City of Refuge Fellowship

Due to a technical difficulty the audio for this weeks sermon is not available. Below are the notes:

Straight Paths

Isaiah 40:3-5 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’”

Matthew, Mark and Luke all quoted this verse speaking of John as the one spoken of and said that his message was, “Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight paths for Him.”

What do you think of when you consider a straight path? For most of us we think about logistics. A straight line is the shortest distance, the fastest trip, the easiest or most convenient or comfortable. When we speak of this Scripture, of John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord and making a straight path it has nothing to do with ease, speed or comfort. In fact straight paths in your life, in mine and in the lives of those around us have nothing to do with ease, speed or comfort.

Vs. 3 Straight—yashar—to be right, be straight, be level, be upright, be just, be lawful, be smoothing.    

Vs. 4 crooked—aqob—akove—deceitful, sly, insidious/slippery, steep

Vs. 4 Straight—miyshowr-me-shore—level place—uprightness

Vs. 5 revealed—galah—to uncover, remove

So when God speaks of straight paths, it is not about ease, speed or comfort; He is speaking about being right, being clear, being sure, being where we are supposed to be. Even more, straight paths remove deception; they remove wrong mindsets and false beliefs and theories. Straight paths are about discipleship, they are about becoming mature, faithful and strong. 

Hebrews 12:12-13 “Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”

After Paul’s lesson on discipline he jumps into these verses. Because of God’s discipline, through God’s discipline, thanks to God’s discipline: be strengthened and walk in right paths! God’s desire is to heal what is lame, not to destroy it. So often we believe the lie that says that God sees our sin and wants to destroy it or even us, but the reality is He is doing what is necessary to bring healing. Straight paths are not about making you feel better but rather making you strong and whole and as you were created to be!

Proverbs 3:5-6 “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.” Direct Your Paths

Some of us have lived in constant disappointment because we have believed the crooked place, the deception that said that if we would “acknowledge God” He would give us the paths we hoped for. We don’t acknowledge God so that He will do our will, we acknowledge Him so that we will surrender to His! He is not giving us paths of ease, speed or comfort; He is giving us paths of His order, His guidance, His perfection and His will. The straight path is not always the easiest, the fastest or the most comfortable, but going back to Isaiah 40, it is always the path that leads to men seeing the glory of God!

I Corinthians 3:1-3 “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly (carnal)—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?”

The church in Corinth was divided. They were arguing over who each person followed, some wanted to align themselves with Paul, some with Apollos, some saw the foolishness of this and just aligned themselves with Christ, but still fell into the sin of being divided over the alignments. Paul has to be brutally honest and shares that they, as followers of Christ are still very immature. He says that they are still worldly or carnal which simply means that they are still controlled by human nature, by their emotions, traditions and desires rather than the Holy Spirit. He then twice, in the form of a question says that they are acting like “mere men”.

I think Paul’s point is this; you are not “mere men”. How many times have you said, “I’m still human” or I’m just a man, or I’m just a woman, I’m not perfect. Paul is actually destroying this excuse and hindrance to maturity, when he says, “Aren’t you acting like mere men?” His point is you are acting like something you are not, you are not mere men! Again, addressing our identity, we are no longer “mere men”, we no longer get the excuse that we are weak, He is strong, we no longer get the excuse that we are flawed, we have been washed, we no longer get the excuse that we can’t, He can. We are no longer mere men!

Paul explains what makes us different in verse 16, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” We are not mere men because we are filled with the Holy Spirit. We are now the Temples of the Holy Ghost, vessels of honor, containers of God’s glory. Paul’s exasperation is this, how can you act like mere men when you are now the temples of the Holy Spirit. I believe Paul was trying to tell them that their actions were not a match for their identity; it was time for them to “walk straight paths” so that they could be seen by the multitudes around them as they are seen by God.  But listen, this is not merely a greater requirement, it is a greater opportunity. It is not merely that God expects more of you now; it is that God has made more available to you.

Vs. 21-23 “All things are yours, whether Paul, or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ and Christ is of God.”      

You don’t need short cuts, you don’t need a faster, easier or more comfortable way, you are created for, called to and equipped to walk in straight paths. We are not mere men, we are not less than, unable or even unsure. Straight paths are all about trust, all about faith, all about maturity and all about love.

