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LIGHTBEARERS
July 12, 2013
I Corinthians 11:29-30.... “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
I have known Christians who were afraid to participate in Holy Communion because they might have some unrepentant sin, perhaps one they may have forgotten. They feared they may bring judgment on themselves, so they would not participate, thereby falling into the lying trap of Satan; missing the healing blessing they would have had if they had participated.
Let’s face it, all of us who come to the Lord’s Table are unworthy and made worthy only by His blood.Read I Cor 11-27-29In verse 29, Paul says that if you eat and drink unworthily, you bring judgment to yourself. The word “unworthily is an adverb, which means it modifies a verb. In this case it modifies the action of eating and drinking. So Paul was not saying that if you are an unworthy person, do not partake. Partaking unworthily refers to the way you partake; without giving sufficient honor and respect for elements and what they mean in the life of the believer.Look at few verses back to verse 20-22.What Paul is saying here is that there is not sufficient respect for the Lord’s Supper. It is not treated with the honor and significance it should have, but is treated like any other meal.
As far as I know there is only one reason Paul gives for people being weak and ill and dying before their time. And it is right here in verse 30.
At the last supper Jesus said in Matt 26:26 Take eat this is my body. I don’t think the disciples needed any explanation. They knew that He wanted to impart to them His life, health and wholeness. These men were with Him every day and not once did they see Him sick. Not once did they see Him come down with flu, fever or stomachache. He never had to say to them “Can one of you preach the Sermon on the Mount for me? I don’t feel up to it today.” The Lord was never sick. More than that, He was vibrant, full of life and full of health. So full of life was He that even His clothes were soaked with health. In Mark 5:25-34 a woman who had been sick for 12 years with an issue of blood just touched His garment and was healed. In Luke 6:19 it says that the whole multitude sought to touch Him for power went out from Him and healed them all. So, my friends, you see that Holy Communion is something to be cherished and to partake of frequently. Don’t come to the table legalistically, sin-conscious. That is the Old Covenant, before His Amazing Grace. Come to the table as free men and women, set free by the sacrifice of Jesus. Be Son-Conscious.
When you partake of His broken body, know that His body was broken so that yours could be whole. Know that His blood was shed so that you could walk in righteousness, seated in Heavenly Places with Him, that the Kingdom of God is in you. Partake in faith. Faith in what Jesus has already done for you. He will not die again. Once was enough for your past, present and future sins and infirmities. I truly believe that by faith we can walk in divine health every day. Frequent visits to the Lord’s Table will bring you Peace and healing.
I believe, we are healed, and even though we may not see the manifestation of everything yet, that does not mean it isn't true. Facts and Truth are different. It may be a fact that you are sick or lame or diseased but the Truth is Jesus died for that disease or infirmity. He took it so you don’t have to. Partaking of Communion is a memorial to His finished work on the cross. You will know His healing power more intimately the more frequently you partake.
Pray: Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem me. I am thankful that through Christ's sufferings, a threefold redemption was purchased for my spirit, mind, and body. Thank You, Father, for complete salvation. Whenever I receive the elements of communion I know that they will bring strength and health to me spiritually, emotionally and physically because of the New Covenant that was sealed through the sufferings and blood of Jesus Christ, and it is in that Holy Name I pray, Amen.
July 13, 2013
Luke24: 30-31...."Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and give ti to them. 31. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight."
Luke 24: 13-35 relates the story of two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus when Jesus happened to join them but they did not know it was He. The entire discourse between the disciples and Jesus is recorded by Luke. During the walk, which must have taken some time, although they were in the presence of the risen Lord and conversing with Him, their eyes were blinded from recognizing Him.
Although these disciples had knowledge of Jesus; they had been with Him, had seen Him crucified and buried, their knowledge was incomplete. Jesus chose not to reveal Himself to them because they were yet carnal and any visible knowledge would have diminished spiritual knowledge.
When they had arrived at their destination they were hungry and sat down to eat. It was during the meal that Jesus revealed Himself as Lord. In the breaking of bread which was part of Jesus' command at the last supper, they came to know him. The Greek word used here is epiginosko, which means to become fully acquainted with. This is what Holy Communion does for the believer. It brings us into full knowledge of Christ; His sufferings, His pain, His atonement, His substitutionary sacrifice, and His resurrection. Jesus said in John 6:33 that He was the bread that came down from heaven and gives life to the world and in verse 35 He says He is the bread of life. This is what He became for these two disciples through the breaking of bread. This is what He becomes for us when we receive Holy Communion.
After they realized it was Jesus, he immediately vanished from their presence. Once we see Jesus through the revelation of His Word and communion with Him , we don't need to have a visible manifestation of His presence. Our faith is our evidence (Hebrews 11:1) and obtains for us a greater blessing than believing because of a visible proof (John 20:29).
Pray: Heavenly Father, through the sacrifice of Your Son, I have redemption for my spirit, soul and body. I am complete in Him who died for me. Help me, Lord, to partake at Your table with full knowledge of Christ's sacrifice and the blessings allowed in my life through Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.
September 05, 2013
Ephesians 1:4 "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."
It is essential that every believer comprehends this act of being chosen by God (through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and savior) and that they have been chosen for a divinely inspired purpose ( DESTINY). You should realize that being "chosen" by God enables you to fulfill the unique plan for your life, without which you will remain aimless and without focus in your walk with Him.
We are reborn for mission! Paul goes on to list some of the blessings of being chosen by God:-
Redemption through the Blood of Jesus
Forgiveness of our sins
Lavish grace given as a gift to the children of God, along with godly wisdom and understanding
The making known of the mystery of God's will
Access to and outworking of the plans and purposes of God
A living hope in Christ
Our surrendered lives become a praise of His glory
Inclusion in Christ through the truth of the Gospel of salvation
Marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, guaranteeing our inheritance
What a glorious God, who not only chose us and sealed us with the Holy Spirit, but He who also blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ!
Give thanks to God for chosing you to do His kingdom work. Thank Him for empowering you through His Holy Spirit to be all you can be in Christ.
September 6, 2013
Genesis 20:11 ..Abraham said, "...surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will kill me on account of my wife."
Twice Abraham succumbed to his fear that a ruler would kill him and steal his wife (Gen. 12:11-20; 20:2-13). Fearing for his life, he deceived both Pharaoh and king Abimelech by saying, "She is my sister" in essence welcoming the king to take Sarah into his harem (20:2). With fear dictating his actions, he put at risk God's plan that through him and Sarah a great nation would arise (12:1-3). But before we judge Abraham, we should ask ourselves a few questions.
For fear of losing our job, would we compromise our integrity? For fear of appearing old-fashioned, would we set aside our values? For fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood, would we neglect sharing the gospel and put someone's eternity at risk? Only one thing will conquer our fears, tenacious faith in God's presence, protection, power, and promises.
If your fear is putting God's wonderful plans for you at risk, remember that He will never ask you to do anything He can't bring to completion, even if it requires miraculous intervention on His part."
It often helps in time of trial when fearful and alone,
to know that every doubt we feel
The greatest saints have known".
LET YOUR FAITH OVERCOME YOUR FEAR, AND GOD WILL TURN YOUR WORRY INTO WORSHIP.
This devotion is by Edeline Amolo
September 7, 2013
John 5:17..."But Jesus answered them, 'My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.' "
Jesus offered an odd retort to His critics in the controversary over observance of the Sabbath (vv. 16-17). Genesis 2:2-3 said that God "rested" from His work on the seventh day of creation and "sanctified" it, or set it apart as something special. Later, the thrid of the Ten Commandments made the seventh day a holy day, a Sabbath or day of rest in Israel (Ex. 20:8-11). Many Christians continue this practice today (on Sundays).
According to rabbinical legal traditions, the healed man was violating the Sabbath rest by carrying his bed (v. 10), as was Jesus by healing him on that day (v. 16). But Jesus said that even God "breaks" His own Sabbath by continuing to work (v. 17). Even though He has completed the Creation work, He continues to maintain it and provide for His creatures - even on Sundays. It is never wrong to do good.
God also carries out the work of salvation. And He uses people to help Him accomplish these tasks. Think what that means:
1. Work itself is inherently good. God worked to bring everything into existence, which means that work must be good in and of itself, since by definition, God can only do what is good. It also means work reflects the activity of God. The engineer who designs a bridge, the zoologist who studies animals, and the farmer who raises crops all carry out jobs that God did at the beginning of the world.
2, Your work is important; it matters. The work that God gives you has dignity in it. In fact, God created you "in His image" (Gen. 1:26-27). Just as He works, so He has created you to work. God gives you abilities and talents that allow you to partner with Him as a coworker to carry out His work. Jesus showed us what that work was while here on Earth. His work is to bring the Kingdom of God to earth through the work and ministry of His church (you).
3. There is no such thing as "secular" or "sacred" work. God certainly uses ministers and missionaries to meet spiritual and personal needs around the world. But they are not the only people doing "God's work." God is just as interested in the physical, emotional, intellectual, and other needs that people have. He also cares about the management of the earth itself. It takes many and varied skills, and all kinds of people, to do the work God wants done in the world.
4. You should do your work in a way that honors God. Your work has dignity; your are created in God's image as a worker; you're a coworker with God; you have God-given abilities to carry out important tasks that He wants done. All of this says that what you do for work and how you do it should bring glory to God. He should be pleased with it - and with you as you do it.
You should pray that God will grant you a fine sense of purpose to accomplish tasks which He has given you to move His kingdom forward; to fine tune your gifts and abilities to properly assist in your partnership with God in all His kingdom work.
September 8, 2013
John 6:44….”No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Do you stagger under a heavy load of expectation that you alone (or that you primarily) are responsible for bringing your friends and coworkers to faith? Do you feel guilty because you can’t get them converted? If so, you may be surprised to discover that not even Jesus felt that kind of load for the lost!
While explaining how people enter the kingdom, Jesus clearly declared that it is God the Father who draws them (v.44). That means that a person’s response to the gospel does not depend primarily on you or on Jesus. Elsewhere, Jesus taught that:
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“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (v.37).
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“No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (v.65)
Clearly, the responsibility for conversion ultimately belongs to the Father. Does that mean there is nothing we can do as followers of Christ to motivate others toward the Savior? Yes, we can give evidence of how God works in our lives as we grow. We can offer clear, truthful information about the gospel as we have opportunity. And we can invite and even urge others to believe.
But the ultimate responsibility for salvation in God’s, not ours. So relax! Live the faith, talk about it, and offer it to others. Never be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Let the dynamic of your conversation be from God, through the Holy Spirit, alone.
Pray that you will be ready and willing whenever God provides the opportunity for you to share the gospel. Pray that God will give you peace in the understanding of His purpose and design in all things, even salvation.
September 9, 2013
John 7:5…”For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”
If you ever feel discouraged because family, friends, or coworkers refuse to accept the gospel, you may take some comfort from the fact that even Jesus’ own brothers did not believe that He was the Christ (v.5). Even though they had seen His miracles and listened to His teaching, they still balked at the idea of placing faith in Jesus as the Son of God.
This is important to notice, because it shows that the person who hears the gospel bears responsibility for responding in faith, while the person who shares the gospel bears responsibility for communicating with faithfulness and truth. If we as believers ever start holding ourselves accountable for whether unbelieves accept or reject the message of Christ, we are headed for trouble!
That is not to suggest that we can be careless in our witness or ignore our credibility. Notice that Jesus’ brothers rejected Him in spite of His works and words. Is that true of us? Or do people dismiss our faith because our lives show little evidence that what we say we believe is true or that it makes any difference to us?
Are there times when being one of the boys intrude on your Biblical values and principles? Or, perhaps you don’t resist gossiping about someone when they are not present? These may seem slight in the grand scheme of things, but they definitely damage our witness, and show others that we don‘t take seriously our life in Christ.
Eventually, at least some of Jesus’ brothers did believe in Him. James, probably the oldest, became a leader in the church (Acts 15:13-21) and wrote the New Testament letter that bears his name. Likewise, the author of Jude may have been the half-brother of Jesus. Ultimately, both urged Christians to practice and defend their faith (James 2:2-26; Jude 3).
Pray that God will strengthen you in the inner soul to withstand the temptations to conform, allowing you to stand boldly for the faith that saved you and upholds you.
September 10, 2013
2 Chronicles 7:14….”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
This Scripture seems to be the mantra for calling up revival. And many times it seems that we are calling for sinners to repent and then we will have revival. That is not what this verse is saying. God is calling for” His people” to repent. Revival is not needed by the lost, but the saved. It is called revival because it is something that was had and needs to be renewed. Sinners don’t need “re” vival because they never had it in the first place. God expects “my people, which are called by my name” to bring revival by turning back to God.
There is not a country on earth that doesn’t need a revival of faith to move God’s kingdom forward. But, revival doesn’t start with a set day, week or month when we advertise for it. Revival is not hoopla and special guests from faraway places that come for a special time. Revival is not a famous singing group to lead praise and worship; neither is it a huge stadium that seats thousands with counselors in every seating section handing out literature and tracts.
Revival can start in only one place – the heart of the believer. When the first love is remembered; when the greatness of God on your behalf is remembered; when you recall from whence you have come – the sorry state you were in before salvation; then revival comes. (Rev. 2:5). When the fiery passion is renewed in your soul that was there before the world and its distractions pulled you away, then you will have revival. Individual revival is first – then community, city, state and nation will follow. The necessary ingredient for revival is always PRAYER.
Pray for God to renew the passion of your first love. Pray that you will no longer be distracted by the world and its lusts, but will return to the heart of God and to the works of the kingdom.
September 11, 2013
I Thessalonians 1:8…”And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere…”
This is how Paul applauds the church as Thessalonica, for they had taken the Gospel which he brought to them and used it to grow in their spiritual walk with God to the point that their faith was well established and known beyond their own boundaries. Can this also be said of you? Have you deflected all other enticements in order to let be known the power of the Gospel of Christ working in your life?
In no way can this be accomplished in you without the lively work of the Holy Spirit, building in you the love, mercy and peace of Christ, through which you can then reach out to others. This is how the gospel is spread: by the Word, and the revelation of the Word to each one individually.
"Revelation is the Word becoming real in our experience of God. We become the truth that God has revealed; consequently, people around us will see that truth whenever they encounter us.
Without the input of the Holy Spirit, we take truth from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Whereas, with Him in our life, we eat from the tree of life where relationship grows and we are radically changed.”*
Pray that God will excite you to the Word that is alive in you - that you may never doubt its active presence in your life, but to honor it in all you do and say, that Christ’s love and message of hope will be read by many whom you encounter.
*quote by Graham Cooke in “Permission Granted: To Do Church Differently in the 21st Century” by Graham Cooke and Gary Goodell.
September 22, 2013
Luke 6:5…. And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Is Jesus Lord of only the things we dedicate to Him, or is He lord of everything and everyone? Are some things more “sacred” than others?
To the Pharisees, the Sabbath day was so sacred that they could not accept Jesus and His friends gathering a handful of grain and eating it on that day (Luke 6:1). Jesus was violating their extreme view of the separation between rest and work. He added to their consternation by reminding them of King David who entered the temple and ate the ceremonial showbread (Luke 6:3-4, Sam 21:1-6).
Jesus was not only challenging the Pharisees’ view of holiness, He was establishing Himself as the Lord of the Sabbath, and in fact of all creation (Col. 1:15-18). As Lord, He was free to determine what was permissible on the Sabbath day of rest. More importantly, as Lord He will not be boxed in by people’s categories of “sacred” and “secular”. He is Lord of all.
In what areas of life do we try to keep Jesus from being Lord? How do we try to limit His authority in order to preserve our own views and further our own interests? Do we ignore what He says in His Word, because it doesn’t fit into our lifestyle choices? When we give our lives to Jesus that is exactly what we DO. We give our lives, entirely. We make Him Lord over everything. That means He is Lord over our jobs, our family, our recreation, our finances, and our choices.
Pray that Jesus will take His place in you as Lord of everything. That you will resist holding back anything from His Lordship, In Jesus’ name.
October 14, 2013
Acts 23:1...Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."
The foundation of a believer's witness must be honesty. If we can be open with God about our own sinfulness and our continuing struggle with sin (Romans 7:14-8:1), we won't be prone to mislead others about sin and faith. God knows we aren't sinless and He calls us to be honest (1 John 1:8)
As Paul stood before the hostile Jewish council, he could honestly declare that he had a clear conscience. He said the same thing later when he and his accusers appeared before Governor Felix (Acts 24:16). That gave him tremendous freedom and boldness, even though his powerful opponents were hostile and wrong.
Honesty and a clear conscience are not the same as perfection. Paul was by no means perfect, just honest about his failures. He apologized, for example, after lashing out in anger (Acts 23:5). But he was real. He didn't cover up in an attempt to look good as a Christian witness.
Jesus does not ask us to project an impossibly perfect image. That would be a lie. Instead, He challenges us to admit our failures. He also delights in forgiving us when we do (1 John 1:9). If we can be honest about ourselves with others, it can give them hope for their own failings and turn them toward our gracious God.
One of the major objections to church is that it is full of hypocrites. Does this judgment come from actions in the church; no. It comes from actions outside of the church. When a non-Christian, or a non-church going Christian sees dishonesty in actions or words by those who are in church every Sunday and may even perform duties like ushering, or singing in the choir, or teaching Sunday School, the image of the church is stained and that person may never come to a place of repentance and trust in Jesus based on the objection of hypocrisy.
Some may not even come to faith in Christ because they see that the high and narrow rode as too difficult so they might as well not even start. Our dishonesty in not accepting our own fallen state and ignorance of secured Holy Spirit help in performing even the simplest daily task to honor God is a poor witness.
Pray that God will convict you in areas of weakness so that in all things you may possess the deep desire for honesty and integrity in your walk with Christ so that, thereby, your witness may be pure in demonstrating the secure hope to which you have been called.
October 15, 2013
Luke 24:11..."And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them."
In this passage of Luke's Gospel we see the response of the disciples,( men), to the reports of the women who had first discovered the tomb of Jesus to be empty and had heard the report of the angels that He had risen. Unfortunately, the discounting of women by men is a pattern that has persisted throughout history, and although not as prevalent in Western society, is still prominent in many Eastern countries.
