There May Be Dragons

No One Told the Frog

“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not
swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Proverbs 4:26-27

No one told the frog to avoid the pan of tepid water. No one told the frog as the water slowly heated to ‘get out of there it isn’t safe.’ No one warned the frog that the longer you stay in there, the shorter your life will be. Perhaps the frog was warned and rejected the warnings. Most have heard the story of the frog that was slowly boiled alive. It is a metaphor describing people’s unwillingness to see sinister threats that arise gradually rather than all at once.

It seems to me our culture is soon to be boiling water and many do not heed the clear warnings. Our enemy, the deceiver, is very skilled in his ingenious ways of advancing his lies. “Oh, did God really mean that?” “Your sin is too great and God can’t love you.” “You love each other, how is what you are doing sin?” “Come on, everyone else is doing it.” And on and on as we step on the slippery slope leading to destruction.

We are warned in Scripture:

“Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen.” Luke 21:36
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8

Because we live in a counterculture rejecting any authoritative truth, finding it to be repulsive and undesirable, we must proclaim truth clearly. Our children need to know the truth so they recognize the lies of the deceiver. We must lovingly share truth with our brothers and sisters and that it comes from God’s heart. We might get pushback, but we know it won’t be easy. Noah was mocked; the prophets were ridiculed and punished. Jesus was reviled and crucified and He always spoke truth.

We’ve learned in our study of Revelation, things will get very tough. The Lord tells us to hold fast, to be faithful, to be wise, and to endure.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, stand firm in the faith . . . and the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” I Peter 5:8-10

Prayer: Father, thank You for your Word. May I hold everything up to what it says. Help me keep my eyes open and be alert. May I follow the Holy Spirit’s lead as I interact with others about God’s truth. In Jesus name, Amen.

Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member

by Francie Overstreet

There’s Something About That Name

So the Lord saved Israel that day. - 1 Samuel 14:23

This is a powerful sentence for many reasons! However, one of the meanings of this sentence that can get lost on us English speakers, is that within this sentence, we have the words that come together to form the name of our savior… Jesus. Well, sorta. Let me see if I can explain.

First, we have to remember that Jesus was Jewish, so he was born with a Hebrew name. It was a very popular name because he was named after the guy who settled the Promised Land: Joshua. I’m sorta fond of that name myself! But in Hebrew, Joshua is pronounced “Yehoshua,” and this is the combination of the two words in our verse today: Yahweh Yasha, which means the Lord saves. But, how did we get “Jesus” from “Yehoshua”? Well, by the time of Jesus, who grew up speaking Aramaic, the name was shortened to “Yeshua,” which would have been the name that Mary & Joseph named their little miracle baby. But the question remains, why did we change his name to Jesus?

At the time that our New Testament authors were writing, the Greek language was the most common written language, so they used Greek to write out his name instead of Aramaic. They weren’t trying to change his name, there just wasn’t a great way to spell Yeshua in Greek.

The problem is that the name Yeshua is a particularly difficult name to write out in the Greek alphabet for two reasons: First, the two main consonant sounds in his name don’t even show up in Greek. There is no “Ya” sound and there is no “sh” sound in the Greek alphabet, so the “Ya” had to become an Iota and Epsilon (which make the sound of a long “E” and a long “A”). Then the “sh” had to become a sigma, or “s.” But then to make matters worse, if a Greek name ends in “a,” like “Yeshua,” then that would suggest that it is a female name. Male names typically have to end in an s. Therefore, when they put it all together, the name became Iesous. Then when the Roman Empire took over and Latin became the dominant language, they spelled his name Iesus. Even the earliest English versions of the Bible spell his name “Iesus.” It wasn’t until the J was added to the English language (only about 400 years ago), that we started calling him “Jesus.”

What does that mean? Am I going to stop calling him “Jesus?” No. I love that name, however, I don’t ever want to forget that Jesus means “Yahweh Saves.” He saved Israel that day through Jonathan, but he saves us every day through Jesus!

