There’s a Positive Plan, Promised by God!

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

In the first selection from this series on murmuring, we discussed how, through faith, God intends that we use the Spirit to correctly deal with complaining and the influences it has on our lives.  We looked at how, like Moses, we need consultation and leading from God to overcome Satan’s strategy for us to assign blame and speak using scornful complaints.  In this, the second installment, we will analyze what God dictates we shall and shall not do, with respect to murmuring. Here, we will see that there is a plan, which is positive and promised by God.

First, as we continue in Exodus, we see the Jews still murmuring in the wilderness.  The Lord told Moses, “Thou shall consult with the Lord.”  He won’t just take away the murmuring problem, for God is trying to do something in our lives.  When we find ourselves in a negative situation, we need positive consultation from the Lord.  However, with it, we also get a promise and a plan.  God’s positive plan for Moses and the Jews, in their time of hunger, was to rain bread from heaven.  He required that the Jews exercise faith, in his promise to deliver.  We may be content with our faith, however God is not.

Next, let’s look at the requirement, “Thou shall not leave God out of the solution.”  Here, Moses did not need to solve the problem, as he was not a problem solver. (This is something we ALL need to remember!) If he were, the Jews would have looked to him, instead of God.  He did do something, however.  He stood back and let God work.  We don’t need another natural solution, but one that is “Supernatural.”  Along with God, people also have a responsibility.  We see the Lord’s requirement and plan for the Israelites in Exodus16, 4-5.  He says, “I will rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day…they shall prepare that which they bring in.”  The blend of the natural and the Supernatural is lost when we fail to see our part in solving our own problems.  Sometimes good leadership requires us to stand back and let God and people work it out.  However, this can be difficult for some to implement.

Third, the Lord says, “Thou shall focus on God’s purposes.”  We ask ourselves, “Why is this happening?  What are You trying to show me?”  A leader must ask the question and look at it the way in which God told Moses, in Exodus 16:4, “…that I may prove (to test or try) them, whether they walk in my law or no.”  When we have faith and focus on a Spirit-led solution, God’s purpose can be fulfilled in our lives.  The Jews were required to take only a certain amount of food.  Through opportunity and specific instruction, God could prove (to test or try) the Israelites.  Consequently, if they took too much bread, the Bible says, it grew worms resulting in a foul odor, which exposed those who were disobedient.  God knows what we will do.  He uses this strategy to indicate to us how far we have come in our relationship with Him.

God’s will is that we obey and trust in Him, regardless of the situation or compelling desire to rely on ourselves for provision.  As we focus on this purpose for us, we can better understand what He means in Exodus 16:12, which states, “You shall know that I am the Lord your God.”  God’s will for our lives is not to simply murmur when problems arise, but have faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ…through which all things are possible.

Leading Those Who Complain

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

Throughout history, there has often been a struggle between those who murmur and complain with those who seek to quell such grumblings.  In Exodus, we see how Moses was left to deal with a Jewish people who, despite recent deliverance from bondage, were left dissatisfied with their present situation and murmured against their leadership and against God.  Over the next few weeks in our bulletin, we’ll delve into what Christ would have us do to expose our shortcomings, which lead to murmuring and analyze what can be done as leaders to rectify this problem using the Spirit of God.  First, let us look at the situation in which Moses found himself and how we can follow God’s plan to gain victory over this common problem.

Our lives are filled with expectations.  These range from basic necessities like food and water, to family stability, social continuity, and personal contentment.  As we observe a classic case study of deliverance, we see similarities between current Christian murmuring and that of the Old Testament Jews. An early scriptural instance of murmuring involved the Jews’ discontentment in the wilderness, under the leadership of Moses.  In Exodus, we see a people miraculously freed from slavery and bondage, murmuring, “…for ye have brought us forth into the wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”(Exodus 16:3)  They had pervasive discontentment toward Moses and ultimately God.  In Numbers, God spoke, “How long shall I bear witness with this evil congregation that murmur against me?  Your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness; and all… died by the plague of the Lord.”   We often ignore the repercussions. We grumble about a situation, attach it to a face or person, and then to God.  Even as God freed and fed the Jews, they were still dissatisfied.  Look around, times have changed little.  Even today, we see a situation, attach blame, and dishonor God.

Even as we grumble about a situation or person, like the Jews against Moses, the real addressee is clearly the Lord.  We need to truthfully address God.  Our grumblings are contagious and we must deal with them properly and biblically.

