“God in five easy lessons” That's not what He says!!!

When I put my son to bed we have our bed time routine. Part of that is to pray and read the bible. and in doing this I thought I would spice it up a bit. So I have been reading to him from the message version. Well the other night while reading these few verses ministered to me.

Heb 8:10-13 MSG  This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts. I'll be their God, they'll be my people.  (11)  They won't go to school to learn about me, or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons. They'll all get to know me firsthand, the little and the big, the small and the great.  (12)  They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.  (13)  By coming up with a new plan, a new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And there it stays, gathering dust.

This ministered to me because for the last several weeks God has been speaking to me about how simple things are in His kingdom. It seems like my Way of Purity students have this illusion that freedom is this some far off thing that they hope to one day achieve. That beating this sexual bondage is such a big deal that it “must” take a long time. that they have to learn a new way to beat sexual sins. That their sin is a one-of-a-kind deal, and therefore requires a “process.” This same kind of idea or mind set flows throughout much of the body of Christ over different things.

With this in mind when we see in Heb 8:11 that God doesn’t require us to be schooled by anyone but He will teach us Himself. It goes to show the simplicity of His kingdom. I really like this “buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons” there is no laundry list that we can follow to walk with God. There is no magic formula that gets us there. It all comes down to Jesus and His work on the cross!!! Jesus says this:

Mat 22:37-40 NKJV  Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  (38)  This is the first and great commandment.  (39)  And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'  (40)  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Then He said this:

Joh 15:13 NKJV  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

That is exactly what He did!!! He laid His life down for us!!! that is how He showed us He loved us. and we see that the first and greatest command is to love our God with all of our heart. that is what Jesus called us to lay down our life (following His example):

Luk 9:23 NKJV  Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

“Follow” Him where? To death! It is said of Jesus:

Php 2:8 NKJV  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

So when we see Jesus saying this:

Joh 14:15 NKJV  "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

We see him saying to love Him like He loved us, to the point of death!

That is the simplicity of it all. there is no magic wand we can wave to set us free. there is no laundry list of things we must do. And there is no need for the “God in five easy lessons” to be bought. There is only a need to love Jesus with all our hearts, and follow Him to death.

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."

Be a David to Someone Else

So I thought that I would try and begin posting blogs again. it has been some time since I have had the time to sit down and write what God has been sharing with me. though by His grace I am finding the time again… praise the Lord.

Though with that today I am posting something that I have written to my fellow mentors/ministers at Setting Captives Free. I hope you will find this a fitting word for you to. Whatever God as brought you through is the foundation for ministry in someone else’s life…. With that here is what I wrote:

I love it when the Holy Spirit speaks to us when we read His words. I never thought that reading the bible like a story book would be so rewarding. But I guess that’s what I get for underestimating the word of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit J… as I continue to read through the bible I am continually struck in awe of things that I never thought of or had never seen before. So this week I would like to share with you something that came to my mind as I was reading in 1 Samuel.

We all know the story of David, and Goliath that is told in 1 Samuel 17. But even though I am sure most of you have been taught this since your days in Sunday School please take the time to read this story again in full from the word of God. There is nothing like getting the story from the original “teller” of the story J.

Though I would like to point out a few things that caught my eye.

In the story leading up to this point David was sent by his father to his brothers. Who were with Saul on the front lines ready to engage in battle with the Philistines. Though they have yet to go into this fight as Goliath kept coming out. And every time he did he struck fear into the hearts of the men…. so that’s the short version J.

With that in mind let us look at what David began saying at this point:

1Sa 17:26 NKJV  Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

Take note, that David is now speaking on behalf of God’s people, and His plan for them…. He is in awe that they fear something that is encroaching on God’s people. Then he says:

1Sa 17:32-37 NKJV  Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine."  (33)  And Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."  (34)  But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,  (35)  I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.  (36)  Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."  (37)  Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and the LORD be with you!"

If you keep reading just a bit you will see where Saul puts his armor on David, and tries to send him out like that. David soon takes that off and falls back on what God has taught him to do his whole life. He went to what seem like a primitive weapon system. He picked up some rocks and used his sling to kill the most feared warrior the army had yet to see. He used God’s plan to fight and not man’s.

Here is where the meat gets good… we have all (probably) see and heard that we all have giants in our life that we will either face now or later… and yes that may be true but that’s not what I want to look at now. let’s take a step back. Saul and his army are out to fight the Philistines when they find themselves in a world of trouble that they were not prepared for. their giant, that they had to face was much bigger than they thought. So what did God do? He sent them help. That’s where David comes in. now notice how God had been training David his whole life for the fight he was about the embark on. God had showed up many times in David’s past to show His great power and strength. David knew God’s delivering power!!! He had seen it and tasted it first had. And therefore his faith was strong in the Lord. Where his fellow brothers could barely stand in the sight of this fight.

Now let us look at this from a mentoring perspective. When I was still in bondage to porn and self gratification that giant was too big for me to face alone. I tried and failed many times.  Though when I began my bible study here at Setting Captives Free my eyes were open, and the Lord began to speak to me. I began to learn and walk with Him again. though as you all know the fight is still on at times. That was where my mentor my “David” came into play. See God knew my fights. He knew my heart, and how I needed someone. so He sent me my mentor…. See brothers you are someone’s “David”!!! You all have seen and tasted the delivering power of God! You know what it like to see God work in your life. A work that has set you free from the mouth of the lions!!! God has trained you and taught you how to fight! that is why He has picked you and sent you the front lines of the battle! Because there are those who come and need that person to stand in faith with them, fire those deadly shots (in prayer) to the enemy, and cover them while God (through Jesus) does the delivering work in them!

Just as God had trained you in this fight, let me encourage you to stick to what God has taught you. just as Saul tried (even in good intentions) equip David, so the world or fellow “good hearted” people will try to “equip” you. we often see this through psychology, and therapy techniques. People often say that us (ministers) are not trained to handle a real problem like sexual addiction. Then they say we need to be trained by them. we need to put on their “armor” for the fight. but that’s is not at all how God deals with things! NO! He has taught you and trained you for this mission. He has given you all you need to walk in victory with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  So let me encourage you to quickly throw off the “armor” of this world (even if offered in good intentions), and follow what God Himself has taught you.

Let me encourage you as you continue to be obedient to Jesus in this call to ministry. I know it can get tough at times. And life can get crazy, but know that you are all a living example of what Jesus can do in a man’s life. You are a living testament of Jesus! that is nothing to take lightly! You have the flame of the Holy Spirit and the power of Christ in you! and your knowledge of His work in you (and others), has grown a faith in you that must be shared! The amazing thing is that you all have answered the call! So be encouraged and lifted up. For you through Christ are a “David” for other men.

If you have time, and would like to share your thoughts on this, or anything else you might read as you read 1 Samuel 17 please feel free.

Be blessed, and be bold for the King!

Your Brother in Christ

Grace and Peace be with you

Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member

www.SettingCaptivesFree.com

And Jesus said to me:

Eze 3:10b-11a  "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."