Jesus' male disciples found it easy to dismiss Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, and the other women when they brought their report. In fact, in Biblical times a woman's testimony carried no weight in a court of law.
Their news should have been encouraging, given the confusion that dominated the group after their Master's cruel death. But the men rejected the words of these women. It didn't seem to matter that...
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the women had followed Jesus just as closely as they had and in fact...
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had stood by Him through His ordeal rather than betray Him as Judas had,
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or deny Him as Peter had done,
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or run away in fear as all the men had done.
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And, hadn't Jesus chosen these women to be the first apostles of the good news?
Male skepticism of women's testimony raises questions about the masculine mind. Why are some men so insecure that they must exalt themselves over the other sex to feel significant? Can true companionship survive that kind of distrust? Sooner or later, men can expect to pay for that kind of abuse, especially since both male and female are created in God's image and vested with authority and responsibility together (Gen. 1:26-31; 2:18-25)
We men should be growing in our appreciation of women as God's creation? We should esteem the women God brings across our path, whether in the workplace, in church, and especially in the home (Eph. 5:25-29).
Men, ask yourself if you can ever picture yourself doing what Mary, the sister of Martha, did in Luke 10:38-42; she sat at Jesus' feet, just listening to Him - or do you think this is just a female response? Are you learning to listen to the women in your life, to partner with them, and even follow their lead toward godliness?
Pray God will enlighten you to the value and importance of the women in your life. Let Him show you how to honor them as He does.
October 16, 2013
John 4:11...She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?...."
"The well is deep"---and a great deal deeper than the Samaritan women knew. Think of the depths of human nature, of human life, think of the depths of the "wells" in you. Have you been disallowing the ministry of Jesus so that He cannot do anything? Suppose there is a well of fathomless trouble inside your heart, and Jesus comes and says to you, "Do not let your heart be troubled"; and you shrug it off and say, "But, Lord, the well is deep; You cannot draw up quietness and comfort out of it." No, He will bring them down from above. Jesus does not bring anything up from the wells of human nature. We limit God by relying immeasurably on our own "drawn-up" faith and not His faith in us. God will only do what we allow Him to do. We limit Him by remembering what we have allowed Him to do in the past and then thinking He cannot do this new thing in the same manner, thus limiting God’s freedom of action in our lives. We impoverish His ministry the moment we forget He is Almighty: the impoverishment is in us, not Him. We will often come to Jesus as Comforter or as Sympathizer, but will we come to Him as Almighty?
The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ. When we get into difficult circumstances we impoverish His ministry by trying to draw up the water for ourselves instead of relying on His living water that should flow out of us in abundance. Remember that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ and in Him we have been made complete (Col. 2:9-10).
Yes, our wells of trouble may be deep, but the living water flows from His completeness to fill up our incompleteness.
Oh, that I may learn to draw only from His unlimited well of supply. God grant me this I pray.
October 17, 2013
Ephesians 2:2 ..”in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” |
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A major characteristic of the human spirit is that it is habitually self-centered rather than God-centered. A simple example illustrates how it became this way. In Genesis 1:31 God takes satisfaction in all He had made, declaring it "very good." Included in this is Adam and Eve's nature, as they were already created by this time.
Thus, at the beginning, mankind's nature was not corrupted by contact with this world. Genesis 3 records the episode of their confrontation with Satan that began the evil transformation of their basic nature. God did not create their nature as evil, but it became evil through the influence of another spirit that they chose to follow without any intervention from their Creator.
The same process continues to this day, as each of us is born into this world and comes under the influence of the same spirit that influenced Adam and Eve to turn from God. We are all born with a pull toward self. It is a converted parent's responsibility to God and to his children to ensure the right spirit dominates his home so the children can be properly nurtured.
People in the world understand this to some extent when they observe with maxims like, "The apple doesn't fall very far from the tree," "Like father, like son," or "Like mother, like daughter." This world's Christians, to avoid responsibility for their evil, have blamed God for creating us this way. But God did not make us this way. Mankind, represented by Adam and Eve, chose to become this way, and all of their descendants, including us, have chosen the same path under the influence of the same evil spirit who offered Adam and Eve the choice. This accounts for the course of this world.
Jeremiah 17:9 shows us how evil God judges the source of our unconverted motivations to be: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" The Revised Standard Version translates this as, "The natural heart of man is desperately corrupt; incurably sick." It is so bad, so evil; it cannot be salvaged by repairing it! It must be completely replaced. This is what the conversion process - our calling, repentance, justification, and sanctification - accomplishes.
We need to understand more completely why this aspect of God's command to flee Babylon is so important. We can be easily deceived about it, misunderstanding why God says the human heart is incurably sick. In Luke 11:13, Jesus makes an easily overlooked comment: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" The way He says this implies that those before Him were thoroughly, not partly, evil.
He flat out calls them evil! There is no equivocation, no modification of this verse in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus Himself was called "good" in Matthew 19:16, but He immediately corrects the speaker, saying, "No one is good but One, that is, God." This is God's assessment of human nature, not man's.
Jesus is saying that, just because human nature knows how to and actually does some good things, it does not alter the fact that it is still incurably evil. Our pride tends to blunt God's assessment, rising to defend us from the condemnation of what we are compared to, the standard - God.
Only God can create a perfect heart. That is what He has done when you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Your heart, though perfect, may still be subject to the unregenerate mind within you, that is why you must continually renew your mind to the mind of Christ. This renewal process is ongoing and exciting. Pray that God hold you up to view this mind of Christ which is being developed in you. In that way you will have this vision that will drive your salvation forward to complete perfection.
October 18, 2013
2 Corinthians 12:15...And I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls. If I love you the more, am I to be loved the less?
When the Spirit of God has poured out the love of God into our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ's interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of person there is. We have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life down for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only -- that he might win others to Jesus Christ. Paul always attracted himself to Jesus Christ, never to himself. He said "I have become all things to all men so that by some means I might win some." (1 Corinthians 9:22)
It is not for me to develop a holy life alone with God, for I would be no further use to others. The people I meet in my everyday walk would have no benefit without my ability to see them as Jesus does. Paul became a sacramental personality; wherever he went, Jesus Christ helped Himself to his life. Unfortunately, many of us are after our own ends, and Jesus Christ cannot help Himself to our lives. If we are abandoned to Jesus, we have no ends of our own to serve. Paul said he knew how to be a "doormat" without resenting it, because the central focus of his life was devotion to Jesus. We are apt to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to that which will emancipate us spiritually. That was not Paul's motive. He stated in Romans 9:3, "I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers" ---do you think this a wildly extravagant statement? When a man is in love it is not an exaggeration to talk in this manner, and Paul is in love with Jesus Christ.
Does your love for Christ extend to the absolutely lowest person you can see. Would you be willing to fetch home the smelliest, rag-tag, gutter-dweller from the local skid-row to enjoy a family meal and a hot bath? Would you also be able to share the love of Jesus with a headstrong, pompous, deacon who is proud of his position and condemns yours? These are the tests a lover of Christ must be willing to endure and to pass.
Pray that your love for Christ be deliberately and purposefully extended to everyone you meet and that by doing so you may win some to Him.
October 19, 2013
Mark 14:6..."She has done a beautiful thing to me"
Jesus spoke these words about Mary, the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. He was touched by her love and devotion. All of the Gospels record an account of Mary's devotion. In Luke 10:38-42 she chooses the better thing by sitting at Jesus feet, listening. In John 11:32 she fell at his feet again, this time because she was broken over the death of her brother. In Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8 she anoints Jesus with expensive fragrant oil.
Mary displays her great capacity for love. On each of these occasions, this quiet woman was criticized by others. But apparently she didn't notice or didn't care. Mary seemed to be a woman who made choices based on her love and commitment to Jesus that went to the very core of her being. This is love that carries you beyond yourself. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but is has not the true nature of love in it.
Have you ever been carried away to do something for God not because it was your duty, or because it was useful, or because there was anything in it at all beyond the fact that you love Him? Have you ever realized you can bring something of value to God simply because of your all-consuming love for and sweeping devotion to Him. Not great and mighty things which could be called marvelous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that you are abandoned to Him? Have you ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced?
Abandonment to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses our attention on our own rightness; we are greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, fearful that we might offend Him. Perfect love devours our own rightness and completes our abandonment to God. We have to stop wondering if we are any use to God. We need to settle the question in our minds that we are not, and we may then be nearer the truth. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time. Rest in that revelation and you will be useful in His Kingdom.
Pray for total abandonment to God. It is your choice to be so involved, but it is God’s power to develop this attitude in you. Be a willing vessel for God to use that in no way involves you but only God working through you.
October 20, 2013
Matthew 25:15... Jesus speaking, "And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey."
Jesus said, in this parable, that not all the servants were given the same amount of talents. But, each was given according to his abilities.
What strikes me here is that God knows our hearts. He knows of what we are capable and to what extent He can trust us. How does He know this - besides just being God?
He has seen what we have done with the talents with which He has entrusted us. When we are entrusted with the Word (a gift from God), to what use have we put it? Has the word prospered in our life? Have we used the word as God intended? Have we limited God by not diligently seeking Him in the Word?
If we are trustworthy in small things, God will entrust us with bigger things. Some of the great men and women of God have been entrusted with much because in small things they were found trustworthy.
There are others who wanted to be entrusted with much but were passed over by God because they were not trustworthy in small things.
The servant entrusted with only one talent was not trustworthy in small things in the past, so his master knew that he would not grow his talents so the master would lose little by entrusting this servant with little.
Are you willing to do more for God, and use whatever He has placed in your hands to further His kingdom. Your willingness is only evident by your degree of faith and knowledge of Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Let God's word be your lamp that guides you to more of Him. Do not shun the little things He asked you to do, and don't expect the big things until you have done the small ones.
October 21, 2013
John 15:11...Jesus speaking, "That my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
Did you ever wonder what was the joy that Jesus had? It may be an insult to use the word happiness in connection with Jesus Christ. The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and self-sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do. Jesus prayed that our joy might go on fulfilling itself until it was the same joy as His. So, I ask myself, have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy to me?
The completeness of my life is not in bodily health, not in external happenings, not in seeing God's work succeed, but in the perfect understanding of God, and in the communion with Him that Jesus Himself had. The first thing that will hinder this joy is the daily distractions and irritants of circumstances. The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God's word (Mark 4;18-19). Before we know it we are caught up in our circumstances and incapable of attaching ourselves to His joy.
But, being rightly related to God, being in constant communion with Him at the threshold of His heart, then stepping into that living peace and sheltered place where all joy abounds and flows like rivers of living water, will keep us above what distracts.
Pray that you will be a center for Jesus Christ to pour living water through; that you will cease to be self-conscious and self-righteous and live the life hidden in Christ. Living a life rightly related to God is as natural as breathing when you give all your substance to the will of the Holy Spirit, which is God's gift to you for this purpose.
October 22, 2013
Jeremiah 31:33… "I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts…" |
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October 23, 2013
Matthew 6:33... Jesus speaking.."But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."
In the preceding verses Jesus mentions basic needs after which everyone seeks. Then He says that your heavenly Father knows your needs. This may seem obvious to a modern believer, but not to the Jewish believer of antiquity. Before Jesus began his ministry God was not perceived as Father. That was an intimate term that was actually too informal to use for the Creator and protector of Israel. Jesus was bringing a new concept of God. But this concept would not be completely realized until the new covenant was initiated at the cross. Now, Jesus is telling the Jews that all their needs can be met if they would just do two things: Seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God. Of course this instruction is for the gentiles (us) also.
This is a very familiar verse and we have heard it and said it dozens of times, and even sung it in a popular chorus made famous in the charismatic movement.
But, how does one seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Well, it starts at the cross.
It is at the cross that our self-will dies, and our spirit is reborn. It is at the cross that God imputes righteousness to us, His righteousness. We then must remain within the shadow of the cross in order for the kingdom to prosper within us. We must focus more on things above than things of earth. When we let the distractions of need and want sway our thinking we can no longer be useful in the kingdom. However, when we keep our focus daily on the cross our self-will is not capable of its distracting influences.
So, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Keep your focus on Him and His sacrificial love. Let your spirit soar to new heights as His Kingdom shines within you and His righteousness empowers you to the daily adventure of living out your salvation.
October 24, 2013
Luke 22:46…"Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."
Temptations are all around us every day. They exist in the workplace, in places of entertainment, in the home, and even in our churches. Temptation is tough. It’s a test. It’s an enticement to do wrong. It may involve great pleasure, a chance to escape risk, or illegitimate gain. Whatever the offering, it is usually very attractive.
But Scripture calls giving into tempting opportunities sin. It even warns us that repeatedly giving way to temptation can result in falling away permanently with a total loss of interest in returning to God (Heb. 6:6-8). Clearly we need God’s strength and wisdom to flee (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11).
As Jesus and His closest companions faced great danger, they were afraid and tired (vv. 42-45). Jesus knew how vulnerable and confused that condition can make a person. He urged His followers to join Him in prayer so that they would not fall into temptation. They could not face the trials to come without new strength from God.
Earlier Jesus had taught His followers to ask the Father not to lead them into temptation (Matt. 6:13). There is no sin in being tempted. In fact, temptation is a sign that our spiritual lives are strong enough to recognize values that conflict with godliness. But giving in is sin. That is why it is crucial to take time to declare to God our weakness, weariness, and need for help in the midst of testing.
It is often helpful to have others pray with us. That is what Jesus needed in the dark hour before his trial began. Jesus wanted his closest companions to act as prayer partners to help strengthen his resolve to proceed with the Father’s plan.
It is important for us to have prayer partners that can help us pray through to victory. Do you have someone who can pray with you in your hours of deepest need? Are you available when others need you? Pray that God will make you sensitive to the needs of others. Be a willing aide in prayer to bring strength to others when needed.
October 25, 2013
Matthew 19:16...."Now, behold, one came and said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life.' "
This is the question posed by a rich young man who had kept all the commandments from his youth (childhood) and now desired to know what else he should do. In his world one worked for acceptance. He wanted eternal life, but he needed to know what else he must "do". Jesus wanted to demonstrate that in his philosophy of works there will always be one more thing to do. He did this by telling the rich man that he must sell what he has and give to the poor, then he may follow Him. However, the young man had great possessions and could not bring himself to do what Jesus asked.
Now compare this encounter with the rich young man to that of Matthew, the tax collector in chapter 9 verses 9-13. These two incidents contain sharp contrasts. The rich man would seem to be a more likely candidate to join Jesus' burgeoning movement. Yet despite the young ruler's apparent edge, it was Matthew who ended up following Jesus, while the rich man went away sorrowful. What accounts for the difference? For one thing the wealthy young man clearly perceived himself as already righteous (19:17-20) He felt that he was able to meet God's standards on his own merits. But no one had to convince Matthew of his need for salvation. As a tax collector, he was among the most despised members of Jewish society.
Yet there was a more fundamental difference between these two men, a difference that depended on Jesus' attitude more than on theirs. His words to the Pharisees explained the matter clearly, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance". (verse 13).
In calling Matthew but turning away the rich young man, Jesus demonstrated that salvation depends on the mercy of God, not on the merits or sacrifice of people.
There are many today who still fall into the trap of trying to capture God's love and mercy through their works. Good works are necessary for the authentic believer who is constantly moved by the love of God within. However, many are working because it is expected, or for man's praise, or for selfish motives that really will negate anything God can do. Check your motives today. Pure motives come from a pure heart, one that was recreated by God at the cross. Trust in God's work and not your own.
Pray that your motives be pure; that your heart, which was recreated at the cross of Christ, brings you to trust in God’s work and not your own.
October 26, 2013
John 18:25......”Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you?’ He denied it, and said, ‘I am not.’ "
This was the first of three times when Peter would deny his association with Jesus. Jesus had prophesied Peter’s denials. Jesus knew that the only power in Peter at this time was his own faulty power for self-protection. It would be a while yet before Peter would be filled with a power not his own.
Compare this portrait of Peter to the Peter who stood outside the place where the Holy Spirit had filled all who were present, and boldly proclaimed the power of the Holy Spirit and giving testimony. He later withstood beatings, persecution, imprisonment and finally physical death, not through his own power, but the power of the Holy Spirit.
Look at Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned for giving testimony from Scripture about Jesus. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and saw the heavens opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:56). And before he died he even asked the Lord not to hold this sin against his assailants (Acts 7:60).
Remember who stood in approval at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). It was Saul, a Pharisee, whose mission it was to seek out all followers of Jesus to imprison them (Acts 8:3).
Compare this man, Saul, with the Paul (the name given him by God) who was beaten and thrown into prison along with Silas for proclaiming the name of Jesus. There in the damp and rat infested prison secured by stocks, not knowing what fate awaited them they began to worship God. They did not have instruments. There was no worship leader, they were not accomplished singers, but from their innermost spirit, joined by the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, they worshiped. This is real power. When circumstances are their bleakest, your inner man rises up to worship the living God. Paul's most encouraging letter, Philippians, was written from prison.
The early church could not have survived the first two centuries without the power of the Holy Spirit. That same power is available today to every believer. It is not a power that you can manufacture from within yourself. It is a power that is given as a precious gift from a Father who loves you. The Holy Spirit abides with every authentic Christian to empower their witness, to administer special gifts for the building up of the body of Christ, and to strengthen in difficult times so faith will not waiver.
For further study on the Holy Spirit, see "The Positive Ministry of the Holy Spirit" under the Bible Study tab.
October 27, 2013
Romans 8:2 ... “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
This passage of scripture contrasts two different laws, both established by God. The law of sin and death was established through the flesh, but the law of the Spirit was established through the Holy Spirit. For thousands of years man had failed to keep the law. Man could never establish righteousness in himself before a holy God. But, through God's abundant grace, a new law was established. This law, established by the Holy Spirit, offered new life, and that life is in Christ Jesus.
In chapter 7 of Romans you will see a description of the hopelessness of attempting to overcome the law of sin and death in your own ability or holiness. But Romans 8, and specifically this verse, brings you the good news that what could not be done by human effort has been done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christians are no longer slaves to the law of sin and death.
According to Romans 6:23, death is the wages of sin. Therefore, this phrase, "the law of sin and death," is referring to the influence of sin and the resulting wages of that sin. Another way of saying this is that we receive death instead of life, or, we receive the curse instead of the blessing.
