Author: Tom

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2 Kings: Lesson 15 — Reaping What You Sow

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 15 (Reaping What You Sow)
 2 Kings 15
April 16, 2014

The Text:

  1. Who followed Amaziah as king of Judah? How old was he and how long did he reign? How was his life viewed from the eyes of the Lord? Where did he reign from? Why? Who had charge of the palace and the “governing” responsibilities? When that person comes to reign at the end of this chapter, what do we learn about this current king?
    –
  2. For another view, check out 2 Chronicles 26. What does that tell you about the reason for this king’s condition? Was the condition preventable? What other significant event happened at the end of this king’s life?
    –
  3. How did Zechariah live as king of Israel? How long was he king? How did his reign end? Who followed him? What ended with the end of Zechariah’s reign? Why?  
    –
  4. How long did Shallum reign as king of Israel? How did the end of his reign compare to the beginning of it? Who followed him as king? What enemy came against him? How did he deal with it? What was the outcome?
    –
  5. How did Pekahiah become king? How did he live according to God’s view? What relationship did Pekah have to the king? What did Pekah do? What happened during Pekah’s reign? How did his reign end? 

The Application:

  1. Is it easy or hard to change your actions from what you grew up with? Why? Who would you want to be your “stand-in” if you weren’t able to be in public? Why? Are you known differently by different groups of people? Why?
    –
  2. Why does pride seem to be such a hard sin to avoid? What are some consequences of pride? Can we avoid them? How? What are some advantages to longevity in a role?
    –
  3. When you look at the way people live, do you think they believe sin has consequences? How about if you look at the way you live? Does God’s promises to you give you hope for future generations?        
    –
  4. Do you believe that people today tend to reap what they sow? Are there times that you try to bribe the enemy rather than face it? Are there times you should?  
    –
  5. How well do you know the people you trust? What makes them trustworthy? What compromises are you willing to make in an attempt to live in peace? Are they worth it? 

Next Week:   I Don’t Care
    2 Kings 16

 

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Always Be READY

I had the privilege to preach at the ordination service of a good friend and fellow servant of Christ.  While it was a great honor, it was also a very difficult task for me as the location chosen was one in which I had endured years of hardship before being rescued by God’s mighty hand.  As I sat there waiting for my time to speak, my heart was racing within my chest.  The pounding of my pulse was visible and I feared the sound of it would be picked up by the mic I was wearing, in a somewhat “Tell-Tale Heart” effect.  My breathing was becoming difficult and it was only the power of God’s Holy Spirit that lives within me that was able to keep the room from spinning as I rested in His grace.  This seemed to be a true test of the words I was about to speak — I could preach about always being ready, but could I live it?

The main text that God had placed in my mind for the evening was a common ordination service text.  Not only common, but quite fitting as God had developed a similar Paul and Timothy relationship between Taylor and I.  In the text, Paul writes to Timothy with these words:

“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.  In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.   In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 3:10 – 4:4 (NIV)

As you read the text, it is important to point out that the idea of being set apart for full-time Christian ministry is not just for a select few who take on vocational roles of ministry.  Each Christian is ordained by God into full-time Christian ministry at the moment of their baptism into Christ for the remission of their sin and God puts within them His Holy Spirit!  The blood of Jesus which covers our sin is the ordaining element that sets each of us apart for God’s exclusive use.  With that said, the Bible also teaches that God gifts some individuals to be involved in the equipping of His people for works of service.  To me, that is what an ordination service is about — setting apart those who have the responsibility to equip, train, and encourage others in the full-time service they do for God wherever He has them from day-to-day.  As you go about living the Christ-like life God has called you to, Paul makes it clear that you will encounter difficulties — “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”.  Yet in the midst of the hardship and persecution, we are told to be ready to preach the word “in season and out of season”.  So to you, as well as to Taylor, I say, “Be READY!”

