Steve Berger's Blog

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People often try things, give up and then feel “like a failure.” The truth is we are never a failure if we keep trying. Far too often, we try things, don’t find success, give up and then don’t have the courage to try again. Here’s the point—if you think you’ve seriously blown it, try again with courageous humility and repentance. Look for God’s truth and restoration. It’s OK to start again.

Some of the most famous people in history failed and failed often:

• Henry Ford went broke five times trying to start his automobile company.
• Louisa May Alcott, the mega-best-selling author of Little Women, failed so many times that she thought about abandoning writing and becoming a seamstress.
• A newspaper fired Walt Disney for his lack of ideas. He also nearly went bankrupt several times.
• Methodist preacher John Wesley was thrown out of many churches and church meetings. He was rarely asked back to preach a second time. At one outdoor event, the audience turned a bull loose to run after him.

No matter what comes your way, refuse to quit.

We can read about trying again in Luke 5:1–7. These seasoned fishermen worked all night and caught nothing. Jesus tells Peter to, “Try again.” Peter responds to Jesus and agrees to try again (how many of us “professionals” could swallow our pride and act so quickly?). He does what Jesus tells him to do and, “They caught a great number of fish.” Wow.

Maybe you have been toiling all night, and catching nothing. You’re discouraged. Maybe you’ve even hung up your nets. Listen, don’t give up, try again. In humility and prayer listen to Jesus’ Word about how to go about what you’re trying to accomplish. You might be one unconventional try from a boat sinking blessing!

Or, read another fishing story in John 21:3–11. Once again we see the professional fishermen catching nothing. This time Jesus tells them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat.” Jesus asks them to make a slight adjustment and try again.

We need to do the same thing because listening to Jesus and making a slight adjustment can make the difference between poverty and blessing.

Here’s the bottom line: When Jesus tells us to try again, as unconventional as it may be, or making slight adjustments, do what He says. PERIOD. It leads to blessing.

No matter what comes your way, REFUSE TO QUIT and TRY AGAIN.

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The Israelites were on the march. They’d just conquered Jericho. The walls fell down. They were ready for the next battle, but something happened. When we read Joshua 7:1–5, we discover that they messed up. Something went wrong. They lost a battle and thirty-six men lost their lives. This kind of tragic defeat wasn’t supposed to happen. But, it did.

What went wrong?

• There was sin in the camp. Achan had taken of the accursed, forbidden things and tried to hide them. We can’t hide sin from God!
• There wasn’t any prayer. The Israelites did the familiar and presumptuous thing (sent out spies as they’d done before) without seeking God about how to attack Ai. They resorted to past experience not intimate instruction.
• They were prideful. The most dangerous time for pride and lack of prayer is after a great victory (they had just conquered Jericho)!

Israel fell and consciously messed up. We do the same thing, don’t we? We get our pride up, we forget to pray, sin sneaks into our camp and before you know it, we’re separated from God. We’re on our own and we’re not living the life Christ came to give us. We’re stuck and we want to give up.

Joshua, however, refused to quit. He chose to try again.

Joshua 7:6–9 clearly shows us how, when we’re ready to quit, we can instead try again.

• First, we must courageously humble ourselves before God and man. Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face. He and the elders put dust on their heads. They humbled themselves before God and each other.
• Second, we must courageously seek God and cry out to Him. Joshua did the right thing because the first thing we need to do when we’ve messed things up and want to try again is to get into a dialog with God. We need to seek God, cry out to Him and see what He will do.

We can see the result later in the chapter. Israel made things right. Because of how they responded, they received forgiveness and tried again. They won the battle.

Friends, after we’ve blown it, It takes courageous humility to seek God, to hear His truth and to make things right. It takes courage to trust God’s redeeming forgiveness. It takes courage to trust that He’ll still help us to win the battle. It takes courage to try again!

The question is, in spite of how you feel about your life, and what you’ve done in the past, are you ready to try again?

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“Firsts” is a Scriptural principle that is seriously important to God. For example, in Exodus 13:1–2 God is speaking to Moses and says, “Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.” In this verse, He’s very clear—whatever is first belongs to Him.

When we understand this principle of firsts, then we can understand why God told Joshua what to do with the treasure from Jericho (Joshua 6:18–19). Basically, all the silver, gold, vessels of bronze and iron were consecrated to the Lord and were to be the Lord’s possession. God was telling Joshua, “When you go into that first city, it’s all Mine. Firsts are important to Me.”

Unfortunately, a man named Achan (whose name means “trouble” or “troubler”) didn’t realize the importance of firsts to God. As a result, he chooses to do something sinful. Joshua 7:1, 13, 20–21 show us what happened. God said, “These first fruits are Mine.” Achan, however, said, “Hey, I want that for myself. I’m taking it and I’m hiding it.”