I am sure you have heard about Deuteronomy 28. Every Law preaching preacher refers to this to explain what Christians can expect upon disobeying the laws of Moses. De. 28:1-14 lists the blessings that come if we keep the whole Law. De. 28:15-68 lists all the curses that come as the wages of not keeping the Law. Because the law of the Spirit of life has set us free from the law of sin and death, we no longer reap the curses of vss. 15-68, even though we haven't kept every precept of the Law. Christ redeemed us from these curses of the Law. Galatians 3:13 says....Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE."
Not only have we been redeemed from the curses of De. 28:15-68, but also, through Jesus, we have the righteousness of the Law fulfilled in us so that the blessings of De. 28:1-14 are now ours. So, through Christ, we receive what we don't deserve (the blessings), which is through grace, and we don't receive what we do deserve (the curses) which is through God's mercy.
We have a merciful God who has withheld the punishment we do deserve, and a God full of grace, who has made us righteous in Him, which we don't deserve. Of course, this can only be true for the one who has sought forgiveness and accepted the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Grace and mercy is only a prayer away.
Pray for intimate knowledge of God’s amazing grace to move you into a position of power through the Law of the Spirit.
October 28, 2013
Romans 8:4..."That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit."
Paul is preparing the believers in Rome for an extremely important expository about life in the Spirit in this chapter. This verse is saying that through the sacrificial death of Jesus, we can now fulfill the righteousness of the Law. There are two ways that we need to understand this.
First, the righteousness of the Law is now fulfilled in our new, born-again spirits. Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matt. 5:17) and has given us His righteousness. Every believer's spirit is righteous and truly holy. We have the power within us by the Holy Spirit to live this holy life even though we may not keep every detail of the Law.
That brings me to the second point. Through the Holy Spirit, we are now empowered to live, outwardly in our actions, the holy lives that the Law demanded but we were unable to do in our own strength. That was what Paul was referring to when he said, "Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." It needs to be pointed out that although as Spirit-filled believers, we will live holy lives, we will never keep the law completely. That could not be done before salvation, and it cannot be done after salvation.
Looking at Luke 1:6 you will see the description of Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of John the Baptist, as being," righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." They were both righteous and blameless before the Lord, but not sinless. So the righteousness of the Law can be fulfilled without keeping every commandment.
The purpose of the Law was to make us despair of saving ourselves and to point us to a Savior. When we come to faith in Jesus as our Savior, we are fulfilling the purpose of the Law. So this verse is speaking of us as believers being empowered to live holy lives, but fulfilling the righteousness of the Law is not the same as keeping every detail of the Law
Therefore, all Christians have fulfilled the righteousness of the Law in their spiritual man through Jesus. But only those Christians who are under the control of the Spirit of God are fulfilling the spirit of the Law in their actions.
Walking after the Spirit should be seen in light of the original Greek word for "walk" which is "PERIPATEO" and it means to "tread all around, i.e. walk at large...figuratively, live, deport oneself, follow" (Strong's Concordance). The Dictionary defines it as "to conduct oneself in a particular manner." So, you see we have the power, as believers, to conduct ourselves according to the leading of the Spirit, and not to live lives catering to every whim and desire of the flesh.
Prepare yourselves, then, each day to follow the Holy Spirit's lead in everything you do. Desire His empowerment. Seek out His wisdom in your daily affairs, and do not resist conviction when it comes. He should be your closest friend, ally, counselor and companion.
October 29, 2013
Romans 6:4….” Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” |
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Romans 6:4 restates the reason for our being admitted into God's presence: Our altered standing before God enables us to walk in newness of life so we can be conformed to the image of His Son.
Walking requires effort, the expending of energy, to arrive at a desired destination. Are any works involved in the salvation process? "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). These works most assuredly do not earn salvation, but at the same time, God requires them. In fact, this verse says we are being created for the very purpose of doing them! Such works are covered within the general term "walk."
Besides requiring effort, walking implies a destination, a goal. When a person walks, he is moving purposefully to accomplish something regardless of whether it is to flip a light switch, shop at a store, get some exercise, or go to work or school. God requires that we "walk in newness of life." It is our God-appointed goal in life and the reason He invites us into His presence. Our lives cannot consist of aimless drifting; we are headed somewhere, even as Israel's goal was the Promised Land.
Christianity is a way involving far more walking than talking. It requires effort, and most scriptures imply that the walking is voluntary. It must be this way because, most of the time when we walk, it is because we have made a voluntary decision to move from one point to another. In God's purpose, it is the only way to make the mind, nature, and character of Christ truly ours.
The last, brief phrase of Romans 6:4 contains a great deal about life's overriding purpose. In a broad sense, it is what life after conversion is all about. It is awakening to the reality of our spiritual slavery and responsibilities through God's calling, followed by a change of mind toward Him and a spiritual death, burial, and resurrection so we might walk in conformity to Christ into God's Kingdom.
God allows the sacrifice of Christ to take the place of the claim He has on us to restore us to fellowship with Him, which is absolutely essential in providing us the strength, motivation, and gifts—whatever it takes—to complete the walk successfully. Mankind has never enjoyed this; it has not had contact with God since He cut humanity off by putting Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden.
This walking in newness of life is how going on to perfection is accomplished (Hebrews 6:1). God alters our standing with Him legally, graciously, and with generosity and kindness so we can fellowship with Him through prayer, Bible study, fasting, meditation, and obedience. God's spiritual creation requires our participation. It cannot be impressed upon us; we must consciously make decisions to take that walk.
Pray to God to thank Him for bringing you into newness of life with Him. Insist that you walk toward the goal of Christlikeness, so that you and the Father are one as Christ and the Father are one.
October 30, 2013
James 4:1-2…”Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask God.”
The conflicts in families actually derive from one main source; selfish desire. You want them to be like you want them to be. Over and over again you may have the same argument or conflict because things are not the way you want them to be; If only he would do this, or say this; if only she would not do this, or want this; if only my son would listen to me. Everything stems from what you want. And you are convinced that what you want is good for them. Why can’t they see it your way?
James even uses a little hyperbole here and calls what you do to cause conflict as murder. That is because it does not come from a heart of love, but from a selfish heart that desires its own way.
But, before the conflict starts; before you write that scathing note and post it to the frig; before you demand this or that from your spouse or your children; before you insist they change to meet your criteria, did you ever stop to ask God? Did you ever fall upon your knees and unload your frustrations on God; saying God you know my husband should not watch so much football, or go hunting so much, he spends all his time with his buddies? What about my needs? Or, you might say, God why can’t my daughter realize that her boyfriend is a jerk, sure you made him, but maybe you weren’t paying attention that day?
You might forget that the next vs. in the book of James (4:2) says you ask but do not receive because you ask amiss. In other words your selfish desires invade your prayer time. If you were to pray with a heart after God, you might hear Him when He answers you; because He might just remind you of the things He desires from you that you aren’t willing to give Him. When you tell Him what your spouse is not doing to please you, He will remind you of what you are not doing to please Him.
Pray that your motives in everything you do and say might be pure and have the stamp of God upon them. Always put others above yourself; own the conflicts and admit your own culpability, then ask God to show you your own weaknesses and how much He loves you and your family.
October 31, 2012
John 3:16... "God so loved the world that he gave...."
What do you think salvation is; deliverance from sin; the experience of personal holiness. It is much more. The salvation of God is deliverance out of self entirely into union with Himself. Your experience with salvation may be the forgiveness of sins and of personal holiness; but salvation means that the Spirit of God has brought you in touch with God's personality, and you are thrilled with something infinitely greater than yourself. In other words you are caught up into the abandonment of God.
You must realize what John 3:16 means in the life of the believer. God gave Himself absolutely. Can we do any less? Most of our prayers are for things we want God to give to us or someone else. This demonstrates a lack of abandonment to God. When we offer to give to God instead of making requests of God, we will be closer to complete abandonment. What can you offer to God today? Will you offer your time, your finances, your talents? Will you abandon your self-interests? When God shows you your faults will you humble yourself before Him, or will you let pride rise up to deny? As a radical believer you must always desire first to please God, not man. When you are despised by the world, you are closer to complete abandonment.
Abandonment must be to give yourself over to God just as God gave Himself for you. And you must do so without calculation. The consequences of abandonment should never enter into your outlook because your life is completely taken up with Him. In other words, will you do it only for the blessings? What if you experience only suffering; will you still desire to do so? Many times the abandoned life means an abundance of intrinsic blessings, but little of the extrinsic. Is walking in the Peace of God of greater value to you than comfort?
Let us pray that God grant us the heart to give all we are, have, and will become to God so that in His hands we can rest in joy and comfort.
November 1, 2013
Mark 10:28-30….”Peter said to Jesus, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’ "
What have you left to follow Christ? For some that is a major sticking point. Some would follow Christ, but they don’t see it worth what they have to give up. We all have something for which we fell immensely attached; for some that is alcohol, for others it may be a perverted life-style (of course the perversion may not be apparent to the person in that life-style), or perhaps it is money or some other form of treasure with which you identify. It is difficult to change your identity, but that is what is required when you follow Christ.
The standard argument,” I was created this way,” is a lie from the meanest enemy we have, Satan. God did not create you to be an alcoholic, homosexual, blasphemer, adulterer, liar, cheat, thief, or even a murderer. These characteristics are developed from choices we make every day. Over time those choices become character traits that shut out the real purpose God has for our lives. But like Peter, you can choose to leave all of that behind to follow Jesus. And what do you get in return? Jesus answered that question in the next two verses, Mark 10:29-30…
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.”
You will never know the absolute joy of following Jesus until you make the absolute commitment to do so. The greatest adventure of your life may still be waiting ahead of you. But without giving up yourself, you will never know it.
When Paul asked that the “thorn in the flesh” be removed, God answered that His grace was sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). Wow what a promise. God’s grace is sufficient for all of our needs, whether they be temptations, sufferings, persecutions, etc. There is nothing greater than the Grace of God.
Pray that the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit will lead you into an absolute commitment to walk not after your own will, but the will of God. Ask God to show you your identity in Christ; what you would be like as a committed believer.
November 02, 2013
Romans 6:16...."you are slaves of the one whom you obey"
The first thing I need to do in examining the power that dominates me is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that I am responsible for being so dominated. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because at some point I decided to yield to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because I have yielded myself to Him.
Once we discovered how pleasant it can be to yield to self and its passions and desires, we formed that disposition in ourselves, and we are hard pressed to alter that disposition through our own power. Try as we might in subtle ways we yield nonetheless.
Yield for one second to anything in the nature of lust and you find that once yielded you are captive and a slave to that thing, even though you hate yourself for it. There is no release in human power at all but only in Redemption. You must yield yourself in utter humiliation to the only One who can break the dominating power----Jesus Christ. He said He was anointed to proclaim freedom for the captives (Luke 4:18).
You find this out in the most ridiculously small ways---"Oh, I can give up that habit anytime I like." You cannot, you will find that the habit absolutely dominates you because you yielded to it willingly. I am not saying that there is no hope for those addicted to one thing or another. Their only hope lies in the yielding of oneself to Jesus. This yielding must be intentional and worked out through the power of the Holy Spirit which is alive in every believer. No believer should ever be in bondage to anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ.
Release your soul to Him today. Your spirit is already in touch with His Spirit. Now, renew your mind to the mind of Christ. Your proper avenue is the well-traveled road of His Word. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Eat, sleep, breath the Word. Your deliverance is at hand.
November 03, 2013
Mark 4:34 .."But when he was alone with His own disciples, he explained everything."
Jesus does not take us alone and expound things to us all the time; He expounds things to us as we can understand them. It is slow work, so slow that it takes God all time and eternity to make a man and a woman after His own purpose. The only way we can be of use to God is to let Him take us through the crooks and crannies of our own characters. It is amazing how ignorant we are about ourselves. We do not perceive envy when we see it, or laziness, or pride. Jesus reveals to us all that we have been harboring before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look in with courage?
The Psalmist asks in Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
He knew the thing needed to follow after God was to be cleansed completely and continually. This is what was done for us on the cross. Jesus opened up the way everlasting, by cleansing us from all wickedness in our spirits and pointing the way to continual cleansing through the renewing of our mind to His (1 Cor.2:16).
We have to get rid of the idea that we understand ourselves; it is the last conceit to go. The only one who understands us is God. The greatest curse in spiritual life is conceit. We need the courage of the Psalmist to get alone with God and let him show us where we are lacking. We must be truly humble in our souls and know that we are unworthy, and when we are so humbled God is able to expound things to us that we must know in order to be of use to His kingdom plan. He will take us through the pride of intellect, through lust, envy , jealousy, greed and all things that our sin nature was heir to.
We listen to preachers and teachers expound the Word, but our minds are clouded with our own impediments. But, when God is free to get us alone, He will show us all we need to know, and remove all we willingly give up to Him.
Be willing to approach God with a humble and contrite spirit. Then, sit alone with Him and listen.
November 04, 2013
John 16:33..."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Do you experience joy and happiness in direct proportion to your circumstances? When everything is going just the way you want, you are happy and joyful. But, when things are not going well; when you’re sick, or broke, or persecuted, or unloved, or depressed, what happens then to your joy and happiness? When you let bad circumstances produce depression and sorrow, while good circumstances produce joy and peace, that is bondage, and should not be the case for a Christian. Our joy is not dependent on people or things, but rather on the person of Jesus Christ. He is our peace and joy.
The way we take advantage of this joy and peace in the midst of tribulation, is to have our minds and hearts focused on things above and not on things of this earth. The invisible things of God are eternal while the visible problems on earth are only temporary. All the problems of this life grow very dim when we compare them to the glory of God that is ours through Jesus.
We can rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4) because rejoicing is an action, not a reaction to our environment. Joy is a gift from God that was given to us at salvation. It was placed within our born-again spirit and it doesn't fluctuate or diminish; it is constant. The Lord has put the joy inside us and we are to "work it out" by choosing to obey this command in scripture.
We are commanded to rejoice "IN THE LORD". Many people are not experiencing true joy because their joy is in their circumstances. That is, they are waiting to rejoice when things in their lives are going well, and that doesn't happen very often. We are supposed to "rejoice in the Lord always." That means we are supposed to rejoice in whom the Lord is and what He has done for us. He never changes (Heb. 13:8), and His mercies and compassions are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23).
Don't let the enemy of your soul (Satan) steel your joy through his lies and deceptions. When tribulations come keep your focus on Jesus-----
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS,
LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE,
AND THE THINGS OF EARTH WILL GROW
STRANGELY DIM,
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.
November 9, 2013
Matthew 26:75… And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “ Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
There are several Greek words used for “word”. The Greek word used here is RHEMA and it literally means, “a spoken word; an utterance, a saying, but specifically a spoken word appropriate for the situation.” It is not the Bible lying on your coffee table that makes the enemy flee, but the Word of God hidden in your heart, activated by the power of the Holy Spirit, and spoken in the appropriate situation. It is similar to what Jesus says in John 6:63, that “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”
The words that we speak from the written Word of God are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Word by itself doesn’t make us free. It is the Word we know and speak that will deliver us (John 8:32)
Why is the Word so effective? Because it is the WORD of God - It has authority. God’s Word supersedes all authority of the church, of reason, of intellect, and even of Satan. That is why it is so effective.
In Luke, chapter four, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days in the wilderness, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy at His temptation.
Jesus constantly met His temptation by quoting from God’s Word as He repeatedly stated the phrase, “It is written.” Likewise, the Christian soldier must avail himself of God’s Word by placing it in his heart so that the Holy Spirit may bring it forth at the appropriate time to accomplish a complete and total victory. Soldiers never go into battle without proper training. So, the Christian soldier must be trained in the Word to withstand all the assaults of Satan. Neglect not this training. It is the most important thing you can do.
Thank God for His Word because the Word holds the truths of life and the power to defeat the enemy. Pray that God build in you an insatiable hunger for the Word, so that you are never full, but always requiring more.
November 10, 2013
Mark 5:27….”When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.”
This woman had an issue of blood, the scripture says, that had plagued her for 12 years. She had spent all her money on physicians to no avail. By being in the crowd and touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person (Leviticus 15). Now, hearing about Jesus, she mustered up all the courage and strength she had for one last attempt at healing.
She refused to feel condemned by the Law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident in her hope that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. This hope was the substance of her faith; therefore, she believed Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)
What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 5:4 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.When we fail we should not run away from God, but run boldly to Him, knowing that we are justified by the blood of Christ and not by our good behavior.
When the devil says to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation, (Romans 8:1). If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, who have accepted His sacrifice and been washed by His blood. You are in the family and beloved of God.
Pray: Heavenly Father You know me; You know my ways, my thoughts and all that I am. You know when I have failed and when I have not. Help me Lord, I pray, to keep an attitude of hope and trust in the work of Jesus Christ on my behalf, so that when I fail, I know that you justify even the ungodly through faith. I will refuse to let the devil or anyone else, or anything else derail my faith in You and trust in the cross of Jesus. In Jesus holy name, Amen..
November 11, 2013
Matthew 25:15... Jesus speaking, "And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey."
Jesus said, in this parable, that not all the servants were given the same amount of talents. But, each was given according to his abilities.
God knows our hearts. He knows of what we are capable and to what extent He can trust us. How does He know this? He has seen what we have done with the talents with which He has entrusted us.
When we are entrusted with the Word (a gift from God), to what use have we put it? Has the word prospered in our life? Have we used the word as God intended? Have we limited God by not diligently seeking Him in the Word?
If we are trustworthy in small things, God will entrust us with bigger things. Some of the great men and women of God have been entrusted with much because in small things they were found trustworthy. There are others who wanted to be entrusted with much but were passed over by God because they were not trustworthy in small things.
The servant entrusted with only one talent was not trustworthy in small things in the past, so his master knew that he would not grow his talents so the master would lose little by entrusting this servant with little.
Are you willing to do more for God, and use whatever He has placed in your hands to further His kingdom? Your willingness is only evident by your degree of faith and knowledge of Him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Let God's word be your lamp that guides you to more of Him. Do not shun the little things He asked you to do, and don't expect the big things until you have done the small ones.