I have been talking about our three Biblical mandates, three things that God has laid on my heart for this group and this community for years: Friends of the Bridegroom, Remove the obstacles and Straight Paths. These three things are who we are called to be along with what we are called to fulfill. I believe that they align perfectly with Jesus’ three commandments:

1. Friends of the Bridegroom—love the Lord your God

2. Remove the obstacles—love your neighbor as yourself

3. Straight Paths-Make disciples

Discipleship happens through declaring the ways, the will and the plans of God. God’s plan for your life is perfect, it will not often be easy, it will rarely be fast and it may never be comfortable but it will always be perfect. We must learn to willingly walk in “unhindered obedience” so that we can see God’s will completed in and through us. Ultimately, what is the point of these straight paths? What is the point of taking the right way instead of the easy way? Of taking the right way instead of the fast way? Of taking the right way instead of the comfortable way? Isaiah answered these questions for us, “The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”

Revealed—galah—to uncover, remove

Right now God’s glory is covered; it is often hidden by crooked paths, by deceitful teachings by fleshly longings by uncomfortable circumstances or slow fulfilling promises. Our calling, our straight paths, our directed steps are uncovering the glory of the Lord for those around us. When you follow Jesus’ path for your life, when you follow Jesus, His glory is revealed to those watching your life. Believe me, those watching you are not looking for ease, for speed or comfort, they are looking for the longing of their hearts, for the lover of their souls, for the glory of God. We are not mere men, we are not called to immature, self-centered journeys, and we are the temples of the Holy Spirit, the ambassadors of Christ and the ministers of reconciliation.

I pray that you will join me today in making a declaration to God: I will no longer seek out easy paths, I will no longer pray for fast outcomes and I will no longer crave after comfortable solutions, I will choose the right way, I will wait for the straight path and I will walk in the road that leads to the revelation of God’s glory.         

After 40 years of wandering Israel finally crossed over the Jordan River and stepped foot into their “Promised Land”. The first thing that God told them to do at that point was to circumcise all of the men. This assignment was one that required a step of faith for Joshua and the entire community. They were in enemy territory, by performing this act they would make themselves defenseless. I am sure the assignment was also met with some questions, how would this benefit them in battle, what good was it going to do, what was the purpose? While we can assume what human nature must have stirred up in their minds, all we have record of is obedience. Joshua led the entire nation in obedience to God’s assignment and together they trusted Him to protect them, to lead them and ultimately to provide victory for them.

After the circumcision God revealed the purpose of the assignment, “Today I have rolled away the reproach (shame, disgrace) of Egypt from you.” They had left Egypt more than 40 years earlier, but they still carried the shame of being slaves, the shame of all the ways they were mistreated, abused and overlooked. There are times in our lives when we are delivered from situations but continue to carry the residue, the scars, hurt or shame that the situations caused. Isaiah 53:4 tells us :Surely, he took up our infirmities (both mental and physical) and carried our sorrows”. When Jesus died it was for our sins but it was also for our sorrows. He died to remove sin’s curse but also it’s damage. God’s desire for Israel was the same as it is for you and, that we not only be removed from our past, but that the shame and hurt of the past be removed from us as well.

The difficult part for many of us is that the removal of shame often requires a great step of faith. The Israelites had to trust God enough to make themselves completely vulnerable in enemy territory and obey His assignment. Maybe God has been asking something of you that you feel is just too much. You can’t see how it will benefit or even what it has to do with your calling or the fulfillment of promises in your life. It could be that your obedience in this assignment is what God desires to use to remove the residue of your past. Yes you are already free for the activity, the behavior or the mindset, but God wants you to also be free from the guilt, the shame and the hearache that the past has caused. I encourage you today, obey God, trust Him and step out in faith; today might just be the day in which your shame and hurt are rolled away.

Kid’s Day is next week! We are so excited that we will be joined by Holy Hands Expedition this year, a team coming to do music, puppets, games and many other great activities. If you would like to help out please contact Melissa at melissa@cityofrefugefellowship.org.  Please join us at Mitchell Field on Mitchell Ave. from 10:00-2:00 on Saturday!