To do this, the Lord enlightens those who seek Him.  Moses was used by God to lead those who were seemingly unleadable.  This now becomes a case study on leadership.  Even as we murmur, we still must be led by those who are under the influence of God.  The Jews had selective memories, which is often the situation in which we find ourselves.  Even when delivered and removed from the bondage and beatings of the Egyptians, the Israelites still murmured.  How soon we forget!  The Israelites’ attitude about the situation in which they found themselves, became illogical.  They said to Moses, “You brought us here to kill the whole assembly.”  Moses was forced to deal with this ridiculous viewpoint.  Similar to Moses, we are called by God to lead those who complain.  As we do so, we must avoid the anger felt towards them in the midst of, or prior to the ensuing debate.

An attempt to destroy the complainer or defend yourself against murmuring is evidence of spiritual immaturity and inferior leadership.   A tell tale sign that we lack confidence, is when we attempt to argue and destroy those who complain.  God has a plan for all, the leader as well as those who murmur.  Therefore we all need, as the Jews did, a positive consultation from God.  He uses leaders like Moses and even us who trust God, to avoid using anger to quell a murmuring situation.  Christ is the solution to the problem as well as the comfort to those engulfed in it.

In short, as we encounter murmuring, either as participants or leaders, God’s intent for us is to have faith that we may avoid it, or lead us out from under its influence. In the next few weeks, we will cover several more “shalts” and “shalt nots” in leading those who tend to complain.

Paradise Lost

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

In 1667, English poet John Milton published a set of books written in non-rhyming poetry and they were called Paradise Lost. The theme of these twelve volumes is the third chapter of Genesis and the biblical story of Adam and Eve forfeiting their privileged place in Eden. The fact that our first parents chose to disobey God when their lives were absolutely perfect in every way appears to be an unexplainable mystery until, on serious reflection, we consider the following contributing factors to their unwise choices.

First, one must consider the INFLUENCE of the serpent.

We know from the Genesis account that this creature known as the serpent was “more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made”. (Genesis 3:1.) That is amazing! In all of the vast creative genius displayed by our God through nature, one animal stands out as the crown jewel of wisdom, cunning and prudent.  Behold, the serpent!

Satan chose the best of the best to infiltrate and influence the mind and will of Eve. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus spoke of serpents as being “wise” and I believe He was referring to their multiple defensive and offensive capabilities.  II Corinthians 11:3 says, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” The word beguiled means “to seduce wholly”. Strong’s Concordance defines subtilty as, “trickery or craftiness”.  It is not surprising therefore that Revelation 12:9 would tell us,“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth.”

Then, we must recognize the SILENCE of Adam as a contributing factor to the loss of paradise for the man and his wife.

Genesis 3:6 tells us that Adam was “with” Eve during her conversation with the serpent. I Timothy 2:14 reveals that “Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression”. So then Adam went into sin with his eyes wide open and his mind clearly alert to the clever and despicable words of the devil’s mouthpiece. Thus the sin of the man was more serious than that of the woman.

Adam should have spoken up! He ought to have taken his wife by the hand and removed her from the presence of this voice casting doubt on God and His love and honesty.  The Creator had given Adam dominion over every living thing that moved on the earth; thus, he could have taken charge of the situation and ought to have done so.  But, alas, he was quiet.  This is a dilemma faced by the sons of Adam yet today. In the absence of spiritual manly leadership, breakdowns occur that lead families away from God’s will and into unnecessary pain and suffering.

Before Adam ever met Eve, he was given the responsibility to “keep” the garden, which was also his home. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was in the midst of their property and it was Adam’s duty to protect himself and his loved ones from yielding to temptation’s lure. Adam failed and the family suffered.

Paradise was forfeited thirdly because of the APPEAL of the temptation.

The fruit of the tree appealed to Eve’s appetite for food. It was “good for food”. She must have thought, “Oh my, I can only imagine that the fruit from this tree tastes really good!” Sin is usually packaged in an appetizing way.  It was, in the Garden situation, “pleasant to the eyes”. The temptation also appealed to Eve’s intellect. The Bible says that it was a “tree to be desired to make one wise”.

I John 2:16 matches this temptation exactly in its threefold warning. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

A. The lust of the flesh? “The tree was good for food.”

B. The lust of the eyes? “It was pleasant to the eyes.”

C. The pride of life? It was, “a tree to be desired to make one wise.”

Adam and Eve chose to seek to satisfy their desires outside of the framework of the will of the LORD and consequently they forfeited paradise.

Finally, Adam and Eve lost their lives because of UNFORSEEN consequences.