Josh Rose
Discipleship Pastor

To hear more about his name, check out my Christmas Morning sermon entitled “There’s Something About That Name.” (https://www.efcc.org/services/theres-something-about-that-name/)

by Josh Rose

Safe Faith

When Saul requests the ark be brought to the battle, it’s highly implied that he requests it out of superstition and hocus pocus. He knows that God’s presence resides in the ark. He’s also heard of how the ark of the covenant wreaked havoc in the Philistine city of Ashdod in the days of Samuel (1 Samuel 5). He’s in a desperate bind and he knows that the ark has tremendous power.

But at no point in this battle has he shown the faith that Jonathan has. He’s been stuck in the camp, wallowing in a cave, and sitting idly by while the real fight of faith takes place.

Now that an opportunity for “safe faith” presents itself, Saul takes it. But it’s not an act of dependent trust in Yahweh. It’s an act of religious manipulation. If Saul forces God’s presence onto the battlefield, then God is “forced” to deliver Israel.

How similar I am to Saul! I am prone to the “religious game” of twisting God’s arm to get Him to do what I want. I’ll pray, fast, and worship. I’ll “trust” God to work on my behalf. But meanwhile, below the surface, I’m expecting Him to do something on my timetable and in the way I want Him to.

Isn’t that what we are all prone to do? It’s not that we don’t have confidence God will act. It’s that we doubt God will act in the way we want Him to or at the time we want Him to.

When we don’t allow our trust in God to trump our expectations, we pigeonhole ourselves in places that are stagnating, deadening, and self-deluded. Meanwhile, we miss out on the real thrill of the battle and experiencing the God who is for us!

Ryan Lunde

by Ryan Lunde

If You See God’s Bandwagon, Jump on it!

Have you heard of crypto currency? Twelve years ago I mentioned to my wife that I should put $100 into BitCoin and wait ten years to see what would happen. I never got around to it. If I had, that $100 spent then would be worth 28 million today. I remember saying something similar about Apple stock in the late 1990’s when it was worth about 18 cents per share. Today it is valued over $120 per share. I missed out on those opportunities. It is hard to imagine what it would have taken to move me past mentioning something to actually getting involved in those things. But I honestly don’t mind having missed out on those opportunities. What scares me is thinking that I might miss out on getting involved in something God is doing in the lives of people around me.

In 1 Sam 14, Jonathan and his armor bearer sparked a revolution. It was a revolution that sparked one group of Isrealites after another to get involved.

1 Samuel 14:20-23 reads, "Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day."

Jonathan’s bold maneuver opened the door to the Lord’s help. The evidence of God’s intervention was so obvious that all the people on the Lord’s side eventually jumped in to be part of the victory and the route of the enemy. One group after another moved from inaction to action. Saul and those with him, Hebrews who were either captive or had defected, and finally all the men of Israel got involved. There was a domino effect of God’s people jumping on the bandwagon to participate in and claim the victory.

What are you waiting to see happen before you get involved? Is fear, comfort, or the cost holding you back from joining God’s work around us? Hiding out or blending in is never the way for God’s people. Jump on.

Pastor John Riley

by John Riley

When the Earth Shakes… 1 Samuel 14:15

Maybe you went and saw the giant waves that came from the storm (some local beaches reached almost 20 feet) or maybe you have seen some videos of the effect of the storms on land. It is a powerful reminder we do not have power or control as much as we might think over life’s circumstances. There are times when we witness things like this and can only look to the Lord. When Jonathan decided to climb up to the Philistine camp he hoped for the Lord’s favor, but I guess he was not sure how things would fully unfold.

The verse in Hebrew ends with Elohim, and is translated as “from God.” The Philistine army panicked and trembled because fear overtook them. As much as Jonathan was a more than capable warrior, he probably did not cause the panic. Let’s read the verse real quick, “Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.” The last word is so important, God delivered fear and possibly quaking ground to completely ruin the enemy. Only God could do that! He did something out of man’s control and out of man’s power that revealed his power. We can’t ignore God’s power in the midst of history or our lives. Sometimes it is easy to try to ignore or explain what God has done, but sometimes we need to just give him credit and praise.