November 12, 2013
Mark 9:2 ..."Jesus led them up a high mountain, when they were all alone."
We have all had times on the mount when we have seen things from God's viewpoint and have wanted to stay there, but God will never allow us to stay. This is not what we are called to. We are not called to the mountain top, we are called to the valley. The test of our spiritual life is the power to descend; if we have only the power to rise, something is wrong. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but we only get there in order that afterwards we may get down among the lost, the demon-possessed, the chaotic multitudes and lift them up. We are not built for the mountains, and the shimmering glories of dawn, those are for moments of inspiration that is all. We are built for the valley, for the ordinary stuff we are in, and that is where we have to prove our mettle. Spiritual selfishness always wants repeated moments on the mount. The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must beware lest our spiritual selfishness wants to make them the only time.
We are apt to think that everything that happens is to be turned into useful teaching, it is to be turned into something better than teaching, it is for character building. The mount is not meant to teach us anything, it is meant to make us something. We must never wish to camp out on the mountain, but be excited that we have increased because of these rare moments of inspiration, and then be willing to descend so that God's purpose in us can be fulfilled.
Pray that God will give you purpose and power to use fresh revelation from the mountain to settle difficulties in the valley where you are the light and peace of God’s presence.
Acknowledgement to Oswald Chambers "My Utmost for His Highest".
March 6, 2014
Mark 14:55…,"Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.”
Are you a “closet” Christian, an undercover follower of Christ, keeping your faith a secret? Would your friends or coworkers describe you as a loyal believer? Is there any evidence that could be used to convict you of practicing the faith?
The religious and political leaders of Israel wanted to rid themselves of Jesus. They tried every means possible to convict Him of a crime. They paid an informant from among Jesus’ own followers – but he returned their money and declared the Lord to be innocent (Mark 14:43-46; Matt. 27:3-5). They orchestrated an armed mob to intimidate Him – but He kept His cool and restrained His followers (Matt. 26:51-54). The leaders even presented witnesses to testify against Him in court – but the witnesses either perjured themselves or contracted each other (Mark 14:55-56).
People tried to convict Jesus of a crime – something bad – for which they lacked even a shred of evidence. Suppose you were on trial instead of Jesus. What would be some of the best evidence against you, that you were “guilty” of following Christ – something good, and something for which there should be evidence? Would there be anything conclusive? Here is a checklist to consider:
_____Displays the “beautiful attitudes” described by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:3-16).
_____Thinks with a transformed mind, expresses a spirit of genuine love, and shows respect for authority (Rom. 12:1-2,; 13:1-7).
_____Reflects the “lifestyle of love” (1 Cor. 13).
_____Displays the fruits of the Spirit described by Paul (Gal. 5:22-26).
_____Looks out for the interests of others in the humility of Christ (Phil. 2:1-4).
_____Rejoices always, prays without ceasing, and in everything gives thanks (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
_____Carries out works of faith and compassion (James 2:14-17), controls the tongue (3:1-11), and is known for wisdom (3:13).
_____Holds to the truth about Jesus (2 John 4; 3 John 3-4) and defends it (Jude 3).
Is there enough evidence to convict you of faith in Christ?
March 9, 2014
Psalm 91:1....”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
There are many Scripture passages in the Bible that are only for those who meet the requirements. This is one. There are conditional and unconditional promises of God found in the Bible. Most promises that begin with the word "if" are conditional. God promises to do something if we do something. Some passages are meant only for people who live in a certain way. For-instance, Romans 8 is such a passage. If you live according to Romans 8:1 then Romans 8 is yours.
Psalms 91:1 is one of the favorite Psalms of the people of God. Yet this is a psalm known by the devil and quoted by him in Matt. 4:11-12 when he tempted Christ. It is a shame that the devil who hates God and all that is good knows the Bible while many Christians who say they love God do not!
The Psalm says that when you dwell - this does not mean to visit on occasion, or to say you dwell when you really do not, or to wish that you dwell. It means to abide, to stay, to make your camp there, to reside (John 15:4). Where are you to dwell? - In the "secret place".
Many people dwell in the sinful world and feel more comfortable with strife and drama. They know only how to manipulate others and rely on their own resources to overcome problems and circumstances in their lives. Their "secret place" is one of their own making. Instead of a soothing place of peace and assurance with streams of life giving water flowing through, it is a dark cave of pride and selfishness and individuality devoid of Holy ambiance.
The "secret place" is where you will find the living God - the place where He dwells with His people. It is a place of the heart where one rests in the shade, away from the heat of temptation, sin, pride, self-worth, arrogance, and shame. It is a refuge from satanic storms. When we are in the personal, secret place of abiding communion with God we are fortressed against the temptations and troubles of life.
Child of God, when you can intentionally purpose with your whole being to "dwell in the secret place of the most High" you will qualify for the promises of the rest of the Psalm: refuge, protection from fear, strength, the help of angels, deliverance, to be set on high (to rise above your problems), a ready answer when you call upon God (the privilege of prayer), help in times of trouble, honor from God, long life, salvation (long-life now and heaven later).
March 10, 2014
Hebrews 4:12...."The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
God's Word can absolutely obliterate anything in its path. It can literally bring something to ruins. And when it comes to transforming us to be more like Jesus and become His true disciples, that's a wonderful thing.
When the writer of Hebrews says God's Word is "living" he uses a form of the Greek, “zoe” . In other words, this written word (logos) is alive not just with ordinary life but is energized with God's life. The form used in this verse, zoa, means "actively alive." Actually, the logos is infused with the voice of God. God is speaking throughout the universe. He speaks in every sunrise. He speaks in every raindrop. He also speaks into your spirit. His word is alive because it is God's voice speaking to you. This same voice spoke the universe into existence, and by it the universe continues to exist.
Hebrews 1:3 says that God upholds all things by the word of His power. When you digest God's Word, you are receiving His life. Jesus said "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63). God wants to "life" your soul through His Word. Only His life can overcome the spiritual death that took up residence there. Just as food gives you the necessary nutrients for your body to live physically, ingesting His Word will give you the necessary nutrients to live spiritually.
This verse also describes God's Word as "active," which comes from the Greek, “energas” (notice the word energy in it). Imagine God's energy working in you. Energas also means "to work or toil; operative; effective." So, you see God says this about His Word: It is filled with His very life and energy. It toils and works, is operative and effectual.
How's that for the ability to transform?
Considering the definitions we have just discussed, this is how Hebrews 4:12 might be understood;
The logos of God is alive – actively alive. It is filled with the life and energy of God. It toils and works in us, is operative and effectual. It is also fully competent, adequate, sufficient, and ample. It has enough ability to channel itself through the various areas of the soul and spirit, reaching its goal and attaining its desired end. It will arrive and will accomplish its goal when it gets there.
Child of God, if you have strongholds in your life, if ungodly passions are ruling your mind, chaos and turmoil in your soul, confused thinking, and vague understandings, if your knowledge is vain and shallow, then the remedy is waiting in the Word of God. Let the Voice of God speak to you through His Word.
March 11, 2014
Mark 7:21..... "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders."
Mark 7:21-23
These verses in Mark, further establish the fact that our heart includes more than just our spirit. Even Christians still struggle with things like pride and foolishness, which Jesus said comes out of our heart. It's certain that our born again spirit is not the source of these sins; therefore, the heart encompasses more than our spirit.
The word "spirit" is used in different ways in scripture. The most frequent usage refers to either the Spirit of God or the spirit of man. In that context, it denotes the person of the Holy Spirit or identifies a part of our three-part being (1 Th. 5:23). But the word "spirit" can also describe a mental disposition (Strong).
In Ephesians 1:17, Paul is praying that what is already true in our spirit will become our "mental disposition." He's praying for a release into the physical of what is already present in our spiritual being.
The Christian life is not an attempt to get more faith, or more anointing, or to get closer to the Lord. We already have these things in their fullness. We just need a revelation of what is already ours. Understanding this takes a lot of frustration and doubt away. It's much easier to release something you already have than to try and get something that you don't have. And why would anyone doubt whether or not he could receive what he already has?
Through Christ, we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings. All we have to do is appropriate what is already ours, through the renewing of our mind. If you will change your thinking to believe what God says in His Word about who you are and what you have, then this agreement between your spirit and soul forms a majority, and your flesh will experience the life of God that has been deposited in your spirit.
Child of God you have indeed been granted “exceedingly great and precious promises” and, by His great mercy and grace, God has granted that you may partake of “the divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4. All this is given to insure your ordained journey toward the very image of Christ. Let not your heart be troubled, but let it rest in the hope of abundant life here and now, and in the future, eternity with your King.
April 8, 2014
Mark 14:55…,”Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.”
Many Christians around the world are being persecuted for their faith. Some are being killed because they will not renounce faith in Christ. Is there enough evidence to convict you? Will you willingly die for your faith? These are tough questions. Questions that can only be answered by those who are assured without doubt that they are bound for an eternal reward worthy of their sacrifice.
However, if you are a “closet” Christian, an undercover follower of Christ, keeping your faith a secret, then you would not be a threat to coworkers, or governments, or false religions; your safety would be assured. There are many today who maintain relationships with false religions while defaming, mocking and falsely accusing Christians of things that any TRUE follower of Christ would never be guilty of.
The religious and political leaders of Israel wanted to rid themselves of Jesus. They tried every means possible to convict Him of a crime. They paid an informant from among Jesus’ own followers – but he returned their money and declared the Lord to be innocent (Mark 14:43-46; Matt. 27:3-5). They orchestrated an armed mob to intimidate Him – but He kept His cool and restrained His followers (Matt. 26:51-54). The leaders even presented witnesses to testify against Him in court – but the witnesses either perjured themselves or contracted each other (Mark 14:55-56). People tried to convict Jesus of a crime – something bad – for which they lacked even a shred of evidence.
Suppose you were on trial instead of Jesus. What would be some of the best evidence against you, that you were “guilty” of following Christ – something good, and something for which there should be evidence? Would there be anything conclusive? Do you display beautiful attitudes which Jesus described in Matt. 5:3-16? Do you reflect a lifestyle of love (1 Cor. 13)? Do you rejoice always – is your joy based only on the Love of God and not on natural, changeable circumstances (Phil. 4:4)? Do you constantly display a thankful spirit that is constantly in prayer, (1 Thes. 5:16-18)? Are you steadfast in defense of the Truth (Jude 3)? Does your faith walk around and reach out to others with help (James 2:14-17)? Do you hold your tongue (James 3:1-11)? Are you known for wisdom (James 3:13)? These are just a few of the convicting traits enemies of God will look for in a follower of Christ. So, again, I ask, is there enough evidence to convict you of faith in Christ.
April 9, 2014
Mark 9:2 ..."Jesus led them up a high mountain, when they were all alone."
We have all had times on the mountain top when we have seen things from God's viewpoint and have wanted to stay there, but God will never allow us to stay. This is not what we are called to. We are not called to the mountain top; we are called to the valley. It is a great thing to be on the mount with God, but we only get there in order that afterwards we may get down among the lost, the demon-possessed, and the chaotic multitudes and lift them up. We are not built for the mountains, and the shimmering glories of dawn, those are for moments of inspiration only. Those are times of refreshing; times when we are recharged or renewed in purpose.
From there God expects us to bring our renewed, inspired and purposeful drive to the valley. Those awesome mountain top experiences are for the purpose of advancing God’s kingdom in the valley, where the real “stuff” of life happens.
When we fall into the trap of spiritual selfishness we will continue to want only the mountain top and we become easily depressed in the valley longing for the pinnacle again. The times of exaltation are exceptional, they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must be willing to descend.
We may be apt to think our experiences on the mountain are for useful teaching, but what they are really for is character building and image making so that we become the image of Christ. But, we must be aware that like Christ, we must descend and walk out what we have been given. We must remember that the mountain top is not really meant to teach us something, but to make us something.
April 10, 2014
Matthew 13:25..."But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."
These tares that are spoken of refer to the Old World variety of darnel, which is poisonous. Virtually all grains are almost indistinguishable from tares when they send up the first blade from the ground. By the time the tares become distinguishable, they are so well rooted that, if growing in close proximity to a productive grain, uprooting the tares would also mean uprooting the productive grain as well. Therefore, verse 30 admonishes us to let both grow together until the harvest. The grains of the tares are long and black in contrast to the wheat, and are easily recognizable at harvest time.
Satan has secretly and very subtly infiltrated the Church with some of his followers for the purpose of hindering the influence of the Church. This has been more effective strategically than direct opposition. Many will profess Christianity, but "by their fruits you shall know them."
Many who attend church every Sunday are deceived and unaware that they are not born again. And, many times those who are born again camp out at Calvary never attempting to go on to maturity in the faith through discipleship. In the beginning disciples were made and then churches were built. However, it seems that today, churches are built and there is little concern for making disciples. When a church does not expect its people to gain Christlikeness it is nothing more than a social club motivating its people to good works.Satan wants nothing more than for the church to be ineffective in developing true disciples. True disciples have the ability to change communities, cities and nations.
Jesus warns us against trying to root these out especially since it is not always possible to discern other people's hearts. In an effort to destroy these tares, we might offend one of Christ's "little ones" and cause his or her profession of faith to waver.
It is important, though, for our own personal benefit that we are aware that the children of the Wicked One are placed among the true believers. Our best defense is to preach the Word of God without wavering or watering it down in order to please. False brethren will not endure sound doctrine. They leave when the Word, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, begins to expose the thoughts and intents of the heart. We must stick to the Word! It is Truth and our strongest weapon against deception.
April 11, 2014
John 8:31-32.... Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (32) And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
The word "abide" in verse 31 can also be translated as "continue," "dwell," "remain," "be present" and "endure." It gives the sense of staying in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy. It does not indicate one merely inactively standing still but suggests consistently moving within a pattern. Jesus clearly states that truth makes a disciple free. However, He also emphasizes that the truth and the freedom it produces do not come in a moment of time.
When you were born again (born from above) you gained access to truth. But that truth, of which Jesus spoke, is a broad and deep reality, a package containing many individual truths, not merely one. You cannot know all the truths at once. You must abide in Christ in order to gain more and more truth. This package of truth takes time to build, to accumulate. Therefore, one must abide, pressing on, maintaining the freedom once given. One must invest precious time to this task of acquiring more and more truth, and thereby obtaining more and more freedom. The everyday process of discipleship is to maintain an absolute need in one’s life for study, prayer, and service to God and mankind.
Truth and freedom go hand in hand, but truth will produce freedom only if it is used. This is why we must invest our time and energy in acquiring truth in order to protect and build our freedom. We might know something is true, but if we fail to use that truth, of what value is it?
We see a sad trend in the Body of Christ today to ignore absolute truth from the Word and embark on the dangerous path of conciliatory truth that is adopted in the name of unity. However, there is no unity where absolute truth is betrayed.
Unless individual believers, disciples, strive to acquire more and more truth, and are willing to hold fast to what the Spirit has revealed, Christ will once again be betrayed into the hands of evil men whose design is to work the works of Satan in hopes of destroying truth entirely.
As a true believer and child of God you must be diligent in acquiring more and more truth through prayer and study so that you may expand and deepen the truth you are receiving. God is bringing us into a freedom that is progressive. The more we abide the more we will have. We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
April 12, 2014
1 Kings 14:25-27…”Now it came about in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak, the king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem. (26) And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and he took everything, even taking all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. (27) So King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in theirs place, and committed them to the care of the commanders of the guard who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.”
King Rehoboam was the son of Solomon. Instead of reigning wisely as his father, he reigned foolishly, not taking account of the long term effect of his actions and the actions of the children of Israel. Under his reign the kingdom split into the upper and lower kingdoms. His people in the south had once again risen up the high places to worship idols, and male cult prostitutes were in the land doing what the Lord had called “the abominations of the nations” which the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
Then, with chaos reigning in the land due to the evil of Rehoboam, the city of Jerusalem was sacked by the king of Egypt. The golden shields which Solomon had made were stolen. In their place Rehoboam had bronze shields made. These were used by the guards to guard his house.
All scripture is given for our instruction (2 Tim. 3:16). So, we see what the results can be when we choose not to follow the Lord; chaos reigns. This may mean sickness or disease attacks our bodies, or a job loss, bankruptcy, loss of our home, loss of a loved one, depression and even suicide. All of this is because we have decided to follow our own way rather than the way of God. When we raise up idols to worship like work, sex, alcohol, stuff, and even people we have chosen our own way over the wise way of God.
Rehoboam chose not to heed the wise counsel of his elders earlier when his rein first began. Instead he chose to listen to younger, less experienced friends who knew very little of the ways of God. The symbolism of the golden shields should not be missed in verse 26. Gold symbolizes the purity of God, and in this case the provision to defeat an enemy. Rehoboam had not desired the purity of God in his life and reign so God removed it from Him. Then, the king fashioned bronze shields as replacements. Bronze is not a pure, natural element, but an alloy that is manmade.
All of Rehoboam’s actions had shown his choice to ignore God and rely on his own resources and designs. He used manmade implements to guard his house. When we do that we are sure to fail. When we choose our own way, we fail to accomplish what God desires of us. Rehoboam could have been a great king; instead he is noted for the chaos and trouble he brought upon Judah and Israel because of the wars and the splitting of the kingdom into two.
April 13, 2014
Luke 19:40..."He replied, 'I tell you that if these keep silent, the very stones will cry out.'"
Here Jesus is responding to the criticism of the Pharisees who see the cries of the crowd as Jesus enters Jerusalem as unseemly and even blasphemous. Jesus is simply giving them a status report on creation. Were the people not to cry out in praise at His coming, then even the stones would take up the rejoicing.
All creation had been awaiting the entrance of the King. Not only the entrance into the city but the entrance into the heart of every believer. And, not just an entrance, but a triumphal entrance. Is that what has happened in your life? Has He just entered your heart, or has He made a triumphal entry?
Can you see yourself victorious in every circumstance because the King resides in you? Do you know in truth that you are seated in heavenly places with Him? Does your life reflect the triumphant joy of the King's habitation in your heart? Are you determined, on a daily basis; no, an hourly basis; no, a moment by moment basis, to follow only your King and no other god that tries to intrude itself into your life? Will you stand when all others around you fall into the enticements of the world and the systems of the world? Do you know on what your faith is based? Is it merely based on remission of sins? Or, is it based on the glorious presence of the King in your heart?
