Courageous: Centurion LE Ministry Newsletter

Fellow Servant-Leaders (if you’re not, you should be):

This week’s newsletter is long in coming but rich by God’s grace in His word and wisdom. Right off (if you’re in the Denver area), don’t forget that there is NO MEETING tonight because we are rather meeting tomorrow (Friday) evening (9/30) in front of the Highlands Ranch AMC 24 Theater between 6-6:30 to fellowship and pray before the 7:15 showing of Courageous on its national/public opening night. If you RSVP’d as requested, I’ll have your tickets! If not, come anyway. See below for more…

Our next regular meeting is set for Thursday, October 6th. Recently retired (again) law enforcement legend Jim Wattles will be teaching a powerful message he’s entitled “Gambling with God” (Jim’s final LE position after retiring from Denver PD was as a State Criminal Investigator with the Colorado Gaming Division…). Pass the word and join us if you can (and I’ll send out a detailed RECAP next week for everyone else around the country/world).

Last week we had an outstanding, interactive study/discussion on the profession-relevant example of King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26. Here's the RECAP for "Victory in Obedience, Defeat in Compromise” (please take the time to read it and prayerfully adapt it to your own studies and your lives in general):

Uzziah was one of Amaziah's sons, whom the people made King of Judah after his father's assassination (see 2 Kings 14:21, 2 Kings 15: Uzziah is also called Azariah – cir. 750 BC or so). The literal translation of Uzziah’s name is "The Lord is my Strength” and his early life illustrated that meaning. Early in Uzziah's career he was victorious over all enemies. He strengthened his kingdom and improved the economic status of his nation. In brief, Uzziah was
 an intelligent military tactician and brilliant inventor of weaponry;
 a superb leader, statesman and organizer;
 highly renowned as a PEACEKEEPER and keeper of God’s law – a cop.

King Uzziah should have been a resounding success story. Tragically his biography does not end on a note of success but is rather one of failure. Instead of being buried in the tombs of the honored Judean kings in Jerusalem, he was instead buried in a weed-streen field outside of the city. It is this ironic twist in Uzziah’s career that deserves our concentration. One would expect a marvelous epitaph to be chiseled into the grave marker of Uzziah. However, the eulogy is stated with four simple words, “He is a leper.”

Uzziah’s YOUTH: 2 Chron 26:1-5

(1) His early years were marked by the significant influences surrounding him. Regarding Uzziah's father, the author (probably Ezra) notes that Amaziah “did right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Chron 25:2). He was a father who was concerned with what God commanded and thus influential in guiding Uzziah to seek God’s will and plan for his life. An interesting illustration of this decision is found in 2 Chron 25:6-9. Amaziah had organized a military expedition against Edom for which he gathered a large army from Judah. However, he also also hired 100,000 Israeli mercenaries. God’s prophet confronted Amaziah about this fellowship and bluntly told him it was unacceptable to God (25:7). The King dismissed those whom God refused to recognize (this situation is a valuable lesson itself and deserves study).

(2) Amaziah’s influence upon his son was important. However, there is a somber footnote to Amaziah’s dedication to God – “yet not with a whole heart.” Even though Amaziah knew that God expected wholehearted devotion, he instead retained a portion for himself. This inconsistency revealed that Amaziah did not recognize God’s total sovereignty and it would later have a drastic impact upon his son Uzziah.

As we take to heart the biblical lessons of Courageous, how many fathers since Amaziah have also admitted the need to “do right in the sight of the Lord” BUT have not done so with their whole heart? Consequently their (our) children have been impacted for the worse! Historical tragedies are often repeated by those who refuse to learn (Deuteronomy 6:5). Fathers, have you allowed God’s sovereignty to control all of your life?

Uzziah’s Desire to SEEK GOD: 2 Chron 26:5

A key to Uzziah’s success was his desire to seek God. It seems that the influence for this is attributable to the prophet Zachariah who was able to explain God’s word (and will) to the king so that he would understand and obey – much like the need for Bible study, teaching and discipleship today. As long as Uzziah was obedient and followed God’s plan for his life, his leadership was successful and the nation of Judah prospered (hmm -- U.S.A.?).

Uzziah in COMPROMISE (rebellion, sin): 2 Chron 26:16-18

Like in our own country today, Judah’s (and Uzziah’s) decline began when the king allowed his father’s “heart problem” to interfere with his own devotion to God. In short, the King’s took his eyes off God and onto self. Uzziah’s prosperity and success blurred his godly vision -- Uzziah began to think he was personally responsible instead of God! The tragedy is stated in 26:15 – “until” is the point of apostasy: the King’s pride blinded him to the need of humility (v. 16) and of God in general.

What caused him to enter into the Temple and offer incense? (v. 16). We are not told and it is not necessary to know. What we do know is that the King knew he was doing wrong. The priests knew the King was doing wrong. The entire nation knew their King was doing wrong. Pride could not make a wrong action “right”! Because of Uzziah’s disobedience -- doing what he “felt” (feelings) was right instead of what God’s WORD says is right – all of his previous “good works” became null and void. In this case, Uzziah decided that he knew better than God how worship was to be conducted.