What has God done in your life that reminds you of his awesome power? Have you taken time lately to remember those moments? Have you shared what he has done with others? Let me encourage you to take some time to think through times God has acted in amazing ways. When we stop and consider God’s power in our normal lives it is truly amazing to consider those moments. I remember how he provided strength in the face of giant swells in the Gulf of Mexico, or when he provided in times when my wife and I had nothing. There might be dragons, but the Lord’s power reminds us we have nothing to fear.

Pastor Jeremy

by Jeremy Johnson

Risky Faith 1 Samuel 14:13-23

Jonathan’s act of faith in I Samuel 14 is what started the whole domino effect of the passage. He knew that his plan on the surface was futile, the Israelites were ill-equipped to come against the Philistine army, etc. Yet, his faith and his armor-bearer urged him on. God doesn’t need our acts of faith, but he doesn’t tend to act without it. Faith, not need, doubt, or fear moves God. (Mark 2:5)

Back to the story, vs. 15 says . . . And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic. When He saw Jonathan’s faith, the earth quaked and there was panic, the enemy scattered.

Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Let’s face it – believing in a God we cannot see and believing that He is who He says He takes faith! Faith strengthens us, produces patience in us, fuels what we do, and encourages us. We are made right with God through belief and faith in Jesus, God’s Son, and this is the foundation we build on.

Oswald Chambers said, “God brings you to places, among people, and into certain conditions to accomplish a definite purpose…” Then you and I choose to take a risk, a leap of faith, and God gives us the courage and strength to accomplish the mission as Jonathon did. Verse 23, “So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.”

Can you think of a time when you felt the Holy Spirit nudging you to take a step of faith into unknown territory, only to find when you did, He went before you to prepare the way? I took a step of faith out of my comfort zone over 14 years ago that led me to this position at EFCC working with/for the Senior Pastor (now Lead Pastor) which has been a very great blessing and adventure I certainly couldn’t have imagined. I’m forever grateful for our merciful, loving, heavenly Father who cares about each and every one of his children and honors even the tiniest mustard seed of faith.

Deb Hill

by Deb Hill

Courage

Theodore Roosevelt once wrote, “Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don’t have the strength.” In other words, courage requires perseverance in the face of hopeless circumstances. Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom faced certain death in a Nazi concentration camp; she watched her family members die one by one. Corrie’s trust in Christ and faithful endurance sustained her in the darkness. True courage comes from putting full confidence in God’s promises–victory in Jesus Christ.

God is a promise maker. He accomplishes this by establishing covenants, or binding agreements between himself and humanity. One example is Yahweh’s covenant with the nation of Israel. In spite of repeated disobedience, the Lord remains faithful. His people are exiled to Babylon. He promises them a Messiah, whom they reject. Yet, even still, God is steadfast, dependable, and sure. He is faithful to his covenant, eager for all–people from every tribe, tongue, and nation–to know him (2 Peter 3:10).

God is faithful. Period. This is true, even when the answer to our prayers is “no” or “wait”. My grandfather suffered from repeated cancer battles in his last decade. At the same time, my grandmother also faced her own cancer diagnosis. As a couple, they chose to bank on the faithfulness of God–no matter the outcome. Grandpa went so far as to thank God for his cancer. He did this because he trusted the ultimate goodness of the Lord. Often with tears, he accepted God’s will. He met his faithful Savior face to face in 2022.

Putting full confidence in God’s promises can be a rocky path, but it is worth the climb. Jonathan and his shield bearer in 1 Samuel 14 experienced this first hand. Cornered in a narrow canyon, facing uncanny odds against the Philistines, they know that a barbaric death certainly awaits them. And yet, Jonathan and his servant choose action over fear. Who knows? Maybe God will deliver them. Even if he does not, God is good. He is trustworthy. Stepping out in faith is better than cowering in stagnation. How is God calling you to act this year? Take courage. He is with you.

