you can begin to enjoy its benefits in your life. If you’re tired and weary, this is a message for you! (Recorded March 15, 2000)

How To Know For Sure That You Are Going To Heaven

God wants you to be sure whether or not you’re going to heaven. Knowing this truth will make a difference in how you live and how you die. If you have doubts about where you’ll spend your eternal life, watch as my special guest Bill Allison clearly presents, “How To Know For Sure That You Are Going To Heaven.” (Recorded April 1, 2000)

The Secret Of Happiness

It’s been said that “every man dies, but not every man truly lives.” God wants us to “truly live.” But how? The apostle Paul, even after being beaten, robbed, imprisoned, shipwrecked and left for dead, said “…now we really live.” How? He knew the secret of happiness and he shared it with us in one of his letters. I’ll share it with you, too, in this practical message on “The Secret of Happiness.” (Recorded May 19, 2000)

If God Were Here

What difference would it make in your life right now if you knew that God were here? What difference would it make in your situations, in your relationships, in your work, in what you do or don’t do? The Bible says that God is here and, in fact, he is not far from each one of us. Join me as I share some of my own encounters with the living God and three things I believe He would tell each of us. (Recorded February 23, 2001)

A Thoughtful Look At Human Cloning

Human cloning is now here. What’s a Christian to think about it? And how should we respond? Join me for look at three ways I believe a Christian can respond to human cloning in a thoughtful, compassionate, and Christ-like manner. (Recorded January 11, 2002)

Your Life Is More Than Just A Dash

Even though our tombstone will mark the date of our birth and the date of our death, with a dash in between, that doesn’t even come close to telling the whole story. Your life is more than just a dash. You were alive long before you took your first breath. And, if you believe in Christ, you will live long after you take your last. Join me for a new perspective on just how precious you are to God. (Recorded January 26, 2002)

My Prayer Closet

Do you ever wish you could get away from everything for awhile? Head off to the mountains or a beach or a beautiful resort? There’s actually a place you can go that’s even better than those places – and you can go there as often as you want. That place is in the presence of God. I hope you’ll listen as my wife, Lana, describes how she enters God’s presence by going to her “prayer closet.” We hope it will encourage you to find a place where you can go and spend time with God, too. (Recorded February 15, 2002)

Loving Your Neighbor Over The Internet

Have you ever considered using the Internet to help others? In this broadcast, I’ll give you several examples of how God has been working on the Internet. I specifically want to encourage YOU to think about ways you might help bring the love of Christ to others as well. I hope you’ll join me, not only for this broadcast, but also in loving your neighbor…over the Internet. (Recorded March 15, 2002)

How To Finally Be Free From Sin

Many people write to me asking for help to be free from a sin that has plagued them for a long, long time. Although they want to be free from sin, they feel defeated. They’re worn out from the fight. They’re about ready to give up hope of ever changing. If you feel the same way, I hope this message will give you new hope. Not only that, but I pray it will help you to break free from the sins that plague you as well. (Recorded March 29, 2002)

Grasping The Love Of God

If you know God loves you, but don’t feel it in your heart, then this is a message for you.