Achan made a bad choice for himself and for the nation of Israel.

For himself, he didn’t understand God. He didn’t understand that the things we hold back from God become accursed in our hands. He didn’t understand that when we don’t operate in courageous stewardship, there are disastrous results. His decision led to his death. His self indulgence led to fear and defeat to all his friends.

For Israel, his choice caused them to stop and lose (They lost 36 people in the next battle as a result of Achan’s choice). Here they are invading the Promised Land and taking on their enemies. They have a victory under their belt, they are ready to move forward and possess the land, but this choice by Achan stops their ability to move ahead, conquer their enemies and take on all that God promised them.

Achan’s sin just wasn’t his own. The nation reaped the consequences of one man’s sin. Herbert Lockyer wrote, “One amongst all the hosts of Israel, disobeyed and brought failure upon all. Achan’s sin teaches us the oneness of the people of God. ‘Israel hath sinned.’ (Joshua 7:11). The whole cause of Christ can be delayed by sin, neglect or lack of spirituality of one person.”

I wonder how many people are lacking spiritual power and authority against their “enemies” because, like Achan, they don’t understand this issue and consequently make bad choices?

Remember the issue of firsts. It’s important to God and understanding it needs to be important to you as well. The reason we give Him our first ten percent and not the sloppy, leftovers is because the first ten percent is His. It’s a matter of stewardship, obedience and faith.

Tremendous blessing comes from walking in obedience with God. Don’t hold back, play games, or barter. It’s much better to error on the side of generosity than make similar choices as Achan made.

What does God want to do with you? With your church? Is there something holding back the blessing and power?

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Memories are like roads. We can choose which roads to travel and which ones to avoid.  Philippians 4:8, 9 says:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Paul is saying, “Meditate on these things.” He is urging us to meditate on the truth of God and to plant it deep in our hearts and minds. Allow Jesus Christ to renew your mind each day, and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to thoughts that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:4, 5), and if it is dark, lonely, bitter, or hurtful, throw it out! Those thoughts are of no use to you.

My wife Sarah and I know it’s not easy, but we can also tell you that when we do this—when we meditate on the things Paul writes about in these verses, when we listen to the Comforter and refuse to go places in our hearts that are off-limits—there is healing.

We need to manage our memories and guard our heart (Proverbs 4:23) and let the Holy Spirit steer us down the right roads. We can’t be looking back at who our son Josiah was. We have to live in the now. We need to choose spiritual roads, not emotional ones. Doing so helps us to have hope and helps us to give hope to others.

Doing this will help you, too. Living in the now helps us understand that Josiah’s still alive, and it helps us see that what he’s accomplished through people’s lives carries with it a powerful legacy. Living in the now and managing our memories is not about living in denial. It is about realizing what we need to think about.

What road are you on? Are you on the road of God’s hope? Or the dark road of bitterness? What helps you to live in the now despite your pain and suffering? Do you have a story of how God has transformed your mind and helped you choose the spiritual road? We’d love to hear about your journey.

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Joseph is truly a hero of the faith. His story, woven into the last parts of the book of Genesis, reflect a person of faith, determination and character.

Pastor and author Clarance Edward Macartney wrote about Joseph and said:

Joseph’s story is a finely wrought and self-contained novella, describing in vivid detail the development of his character from charismatic and arrogant youth to compassionate middle age. . . Genesis reaches a melodramatic peak in these climatic last chapters: a riches-to-rags-to-riches tale replete with every human passion—love and hate, ambition and glory, jealously and fury. Tears of joy and grief are shed. Garments are rent in anguish. It’s a gripping saga of treachery and deception, betrayal and forgiveness.

Joseph’s story is also a saga about holding on, standing firm and knowing God’s promise to work out all things for good (Romans 8:28).

Think about it for a minute.  Joseph was rejected by his brothers. He was sold into slavery. He was unjustly imprisoned. He was forgotten in prison. All of these negative circumstances prepared him to become the number two person in Egypt, right under Pharaoh.  All this happens so he’s in place to save the nation of Israel. Think about Joseph’s situation and realize that it’s never recorded that he is complaining. In the pit, in slavery, nor in prison is this man of God whining. Instead, we see him serving,  loving, and  being faithful to God.

So then at the end of the book of Genesis (Genesis 50:20),  Joseph is with his brothers who sold him into slavery and rejected him and he says these famous words:

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

What did Joseph realize? He knew that God meant, even his brothers’ evil against him, for good.

God does the same for us. He uses those devilish plots and plans to further the kingdom in our own heart, life, and destiny.

We need to understand that sometimes bad is used by God to get us where we need to go. The enemy’s schemes push us into the very arms of Jesus.

Joseph didn’t rub his families’ noses into what they had done to him. Instead, he saves Israel because. when he was in the pit, he courageously held on to see the goodness of God. He courageously knew that God would work out everything for ultimate good. He knew God. He loved God, and he stood on God’s promises despite the circumstances, trials, betrayals and lies.