  • Be Real:  The first part of being ready, is to be real!  If you are to represent Christ well, there must be a consistency of character and conduct that the people around you recognize as genuine.  When Paul writes about Timothy to the Philippians, he says that there is no one like him who has a genuine concern — not for his own interests, but for theirs.  We live in a society where the right image has become so much more important than being real.  The harder we try to put on a front, the further we fall from being ready when people realize we are not real.  To be ready to represent Jesus, we must live, act, and speak the same throughout the entire week as we do when we are surrounded by Christian friends during a Sunday worship gathering.  People need to see that you believe enough in what you are saying that you are actually living it!  They also need to see that you, as did Jesus, can understand and identify with their weaknesses.  
  • Be an Example:  The second part of being ready, is to be an example!  Many people like to pull out Paul’s instruction to Timothy to let no one look down on him because of his youthfulness.  Unfortunately, many fail to finish the verse to know how to actually do that!  In First Timothy, Paul writes and tells Timothy that he must set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity so that no one has a reason, or an excuse, to look down on him.  What we do, how we live, the example we set, can all make or break the message we tell about God’s great love for mankind.  A big part of the importance of being real is so that Jesus is not just heard about, He is visibly seen in the way that you and I live!  I believe that one of the reasons that the church seems to be making little positive difference in the American culture is because the Christians who make up the church have often failed to be an example.  Statistically, there is very little difference in the speech, life, love, faith, and purity of Christians compared to non-Christians!  Instead of being an example, our life often seems to shout out that there really is no difference.  When you wear the name Christian, how you treat others says more to them about Christ than what we tend to act like it does.
  • Be Available:  The third part of being ready, is to be available!  When you take life as a  Christian seriously, your primary business becomes people — regardless of what you do as an occupation.  While that sounds good and noble, it is not quite right!  It is that statement that gets many who enter vocational ministry in trouble.  As a Christian, your primary business is not people, it is your relationship with God!  When we get that mixed up, then it is not long before people are setting our schedule, agenda, and life goals.  We become exhausted trying to keep up with all the demands and needs of the people around us as we strive to be available to everyone.  While we need to make the most of every opportunity in our availability to people, we must make our availability to God the number one priority in our life!  When Paul writes to the Corinthians about the matter of some giving that they had purposed to do, he points out the attitude of the Macedonians who had first given themselves to God so that He enabled them to give beyond their means.  If you are going to be ready for what God has for you to do, you must live a life that is fully available to God for His exclusive use!  Doing this can change your entire attitude about service to people.  When the things that you do are based out of your availability to God, then you are truly able to work at it with all your might as one serving the Lord.
  • Be Decisive:  The fourth part of being ready, is to be decisive!  Throughout scripture, God calls people to make up their mind.  We live in a time when it seems like nearly everything is decided by public opinion.  Even within church and Christian ministry settings, it seems like we are often on that ship of doubt that James talks about — constantly being tossed from wave of survey results to wave of public opinion polls.  Yes, there is value in knowing what, and how, people are thinking, but that should never replace the authority of God and His Word in making decisions.  It is only when decisions are based out of time in prayer and careful examination of God’s Word that we are truly prepared to let our “yes be yes and our no be no”!  It is a sad commentary on the followers of God that the statements of Joshua and Elijah, calling the people to make a choice about who they will serve, are seen as such bold statements!  The church today needs courageous people who will stand up and boldly ask, “How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if (Baal) is God, follow him.”  (1 Kings 18:21)  You can fill in the parentheses as to what goes there instead of Baal in your life and in the lives of people today.  To always be ready, means that you hold fast to your decision that the Lord truly is God and His ways are the only ways to live.
  • Be Yielded:  The final part of being ready, is to be yielded!  Hopefully you have seen this element throughout the other parts that I have already mentioned.  When you live a life that is fully yielded to God, you give Him all the room necessary to work and receive the glory that is due Him.  When Peter writes about always being ready to give an answer for the hope that is within you, he begins by instructing us to “set apart Christ as Lord”.  When Christ is Lord, He is in charge and every detail of our life is done His way.  Being yielded to God in everything means that He decides what being real looks like.  He is the example that I not only follow, but also the example that I become.  He has my full attention so that I am available for whatever tasks that He calls me to do.  His decisions are supreme, so my task of deciding is easy — I simply say, “Yes, Lord.”  Being yielded is what ties the entire idea of being ready, but it is often the most difficult part of it.  It is where the concept of complete submission to God becomes reality.  It is doing the parts of life that you enjoy and the parts of life that you don’t enjoy — simply because God sets them both before you as the work He created in advance for you to do.  It is daily praying the prayer of Jesus from the garden, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”  It is going when God says go and staying when God says stay.  It is why Paul can both give instruction to endure hardship and also praise God for rescuing him from those very hardships.  A life that is fully yielded to God is ready to preach the word both in season and out of season — and even ready to use words if necessary. 

I pray that if you are in Christ as one of His children that you will Always Be READY!  You have been set apart for God’s exclusive use so as you go about life today, live like it!