Explore your motives and your passions. Are they pure as you find purity in the Word? If you see that you are coming up short, from where does your help come?
Pray: I bow my soul before you Lord. I want You to live gloriously, triumphantly in me. Search me oh God and see if there be any fault in me. Help me to see myself as You see me, and correct what is not right in Your sight. I choose to live, from this day onward, the triumphant life of a child of God. In Jesus' name, Amen.
April 14, 2014
John 5:43-44… “I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?” The Message Bible
This is in reference to the fact that Jesus came in the power and authority of His father to point men to Father God. Jesus existed before His advent on this earth in the form of God and was equal with God. Yet, He humbled Himself and became a servant while here on earth (Phil. 2:6-8).He did not come to promote Himself but to give His life to provide the way to the Father (John 14:6). In the same way, the Holy Spirit does not exalt Himself, but points all men unto Jesus. Jesus came, meek and lowly, totally submitted unto and seeking only to please the Father.This is radically different from the way so called "great men" present themselves.
The Roman Caesar of Jesus' day proclaimed that he was God and demanded worship. Lesser leaders ruled by exalting themselves over the people they governed; but, Jesus showed us that "whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:26-28).
If we are concerned about what people think in an attempt to gain their approval (or honor), we will never take a stand in faith for anything that might be criticized. This one thing has probably stopped as many people from receiving from God as anything else. You cannot be a "man-pleaser" and please God at the same time. Commit your all to Him - every thought, word, and deed.
April 16, 2014
Hebrews 13:13-15…”So let’s go outside, where Jesus is, where the action is—not trying to be privileged insiders, but taking our share in the abuse of Jesus. This “insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.” The Message Bible
We are not called to be “privileged insiders” although that is sometimes how we feel and act. No. We are called to take our faith to the world, to the darkness outside of ourselves. Our light must shine and not be hidden under a shelter where we hide to please the world.
Outside there is danger, abuse and suffering because we give up some of ourselves every day and take on more and more of Jesus in our nature. Therefore, we must, like Jesus, be willing to spread our faith around, wherever we go and whatever the circumstance, and however we feel.
We may not feel like putting on a happy face for others to see, but it is within our means because we have more of Jesus today than we did yesterday. No longer is there the sacrifices of animals, but we bring what God most desires, the sacrifice of praise. This praise must overflow in our daily actions, words and with our contacts.
We must get over our individual rebellions. When we are asked by the Master to do this or that, we must not search for the handiest excuse, but look to the author and finisher of our faith to give us whatever is needed to do His work. This is where true Joy is found, in doing what the Master says. This is where the true disciple will rest – in the knowledge and purpose of His God.
How marvelous to exhibit even a little bit of Jesus for others to see. Then when we finally get to our home with Him, He can say “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matt. 25:21).
April 15, 2014
Romans 14:17..."For the kingdom of God....is righteousness...."
Jesus' mission of revealing the kingdom could be identified with one word: righteousness. Jesus tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matthew 6:33, NKJV). To put it simply, righteousness means "right in the eyes of God." Scripture makes it crystal clear: "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10, NKJV).
Unless someone is born again by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, it is impossible to be righteous or acceptable in the eyes of God. However, the Word declares: "Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, TEV)
Because of what Jesus did for us, we are now acceptable to God in every way. Right standing with Him has nothing to do with our effort but is based on the amazing work of Jesus Christ. It breaks my heart to hear Christians refer to themselves as miserable sinners who have just been forgiven when such a great price was paid for us to not only be forgiven and delivered but also to be re-created in the image of Jesus.
First and foremost, the kingdom within speaks of the divine nature, which empowers us to live holy and fruitful in this present world. This power is most evident in the life of Jesus. He showed how humankind was created to live—not bound to the burning desires of fallen flesh, but motivated by righteousness, propelled by the power of the Holy Spirit in love, joy, and peace—abounding in forgiveness, healing, restoration, and lifting others to the higher life.
This is the kingdom; it's not only to live holy but also to bring heaven to our lost and dying world. Jesus has charged us thusly: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21). So, we are to do the same as Jesus did – we are to bring heaven to earth: not only a great responsibility but also, a great opportunity. And, we can only do it through the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
April 17, 2014
Luke 22:44.... "And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
It is interesting that Luke is the only one of the gospel writers to mention that Jesus' sweat was as great drops of blood. This is probably because Luke was a physician (Col. 4:14), and therefore, this had special significance to him.
There have been documented cases of people actually sweating drops of blood under extreme emotional pressure. This might explain why Luke is the only writer to mention the angel strengthening Jesus. Just as when Jesus encountered Satan during His forty days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness and the angels ministered unto Him (Mk. 1:13), so here, He needed supernatural strength to endure His sufferings.
The use of the words "as it were" might also mean that the sweat of Jesus was only comparable to blood in consistency or size, but it certainly underscores the effect Jesus' agony had on His physical body. Jesus' sufferings for us were more than just physical. In the garden, before He suffered physically, He suffered emotionally, almost to the point of death.
He had to become sin for us which meant that the sinless Son of God had to take upon himself the sins of the entire world. This is more than the human mind can comprehend. This is where that transference began, in the garden, as He faced his upcoming death. As Luke records, an angel had to come and give Him strength or the emotional struggle alone would have killed Him.
All that Jesus did was motivated solely by love. It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured going to the cross. He didn't do what He did to save us out of pity or a sense of obligation as our Creator. He did it because He loves us.
April 18, 2014 GOOD FRIDAY
John 19:30..."So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, 'It is finished!' And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."
"It is finished," which is one of Jesus' most important statements, is translated from the single Greek word tetelestai. The grammatical structure of the Greek word, perfect passive indicative, is very important. When you understand the perfect tense and the passive voice which is used here the importance of the statement is monumental.
The meaning is clear – the action of completion is not only once, but is also progressive in nature and that action is ongoing. So, then we can see that what was finished was not only finished but fully completed. Not only completed but perfected. And the completed, perfected work of Christ is ongoing.
"If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father" (John 10:37-38).
Jesus came to show that He and the Father are one (John 10:30), and to make reconciliation between God and man possible. The mission of Jesus was to do the work His Father had given Him to do. Jesus completed this work perfectly by His death.
"It is finished!" Jesus finished the work given to Him by His Father, which culminated at the cross. At the cross the full weight or our guilt and God’s wrath fell upon God’s only Son. There was no other way to reconcile man to a holy God. A sinless sacrifice had to be offered. And by that sacrifice man was allowed to participate in the righteousness of God whose role as Father was magnified by the life of the Son.
What Jesus did was to complete the work the Father had given Him to do. His completed work is fully efficacious, today and will be forevermore. The undeniable, factual, historic, and eternal work of Jesus Christ has been completed--is complete--and will forever remain completed. "IT...IS...FINISHED!"
April 19, 2014
Luke 22:20….”He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.” The Message Bible
How precious is that blood that was poured out for us? Remember Jesus did not have an earthly Father. The blood which poured from His veins was the Bloodline of God. The DNA that spilled on the ground was the DNA of God. God shed His blood for sinners - for you and for me.
This is the blood that established the New Covenant. Through this blood we have not only redemption, but healing and deliverance. I love the way it was depicted in the movie, “Ben Hur”. The blood poured from the cross and flowed down the hill of Calvary and passed the cave where Judah Ben Hur’s mother and sister, who were lepers, had taken shelter from the storm and the earthquake that followed Jesus’ death. Suddenly, they realized they had been healed. How wonderful this healing blood that was so freely and willingly given for a creation that had turned its back on its creator (Romans 5:8).
Now, through the great sacrifice of Christ we have been brought close once again to the God who created us – to our Father. We see His love poured out: a love that we cannot comprehend except by the Spirit of God. Only through the Holy Spirit can we realize the depth, and width and breadth, and height of His love for us.
Now, we his chosen people, the royal priesthood He has created through the blood of Christ, walk not after the flesh which brings destruction, but after the Spirit which brings life. No other element in the vast reaches of the Universe has the power to do what the blood of Jesus has done in redeeming all creation to the Creator God once for all time.Praise God for His ultimate gift – the gift of eternal life with Him in the future and the abundant life of sharing His love with all creation in the present. Amen.
April 20, 2014 EASTER SUNDAY
Mark 16:9.... "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons."
Jesus had many followers; there were the 12 named disciples as well as others, many women, even some of the Pharisees believed on Him. Of all those that followed Jesus, saw His miracles, supported His ministry, and evangelized with and for Him, the one chosen to be the first to see Him risen and carry this most amazing and world changing news was a woman. Not only that, a woman who had been demon possessed. A woman who had been a hard and fast sinner.
Mary Magdalene was the first apostle of the good news. No other news in all of history was as important to history and the world as the news, He is Risen. Upon this statement would rise or fall the church of Christ. Many throughout the centuries tried in many ways to debunk this statement. But the news has survived and from this event the church was born and grew and changed history and the world.
The focus of the church throughout the centuries has often times been distorted and vague, but nonetheless, the message is true and the hearts of believers throughout time have been changed because of it.
As Paul said, if Jesus had not risen our faith would be in vain (1Cor. 15:15). This is the pivotal point of all Christianity and a symbol of what happens in the heart of the believer. Let Jesus rise in your heart today. Let Him be a living savior, one that moves within you to remake you into His image. This is the goal of every believer; Christlikeness. It is not an impossible goal.
With the help of the Holy Spirit every believer can live a holy life devoted to God and His will. Don't ever think that God cannot use you because of your past sins, or your lack of holiness. When He chose Mary Magdalene for His messenger, He demonstrated that the least likely, even the weakest, among us can be used of God to carry His message of forgiveness and faith. You are a child of God and have been granted the ability to walk a resurrected life on earth because your spirit has been resurrected from the dead works of sin into the lively works of faith.
May 19, 2014
Psalm 19:1-2…”The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (2) Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.”
As we look around at this wonderful world, do we see it as it is, created out of love for mankind? In each sunrise we see the hope of newness: a chance to begin again: a fresh opportunity. As each new bud bursts into full flower, we see our spirits bursting forth to praise God.
When we take the time to stop, look, listen and attend to creation, we will hear God speak. To behold the order and majesty of creation is to see the grace and mercy of God at work in our lives.
We hear the roar of ocean tides, the soft silence of moonlight. We see the wonder of the stars and the beauty of the butterfly, and we behold the majesty of creation. All of this is God’s gift to us. He gave it to us for His pleasure in that we can behold His love through His gift. Stand in awe and humility and give Him praise and glory for the majestic wonder of His world.
May 20, 2014
Hebrews 11:3…”By faith, we see the world called into existence by God’s word, what we see created by what we don’t see.” Message Bible
The natural world we live in and see with our natural eyes was created by what we don’t see. What was first was the unseen world of the Spirit realm. The natural realm in which we live has limitations constructed by God to force man in to belief in the unseen world of the Spirit realm.
Faith is when we reach out into the unseen realm to change something in the natural realm. God provides both, but He resides in the unseen, limitless realm of the Spirit. He has given us the key to the door into the unseen world of the Spirit. That key is contained in the experience called “born again”. Here we have the answer to all of our needs; physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Once we are born again and especially after being baptized in the Spirit, we possess the key to the supernatural world of healing, deliverance, joy and peace. We have the ability to see the unseen just as surely as Elisha’s servant did in 2 Kings 6:17. You are only limited by your unbelief.
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that we (as born again, spirit filled believers) look not on the things that are seen, but on the things that are not seen - this is where we must secure our focus, for the things which are seen are only temporary, but the things which are unseen are eternal.
Child of God, trust the “truth” that resides in the unseen realm of the Spirit, not the “facts” that reside in the natural realm of the flesh and the world. “Truth” says that by His stripes you were healed (past tense)- this “truth” is stronger than the “fact” that you are afflicted in your flesh because this “truth” existed before that “fact” did. The same applies to any condition of lack that you face in the natural. Remember that the Spiritual existed before and has power over the natural. But, it all works by and through your faith.
May 21, 2014
Psalm 119:27…”Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works.”
Every day you meditate on something. The question is, are you meditating on problems that beset you, or are you taking time to meditate on the wondrous works of God in your life and the lives of others?
Meditation is becoming very popular in the body of Christ, but in many ways the meditation that has found favor in Christian circles is more like New Age than it is biblical in nature.
New Age meditation calls for you to still your mind by emptying your mind of thoughts entirely. An empty mind can be filled too easily by the enemy. But God’s idea of meditation is for you to focus your mind on understanding God’s precepts - in this way you can think of God’s wonderful works.
Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:8 to think on noble, pure, and lovely things. When you are constantly meditating on your problems you will miss God’s plan unfolding in your life.
Child of God, ask yourself if you are constantly meditating on the things that bother you and cause you problems, or are you meditating on the things God has called you to meditate on.
May 22, 2014
Exodus 3:14...And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; And He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' "
This is the name God revealed to Moses, I AM. For all the problems that Moses would encounter with the unruly people of Israel and with Pharaoh, and all the difficulties of the journey and after, God was saying to Moses, I Am will be with you. If you need a path through the sea, I Am your path; when you need food in the wilderness, I Am your provider; when you need protection from the enemy, I Am your shield and buckler, your strong tower; when you need persuasive speech, I Am your tongue.
So it is with His children today. God will be everything you need when you need it. All He requires is that you seek Him in faith. When you need healing, He is your healer; when you need comfort, He is your comforter; when you need deliverance, He is your deliverer.
This is an attribute of God - that He is able to be all you need. What could be better than that?
Jesus said something truly remarkable in John 17:20-22:
"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one."
"That they may be one, just as We are one." Think about the awesome meaning of those words. We know God is the great I Am and that Jesus and God were one, and Jesus prayed that we may also be one with God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son. So, my friend, you have, within you, the great I Am. Is there anything that cannot be accomplished for the glory of God since the great I Am is in you? Is there any need that cannot be met by the great I Am within you?
May 23, 2014
2 Timothy 1:16….”May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorous, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”
There is much entertainment value today in the Superhero genre. Batman, Spiderman, and Superman movies net millions of dollars. They are made bigger than life and that is part of their mystique. But, they are not the Superheroes of reality. The superheroes of reality are ordinary people who sometimes do extraordinary things. And, they are also ordinary people who simply put others first and go unsung for all their lives. Such a person was Onesiphorous. He is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible except in the second letter of Paul to Timothy. (1:16-18)
Paul honors Onesiphorous and his household for their encouragement, diligence and steadfast loyalty to Paul and to the faith. Onesiphorous was like a water stop along the way of the marathon runner who receives refreshment to keep on going to complete the race. Paul had received such refreshing from this man who had often done so at his own and his families peril. It was dangerous to offer support and comfort to prisoners who were in chains for the cause of Christ. Yet, Onesiphorous had not only done so, but had perilously and diligently searched throughout Rome to find Paul.
There are people like Onesiphorous who do God’s will in support of others who are also doing the will of God. Those intercessors who prayed you into faith: those saints who received your call in the middle of the night because you were on the brink of faithlessness: those who support with prayers and substance, other superheroes who, to their own peril, reach out in faraway outposts to reach the lost and suffering of humanity. These are the superheroes of faith. These are those who will be remarked at the time of rewards.
What can you do to be an Onesiphorous? Will it mean giving up something? Will it mean giving your time, energies, money, etc.? Will you recognize opportunities when they are presented? Seek out God’s wisdom to instill the traits of Onesiphorous within you.
May 24, 2014
2 Corinthians 2:16-17..This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
The purpose of your Christian faith is not just to save and bless you but so that you can bless others and bring them the life-changing knowledge of the Gospel. This is a terrific responsibility, but it is one that need not weigh heavily on you because you have an advocate, a helper, the Holy Spirit which is to give you guidance and assistance whenever you ask. He knows the deep things of God, and He is willing to share them with you when you need them (1 Cor. 2:10). Of course, this is done by only one means, and that is by faith.
Trusting in the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit is vital to the ongoing work of the kingdom of God. Your faith in the workings of God in your life, in identifying your mission and plan, and in the ability working in you by His gifts, will enable you to move mountains of unbelief in others by the accurate testimony of the Gospel of Christ.
There is no need to water down the Gospel of Truth to suite the individual needs of the hearer. Truth is truth, and any who come to Christ must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. Therefore, it is not only a disservice but a painful lie to present the Gospel as easy to follow.
There is a scene in the movie “A League of Their Own” in which Gina Davis' character wants to quit the women's baseball team to be with her husband who has returned wounded from World War II. Tom Hanks, who plays the manager of the team, travels to her house to try to talk this star player into coming back for the remainder of the season. She begins to cry at the thought of returning to the road with the baseball team, and she protests that "…it is just so hard." Tom Hanks' character gets right in her face and spouts back at her, "Of course it's hard. That's what makes it great."
Our walk with the Lord is hard, but that’s what makes it great. There are some who find that it is so difficult that they want to give up and go back to the pleasures of the sinful life. But Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). We can't look back. We must press on in this walk with Christ - we must learn to hear His voice and obey His commands. Only then will we experience His joy and peace - and only then will we be the effective ministers of reconciliation that He wants us to be, and that the world needs us to be.
May 25, 2014
John 12: 3....Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
This incident in John's gospel occurred after Mary's brother Lazarus was raised from the dead. The setting was a supper made for Jesus who had come with His disciples to the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. This was a happy time for Jesus who knew He was soon to fulfill his mission in pain and suffering. While Martha busied herself with preparation and serving, Mary once again chose a better way (see Luke 10:38-42).
Supper was a relaxed time of fellowship. It is not a time one would choose as appropriate for worship. Yet Mary chose to do so by pouring out expensive perfume upon Jesus' feet and wiping His feet with her hair. Are we willing to be so ready to worship that we can do so at any time and as extravagantly as Mary did? Worship is a way of loving God; to set aside the distractions and commonalities of life and lift our spirits to Worship our King. Mary did not wait for a proper time or circumstance.
When she was rebuked by others because the ointment was worth a year's wages, Jesus upheld her sacrifice. Mary had chosen an extravagant worship; nothing else would do for her Lord. Do we always give Him our best, in worship, in praise, in sacrifice, in goods, in service?