In Genesis 2:17 God told Adam that the day that he ate of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he would surely die. The death of which the LORD spoke was the death of a spiritual life and personal relationship with God Himself. But, more was at stake on which Adam had not reckoned.  Our first parents also lost their innocence in the transgression.  They lost the comforting presence of the LORD and experienced fear rather than faith for the first time.  The harmony that they had enjoyed as husband and wife was shattered in the Fall.  Sorrow and sweat became a natural part of their daily experience. Did they imagine that their decision would eventually lead to murder and death within their first two sons? I think not. And then there is the fact that our first parents were driven by God out of Eden and forbidden to return.

The devil was successful in ruining paradise for the man and his wife whom God called Adam. Thankfully, a second Adam appeared on earth several thousands of years later and His name is Jesus Christ! I Corinthians 15:45 tells us that Jesus “was made a quickening spirit”. Death came through the first Adam but eternal, everlasting life came through the second Adam.

Milton wrote these words of encouragement concerning our Savior in Paradise Lost:

“Of man’s first disobedience, and the fruit of the forbidden tree, whose mortal taste brought death into the world and all our woe, with the loss of Eden, ‘til one greater Man restore us, and regain the blissful seat.”

Thank the Lord for this greater Man, the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can restore us to paradise and destroy the enemy of our homes and of our souls. It is by Jesus and through Jesus that we can overcome the devil’s lures and live life victoriously.

The Ideal Mother

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

When we use the word “ideal,” many may feel left out, because few would ever catagorize themselves as the ideal of anything. In the first definition of “ideal” the meaning is given: satisfying one's conception of what is perfect. The more acceptable definition is: best possible. Most of us would never consider ourselves the perfect anything, but we would like to be our best. God has blessed me to be the pastor of moms, dads, kids, singles and seniors. Overall, I believe I pastor the best moms in the world. Perhaps it easy to say this since I pastor at times my mother, mother-in-law and the mother of my son. You may be saying, “You’d better be saying that, Pastor.” In all seriousness, I really believe it to be true; I pastor a group of ideal mothers. I can collectively say about the mothers of Lefferts Park what Solomon said about the virtuous woman, “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all” (Proverbs 31:29).

I want to talk about three qualities of an ideal mother.

1. An ideal mother laughs.

The Bible says, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). The Lord knows we all need a good sense of humor. There are so many mothers in our church I could use as an example of this quality.  Moms, don’t forget to look on the bright side! Seize the opportunity to laugh with your family.

2. An ideal mother learns.

I am not just speaking of the moms who are formally educated.  Most all the ladies in our church are vociferous readers.  An ideal mother is a learning mother. Many of our mothers want to learn because they want the very best for their kids. I marvel at those mothers who will go above and beyond to master a subject, just so her kids can learn from her what she has learned first. One of the best examples of this is the mother of a young man by the name of George. George was dyslexic and could not read or write until he was twelve years old. His grandfather was a famous military man during the Civil War and his father was a brilliant lawyer. As far as role models, George had a lot to live up to. George’s mother did not want him to give up on life or sense that the strikes against him meant that he was destined to “strike-out.” His mom read to this young man the stories of heroes. She read to him of Alexander the Great, Scipio, Cromwell, Jackson and Lee. At twelve he began to read and then write. He mastered these skills fairly well, for he went on to become an outstanding student at the United States Military Academy at West Point. George S. Patton went down in history as one of the greatest field commanders in the entire history of the United States. Old “Blood and Guts” as he was called, became a great man because he had a mother who read to him. By the way, his spinster aunt did a great deal of reading to him as well. My most influential teachers throughout my school years were always women. My 7th grade World History teacher made the strongest impression on me. May we ever be mindful that we are to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15).

3. An ideal mother loves.

You knew I would have to include this virtue. I Corinthians 13:8 says, “Charity (love) never faileth….” A mother’s love is inexhaustible.   I will ask how can I pray for you?  A recent response, “Please pray that my kids would not only believe in God, but believe God.” What a great prayer to pray! Years ago, I was given a quote, “God could not be everywhere, and that’s why He gave us mothers.” Doesn’t that sound sweet? It may sound sweet, but it is wrong. God is everywhere, “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139: 7-9).  Here’s the truth of the matter. Moms cannot be everywhere, but God can be and this God demands to be loved. The greatest thing a loving mother can do is to teach her children to love God. I love what more than one mother wrote on a prayer card: “Pray for (name of child) that (he or she) will be saved; they are close!” I think God gives Christian mothers the sixth sense in a lot of areas, but especially in spiritual matters. No one knows the heart of the child like a Christian mom.