Joseph held on. Can we? Can we put a stake in the ground to believe Him? Can we stand firm and hold on to Romans 8:28 (And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose)?

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My personal opinion is the hardest verse in the Bible to believe is Romans 8:28. The Apostle Paul writes, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

I believe it’s the hardest verse in the Bible to believe because it’s difficult for us to comprehend in the midst of our severe pain, and our severe tragedy, suffering and loss. It’s hard for us to really believe, in the midst of something that seems so radically wrong in our lives, that God can bring something good out of it, and, that God is in the business of working for our good when we love Him.

Many times, when we are devastated and afflicted, all we can see is the pain and the suffering that’s right in front of us. We can’t imagine how God can bring anything good out of something that is so wrong and bad.

We can’t see how things are going to work out for good because they’re too painful; they’re too evil; they’re too devilish. Many times they just seem too final. It’s like, “What else can happen? How can anything good come out of this?

What we must understand is working things out for good is one of God’s specialties. It is one of His greatest realities—He takes things that are radically wrong,bad, evil, wicked and final and turns them into good.

Far too often, we don’t walk in the courage and see that good actually can happen. Far too often, we get consumed with bitterness, disappointment and disillusionment. We quit. Maybe we don’t completely quit on God, but we quit His “process.” We quit His purpose as He’s working in us and therefore we never see the good.

How can we have this courage?

• We need to put a spiritual stake in the ground today and say God’s promise from Romans to ourselves: “God works all things together for the good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose.”
• We must believe God’s promise BEFORE we’re in the midst of trails and heartbreak.
• We must believe God’s promise, not just when thing are alright or when we’re passing the verse on to others.
• We must believe God’s promise when we get the devastating phone call or diagnosis or when we’re lonely and fearful and not understanding what’s happening.
• We must choose to believe that God will work good in ALL things for you who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Do you believe Him?

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In my last Blog post I talked about how we can handle potential sin. I said we need to develop a mindset with some conviction, power and courage and make our mind up to shout, “No!” before it happens, instead of satisfying ourselves from the drinking fountain of the world that’s full of pollution.

In this post, I want to talk about present sin—sin you may be faced with right now. Let me say, from the beginning, that this is an “us” post. I’m not writing down from some place of religious arrogance. What you’ll read below applies to all of us. Consider this a wake up call from God. I know I do.

I love Joseph’s example with Potiphar’s wife. He clearly shows us how we can severely, decisively and courageously do the right thing. Joseph was good-looking, smart and the favor of God was upon him. It seemed that, in spite of some horrible circumstances, everything he did was blessed.

Genesis 39:7–13 clearly shows us his character and is a model for what we need to do when we’re in a sinful situation. He fled.

Joseph did the right thing. He is decisive and courageous and runs away. He refused the advances of his bosses wife over and over again. He refused to sin against God and he refused to sin against man (his boss). He refused to sin. In spite of being daily enticed by this woman, he runs out of the house. That is conviction and courage.

I also love what he didn’t do. He didn’t play the game. He didn’t let pride or her flattery lead him into a sinful situation. He didn’t think he could hide wrongdoing from either her husband or God. He didn’t compromise. He didn’t negotiate.

So, I know what you’re thinking—Joseph wound up in prison because Potiphar’s wife lied and so what about that? Here’s what we have to remember about Joseph. God was with Joseph in prison and I’d rather be in prison with God than in bed with sin.

How do we do the right thing? Joseph:

• Didn’t compromise.
• Didn’t negotiate.
• Refused to be sucked into the beguiling trap.
• Was decisive.
• Was severe.
• Ran from sin.
• Had courage.

The question is, do we? Do we have the courage to stop what we’re caught into and turn to God? Is there something we need to cut off today? If there is, be like Joseph. Stop and repent, right now before whatever it is gets worse. Do it now while you can still ask God to forgive you or ask people to forgive you. God will come through with His matchless mercy, I know He will.

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The world is full of temptation. Sin and temptation in all their forms are eating away at our physical, mental and spiritual health. Sin, temptation and the devil are trying hard to steal the life that Jesus came to give us. We’re confronted with these temptations on a daily basis and it seems to get worse all the time. How should we handle them? God gave the Israelites instruction that we should follow before we’re subjected sin’s temptation.

God uses some severe language in Deuteronomy 7:1–6 to tell the people of Israel what their attitude needed to be towards the enemy. God’s admonition should not have been unfamiliar to them. Three times in Deuteronomy alone He gave them instruction about the attitude and action to take when confronting the enemy and sin.

When you read this passage, notice the language God uses. He’s saying, “Here is the mindset I want you to have before you are confronted with sin. You must make your mind up before the enemy tempts you.”