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2 Kings: Lesson 14 — A Measure of Obedience . . . And Pride

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 14 (A Measure of Obedience . . . And Pride)
 2 Kings 14
April 2, 2014

The Text:

  1. Who followed Joash as king of Judah? How did God view his actions? Who did he follow, who did he not follow?  
    –
  2. What did Amaziah do after he was firmly in place as king? How did he limit that action? Why?
    –
  3. What notable thing had Amaziah done? After that, what message did he send to the king of Israel? How did Johoash respond? What did he say had happened to Amaziah? 
    –
  4. Did Amaziah listen to Johoash? What did he do instead? How did that turn out for Judah? How did Amaziah’s life end? Who succeeded him as king of Judah?
    –
  5. Who became king of Israel while Amaziah was king of Judah? How did he live according to God’s sight? What positive things did he do? Why did God use Jeroboam to rescue the people of Israel?

  The Application:

  1. How would you describe the way you live? When describing your way of life, do you find yourself comparing it to that of others? Who? In what ways could that be helpful? In what ways could that be harmful?
    –
  2. Is there a difference between judgment and justice? If so, what? How do you feel about suffering the consequences for what someone else does? Do you think people sometimes suffer consequences because of your actions?
    –
  3. Is it easier to handle success or failure? Why do you think people tend to give themselves credit for success and try to find someone to blame for failures? How do you avoid letting pride take you down a wrong path?    
    –
  4. Why is it so hard to listen to advice when it comes from unwanted sources? Have you ever done something just because someone said you shouldn’t or couldn’t? Should what they say matter one way or the other?     
    –
  5. Are there people that God could/would never use? How do you know? Does God using someone to accomplish His will say more about them, or Him?

 

Next Week:   Reaping What You Sow
   2 Kings 15

 

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Rescued

It’s been quite a year,
     as I look back now.
It’s hard to describe,
     except to say, “Wow!”
You live for so long
     at the point of despair.
And it surely seems
     like no one does care.
You work really hard
     at all that you do.
Yet the credit is taken
     by those around you. 

You watch and you wonder
     what you might have done.
That others don’t see you
     and your gift they do shun.
When people speak poorly
     about that which you do.
There’s none with the courage
     to stand up for you.
And so you do come
     to the end of your rope.
You cry out to Jesus
     for a glimmer of hope. 

So, God gives you strength
     as the years linger on.
You pray for the patience
     to see hope’s new dawn.
You hold tight to Jesus
     in the midst of it all.
You listen more closely
     for the sound of His call.
The years of oppression
     are not wasted, you see.
God uses each moment
     as training for me. 

I hear Him more clearly
     because of the pain.
It drives me to seek Him
     and submit to His reign.
His voice is much softer
     and loving to me.
Than I ever dreamt of,
     or thought it could be.
At just the right moment,
     my God says to me.
“My child it is time,
     for you to be free.” 

All this reminds me
     of Joseph in jail.
He sat there for years
     for someone did fail.
To speak up for him,
     his story to tell.
The man only cared
     that his own life went well.
So Joseph was faithful,
     even though treated wrong.
He still sought His God,
     through the night that was long. 

But God was not absent
     or without a plan.
At just the right time,
     He prompted a man.
That man was the king,
     who had quite a dream.
It disturbed him greatly,
     or so it would seem.
He sought out the wisest
     from throughout the land.
But it fell to Joseph
     to tell what God planned. 

God lifted him higher,
     than all but the king.
His purpose through famine,
     was rescue to bring.
God rescued Joseph
     from out of his cell.
For He had a message,
     someone needed to tell.
He rescued Egypt,
     but not them alone.
For to Joseph’s family,
     great mercy was shown. 

So when you are struggling
     in a jail of your own.
I pray that these words
     are good seeds that are sown.
That you hold even tighter
     to God’s gentle hand.
And wait for the purpose
     that God’s already planned.
That you remain faithful
     in all that you do.
Let God fill your life
     with all that’s for you. 

But always remember,
     as part of God’s plan.
You’re called to share
     with your fellow-man.
God uses hard times
     as well as the good.
To teach us His ways,
     so we do what we should.
So when you are lifted
     from the pit of despair.
You can’t help but shout it,
     you know God’s great care! 

So back to the story
     that this poem began.
As much as we’d like to,
     trouble we cannot ban.
But it is our choice,
     what we do with it.
Does it bring us down,
     or do we grow from it?
Part of that growth
     is to let people know.
That the troubles they face,
     also help them to grow. 