We often talk about reaching crossroads in life, a moment in time in which we have to decide which way to go. There is another place of decision that many of us come to and that is when we can see where we are supposed to be, but we see it from a spot that we have become very comfortable in. The question that often arises is, “How do we get there from here?”

At City of Refuge Fellowship we have arrived at one of those places. It is time for us, as a group of people, as a ministry and as a church to look out over the horizon and see where we are called to be, and even what we are called to be and realize it is no longer far off; it is now time for us to move forward, to allow change and to have faith in God’s ability to transform and use us for His desired glory. After Moses died, God simply told Joshua that it was time to take the camp of Israelites across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Joshua had followed and learned from Moses, he had been declared in front of all the people as the next leader, he had been the great general that had led the armies ever since they came out of Israel, it was now time for him to simply do what he had been preparing for for over 40 years.

God then tells Joshua three times to “be strong and courageous.” It seems quite clear from God’s instructions that Joshua was prepared, the time had come, God was going before him, but he was going to need strength and courage to fulfill the purpose that God had promised over his life. Things don’t always just “fall into place.” Opposition, obstacles and distractions are not reasons to rethink the plan or change course, they are reasons to bear down, hold tight and follow God’s voice even more closely than before. The will of God will always be accomplished if we are willing to trust Him and obey Him at all times, but trusting and obedience require strength and courage. If you find yourself struggling with God’s will today, pray for strength and pray for courage. He has promised to “never leave you nor forsake you”, but there are season in life in which it takes strong faith and courageous love to believe and trust God’s promises. Be strong and courageous, God will be with you wherever He leads you and He will fulfill everything He has promised, the closer we follow, the more clearly we see Him during the journey.

Change hurts. I know, it’s not a new thought or creative concept but it is true, to a certain degree. I am of the belief that we should be constantly growing, constantly maturing, constantly changing, so does that mean we should be constantly hurting? No, I don’t think so. The pain of change is all relative depending upon our perspective and motivation. Change required by another is often painful. Change brought about suddenly, without notice or expectation generally leaves us hurting. What about change that comes with a promise? What about change that produces results, change that is costly in the moment but worthwhile in the outcome?

Joshua’s entire life changed in a moment. Moses had led Israel from before they left Egypt; he was the only leader they knew. Moses had led them through an open sea, into victorious battles; when they were hungry he prayed and bread came from heaven; when they were thirsty he prayed and water came from rocks; when he was openly opposed the ground had opened and swallowed his opponents. On at least two occasions God had become so frustrated with Israel that He was ready to destroy them but Moses prayed that God would change His mind and He did.  The book of Joshua opens with very concise words from God, “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.” For Joshua everything changed in an instant. He had been an assistant for at least forty years. Yes, he had been told he would lead Israel after Moses died, but that is one of those things that you know in your head but never really prepare your heart for. Sure, Joshua would lead Israel, but so much had to happen first, there would be time for him to get ready.

Have you ever decided that you have time to get ready for the change that God has promised in your life? I know I have. Just today I found a journal that I wrote in 2006, as I read I laughed and shook my head, not sure if it was funny or sad that the things I wrote then were things that I am still preparing for now. My next question was a tough one to answer, have I been preparing or just waiting? What is the difference? Preparing keeps an eye on the promise, on the purpose; preparing does the work necessary to be in position to move when the time comes; waiting, well, much too often waiting just waits.

In Matthew 25 Jesus taught the parable of the ten virgins. The ten virgins went out to meet their bridegroom; five of them took their lamps and extra oil while the other five took only their lamps. The bridegroom tarried to the point that they all fell asleep but around midnight he finally arrived. When he does the five with the extra oil refilled their lamps and went to meet him while the five with only their lamps had to go to find oil to refill them. By the time they went and bought more oil and refilled their lamps the wedding banquet had already begun and they were locked out. There are many spiritual lessons and interpretations for this passage, but my thought for today is that waiting for change and preparing for change are two totally different things. One set of virgins went out as they were to wait for the bridegroom while the other set prepared themselves to wait and be found ready when he arrived. Many times in life I believe we pray for, ask for and even crave some sort of change from God but we do very little to actually prepare for it. The sad part is that when the opportunity for change comes we often miss it; we overlook it and sometimes even reject it, not because God was not faithful but because we were not found ready.