 As our kids grow, we want to instill within our children loyalty to our home turf and ourselves. Nothing is wrong with that, but remember, it is far more important for that child to love the Lord and not turn back from a dedicated walk with Him, than for that child to come home for the holidays. A mother who loves her children will teach them to love God and give Him first place. “…In all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18).

Finding Faith to Leave the Shore

by: Rev. Leon Aguilera

In a continuation from last week we must launch out into the deep and find the faith to leave the shore.  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,    And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.    Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,  Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.    And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.    And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. Luke 5:1-6

Heed Christ’s Command

The phrase in this passage that grabs me every time I read it is Peter’s statement, “At thy word, I will.”  Peter knew every reason—and they were good ones—not to obey Jesus. But under the direct command of Jesus, Peter turned from his logic and staked everything on Jesus’ word.  Peter’s obedience to Christ wasn’t the reckless abandon our culture lauds. It wasn’t the result of throwing logic to the wind and following his inner dreams.

Peter’s decision to launch out was purposed obedience. It was the result of a man who had unmistakably heard Christ’s command and calculated that God’s power was greater than his limitations.  How do we develop this level of faith? How do we know when and where to launch out? Romans 10:17 provides a clear answer: “So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”

Do you hear God’s Word? Do you read it, study it, memorize it, listen to it as it’s preached?  A casual observer might conclude that ministry in the twenty-first century has advanced beyond the Word of God. We give such attention to social media, critics, the Internet, talk shows, popular opinion, and best-selling books that we sometimes neglect the only source we really need—the Word of God.  “At thy word”—it was the stake on which Peter hung his decision to launch out. We must come to a place where we believe and put into practice the knowledge that our God can do anything, but fail. This knowledge will enable us to stay the course, no matter the circumstances or distractions swirling about us.

Prepare for a Miracle

When Peter launched out, he didn’t leave his half-washed nets on the shore. He let them down into the water “for a draught.” Launching out into the deep was only the first half of Jesus’ command. Letting down the nets was just as important.  We can go through motions of obedience, but if we don’t believe that “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6), we don’t have real faith.

Even after the initial launch, our faith may falter. Satan has two primary tactics for neutralizing our obedience to Christ— discouragement and fear. If he can snag us by either method, we forsake faith and return to human reasoning.  Christians who set out for the deep but then lose their forward momentum for Christ become confused in their walk with God. They don’t realize it, but their navigation system is only programed to work by faith; it freezes when consulted by fear.

In such times, we do well to remember the words of Jesus to a troubled father, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36).

It’s Not about More Boats

If you didn’t already know this story, you might guess that when Peter saw the “great multitude of fishes” in his net, he would let out a great shout and eagerly calculate his new wealth.  On the contrary, Peter’s response was startling: “He fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished.”

Peter was overwhelmed that God would use him. Warren Wiersbe says of this moment, “Peter was humbled, not by his night of failure but by his astounding success; this is a mark of real character. If success humbles you, then failure will build you up.” As Peter bowed in the presence of Jesus, the Lord brought it all together for Peter, “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

In that moment, something clicked in Peter’s mind. If he was unsure about his life purpose before, he wasn’t now. No longer would he focus on business expansion. He wouldn’t be pricing new boats or scouting out more partners. From this moment forward, he would be a fisher of men. On the behalf of Christ Himself, Peter would call people to their Saviour.

This is why we launch out! It is not for our glory or to fulfill our quest for adventure. We launch out to catch men—to connect hearts with the invitation of Christ. We launch out to preach the gospel—to tell broken, shattered people that there is salvation through the blood of Jesus.

Launching out isn’t about expanding our reputation or filling our ego. It is a decision to live fully for the glory of God by leading lost souls to Christ.

Will You Catch Men?

Many Christians are eager to launch a new business, career, hobby, or relationship. But few are surrendered to launch out in response to Jesus’ command, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19).

Many Christians see the spiritual need surrounding them. Few have the faith to take action. Many have access to God’s Word and sense the Holy Spirit’s prompting. Not so many launch out at His word.

Jesus is still calling His disciples to launch out and let down their nets for a draught. It is still possible to be part of a great work of God. It is still plausible that the Holy Spirit could bring revival to our spiritually darkened nation. It is still God’s will to use you in the salvation of others.

But you can only be a fisher of men if you will follow Christ with unrestrained obedience—if you will pull up your anchor and untie your rope from the dock.

Would you like to catch a draught of fish? Do you wonder how God might bless your obedience? The moment you launch out at His word, the possibilities become as endless as the horizon.