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

As I was spending time with God in prayer, praising Him for the incredible opportunities He has been giving me recently, He put this poem in my mind.  This poem is a reminder of where I’ve been and of God’s great work of rescuing me.  His reminder from the life of Joseph is that my rescue is not only for my benefit, but that He means for it to be a help and encouragement to others.  The greatest rescue from bondage that we will ever experience is the rescue of us from sin that Jesus accomplished on the cross.  It is important that we share our stories so that those who are near despair will hear of a  God who rescues at just the right time.  I pray that this poem is an encouragement to you to remain faithful in all things.

In prayer,
Tom

 

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Joy of a Child

There is something special
     about joy in a child.
Even when that joy
     may seem a bit wild!
To have a small part
     in a child having fun.
To hear them laugh
     as they play and run.
At least for the moment,
     they have no care.
Until one of their friends
     forgets they should share. 

They played in a bounce house
     and walked for some cake.
Sword fought with balloons,
     until they did break.
They ate lots of cookies
     and sugary snacks.
Even some popcorn,
     eaten out of the sacks.
No one was worried,
     it was a safe place.
The children lined up
     for a painted face! 

It was a reminder
     from each girl and boy.
When God’s love is in us,
     we should live with joy!
We all need some time
     in our busy life.
To put down the shield
     and avoid all the strife.
To hang out together
     and rest in the Son.
Set worries aside,
     and just have some fun. 

I know it sounds easy,
     but harder to do.
To let down my guard,
     enjoy being with you.
The longer we live,
     the more baggage we bring.
The weight of it all,
     makes it harder to sing.
God’s song becomes muffled
     when we fail to rest.
Then the message we share,
     really isn’t our best. 

So what can you do
     when joy seems to be lost?
Will you boldly seek it
     no matter the cost?
Will you see yourself clearly
     from God’s point of view?
And play like a child,
     as He watches you.
God longs for His children
     to feel safe and sound.
To know when they seek Him,
     He’ll always be found. 

Will I live my life fully,
     with my joy found in God?
And sing His praise loudly,
   even if I’m thought odd?
Will I feast on His goodness
     and incredible grace?
Will I give it my all
     as I finish this race?
I pray that we find it,
     that joy of a child.
And live boldly for God,
     even if we’re thought wild! 

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

I spent the evening making balloon creations for the Michiana Christian School Fun Fair and Open House.  While my fingers may tell a different story from tying so many balloons, it was a great evening of watching pure joy in the lives of children.  It always amazes me to see children line up and patiently wait to have a balloon made into some basic creation (because I’m not all that good at it and am very limited in what I can make).  It didn’t matter that many would ask for something I couldn’t do — their face was filled with joy when I handed them what I could make.  As I continued to make these balloon creations and pray for the children who were coming to me, God put this poem in my mind.  He also began asking me about my level of contentment and joy.  Am I not only satisfied, but filled with joy at the gift that God does give me?  I pray that this poem encourages you to be filled with the joy of a child.

In prayer,
Tom

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The Healer

As I sit at my desk
     and pray for a friend.
My mind starts to long for
     the day sickness will end.
With all of our wisdom
     and inventions of man.
We still are unable
     to make life what we plan.
Our world is full of
     sickness and strife.
You try to avoid it
     but it gets in your life. 

No one’s immune,
     at least it would seem.
If you think that you are,
     you live in a dream.
Yes, sickness and hurt
     come in myriad forms.
From babies to seniors,
     even in college dorms.
While there are many
     results that strike fear.
One of the worst is
     when “cancer” you hear. 

There’s still much unknown
     of what goes on inside.
When rogue cells take over
     and start to divide.
Some multiply quickly,
    destroying as they go.
Others seem more casual,
    they move steady and slow.
It doesn’t matter,
     they both work the same.
To conquer the body,
     seems to be their whole aim. 

Before it sounds hopeless,
     there is some good news.
When you recognize it,
     and to fight it you choose.
The battle’s not easy
     but it’s worth the fight.
To walk each day fully
     in the power of God’s might.
He surrounds you with people,
     the arms of His love.
And calls for your mind
     to be fixed on above. 

God is much bigger
     than the cancer within.
He also is greater
     than all of our sin.
To cure the body
     so that it is made whole.
Does absolutely no good
     if we ignore the soul!
For life here on this earth
     is fleeting at best.
For those who are in Christ,
     will eventually find rest! 

So as I pray daily
     for a friend who’s in need.
I pray for a cure
     and for wellness I plead.
I pray it for her,
     who has cancer within.
I pray it for others
     who are trapped by their sin.
For a healthy body,
     is what I do pray.
For all those with cancer
     and for the church of today! 