One of the most beautiful things about living our lives for God is that if we truly seek Him, not only do we find Him, but He then leads us in a way that we are never left unprepared. I am not contradicting the previous parable, but hoping to shine a light on something that may be lacking in us today. When God made the announcement to Joshua that he was now the leader of the nation of Israel He then kindly prepared him for the job. Three times God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.” I am sure that Joshua would have loved a rod like Aaron’s or tablets of stone like Moses had carried, even a wounded hip like Jacob walked with or a dream like Joseph’s but what God chose to give Him was strength and courage. You see, anything that God tells you to be or carry He also provides through His Word and His presence. When He tells Joshua to be strong and courageous it was not for him to find it elsewhere but to depend upon God for it. When Jesus told His disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled”, it was not for them to figure out how to accomplish this, He then told them, “trust also in Me.” Our preparation is not found outside of God but in His presence. We are not out doing our best so we can show God how prepared we are, but rather we are called to let Him prepare us so that we can walk with Him and when change comes we see it as another step of righteousness rather than an obstacle or crooked path.

The third time God said these words to Joshua He sandwiched them around two wonderful promises: “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.” In essence God was telling Joshua, “I am the One that has sent you, so you can be strong and courageous, because I will be with you everywhere I ever send you.” While the change was sudden, it was not difficult for Joshua because he had spent 40 years following Moses as Moses followed God through the cloud by day and fire by night. Following had become part of his nature, leading would come naturally because he had followed for most of his life, he was fully prepared.  This promise was not only for the moment that Joshua took over leadership, but for all of his appointed time as leader. There would be times when he was tempted to be not only afraid but terrified; there would be times when he would be tempted to be discouraged and to believe that he would never fully accomplish his task; but he was to always remember, God had called him and God was always with him and God would provide strength and courage.

How has God prepared you for the change that is coming in your life? Has He spoken words of wisdom, promises of His presence or the truth of your future? Has He put you in a place or position to follow Him so that He can prepare you for what lies ahead? Has He given you examples of followers and leaders so that you can be prepared to lead when the change comes? I have come to believe that that only way to learn to lead is to first learn to follow. In the context of this note today, the only way to be truly prepared for change is to follow God closely. Today let God lead you into your change, it does not have to hurt, in fact, His change for your life may bring you the greatest healing you have ever imagined.

What do you do when God challenges your faith? In John 6 Jesus asked His disciples to trust Him in a manner that He had never asked before. With very little food and nowhere to buy more Jesus told His disciples to tell the crowd of at least 5,000 followers to sit down and prepare to be fed. They were fully aware that all that Jesus had was 5 loaves of bread and two fish, they were also fully aware that there was no bread that had been ordered or was on it’s way from somewhere else. They were being put in a position to trust Jesus more than ever before. After they seated the 5,000 plus person crowd Jesus gave thanks for the 5 loaves of bread and told the Apostles to feed the crowd with it. I don’t believe that this multiplication happened in an instant, I believe that it happened as the disciples walked in faith, with each portion they gave another appeared, they had to trust Jesus enough to go into the situation with less than they needed and believe that He would provide.

We all face similar situations, times in which God pushes us into situations that we feel completely helpless and even hopless in. Those are not times to find new strength, they are not times to think of a way to help God and they are not times to get offended or hurt and stop following. These are times to see our faith grow, our hope grow and God’s presence in our lives grow. Rodney Whitacre wrote, “God knows the condition of our hearts and sends circumstances that will reveal our hearts to us.” These times of testing and challenge are not so that God can see what we are made of, they are times for us to see our hearts and then to watch God build our faith through our obedience and His presence.

If you are being challenged today, please understand that God is not trying to shake you away, He is trying to shake you nearer to Him than ever before. You can trust Him and He will provide, but He desires more obedience than ever before so that you can see more of His glory that you ever asked or imagined.

This Friday night, July 9th is our next Community Worship Night. We will be meeting at the Knights of Columbus, located at 366 East Broad Street at 7:00 for a time of corporate worship. Please come out and bring a friend with you to enjoy God’s presence and hear His heart for us and our community.