God says, “I want you to conquer and to utterly destroy. Make no covenants, no agreements and have no mercy, no marriage, no partnership with the enemy (sin)”. He also tells them to destroy the altars, break down the sacred pillars, cut down wooden images, and burn the carved idols.”

God is telling them and He’s telling us that before we’re tempted, before we face the enemy of sin, we need to make our minds up to utterly and severely conquer any notion that it’s going to be OK. He’s saying, “Get ready, NOW!”

Sin is not a light issue with God. Repeatedly, He warns us about it. He uses drastic language to talk about it. We need to listen to Him.

We cannot make up our minds to try and run away from sin when we’re in the middle of it. Samson couldn’t leave Delilah because his head was already resting in her lap. It was too late and he was already past the point of no return.

Friends, we must look at the things that are out there screaming at us and make our mind up to utterly destroy them before we’re tempted—well before we are drawn into sin. Let’s not ease into compromise, let’s not make covenants, let’s not rationalize. Let’s deal with potential sin now.

Are you with me? Can you make your mind up now? Potential sin’s desire is to turn you away and take you places you don’t belong. Take your stand now because you won’t be able to when your resting in Delilah’s lap.

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We are currently in a series about courage. We’re studying Joshua and unpacking what it means to “be strong and of good courage.” (Joshua 1:6). Joshua’s courage came from God’s assurance and one way it showed itself was in how Joshua stood firm in the face of danger, the enemy and sin.

Where are you? Are you standing firm in the face of whatever is in front of you? Or, have you become like the people in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-17)? They let go of so much of God’s blessing and replaced it with themselves. Are you trusting yourself and your accomplishments? Have you turned away from kingdom living and reverted to self-sufficiency? Are you choosing flight over fight (with God’s help)?

Like Joshua, we need to hold firm. We need to first understand our need for spiritual poverty (Matthew 5:3). We need to recognize when we’re grabbing for control over God’s promises and provision, and stop and let go. We need to say, “God, I need you every second of every day. I’m trusting you, I’m seeking you and I love you.” We need to hold firm to Him, not our selves.

We can repent. The good news is that we can turn around and change directions.  We can turn away from our prideful, arrogant, and self-sufficient, running-away ways that have crept into our lives. We can repent, draw near to Him and stand firm as we enter the Kingdom. We need to hold firm to Him, not our past mistakes, our emotions, or our pride.

We can be comforted. We can be changed. To do that we must realize our own spiritual poverty and then ask God to help us to see the Kingdom. We must repent and change direction. Paul, in Romans twelve calls it a “renewing of our mind.” Let’s hold firm and choose the kingdom of heaven. Let’s choose blessedness and holding firm through understanding and repenting. Let’s embrace spiritual poverty. Let’s trust Jesus in all things and walk in love, humility and grace holding firm to Him and His promises for our lives.

We can stand firm. Joshua, with God’s help and promises, held firm. He stood his ground. Are you prepared to hold your ground? Are you ready to live by the promises of God? Or live in retreat in what only you can do?

Will you join me in holding firm and standing with God?

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Pastor Jake Spencer did an awesome job this past Sunday as we continued in our study of Courage from the book of Joshua. Jake spoke about how we need to face not just our fear, but also our flesh as we fight the battle with courage.

Nehemiah understood what it meant to fight with courage and I love Nehemiah 4:14. It says, “And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’”

Here’s the former cup bearer, now leader of the major reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem, and he’s exhorting everyone to fight their enemies with courage. The specific problem (enemy) that confronted Nehemiah was discouragement. The newness of the project was wearing off. The wall builders had lost their vision. Plus, there was a loss of confidence. The workers became disillusioned. In fact, in verse ten they admit, “We ourselves are unable to build the wall.”

Then, in verse eleven the enemy speaks. The enemy had a plan and the workers fell in discouragement. They felt insecure as the voice of Satan just kept pounding and nagging at them.

Nehemiah, however, chose to fight. He rolled up his sleeves and told the people, “Hey, no way. Don’t be afraid because we have God who is great and awesome in power. He will prevail, not the enemy. Sure it’s tough, but we have the God of the Universe with us!”

Nehemiah knew that their attention needed to be on God. He knew what God had done in the past and He knew God would continue to be faithful to His Word and the promises. Long before the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6,7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Nehemiah knew just as Joshua knew—standing firm in God’s promises is how we take on our enemy and fight with courage. It’s how we battle discouragement and the voice of the enemy.

Nehemiah said to the people, “You’ve got your eyes on the wrong things. Get your eyes on the Lord and all He has done for us.”

What do you have your eyes focused on? God’s promises, or the garbage of your problem? Take a lesson from Nehemiah. Call to mind who God is and all He has done for you. Stand firm in His promises and fight the battle with courage.

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