The core issue here is one of PRIDE (compromise)! In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes, “It was through pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind… As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people…as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above…”
Great successes, world renown, fantastic prosperity -- all were lost because Uzziah COMPROMISED (rebelled) and refused to follow God’s commands!

Uzziah as a LEPER: 2 Chron 26:19-23

Uzziah’s eulogy does not read of success, victory, heroism, etc. Rather, it is a short, “He is a leper.” Note the word “is” (not “was”). It is important to note that nowhere in scripture is there any evidence that Uzziah ever repented and sought God’s forgiveness and restoration (more pride).

Uzziah’s compromise -- and the consequences of same – are powerful reminders of our essential need for THE (only) Savior and that we are ALL “lepers” who are thus -- like lepers -- wholly separated from God without the redeeming power of Christ in our lives. The message of this passage is also a reminder that real, lasting victory comes only when we refuse to compromise (we need the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this) and are fully surrendered and obedient to God as revealed to us in His inerrant word.

On this subject Alistair Begg wrote, “Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy, but when sin is seen and felt it has received its death blow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are nothing else but sin, for no confession short of this will be the whole truth. And if the Holy Spirit is at work within us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty in making such an acknowledgment-it will spring spontaneously from our lips.”

Consider Joshua 1:7-8 which tells us to Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Proverbs 16:5 likewise instructs, Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD.

As Christians and warriors (cops, military, leaders…), we must always watch ourselves during times of either earthly or spiritual accomplishments. The tendency is usually to build ourselves up in our own strength instead of remembering that without God we are nothing, and it is He who gives us our gifts and our strength. Whenever we puff ourselves up because of earthly accomplishments, a spiritual fall is sure to follow.
Uzziah failed to finish well. Like many of us in law enforcement, we start off well but then allow ourselves to take our eyes off our true Captain. Uzziah compromised – and he (like us) paid a price. We are SO BLESSED to have a Savior – turn to Him today and resolve to keep our eyes on The Prize (Christ)!

In keeping with this theme and that of Courageous, I encourage you to listen to Pastor Sam Park’s outstanding teaching from Revelation 2: Elevating Tolerance over Holiness. Go to https://public.me.com/sampark777


NATIONAL NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS:

(1) I’m looking forward to meeting those who have the ability to join us for next week’s (October 7-9) Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers (FCPO) National Conference in Chicago. Go to www.FCPO.org and click on the conference info at the top for more.

(2) Former officer, trainer and missionary to law enforcement Randy Green of Mission Mobilization International (www.missionmobilization.org) sent me the following and I felt led to share it with you.

“It was like déjà vu. In 2004 I was in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic making contact with the police. One day as I was walking on the beach a pimp approached me and asked me if I wanted a prostitute. I said I had found something much more fulfilling and began to share the gospel with him. He stopped me and asked if I would you be willing to share this with his prostitutes. I said I would be glad to and he took me to a table by the beach that had a thatched roof. Six prostitutes sat down and I began to share the gospel. Other prostitutes came by mocking them but at the end all six prostitutes and their pimp prayed to receive Christ.
Now seven years later I was on the same beach with our team who had come to minister to the police from August 27th to September 3rd. We had a free afternoon and as I sat under a shaded area God sent us person after person who we were able to lead to the Lord. The last person was Margarita a prostitute that came by looking for business. I asked her to sit down and I began sharing the gospel with her. She cried as God’s grace and love reached out to her and she asked Christ to save her and come into her life. We led 14 people to the Lord while at the beach that day. God gave us a group of 85 police officers to work with. Most of them were believers but we saw 18 respond to the gospel. It was a blessing to see the formation of the first fellowship of Christian police officers in the country. Colonel Suero had heard a broadcast I did with Focus on the Family Spanish program and had invited us to come to help their police.

We had the opportunity to lead about 35 people to Christ whom God put in our path. These were hotel & office workers, taxi drivers and an outdoor evangelistic meeting. We also did a radio program and shared the gospel with the listeners.

We will be doing an outreach to the police in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico from October 15-22. Please be in prayer for our team and the officers who will hear the gospel.

Thank you again for your prayers and financial support.”

(3) Courageous opens this weekend (!!) and events are being sponsored all over the country (including our own here in the Denver area). Go to www.CourageoustheMovie.com to see where this “must-see,” potentially life-changing film is showing – then attend during the all-important opening weekend. Better yet, invite (and pay for) a friend or colleague to join you. To echo the lead character, “Where are you, men of courage?”

TRAINING CORNER:

Bill Hubbard (Director of the my old unit in NM) sent me the following Mental Toughness Profile “exam” from our friend Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s website (www.warriorsciencegroup.com).
Bill sent it to each of his agents and we ask that you take less than 10 minutes to take it. Results are automatically scored and will rate you five different areas (areas that we all need to address). Go to: http://oripomerantz.com/toughness.html. Bill writes, “You don’t need to share the results with anyone, but I hope you WILL use this tool not only to help you identify areas in which you need improvement, but will also motivate you to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.”

Amen to that!

Be sure to check this website frequently for the latest updates, announcements, prayer requests (updated yesterday) and more. Keep your powder dry as you walk in love and obedience to our one true Commander-in-Chief.