What it Takes to Get the Family Together

Song: Give Me The Bible

Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:4-9

1. Sobriety. The devil is so subtle. He has made us so busy in our day that we don’t have time for family. He keeps us running so that we are worn to a frazzle because we’ve not knelt to pray, nor stopped for study and meditation. You have to take the Family Together seriously. It’s as important as home security. It is your home security. If you’ve not figured that out, you’ll discover it too late.

2. Determination. You have to make up your mind to do it. You have to decide that getting the family together for a period of worship and devotion is worth the effort. You have to be willing to turn off the evening news or to get the kids out of bed fifteen minutes earlier. If you don’t determine to make it happen, it won’t happen.

3. Persistence. When there’s an interruption in your routine what will you do? If you currently have no routine to your day, will you make one? If you don’t plan now how to handle interruptions to your Family Together time, interruptions will eliminate such time. You’ll find time to squeeze in fifteen minutes of television. You’ll make time for dinner. Be jealous of Family Together time, or it won’t happen.

Jason Moore

The Victory of the Lamb

Song: Hallelujah! What A Savior!

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14

John, the apostle of the Lord, was banished to the island of Patmos, a leper colony. Persecution against the early Christians had become a policy of the Roman empire, a policy that was to become yet more severe and concerted. The revelation given to John of “things which must shortly take place” (1:1) was to supply strength to the disciples who would suffer persecution in that age and in any age.

Who would be the victor in the struggle? How could the kingdom of God prevail against the armies of Rome which had crushed every army in its path and presently dominated the world? When would God rise up and save His people from the slaughter and injustice of this empire? To answer these questions, the Lord equipped John, not just with words, but with pictures. He presented to the Christians of that age and the ages to follow a “behind the scenes look” at what happens on the world stage. Sure, there was death, destruction, wars, famines, cruelties, injustices, persecution. God was using all of these events to show that His kingdom would be victorious over every enemy.

In the NT age, heaven’s best was pitted against hell’s worst to prove once and for all that the kingdom of God is victorious over the kingdom of Satan. We are heirs of an unshakable kingdom, because the Lamb of God has won the victory over Satan, over Sin, over Death, over the worst of this world. That’s the lesson of Revelation. With that in mind, you’re ready to read the book and to face the day.

Jason Moore

Sunday Morning Starters

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13:15; NASBU)

This Lord's Day present God a thank offering! Lift up your voice in praise! Give Him thanks!

Jason Cicero

Visions Of Grandeur

Song: Oh, The Things We May Do

Scripture: Zechariah 2:1-13

“Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem… then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem” (Ezra 5:1-2). Around 520 BC, Zechariah was appointed the weighty task of stirring the Jews who had become slack in their efforts to rebuild Jerusalem which had been in shambles for 70 years.

His was not an easy task. While the prophet Haggai motivated the people by rebuking their indifference and reminding them of God’s promises, Zechariah conveyed elaborate visions of the plans God had in mind for Israel.

Zechariah’s pictures inspired the people by showing them that their work, which seemed so fruitless, had far reaching results. In our reading, the man measuring Jerusalem in Zechariah’s day would not have been much impressed due to its state of disrepair. But none should be discouraged for the Lord would be both the walls about and the glory within the city. The city, now sparsely populated, would someday run over with citizens.

Such pictures must have puzzled the Jews. The visions would not be clear until the reign of Christ in His kingdom. But the visions gave the Jews confidence that God would be with them and take care of things, even if they didn’t understand how. We see the end they didn’t see though they laid the foundations for its accomplishment. Such ought to inspire us to perform the small deeds today which will redound to God’s glory in the future.

Jason Moore

The Day of the Lord

Song: There's A Great Day Coming

Scripture: Zephaniah 3:1-13

Zephaniah prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, one of Judah’s good kings. Both the king and the prophet (1:1) were descendants of King Hezekiah, another godly king. Zephaniah likely prophesied in the 630’s or 620’s BC, making him a contemporary of Nahum and Jeremiah also.

The dominant theme of Zephaniah’s prophecy is the “day of the Lord.” The day of the Lord is a time in the future, sometimes distant and sometimes near, when God will visit mankind. The phrase is found frequently in the prophets but finds its fullest expression in Zephaniah’s message.

The day of the Lord is a day of judgment. It is the day when God’s patience finally runs out. Zephaniah reveals that God’s wrath will eventually be executed against Judah and against the other nations who have neglected His will.

The day of the Lord can also be a day of salvation. Zephaniah looks into the future in our text and shows that God will restore a remnant in Israel. It is rare that God ever discloses a specific day that He will visit mankind. He gives warnings and supplies the principles by which His salvation or judgment is executed. He comes when He wills.

Will there be a day of the Lord for the U.S.? That will depend on the conduct of her people. There is certainly a day of the Lord to come for all mankind, the final day of the Lord. It will be both a day of judgment and salvation for all the nations. Get ready for that day. It will surely come.

Jason Moore

A Disciple's Life

Song: I Want To Be A Worker

Scripture: 3 John 1-14

If an apostle were to write you a letter what might he say? John called Gaius his child, perhaps because he had converted him, but we are all children of the apostles being the product of their teaching. John’s letter to Gaius reveals the marks of a disciple who has learned from the fathers well.

“I pray that you may prosper and be in good health just as your soul prospers.” Such a petition would only be desirable for one who has made his soul a priority. If your health prospered like your soul, would you be in the Olympics or in the ICU?

“Brethren came and bore witness to you your truth.” Gaius had acquired a favorable reputation among the brethren as one who walked in the truth. What sort of reputation would have been reported to the apostle about you? Gossip? Indifferent? Undependable? Supporter of the truth?

“You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.” Gaius loved the brethren and gave aid to strangers. He had learned Jesus’ teaching that “as you do unto the least of these My brethren, you do unto Me.” He treated them in a manner worthy of God Himself. How is your love for the brethren, for strangers?

“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” Gaius was not one to be persuaded by the politics that sometimes sours religion, the kind practiced by Diotrophes. How does hypocrisy in religion affect you? Does it make you quit, or resort to the same devices, or make you more dedicated to imitating what is good and godly?

Jason Moore

The Sovereignty of God

Song: Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah!

Scripture: Nahum 1:1-15

Nahum saw the vision that Jonah had hoped to see and deliver, the destruction of Nineveh (612 BC). No certain date can be attached to Nahum’s prophecy other than that the warning was given while Assyria was still enjoying the privileges of empire, and a cruel empire she was. The prophecy of Nahum is a testimony to the sovereignty of God.

The sovereignty of God is simply the notion that God reigns supreme in the universe. Some folks have a concept of sovereignty that eliminates free will. It says that God programs the destinies and so the choices of individuals. The biblical concept of sovereignty is far more majestic. God rules the nations, but does not override the free will of man. In fact, what God seeks is for man to love Him willingly, not because God forces him. He then weaves the free will choices of man, whether good or evil, into His purpose to redeem the world.

Nineveh, the capital city and so the symbol of the Assyrian empire, was used by the sovereign God. He used her to discipline Israel for her sins. He used her evil choices to teach others a lesson. Then God punished Assyria for her cruelty because she had no compassion for man and did not recognize that God had permitted her building of an empire. The humble penitence found in Nineveh in Jonah’s day was gone. She had to be punished. Nahum is the prediction of her judgment to come.

God will use men and nations to accomplish His purpose. The only way to make a significant difference in this life is to align your purposes with God’s. If you don’t He’ll still find a way to use you to help someone else. That’s how powerful He is.

Jason Moore