©  2014 by Tom Lemler

As I was spending time this morning praying for a friend who has cancer, God put this poem in my mind.  As I was praying for healing, God reminded me that I ought to hate the destructive nature of sin even more than I hate cancer.  God’s arm is not too short to bring healing and restoration to our physical body, even from the effects of cancer, but any physical healing is still only temporary.  The spiritual healing that God desires for all of us to receive from His hand can restore us completely and eternally!  I pray that this poem brings comfort, encouragement, and challenge to your life when you struggle with sickness and hurt.  I also pray that it is a help to you as God’s power sets you free from the bondage of sin.

In prayer,
Tom

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All In

Something I remembered
     while playing some ball.
I can’t go part way,
     I give nothing or all.
I know there are people
     who straddle the fence.
It’s not only painful,
     it doesn’t make sense.
Living with one foot
     upon either wall.
Creates a condition
     where you’re likely to fall. 

Sometimes the middle
     is where you will win.
That’s still not a problem
     if I can be all in.
This poem isn’t about
     choosing a side.
To build up your walls
     and find somewhere to hide.
It’s about convictions
     and standing your ground.
God’s placed you somewhere,
     is that where you’re found? 

How long will you waver
     between this or that?
I wasn’t too sure,
   so I stopped and just sat.
That’s not a bad thing
     if it helps you to find.
Just where you do stand,
     have you made up your mind?
When God defines clearly
     just who you should be.
Then live with a focus
     that the whole world can see. 

God tells us clearly
     to be of one mind.
To not be deterred
     by distractions we find.
To listen to God
     and answer His call.
In whatever we do,
     we give it our all.
If I can do that
     while playing a game.
Shouldn’t my life’s walk
     be focused the same? 

So how do you do this,
     when it might feel odd?
To keep your life focused
     completely on God?
To rest in His presence
     and work in His field.
Both do require,
     to Him you must yield.
To empty yourself
     of your own desire.
Then aim for God’s will,
     which is always much higher. 

Commit yourself fully
     to walk in His way.
Be bold and courageous
     as you live each day.
To give it your all
     even when you feel weak.
Knowing it’s His strength
     that helps you to speak.
To be convinced fully
     that God’s way is best.
And give Him your all,
     in work and in rest! 

© 2014 by Tom Lemler

I was thinking this morning about the way I play basketball with no intent of holding back no matter how tired I am.  It reminded me of how I live and how God wants all of us to live with an “all in” attitude.  Sometimes we tend to be cautious and hold back from a complete commitment in many areas of our life because we want options to remain open.  God wants us to everything as working for Him.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”  Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)  I pray that you are “all in” when it comes to serving Jesus in all you do.

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2 Kings: Lesson 13 — God’s Favor

The following are discussion questions from a weekly study I am leading through the book of 2 Kings.  We meet each Wednesday evening at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

The Unraveling of a Nation

A Study of the Book of 2 Kings

Lesson 13 (God’s Favor)
 2 Kings 13
    March 26, 2014

The Text:

  1. Who followed Jehu as king of Israel? How did God view his actions? What were the consequences of the way he led?  
    –
  2. What did Jehoahaz finally do? How did God respond? Why? What changes did this bring to the people of Israel? What didn’t change?
    –
  3. Who followed Jehoahaz as king in Israel? How was his life lived? What was God’s view of his life? What did he do when Elisha was near death?  
    –
  4. What did Elisha ask Jehoash to get? What was he to do with it? How did Elisha describe what was done? What was the message in the action? What else was Jehoash told to do? How did God respond to what was done?
    –
  5. What happened to Elisha? What were some Israelites doing when a band of Moabite raiders showed up? What did the Israelites do instead? What happened? How did Hazael treat Israel? What was God’s response to this? Why? What happened between Aram and Israel when Jehoash became king of Israel? Why? 

  The Application:

  1. As you consider the roles you have in life, who have you followed? Are you content to reflect the character and actions of your predecessors or do you seek a higher standard? What are some consequences you face because of the decisions of others? What consequences do others face because of your decisions?
    –
  2. What things tend to drive you to seek God’s favor? Why would God give it? How much does God’s favor change you?
    –
  3. How do you think God would describe your life? How would you want Him to? If there is a difference, what needs to change?       
    –
  4. How has God communicated to you His intended victory? How persistent are you at doing what God asks? Do you sometimes give up before you should?     
    –
  5. What affect does contact with you have on the people around you? Why? Do you think you are a recipient of God’s favor because of the actions or lives of others? Do you think God extends His favor to people because of your life?   

 

Next Week:   A Measure of Obedience . . . And Pride
  2 Kings 14