Jake Solis

by Jake Solis

If…Then

Doing God’s will is at the heart of those who desire to follow Jesus, yet discerning his will can be one of the most confusing parts of the Christian journey. Is there a right way to determine God’s will? Or a wrong way? What is at the core of knowing whether or not we are following God’s will for our lives?

Have you ever tried to bargain with God? (I wouldn’t recommend it!) I can recall a time when I was trying to discern God’s will and offered a so-called “fleece” to him. The problem was that in the depths of my heart, I wanted my way, not God’s. Essentially I told God, “If you do ‘this’… then I will do ‘this’… knowing that ‘this’ therefore is your will.” As it turned out, I was the one running the show, not God; or so I thought. God had some work to do in my soul.

In 1 Samuel 14:8-12, Jonathan declared his trust that God could direct and then waited to hear God’s answer to his “if, then”. God answered and against all odds, gave the Israelites victory over the Philistines.

Similarly in Judges 6, Gideon set out a fleece not once, but twice, testing whether or not God would truly save Israel. God answered Gideon’s, “if, then”, but that was not the end of the story. God continued to take Gideon through more challenges, testing his faith, and in so doing, Gideon’s faith increased. Gideon tried to demonstrate faith, but he was nervous and wanted confirmation that God was truly going to protect him and his people. What Gideon found was a patient God; a God who didn’t hesitate to push his limits but through that process gave him opportunities to see who was in charge. As Gideon delighted in his relationship with God, his confidence in his Lord grew.

When I finally reached a point of surrender, of relinquishing my will to God’s, I too found a patient, loving God who longed for my trust. God is not beyond using our human need to set out a fleece to increase our faith. That does not however mean that we will always get what we want, or at least what we think we want.

Far too often Psalm 37:4 is taken out of context. In this verse, David is not saying God will give us whatever we want nor is he giving us permission to determine our own “if, then”. No, it says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desire of your heart.” Do you see it? IF we delight in the Lord, THEN he will give us the desire of our hearts. Those desires will come directly from delighting in him! The battles faced by Jonathan, Gideon and by you and me are not ours to fight. God’s will is clear. Delight in him and he will direct your path.

Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director

by Lynette Fuson

I Can’t but You Can

“…for nothing can hinder the LORD…”
I Samuel 14:6

Jonathan had few resources. In fact, he had the second of the two swords in all of Israel and one armor bearer. His father, Saul was encamped with his 600 warriors on Geba and the Philistine garrison was across the valley on Michmash. Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans. Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few.” V.6 His confidant (armor bearer) replied, “I am completely with you.” This appeared to be an impossible task as Jonathan would climb down one cliff, cross an open area, and then climb using both hands and feet up the other cliff. They would be easily seen. This was risky at the very least except for one thing, the LORD was accompanying them and Jonathan trusted in Him “…for the LORD will help us defeat them!” v.12 Please read the rest of the story in I Samuel 14 to see what God did using Jonathan and his armor bearer.

Have you ever faced a seemingly impossible task that you had little to no resources to accomplish? Yet, you trusted God for whatever the outcome would be. In the 1980’s, a friend and I would often speak at schools, churches, and organizations to present the pro-life view. We were just moms but God put a passion in us to speak about His heart for the unborn child. As I was beginning to stand to speak in response, God spoke to me that He wanted us to help these scared women and teenagers who needed an alternative to abortion, not just speak about it. An impossible task but not for God. There were many ‘confidants’ who gathered together and Alternatives was begun. Over the decades, many lives have been saved physically and spiritually. Children’s lives were saved and many women came to know the LORD as believers served them for His sake. Now Alternatives Medical Clinic has developed into far more than ever first envisioned. You can visit the clinic if you feel God’s nudge to help or just to see what God has done. There were no resources, but God!

If you are ever faced with what seems impossible, may I suggest a spiritual practice called ‘the breath prayer’? Inhale on the phrase “I can’t” and exhale on the phrase “but You can.” It always reminds me that God is the Resource and I am not.

Francie Overstreet

by Francie Overstreet