Jesus knew something no one else in the room knew. This was the knowledge that He would not be anointed for burial because of the Sabbath - that, when the women came on Sunday morning to prepare His body, He would already be raised. Mary was doing this for him before His time. We have a sense of the right time to worship, but do we always have to be so regimented, let us worship before the allotted time. Let's be spontaneous in our worship.
When Mary poured out the perfume, the scent filled the room. That is what our worship should do. We should fill the room with the fragrance of worship so that it is a sweet aroma to God. And, afterwards the fragrance should follow us as we go about our business so that we are a sweet aroma of witness to our time spent with the King.
Are you willing to center your focus on worship without regard to time or place - to pour out yourself before your loving savior, and offer a sweet aroma of worship to Him? Or, will you let the common every day troubles and distractions keep your focus on self? Worship does more than honor God; it grows our spirits so that we become more and more like Christ which is our ultimate goal.
May 26, 2014
Philippians 1:19….”And I’m going to keep that celebration going because I know how it’s going to turn out. Through your faithful prayers and the generous response of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, everything he wants to do in and through me will be done.” (Message Bible)
Is there ever a time when you don’t need prayer? I am a needy individual. I need prayer constantly. Prayer is the avenue to blessing.
Whenever there is an invitation in church to come to the front for prayer, I am in the line. I may need a physical healing of some kind, but the most pressing need always is to know more of Christ in me the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).
There was a time when I would not readily advance to the front for prayer, because I didn’t want to seem so needy. But, I have asked God to forgive me for being so prideful that I would not seek out prayer.
The norm should be that the altar be filled every time prayer is offered. Everyone has a need and when they realize the importance of the faithful prayers of the faithful, they too will be in line.
I know that when prayers are offered for me Jesus Christ has a generous supply, and everything He desires to do in and through me will be done. You can have confidence that when you pray for someone who is in need the same results can be expected. Prayer brings us into the abundance of the supply of the Spirit.
Child of God, celebrate your victory because through Christ’s generous supply you have all that you need to accomplish His work for the kingdom. And never fail to “get in line” when the invitation is given. It is then that the Spirit is calling you. And, just as you offer prayers for others; seek their prayers on your behalf as well.
May 27, 2014
1 Peter 2:9b….”….Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.”
People who do not know God, or recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior have no spiritual identity. But, when you accept the Lordship of Jesus your spiritual identity is established; Child of God. As a child of God you are in His family. That entitles you to all the benefits of His family. You are righteous, holy, and have all the power of heaven available to you. You are part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9a). You have a royal destiny – quite literally a nation of sons and daughters of the King, with Jesus in first place as the firstborn, older brother. Jesus wants you to recognize your identity and see the possibilities of holy living, no matter what your situation in life may be.
Along with all of that, you get to be His church. The Kingdom of God is within you to enable you to bring the kingdom into your everyday existence. For God’s kingdom to break-in on earth His church must be the catalyst. His church, filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit, demonstrates and models Christlikeness in order that the kingdom may be where the church (His people) is.
As a Child of God you have the awesome power to bring the Kingdom of God to earth. This power has been given to the Church, and you are the church. Praise God for His glorious plan and for each one of His anointed children.
May 28, 2014
2 Corinthians 3:18...."But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Do you realize that as a believer you are being transformed in to the image of Jesus? Not only that, you are going to present the new and improved you to the world each day.
This characteristic of unveiled frankness before God is like a mirror where we behold the glory of God and then reflect that glory to others. All of this is possible through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, who is given for your benefit to put on display all the qualities of the Savior Himself.
The world is unfamiliar with the characteristics of Christ or the qualities of purity, humility, and peace. But, you, as a true follower of Jesus can adhere to this golden rule in your life: that the unyielding focus of your life will be upon the glory of God as He moves in and through you to present His glory to a world that desperately needs to know it.
It is the object of the enemy to tempt the believer with other things that will bring focus on self, but by rejecting, immediately, these shinning objects of the world we can persist in our advancement, from glory to glory.
You always know when someone has been in the presence and beholding the glory of the Lord. Your inner spirit is a witness that he/she is the mirror of the Lord’s own character.
There are some today who look for the glory in meetings and gatherings, when in reality the glory is in us, the children of God. The world awaits your entrance today; therefore, with unveiled face present yourself in the Lord's glory.
May 29, 2014
Matthew 1:19-20...And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. (20) But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
We hear much about Mary's choice as the mother of Jesus, but Joseph was chosen also. He was chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus. It was his responsibility to be sure Jesus was raised in accordance with the Torah. He was also a descendant of David. Centuries before, God promised David that his throne "would be established forever" (1 Chronicles 17:14). But how did God know that this man would be up to the responsibility of raising the Son of God?
Even though royal blood flowed in Joseph's veins, he was an ordinary man, a simple carpenter by trade. No doubt he was successful, at least enough to be betrothed to Mary. This meant he would have to provide a lively hood for her and their prospective children. He would have to build a dwelling suitable for his family. On the surface it would seem that there was nothing remarkable about this man.
However, we must remember that God looks upon the heart. He notices character. According to Matthew, Joseph was a righteous man. This meant that he upheld the laws of Moses to his best ability, and trusted in the atoning sacrifice each year for his sins. It also meant that he was faithful in small things. If you bought furniture from Joseph, you could be confident that he didn't use cheap materials just to make a profit. If he accidentally hit his thumb with a hammer, he refrained from yelling certain "colorful" expletives. He worshiped God and endeavored to follow Him faithfully in these "little things". God noticed.
When Joseph discovered Mary’s pregnantcy, he wanted to deal mercifully with her. He knew that should the fact become widely known that the law would be fulfilled and she would be stoned to death. So, he decided to divorce her quietly. Although his decision was an honorable one, it was wrong. God could not allow this to happen. His plan was perfect and it included Joseph. It was necessary to send an angelic visitor to bring Joseph into the loop.
So, you see, you can also be used of God, even in your ordinary circumstances and situations. God notices your integrity. He notices your attempts at holiness not your sins because your sins are covered by the blood of His Son. You are righteous before God. Trust in God with your whole heart. Know that you do not have to worry about "missing" God's will as long as you are honestly seeking Him with all your heart. He will do whatever is necessary to make it clear to you, just as He did with Joseph.
May 30, 2014
Ephesians 2:20-22… "He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.” The Message Bible
Do you see yourself as a landmark? Paul did. He knew that all the people of God are part of the holy temple, built by God, all of us fitting together to mark the imprint of God’s kingdom on earth.
It doesn’t matter how, or when you came to faith in Jesus Christ, you are part of the work He is doing in the earth, and your status a righteous landmark is assured because of the cornerstone which set the building’s starting point and foundation.
Without the chief cornerstone, the building would not have the proper foundation, and therefore would lack the important structural stability to hold together. But, we have the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, which stabilizes holds all the other parts together.
Daily, you are becoming more and more important in the building structure of the kingdom. l You are achieving the important status of landmark in order to be “a conspicuous object on land that serves as a guide (Random House Dictionary) ” to others.
Oh, child of God, think of the important work ahead of you. Think of the marvelous plan that is laid out on the world’s behalf and how very necessary you are to that plan. Give God thanks and seek His Word and Spirit as your illumination to help this lost and broken world to see your landmark building shining as a beacon to inspire the heart and soothe the soul.
May 31, 2014
1 Peter 2:1-2..(1)"Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, (2) as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."
Here, Peter, admonishes us to rid ourselves of the fruits of spiritual junk food. He lists evidence of a mind afflicted with a poor spiritual diet. Malice is ill will, the desire to inflict pain. Deceit is lying or crafty, seductive, and slanderous activity. Hypocrisy is pretending to be what one is not. Envy is the strong desire to possess what belongs to another. Evil speaking is using the tongue to gossip, deceive others, or destroy reputations.
Peter goes on to encourage us to crave God's Word just as a baby craves milk. He is not encouraging us to desire elementary spiritual food but emphasizing the energy we should exert to get good spiritual food. Babies demand milk as if their very life hangs in the balance at each feeding. When we demand the Word as if our lives depended on every morsel of truth therein contained, our spirits will become strong and our souls will be united to truth as our spirits are. This should be the goal of every born-again believer.
Peter calls God's Word pure, meaning uncontaminated, unpolluted by fraud or deceit. God's Word is truth (John 17:17). David says that God's Word is refined seven times (Psalm 12:6). Truly, Peter is teaching us that God's Word promotes spiritual growth and good health just as good food can do so physically.
In using milk as a metaphor, Peter is in no way chiding people as Paul does in Hebrews 5:12-14. The former uses milk simply as a nourishing food because his emphasis is on desire, not depth. Paul uses milk as a metaphor for elementary teaching because he wants to shock the Hebrews into comprehending how far they had slipped from their former state of conversion.
Let the Word of God nourish you today. Do not treat it as a junk food snack that you can do without. Treat it as the food of life, that you cannot do without.
June 1, 2014
Romans 6:16...."you are slaves of the one whom you obey"
The basic thing we all must realize is that there is a power in our old nature (before salvation) that will still try to dominate us - (see Romans 7:13-25).
The first thing we need to do in examining the power that dominates us is to take hold of the unwelcome fact that we are responsible for being so dominated. When we are slaves to ourselves (selfish whims) we have no one to blame but ourselves. Likewise, if we are obedient to God through His Spirit we have released that domination of self and become slaves instead to the Spirit of God. We may wish to blame our sin on satan, but the fact remains that we have to allow his domination. If I am a slave to myself, I am to blame because at some time I decided to yield to myself. Likewise, if I obey God I do so because I have yielded myself to Him.
Once we discover how pleasant it can be to yield to self and its passions and desires, we form that attitude in ourselves. The more we succumb to our carnal nature the more we will build up tolerances for sin.
James tells us that the devil will flee, but only when we submit ourselves to God. Submission is the key. To whom you submit you will be a slave: whether it be to sin or to God.
Willing submission is how we develop into the image of Christ. It is also how we develop into carnal Christians. It all depends upon to whom we submit.
Child of God release yourself completely to Him today. Your spirit is already in touch with His Spirit. Now, renew your mind to the mind of Christ. Your proper avenue is the well-traveled road of His Word. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Eat, sleep, breath the Word. Your deliverance is at hand.
June 2, 2014
John 14:12….”I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father.”
Are we living up to this promise given us by Jesus Himself? Are we really doing even greater works than He did? Do we even expect to do so?
If you ask Christians at random if they are doing greater works than Jesus did, what do you think would be the responses? I venture to guess you would get very close to 100% that would say no. And, they would be right, as far as their experience goes. For, most of us have never experienced the dead raised. If we cannot raise the dead then we are not even doing the same works, much less greater works.
What is our purpose in the earth today? - The same as believers of the first century - to bring the kingdom of God to earth through our witness, which is accompanied by signs and wonders. To think that signs and wonders were only for the beginning of the church is to be foolish and lacking in kingdom perspective.
Even those believers, who actively participate in full-gospel churches that welcome the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speak in tongues and pray for healing still lack the confidence to know that greater works are possible. You still hear them talking about their aches and pains at fellowship gatherings and Bible studies. You still see funerals for people who died before their time from disease or accident because no one came forward and laid hands on them to raise them from the dead. Fear and a lack of faith are the main reasons. Our too comfortable position in the natural world and our lack of transformation by the Spirit (Rom. 12:2) continually dictate our choice of actions, or lack thereof.
Child of God get a hold of all that Christ has done for you and given to you. Act through His lead to do the works He did and even greater works. You are called to this work of bringing the kingdom to earth. Get on with it.
June 15, 2014
Revelation 3:11…“I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown.” (Message Bible)
We have been warned. Jesus himself tells us to hold tight to what we have been given. To what is He referring; we have been given His peace, His love, His faith and His Spirit. Yet, He warns that we can loose what we have, even our crown when we let our guard down and become distracted. Distracted by what?
The world distracts us every day. Sin and temptation are all around us. Everything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). What a devastating statement. The faith of Christ in us is what holds us fast to everything else which He has given.
Anger is knocking at the door. But the psalmist tell us to be angry and sin not (Psalm 43:4), but anger that distracts from our eternal perspective and kingdom purpose is that which will steal our crown.
Unforgiveness, envy, strife, greed, and immorality are all knocking at the door. What will we do to maintain our grip on what we have? How will we keep our crown in place? We must do what David did. Check out the psalms he wrote; they were all the result of deep mediation. The Bible instructs us to use the practice of meditation to overcome the flesh that wars against our minds and inner peace.
Child of God, when the pressures of life are knocking at the door, find your restful place and force your troubles out of your focus. Meditate. Think upon the Lord - still those thoughts that are warring against your mind. Focus on Godly things that will encourage and uplift your mind and secure your inner peace. Recall the triumphs of the past, and the Word that helped you overcome when the enemy came in like a flood.
June 16, 2014
Exodus 3:4…”And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I.”
Here is how it was. Moses, out shepherding his father-in-law’s flock, sees a bush burning. This may have been a common occurrence in a desert area where heat is great and dried brush may spontaneously ignite. Moses may have seen these a dozen or so times and never paid more than scant attention.
Surely a busy shepherd didn’t have time to investigate every incident of spontaneous combustion. Yet, this time, he stopped to take notice. This placed Him in the proper position for God’s purpose.
Have we turned aside to look when God sends us a sign, or do we consider it just another occurrence – one of many that we have noticed, but never stopped to consider? How many times have we missed an opportunity to advance God’s kingdom purpose because of our mundane, natural, worldly reasoning?
Like Moses, God calls us to accomplish something for the kingdom. He has first to attract our attention. But, how willing and susceptible are we to God’s calling? Do we expect it? Do we consider that we would even get such a call? Well, my friend, if you are sanctified you are being called.
You are being called to a holy life, set apart for God, to be used to advance His kingdom on earth. Just like Moses you are being called to pass God’s name on to the next generation, (Ex, 3:15). You have been called to a great task, just as Moses was. You are called to lead many people to freedom in Christ. What a great adventure God has called you to. In humble submission, accept this commission and trust that God will be with you just as He was with Moses (Ex. 3:12).
June 17, 2014
Mark 5:27….”When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.”
This woman had an issue of blood, according to Scripture, that had plagued her for 12 years. She had spent all her money on physicians to no avail. By being in the crowd and touching Jesus, she knew that she was breaking a Levitical law which states that anyone with a bodily discharge is unclean, and should not appear in public, let alone touch another person. (Leviticus 15). Now, hearing about Jesus, she mustered up all the courage and strength she had for one last attempt at healing.
She refused to feel condemned by the Law. She believed what she had heard about Jesus, and was confident in her hope that there would only be love and compassion, not condemnation, from Him. This hope was the substance of her faith; therefore, she believed Jesus would justify her and qualify her to receive the miracle she needed. That was why she boldly pressed her way into the crowd to touch Jesus, who indeed said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:34)
What was it about her faith that made her well? Romans 5:4 talks about faith that believes God justifies the ungodly. When you believe that God justifies the ungodly, it will give you boldness to come to God, even when you feel unclean because you have just blown it.
When we fail we should not run away from God, but run boldly to Him, knowing that we are justified by the blood of Christ and not by our good behavior.
When the devil says to you, “How can you do that? Who do you think you are?” Don’t listen to him. Pick yourself up and thank God for the blood and the gift of no condemnation, (Romans 8:1). If God justifies the ungodly, how much more you, who have accepted His sacrifice and been washed by His blood. You are in the family and beloved of
God.
June 18, 2014
1 Peter 3: 3-4… “Let not yours be the (merely) external adorning…..But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which (is not anxious or wrought up, but) is very precious in the sight of God.”
Obviously God cares more about your heart than your physical appearance. That doesn’t mean you are to ignore your physical appearance. I don’t believe this is a rebuke to women about wearing makeup or making their appearance attractive, but more emphasis should be placed on the beauty of the heart than the body for both women and men.
We are told that a gentle and quiet spirit is very precious in God’s sight. Yet, we insist on laboring our souls under heavy burdens of drama and intrigue. This may be unintentional because we do not understand how to guard our hearts from worldly contamination. We do not see that images which enter the mind may damage the beauty of the heart. Or, that, ill spoken words of hurt will do the same. Or, that, our choices which satisfy the flesh may harm the gentle and peaceful spirit that is precious in God’s sight.
The scriptures tell of the rending of the temple veil, which kept hidden the Holy of Holies, after Jesus finished His work on the cross. This signifies the freedom of the redeemed to enter by right of Jesus’ righteousness into the Holy of Holies, the throne of grace, to obtain mercy and grace in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
“But there remains another veil, the veil of the heart which is not a beautiful thing, but is woven of the fine threads of the self-life, and the sins of the soul. To be specific, the self-sins are these: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love and a host of others like them.”*
We need to rend this veil also, so the incorruptible charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit can shine through.
*from A.W. Tozer, “The Pursuit of God”
June 19, 2014
Romans 6:6-8… “Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.” The Message Bible
The Bible tells us that we should not walk in our former conduct since we have put off the old man with his deeds (Eph. 4:22 & Col. 3:9). Sure we still have the remnants of our old sin nature hanging around. But the process of being saved is working in us so that our minds can be renewed to the mind of Christ which is in us from the moment we accept Jesus as our savior (1 Cor. 2:16).
Since we still have the influences of our old nature, sin still remains in our physical bodies. The sin influence in our flesh wars against our minds to once again bring us into captivity to sin. Jesus said we must carry our cross daily (Luke 9:23), this means denying the flesh and all the influences of sin that still fight against our spiritual walk.
We are to walk in the Spirit and not give in to the flesh (Rom. 8:1). We must intentionally decide to crucify our flesh daily, hourly, and minute by minute if necessary. In every incidence where the Bible mentions the cross or crucifying the flesh, it is always referring to putting the selfish will to death so we can take up the new life God has already given.
Peter tells us that Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit (1 Pet. 3:18). You cannot follow Christ while still carrying the burden of a life centered in the flesh. Walking in the Spirit takes our hearts and minds where the flesh cannot go.
Since we get included in dying with Christ, we also get to conquer sin in our flesh and rise to new life in God. We have been resurrected to live a holy life that can only bring glory to the Father.
