God’s “To Do” List

Joshua 1:7-8 tells us “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe TO DO according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe TO DO according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. “

Any body with any sense wants to be a success. In this passage we are told how to have, and be, just that. Notice in God’s commission to Joshua, twice God said, “observe TO DO…” God has a “TO DO” list for all who would follow Him.

In Christ’s commission to the church, He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Mt. 28:18-20).


In our Lord’s commission, we do NOT read, “teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”

Much of our teaching today is just that—the dissemination of information. It says, “teaching them TO OBSERVE…” Here are the two lost words of the Great Commission—“TO OBSERVE.” Throughout the Word of God the accent is on doing, observing, keeping the commandments of the Lord.

Today we teach them, but we fail to teach people to DO them.

The Word is hid in the head, but not in the heart. It is the Word hidden in the heart that keeps from sin (Ps. 119:11).
You can have a head full of Scripture and a heart full of sin.

What’s on your “TO DO LIST” today?
Is there something God wants you TO DO?

PARROTS AND PUPPETS

John 18:34 “Jesus answered him, Sayest this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?”

A good question, isn’t it? Especially for this parrot age in which we live in.
People who do not think for themselves, do not speak for themselves.

I remember filling in at another Church and teaching a Sunday School class years ago and asking members of the class what they believed about a certain text, and the repeated reply was, “I just believe whatever the pastor believes.” This is what I call “secondhand religion.” To hear, “Polly wants a cracker,” sounds cute, but you can be sure it’s not an original thought with that bird!

Handed down tradition doesn’t mean its true, only that each generation has accepted it as such. Eternal truths never change, but these are few in comparison to man-made rules handed down to us, like the Jews of old, by well meaning but ill informed folk. Believe what you will about secondary issues, but Paul tells us to make sure we are “…fully persuaded in our own mind.” You’re not to adhere to what your guru tells you, but what God has shown you personally. It’s called the priesthood of all Believers.

It’s a good thing Apollos didn’t have this puppet philosophy (Acts 18:24-28). It is only those uncertain of themselves who want those around them to adopt their pattern of life so as to make them feel more secure in their set of beliefs and convictions.

A puppet cannot speak for itself but only says what another makes it appear to say for itself. Sadly many in our society are the same. They repeat what they hear or are told to tell without ever thinking for themselves. As the Bible says,“these things ought not so to be.”

So how about it? What do YOU say?

Do you know WHY you believe WHAT you believe?

The Positive and the Negative

The Positive and the Negative

1 Timothy 6:11 “But thou, O man of God, FLEE these things (negative); and FOLLOW after righteousness (positive)…”

There is no such thing as a car battery with only a positive post. For a battery to work, there must be a positive and a negative side. This is also true in the spiritual realm. The Bible is repeatedly clear on the point that you cannot hold hands with God and the world at the same time.

Paul wrote, “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils” (1 Cor. 10:21).
There is a separation from something (negative) and separation to something else (positive). The Jews under Nehemiah “separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God” (Neh. 10:28).

Whenever you say “yes” to God (positive), you must also say “no” to the devil (negative). James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It is useless to try and resist the devil without first submitting to God. The devil is too strong for mere mortals. Victory always begins with surrender to God. But, at the same time, we must also actively resist Satan. While we positively position ourselves on God’s side, we must also take a negative stand against the enemy. So again, the act of submission (positive) must be coupled with active resistance (negative).

Both elements must be part of any Churches teaching (2 Tim. 4:2). The preacher is to exhort (positive) and rebuke (negative). Any preacher that does not preach both sides is like a battery with no power.

A lady came to Dr. Tom Malone, long time Pastor in Pontiac, Michigan and author of many fine books, and said , “Dr. Malone, you need to be more positive in your preaching. You are so negative when you preach!” Dr. Malone responded saying, “No you’re mistaken, I AM POSITIVE in my preaching—I’m positive that sin is wrong!” He was right!

So remember, in order to have power, it positively takes both positive and negative!

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