Child of God the purpose of your new life in Christ is to renew your minds to His on a continual basis so that you can be made into the image of Christ. Renew your minds by the Word, prayer, and meditating on all the things God gives for us to grow in our faith.
June 20, 2014
James 4:7..”Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Many Christians rely only on resisting the devil and then wonder why temptation continues to hammer at them. Much more than resistance is required. You must submit to God. That isn’t as easy for many Christians.
Submitting to God could actually mean giving up some pleasures that feed our flesh. The world is full of evil influences and they bombard our minds through our eyes and ears all day long. One need only to watch an hour of television to see how captivating the enemy can be in drawing us away from submission to God. We bow down to idols constantly - the idol of sports, music, sex, pornography, politics, self-will, etc.
We cannot resist the devil without submission to God. It is not within our flesh to do so. We have to die to ourselves in order to live for Christ (Gal. 2:19-20). We can only die to ourselves by submitting to God.
We turn from temptation by turning to the Lord and submitting to His will. James 4:8 says that when we draw near to God He draws near to us. By doing so we cleanse our hearts from evil and become of one mind with Christ. We are no longer “double-minded” as James puts it.
We get all caught up in the physical act of resisting which really only serves to drive us into temptation. Our need is to submit to God, and He will strengthen us to resist the devil. All He wants is our submission; He is quite willing and capable of doing the rest. How wonderful! What an awesome God we serve!
June 21, 2014
James 4:7-10..”So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” The Message Bible
In this interpretation from the Message Bible we are told to stop dabbling in sin. What a great and true way of analyzing what many Christians do every day. They dabble in sin. Remember what Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, “Whatever is not of faith is sin.” The faith to which he refers is the God kind of faith that is given at salvation. You can only be saved by faith, and you can only live a Christian life by faith. So, stop dabbling in sin. Stop gossiping around the water cooler; stop cursing at the driver that just cut you off; stop watching tv shows about vampires, demons, illicit sex; stop missing church because you want to go hunting, boating etc. Stop being swept away by tradition or culture instead of the Word of God. By that I mean the following:
Voting your party affiliation just because it is tradition without regard to party platform which may be ungodly. Yet Christians will pull that lever based on tradition rather Biblical doctrine and standards.
Aligning with cultural norms - "I think it is intolerant to be against same-sex marriage. After all we are a nation of differences and everyone has a right to their own lifestyle." These are the comprising thoughts of a culturally rational mind. However, the truth is that God abhors same-sex relations and is adamant about that in His word. The entire foundation of the church and faith is based on the truths of God’s word. When you start compromising truth you start down that slippery slope to unbelief.
We are told to “quit playing the field.” That is what we are doing. We are loving other gods before the one true God. We give our love and devotion to things and people more easily and readily than we do to God, who loves us with an everlasting love. Did these things and people die for you as He did? Did they promise never to leave or forsake you like He did? Do they never fail to comfort and guide you with perfect wisdom as He does?
Quit the fun and games. It is time to get absolutely serious. Your walk with God is the most important aspect of your life. The life you live is that of the faith of the Son of God (Gal. 2:20 AKJV). Act like it. Be true to God in all your words, actions, and thoughts.
June 22, 2014
Hebrews 4:15… “Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.”
Jesus is our High Priest and is able to identify with our weaknesses because He lived in the flesh just as we do, and was tempted just like we are.
He knew that He came to die for our sins and suffer all things. For this reason He was born. For this reason He left heaven and came to earth. Yet, in the Garden of Gethsemane he struggled with all the weight of this responsibility. Suffering and dying were not pleasing thoughts.
But in His suffering He shifted focus from the suffering to the will of God. Each prayer that night brought Him closer toward obedience. He became focused on doing the will of God. He didn’t try to force His will to align with the Father’s will. He said “Not my will, but yours be done.” Obedience meant putting His will to death and submitting to the will of God. Isn’t that what we must continually do? Our goal should not be to make our will line up with God’s, but to submit to God’s will no matter the cost.
Having a will that opposes God’s will is not a sin. Choosing our will over God’s will is where sin is found.
When you surrender your will to God’s your setting yourself up for supernatural ministrations. Just as Jesus was ministered to by angels to renew His strength, you will find supernatural strength. According to the Bible, angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:4).
A lesson we should learn here is that it is okay to acknowledge that God’s ways are not what we prefer. It’s okay to want God to make another way. Wrestling with ourselves as we press toward obedience is not a lack of faith. We get into trouble when we think our will is greater than God’s.
Child of God, remember always that God is not out to hurt you, make you suffer, or destroy you. That is what the enemy wants to do. God is on your side. Submitting to God’s will may not be easy, but it is where your Christian faith will take you if you let it. Your faith is perfected in an eternal perspective, not a temporal one.
June 23, 2014
Luke 14:26-27..“Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.” The Message Bible
This is where the rubber meets the road my friend. Do we love Christ more than our family and ourselves? Will we give up all we have for the sake of our love for Christ?
Jesus makes hard demands on His followers. But He knows what are the great rewards of a sacrificed life. He knows because He has sacrificed everything for His love for us.
How does one let go of all else in order to hold fast the love of God? Well, it starts with commitment and submission. Jesus was committed to His mission and was focused on why He had come to earth. But He needed to submit to God’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane. His spirit was strong, but His flesh was weak. Isn’t that where we are many times?
Our natural tendency is to take the easy way. But there is no reward in taking the easy way. We will not become mature disciples by avoiding suffering. We will only become mature by intentionally nailing ourselves to the cross of suffering and submission. Our self-will must die, if we are to live in the image of Christ. We must be willing to submit all we have and all we are to the will of the Father, just as Jesus did – no matter what. Only by our considering (meditating) on the Word of truth and promise can we ever hope to bring ourselves to this remarkable ability that can only be found through trust in God.
June 24, 2014
Philemon 1:6...."that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."
Just as God has communicated to us through His Word, we communicate with others those things we learn and experience in our daily walk with God. By doing so our faith works and produces. How – “By the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
This verse in the Amplified Bible reads like this…”(And I pray) that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise knowledge of every good thing that is ours in (our identification with) Christ Jesus (and unto His glory).
So, you see, sharing and living out your faith will help promote the testimony of “Christ in you” not only by the simple act of communication but by full recognition, appreciation, understanding, and precise knowledge. And, all of this is to His glory.
Too many times we get caught up in Old Testament principles which don’t always apply to New Testament faith. In meetings you hear people being called up to the front to receive a double portion of the anointing, like Elisha received from Elijah. But, since the cross and great grace to every born again believer, the same anointing that was on Jesus is on every believer. The same glory that was in Christ is in every believer (John 17:22). We have everything needed for life and godliness through the great promises of God, even to being partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4). This is applying precise knowledge.
We have been given THE measure of faith (Rom. 12:3, AKJV), so terms like “getting more faith”, “receive a new anointing,” and “getting more of God” just don’t work. How can you get more of what you already have THE measure of?
When you were born again you received everything in your spirit that God could possibly give. Nothing more is needed (2 Pet. 1:4). When your cup is full, no more will go in. When your spirit is full, no more is needed. How can God give you what you already have? Your spirit is now identical to that of Jesus in every way.
What is needed is for this mind of Christ that is in you (in your spirit) to be manifested in the physical realm. You must know and perceive that every good thing that is in Christ Jesus is also in you. This is applying precise knowledge.
June 25, 2014
2 Peter 1:2..."Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
Have you ever meditated on this most remarkable statement and promise from the Word of God? Peter, here, has tapped into all the power and durability of the gospel unto all those who believe. It is this: the amazing power of grace to be multiplied to us when we need it most. Now, we won't know what grace that is unless we have the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. This knowledge comes from the Word and our intimate relationship with Him through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
We know from the Word, Ephesians 1:6, that we are accepted in the beloved. Not only did God love His Son (John 3:16), but He also loves us as He loved His Son. His promises are many, they are scattered throughout His Word. We are blessed, yet add to that multiplied blessings. God is never surprised by our need, and His supply is beyond anything we can imagine.
Never doubt the multiplied grace and peace of God for every situation and need in your life. Stand in awe of His magnificent love toward you every second of every day.
Let the revelation of multiplied grace and peace grow in you each day until you are filled to overflowing. Let His grace for you spill out to others who need to know what God has provided for all His children.
June 26, 2014
Judges 7:20..”Suddenly they blew their trumpets and broke their clay jars so that their torches blazed into the night. Then the other two hundred of his men did the same, blowing the trumpets in their right hands, and holding the flaming torches in their left hands, all shouting, “For the Lord and for Gideon!”
God chose an ill equipped teenager named Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites who were oppressing them to the point of poverty. But God wanted to be sure Israel would have no reason to boast of the victory so God reduced Gideon’s army from over 30,000 to just 300.
Then, God gave perhaps the most absurd battle plan in history to Gideon and the army of Israel. God’s instructions were to take torches, insert them into simple clay pots and then to gather around the massive opposing army by night. When a trumpet was sounded all the men of Israel were to blow a trumpet and smash the clay pots which allowed the torches to shine out all around the opposing army. This caused such confusion in the camp of the enemy that they began killing each other. Gideon and his army were victorious without any human effort. The victory had been given to them because they were obedient.
The deeper truth here should not be missed, but often is by many Christians. The victory is a picture of the Christian walk of faith. You can see here a visual image of walking in the Spirit. Let’s look at the symbolism.
The torch is symbolic of the light of Christ which is placed in our hearts at salvation. The clay pot is the flesh of our bodies. Recall 2 Cor. 4:7 which says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power may be of God and not us.
Great actions and human strength do not assure victory. We must break the flesh (clay pots), so the light (torch) of Christ can shine through. So, we can see that the battle is not in accomplishing the work of God, but in breaking the flesh. We remove the flesh (the earthen vessel) so the treasure of God’s power can work in our lives.
June 27, 2014
Exodus 16;4-5…(4) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. (5) And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”
While the Israelites were traveling in the desert food became scarce and they murmured and complained so God furnished manna from heaven. They were to gather just enough for their household for one day. If they gathered more and kept it an extra day, it would spoil and become wormy. And they were never to gather on the Sabbath but were to gather twice as much the day before. However, on the Sabbath the extra amount gathered for that day did not spoil, but was as fresh as first gathered.
Now let us jump into our time machine and travel about 2,000 years to listen to Jesus as He gives this discourse...”My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
The manna in the desert furnished the Jewish people with the nutrients needed to live a natural life. However, Jesus is the true manna, who supplies the real nutrients of the Spirit that ensures the survival of every true believer.
The world has no nutritional value for the believer. Actually the believer would starve depending on the world’s nutrition. We are called to gather our nutrition daily at the foot of Jesus through the Word of God. And, what is more, we need to gather it each day. If we don’t, we lose the important nutrients from lack of use. Those who make it a practice to gather fresh revelation from the Word every day increase in their spiritual walk and their spirits are strong and healthy. Those who neglect the Word are, in effect, starving their spiritual lives. What happens to them? - they often faint along the way and even abandon their journey altogether.
Child of God, refresh and renew yourself every day in the Word. Take in the nutrients therein contained. Your renewed life will be shaped more and more into the image of Christ who is the true bread; the very bread of Life.
June 28, 2014
Romans 7:6…”But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life].” Amplified Bible.
This instruction from Paul is so different for most Christians who will actually attend to what is being said. Most of us have grown up with the ten commandments drilled into our heads, if not our hearts, by Sunday school teachers, pastors, parents, scout leaders etc. Sometimes we become like the Hebrews who knew the law down to the smallest tittle and yet could not follow the promptings of God’ Spirit because they were cemented in by regulations.
As long as we don’t steal, commit adultery, lie, etc. we are OK. But we have been discharged from the law and we no longer have conversation with it because we are now in communication with the Holy Spirit which was given at salvation. We have been set free to follow the daily, hourly, minute by minute promptings of the Holy Spirit. Will the Spirit lead us to break and abuse the law, certainly not? But the Spirit will lead us to be pure in our hearts in all our dealings with others and with God.
God is more pleased with someone who has a pure heart and yet fails Him in actions (example: Lu 7:36-50) than someone who does the right things with an impure heart (1Sa 16:7). 2Co 3:6 says, "The letter kills, but the spirit gives life."
As a child of God you should be highly sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. You may be shopping and suddenly you feel the urge to stop and rest at a nearby bench. But, you are in a hurry so you need to move on and you ignore the urge. The fact may have been that while you were on the bench someone comes along beside you that needed to hear about the forgiveness of the savior. You had been selected, but you ignored the promptings of the Spirit.
Our lives need to be more than keeping the laws, but keeping the Spirit of the law as well. We need to be available, and we need to listen to the inner voice of the Spirit and be always willing to be interrupted. We need also to trust in the Spirit’s leading at all times – it could save your life. The law relates more to our flesh and how our flesh responds, the Spirit deals with our inner witness of Christ actively moving in our lives.
June 29, 2014
Acts 19:13 & 15…”(13) But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, ‘I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.’ (15) And the evil spirit answered and said to them, ‘I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?’”
These men who tried to cast out evil spirits by the name of Jesus where summarily beaten by the ones who were possessed of evil spirits. What was missing was belief in the name. They were only familiar with Jesus through the teaching and preaching of Paul. They had no intimate knowledge of Him.
Unfortunately there are many Christians today who are in the same condition: Saved only - with no intimate personal relationship with the Lord. They go to church on Sunday, maybe even to a Sunday school class, and carry away only what they hear, without further study of the Word, or without any personal revelation of Christ. Statistics prove that any message delivered on Sunday is 90% forgotten by the next Sunday unless the hearer also proves the Word himself.
The demons today who inhabit our churches (and they do), are very subtle and intrude into the truth of the word by confusion and societal and cultural influences (which change with the season), so that many are taken away by a half-truth (which is more dangerous than a lie because it weakens the foundation to a point that lies are easily accepted). Only by intimate personal knowledge of the Word and Jesus can one avoid the traps set by satan to snare the believer and weaken his/her faith.
Paul tells us in his second letter to Timothy that we should be diligent in our study of the Word that we may not be ashamed but to rightly divide the Word of truth. It is good to have teachers that can share their experiences with the Word, but that should not take the place of your own personal experiences with the Word.
Therefore, child of God, grow in the Word as you explore the depths of truth God has for you. Always request the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you study the Word so you can rightly divide it, for the Word is active and alive and capable of dividing the soul and spirit (Heb. 2:12-13) so you can comprehend all that God desires to show you.
June 30, 2014
2 Corinthians 4:7 “We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows that the great power is from God, not from us.”
What is most important is not the clay jars (us), but the treasure inside (Gospel of Christ). We are the channels through which God’s light and power flow. But, we are simple vessels, adorned by fancy clothes, surrounded by glittering possessions, resting on seats of power, but nonetheless, nothing compared to the reflected glory of what we contain.
What we must constantly be aware of is that God has granted us the enormous privilege of carrying His treasure and further, of protecting it. The more we are in the Word, the more we are intimate with God in prayer, the more we exhibit His love working in and through us, the more secure that treasure becomes. But we are not meant to hoard our treasure, no we are meant to spill it out. But how can we maintain a treasure, keep it secure, if we freely spill it out?
These questions reflect a limited worldly wise thinking. In God’s economy, the more you give away the more you retain. It is the law of sowing and reaping.
Beyond that we are not capable in ourselves of displaying any of God’s treasure. It is only because He allows us to carry it that we can display it. Our ordinary lives are not sufficient to the task because we are impure, distracted, battered by our own troubles, constantly in need, so that it is obvious that this treasure is not ours. It could only be God’s. It could only be by God’s design that we possess it and can give it away. We are blessed with the administration of this treasure, charged with its safe keeping and delivery to the soul in need. In this way only God gets the glory.
July 01, 2014
2 Timothy 1:7.”For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline (sound mind).”
This verse contains a promise that is so overlooked by the Christian as to seem painful. The Lord wants all His children to be active citizens of His kingdom on earth. In order to do so we must carry out His will as He directs. This is where trouble begins. We have to get out of our comfort zone to do what He calls us to do. We cannot grow into the image of Christ by remaining in our safe places. But, God has given us His promise that we need not be fearful to react as He directs.
I think of the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” There are several dangers to overcome on the path to the chamber which contains the cup of the Last Supper. One danger is to cross an abyss which seems to have no bridge. Indiana must step out onto, what appears to be nothing. There is a long way down and no apparent way to the other side of the canyon. Yet, when he steps out in faith, suddenly there is a bridge. It was there all along but he couldn’t see it because it looked just like the surrounding environment; it was camouflaged.
That is what happens to many Christians who know they are called to do something for God, but fear paralyzes them into inactivity. Their chance to be a part of Kingdom work passes them by. What is needed is faith that God will always give you a bridge to the other side, even though you may not be able to see it. The only thing is that you must step out in faith in order to know the bridge is there. It will take faith to do anything for God, if it were not so we would never be able to build up our faith muscles. When you build up your faith muscles you have power over the attempts of the enemy to confuse or misdirect you.
Recognizing that love conquers all will be a great advantage to overcoming obstacles that seem to be too difficult. So, be of “good courage” for God is with you. His Spirit enables you to accomplish whatever He desires because of the power, love and self-control which bring you closer to the image of Christ.
July 2, 2014
Philippians 4:5…”Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”
What was this attitude that was in Christ? Was it one of selfishness, or judgment, or avarice, or lust, or pride and self-righteousness? No, it was an attitude of service. As Paul wrote in the following verses:
“…who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (4:6-7)
If Christ emptied Himself (a thing far above our ability to grasp), how much then should we empty ourselves? Are we to hang on to our self-respect as if it were something so precious to us? Self- respect is just pride dressed up to seem respectable. To be a servant is to humble yourself and consider the needs of others above your own.
Walking in a way that does honor to the name of Christ is to give more of yourself away than you think you have to give. God grants you the grace to give beyond your measure because He measures more perfectly.
Grace is God's gift to you, and you, through that grace are God's gift to the world.
It is His light that shines in you, not your own. Do not ever imagine yourself without the unfathomable benefit of God’s grace in any situation. Never forget that without Christ in you, you are nothing. When you realize that only by His presence can you attain to anything, then you can walk in humility and servanthood.
July 03, 2014
Are You A Signpost
Matthew 11:4-5....."Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see. (5) The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.' "
Here we see Jesus responding to the imprisoned John who was questioning whether Jesus was the Christ or should he expect another. Jesus response says volumes to us today as it did to John over 2,000 years ago.
Our culture today wants to know whether Christ is still alive among His people. Like John, observers are asking whether those of us who claim to be followers of Christ are truly of God, or whether they should look elsewhere. Ask yourself, "Can those people I see know that I belong to Christ?" What evidence can you display that you are from God? When your fellow workers, or students or family members are at a loss to know which way to go, are you the guide who can lead the way to truth?
Your mission has been assigned by Christ himself (Matt. 28:19-20). You are to be a witness to the work of Christ in your life, by doing the works of Jesus for those who are hungry for what you have to offer. They may be starving and not even know it until they behold Christ in you. But can you do the job if you have just been a pew sitter, Sunday after Sunday? What help can you be to others when you do not have a clear vision of the church and your role in it? Have you matured in your walk with Christ to the point that you are a walking signpost to those who are lost and searching for the right direction? Can they see the path to God displayed in you? Are you ready with the Word and a helping hand in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2)?
Can you do all this? No you can't, not in your own strength. Christ knew this. Therefore, he sent to you the Holy Spirit of promise. You, who are filled with the Spirit of Christ as the apostles were on Pentecost, know by what power your strength comes. You know that without Him you can do nothing. But, with Him nothing is impossible. Let the Holy Spirit stretch you to be all you can be for Christ. Be His diplomat, His soldier, His servant and His right hand.
July 4, 2014
Replace Bad Habits With Good
2 Corinthians 4:10…"So that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."
We have to form habits to express what God's grace has done in us. We have formed habits related to personality traits, or even addictions; these have to be replaced by those initiated by the Holy Spirit in order to manifest the life of the Son of God in our flesh.
The first habit that must be obliterated is that of pride. This habit is prevalent in much of what we do and think. Even when we see that we have been faithful in doing something good for God, we take pride in our efforts. Wrong. You would not be able to do anything if it were not given you to do by God himself, who in turn empowers you to do it. This should be when the habit of humility is formed in you: the first and most important because it arises from the root of love.
When we have trials, times that are disagreeable, what is our fall back response? In these times do we manifest the gentleness and sweetness of Jesus? Does peace reign in our hearts as effectively in the bad times as in the good? The only way we will be able to overcome the bad times is to form the habit of peace within our hearts. When the old habit of irritation arises we are far from Him.
Brother Lawrence, a lay brother who lived in a monastery in the 17th century, wished always to spend his time in total communion with Christ. At first he found it difficult to pursue the usual, mundane, purposeful, required tasks of everyday living in the monastic community. When he began to form the habit of practicing the presence of God, he found he was doing so in whatever activity in which his physical body was engaged. This is how Brother Lawrence put it...."in order to form a habit of conversing with God continually -- and doing all of our actions for Him -- we must at first diligently implore Him for this ability. However, after a little practice, we will eventually find His love inwardly exciting us to this practice without any difficulty." It is God who gives the ability and the root of it all is love.
We can also presume to be forming habits of good quality, when in actuality they only serve the purpose of being a habit and nothing more. We can make a god out of our little Christian habit; the habit of prayer at regimented times, the habit of Bible reading. Watch how your Father will upset those times if you begin to worship your habit instead of what the habit symbolizes. You will be saying,.."I can't do that just now I am praying; it is my hour with God." No, it is your hour with your habit. There is a quality that is lacking in you. Recognize the defect and then look for the opportunity of exercising yourself in the quality you wish to assume. Being faithful is not in the habit but in the attitude which drives you to be faithful.
July 5, 2014
Stretching Myeself to Love
2 Peter 1:7..."Add to your brotherly kindness...love"
Love is not easily defined. Our response to loving may be defined but the depth of meaning is often enigmatic. When we say we love someone we are stating that we have a sovereign preference for that person. A man loves his wife when he demonstrates kindness, thoughtfulness, faithfulness, protection and caring. The ultimate test of love is the sacrifice of one’s own life for another. Jesus is our supreme example. Because of His sacrifice we are invited to join His love of the Father. Once we experience the love of God filling our hearts by the Holy Spirit we can easily make Jesus first in our life which is His demand of us.
In order to fully experience this love of God in my life I must allow Him to remove pretense and pride. He will not do so unless I give permission. Through the Holy Spirit I obtain the knowledge that God did not love me because I was lovable, but because it is His nature to do so. Then, because He demands that this love He has shared with me I do likewise to every other person I meet, he will send any number of people across my path who are unlovable, whom I cannot respect. Yet, He demands I exhibit His love to them unchallenged by my own preferences. This I cannot do on my own. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit actively working in me that I am able to stretch myself to this extent.
God demands more than brotherly kindness, which I can show to everyone that meets my standards of likeability. He demands I go beyond my own self-imposed boundaries; that I actually use the same measure of love He has given me to touch others who do not meet any standards I might consider acceptable. And, further, since His love for me is without end, He demands I show the same infinite love to all the unacceptable others I meet along this path of life He has laid out for me.
This is the lesson I must learn; that God is greater than I am, which means His love is greater and His compassion is greater. This cannot overwhelm me, but instead, should empower me to greater service as I actively engage in Kingdom living.
July 6, 2014
Clean All Over
John 13:10….”Jesus replied, ‘One who has bathed all over needs only to have his feet washed to be entirely clean.’
It was after supper, the last supper with His disciples before His death, he laid aside His robe and took up a towel and a basin and washed the feet of the disciples.
In Jesus’ time people wore sandals and walked on dusty roads which dirtied the feet. Washing the feet of someone who enters your home was customary and a sign of hospitality. Jesus mentioned that the disciples were clean because of the daily bath, so it remained only to wash the feet to be clean all over.
Our lesson here is about the daily dirt that can contaminate our flesh and leave us unclean. Every day we come into contact with unclean visual images which can conjure up unclean thoughts. We let emotions too easily rule our responses to situations which arise. Our language becomes tainted with worldly influence. We can become envious, or jealous, even lustful in our minds. All of this is the dirt from the dusty roads we travel.
We have been cleaned on the inside at the new birth (we have taken our bath in the living water), but we need daily cleansing in order to wash the dirt of those dusty roads off of us. How is this done; by the washing of the water and the word (Eph. 5:26).
We need to be washed by the Holy Spirit (water) as He guides us in the application of the Word (Holy Bible). Then, we are clean all over. The more we tend to this washing by the Word, the more renewed we will be to the mind of Christ within us. Only by this method can we succeed in the work of the Kingdom for which we are called.
July 7, 2014
Look to God Alone
Exodus 32:1 …”When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
Sometimes we wait a long time for God to answer our prayer. When we become impatient we sometimes seek other gods to go before us. We look to the god of self-determination, the god of ambition, the god of greed, and there are many others.
We can often fashion our own gods when we do not see God moving on our behalf. We do not stop to think that God’s plan may not allow what we want at the time we want it. We may be too spiritually immature to handle what we want. Do you think God would bring you your answer if it caused you to sin?
Another problem we have is attributing our own desires to God. We think, surely, this is good and God would want me to have it. But, God is not like us. His ways are far above our ways, His thoughts above our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). We must remember that God’s perspective and ours is different. We tend to look to today or just ahead, but God looks with an eternal perspective.
When we put aside our own desires and look to God alone, we will be closer to His heart in the matter. Walking in the Spirit is necessary for every Christian who desires more of God in his/her life; and this ability will always preclude any desire to worship any other god but the one true God.
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July 8, 2014
A Revolutionary Message
Matthew 7:28….”And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished.”
Matthew depicts in this passage the response of the people after hearing Jesus deliver his long discourse called the Sermon on the Mount.
They came to hear about a kingdom. Instead, Jesus talked about a lifestyle – the lifestyle of those who intend to live in the kingdom. As perhaps thousands gathered on the hillside, Jesus began to fill out the implications of His appeal for repentance. It would mean far more than an outward show of piety. Indeed, Jesus urged His listeners to make such a complete change of heart and life that they would “be perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
This was a tall order, especially when you understand the times and the religious atmosphere. They had seen the oppression imposed by their religious leaders as well as their Roman conquerors. They were held captive by ineffective religious traditions that had little to do with God’s interaction with His people. Now, here was this teacher spouting forth something quite new and revolutionary.
Jesus wanted people to understand how to function in this kingdom to which he was introducing them. Not only that, He was describing how the Kingdom of God worked and even prayed for that Kingdom to come to earth. He told them through the beatitudes that true happiness comes from looking at life through God’s perspective, which is often the reverse of the human point of view (Matt. 5:3-12). And He wanted them to understand that everything he was teaching pivoted off of one virtue, humility.
Jesus brought a stark understanding of the Morality of the Kingdom by revealing a morality that went beyond the laws and religious traditions of generations of rabbis. This morality went to the very spirit of the law.
Is this how you see the message of Jesus on the hillside in Galilee? Have you ever really delved into His message so that you can make it a part of your daily life as a follower of the King? What kind of disciple are you? Does your spirituality go beyond the outward show to the hidden quality of your character? Does your faith hinge on what you know, or does it hinge on who He is and who you are in Him?
July 9, 2014
Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13 & 14….”You are the salt of the earth; (14) You are the light of the world.”
In all of history what teacher has ever pinpointed such an attribute for his followers? Following Christ goes far beyond private spirituality. For the most part our secular society would prefer Christians to hold their views in private. But that is not the demand of Christ. A believer’s public life is on display wherever they live, work and play. We work, participate in community activities, shop, recreate; we come into contact with others in a thousand different ways. All the while Jesus says our light must shine and we must preserve His influence with our saltiness.
In Jesus’ day salt was used to preserve foods like fish from decay. In the same way, believers can help to preserve society from moral and spiritual decay. Of course in our society today we have developed chemical preservatives and infection fighting drugs. Christians can help to ward off spiritual infections and diseases in the larger society. One of the most important arenas for influence is the workplace, particularly jobs that affect values, laws, and public opinion. That is why believers should pursue jobs in education, government, and journalism, among many others. But, they must be so salty that they influence their environments, not the other way round.
Any believer who is salty enough will change the atmosphere where they are. You see this demonstrated all throughout the book of Acts and by many others, like John Wesley, Francis of Assisi, Mother Theresa, D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham, just to name a few. They use whatever influence they have to promote Christlike values and hinder evil.
Jesus called His followers “the light of the world,” an image that fits perfectly into modern society. The Lord’s first-century listeners would be astonished at the availability and importance of light in our culture. We use it not only to illuminate but also to communicate. Thus, Jesus wants us as His followers to shine, to be visible and attractive, not to bring attention to ourselves, but to bring people to God (Matt. 5:16). Again, our vocations are some of the primary means we have to reflect Christ to others. We are to be beacons to light the path to newness of life in Christ. We are called to be Lightbearers.
We are Jesus here on earth. It is up to every follower of Christ to help the kingdom break in to the here and now. We do that by shining brilliantly with the love of Christ and by being a preserving influence that upholds truth at all cost.
July 10, 2014
The Joy of Knowing Him
Philippians 3:10….”That I may know Him…”
This is what a captured heart looks like. Paul desired to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. This is what the heart of a true disciple looks like. Not how many crusades we are willing to attend, or blogs we have written, books we publish, messages we preach, sins we overcome, or how many souls we save. No, it is that we may know the Son as our only aim in life; our only goal in waking up every morning.
Oh, the joy of knowing Christ more and more each day. To awaken to the knowledge that today you will know Him more than yesterday and that tomorrow you will know Him more than today. It is in knowing Christ that we learn to trust Him. It is in knowing Him that we learn that we are not sufficient in ourselves to do anything for Him, but only through Him and our knowledge of the Truth, will our hands be useful in the kingdom to which we are now part. Let Christ first put His hands on your life. Trust His hands. Love His hands, for they were pierced for the purpose of bringing you to Him. He took your place on the cross so you can take His place in the world. But you can only do this through knowing Him and trusting Him with all you are and all you have.
This is how God measures success in your life – by how much His Son is being expressed and manifested. Likewise, the measure of success in your church is by the same standard. How much is Jesus being expressed and manifested in the life of your church. Do you expect to encounter Him in your meetings? Do you leave knowing you have met Him there?
Child of God, the purpose of your Christian faith is to know Christ more and more each day and to share what you know more and more as you are led by the Spirit of God within you.
July 11, 2014
The Blood of Redemption
Exodus 12:13…”And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”
This Scripture depicts the salvation of the Hebrews on the night when the unprotected firstborn of all Egypt were struck down. It was the blood on the lentil and doorpost of each Hebrew house that protected and saved them from the death angel of God.
God has always demonstrated the importance of blood to His people. It was the blood of Abel that cried out to God from the ground (Gen. 4:10). Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.”
So it is only by blood that we have redemption from sins and our sin nature is redeemed for all time. The blood of Christ brings us into complete union with Him. It washes us, protects us, heals and delivers us. But it can only accomplish this great blessing from the will of God if we allow it to do so. We must accept the great sacrifice of blood on the cross by Jesus Christ to be saved, protected, healed and delivered. Then, we can participate in the great adventure of intimacy with Jesus that will develop in us the Christlikeness that God desires.
By accepting the blood of Christ we begin our journey of growth that will make us more and more in His image. If we do not go on to growth, but remain at salvation, we cannot accomplish the will of God which is to change the atmosphere by bringing the Kingdom of God to earth.
July 12, 2014
Life in the Blood
Leviticus 17:11…. “ For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given you the blood to sprinkle upon the altar as an atonement for your souls; it is the blood that makes atonement because it is the life.”
God has set the plan: blood shall be for redemption. Those outside the faith do not understand why we cherish the blood of Christ. They only see a “blood thirsty religion.” This reflects the influence of Satan.
Satan is a creature without blood - just as the angels are without blood and flesh. These two characteristics separate us from them. God anointed blood for redemption because it is known to us but not to them. They are without ability to redeem. Only one with blood could redeem. Only the chosen One, who must become as a man (flesh and blood) could redeem.
When we stand on the blood of Christ, Satan has no recourse but to flee. He cannot fight the blood. He knows about the blood only vicariously through the life that we have in the blood. He has no life in the blood himself. God has provided not only our redemption through the blood, but also our protection.
We have life in the blood, and the life we have is as that of the Son of God. This is our protection from the enemy because he has no experiential knowledge of blood. That is why his worshippers use human blood in their covens, because he is counterfeiting the blood of the Lamb. But he has no recourse to blood because he is not created with human characteristics.
For years I have seen the application of the blood of Christ for our protection. God has shown me times when the blood has protected myself and my family from harm.
Child of God, apply the blood for your safety and protection from the attacks of the enemy. He is helpless against the blood of the Lamb. Thank God for His mercy and love in the wonderful plan of redemption for all His children.
July 13, 2014
The Voice of Blood
Genesis 4:10…”And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground…”
Just as Adam was man’s way to sin, Jesus was man’s way to redemption. Just as Abel’s blood was man’s way to vengeance, Jesus’ blood IS man’s way to forgiveness and restoration.
Blood can have two voices, one for revenge and another for redemption. When we are not willing to sacrifice our lives to Christ, our blood is capable only of revenge. But, when we give our lives to Christ, our blood is infused with His DNA and we are born from above by the blood of redemption which speaks louder than the blood of regret, revenge, hatred, anger, envy, greed and jealousy.
Satan is only capable of influencing the unredeemed blood of man, he cannot influence the redeemed blood of Christ in the veins of the born again believer. His influence is only through the mind, the blood He cannot touch. That is why your prayer for the covering of the blood is so powerful. Satan cannot betray your prayer because He has no way of influencing the blood of Christ.
Had Satan been aware of the power in the blood of Christ, he would have done everything in his power to prevent Christ’s death. Instead, he did everything he could to bring about His destruction. Then, upon resurrection, Satan knew he was defeated, but even worse, he soon realized the power of Jesus’ blood would be his nemesis for all time.
Now Child of God you have a powerful defense against every stratagem and ploy of Satan when you apply the blood of Jesus to your life, your mind, and your fortunes. This is the power that has been placed in your hands. By this method you will realize more victory than you have ever experienced before.
July 14, 2014
Abba Father Loves
Psalm 40:5…”O Lord my God, many and many a time you have done great miracles for us, and we are ever in your thoughts. Who else can do such glorious things? No one else can be compared with you. There isn’t time to tell of all your wonderful deeds.”
We should be constantly awed by the love and faithfulness of our Abba Father toward us. In all of the history and mythology of religion is it ever told that a god came to earth to be like us, and to sacrifice his life for us without ever asking us to deserve it? Yet that is what our God, the one true God, did for each one of us.
We were in open rebellion, callous, hard-hearted, vile creatures who thought more highly of ourselves than we did God. We knew no way to be righteous except through our own efforts. We always failed, but we were so stupid we kept going around the same mountain of failure thinking that the next time would be the last.
Abba Father delivered us by many miracles, yet our hearts remained hardened. He sent us many glorious signs; we just ignored them or took them for granted. We worshiped ourselves and many other false idols, yet He remained steadfastly resolute that He would spend Himself in redeeming mankind.
Then one fine day, here was Abba Father, watching our pitiful attempts at righteousness, or openly sinful displays, then turning to His Son and saying,"it is time for you to go to them, and bring them back home."
Oh how my heart sings to know that He showed how much He loved by spreading His arms out wide and dying for me. When I was yet a sinner He died for me. When I deserved death, He died instead. I am now His and He is mine. No matter what the day may bring, this truth trumps everything.
July 15, 2014
The Bread of the Passover
Exodus 12:8….”And they shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.”
These were God’s instructions for the Hebrews on the night of the first Passover. God was preparing them for their release from slavery under Pharaoh and their journey in the wilderness.
The sacrificial lamb was for strength. They would need God’s supernatural strength to survive in the wilderness and as Psalm 105:37 says “there were none feeble among them.” It takes a supernatural work of God for 2.5 million people to all be healthy and remain healthy for 40 years in a wilderness.
At the Last Supper, Jesus offered bread to His disciples and told them the bread was His body which was given for them. The bread for the Passover had to be made a certain way according to Jewish tradition.
The bread is called Matzoh. The Mishnah, or Jewish oral laws, gave instructions on the preparation of this bread. These instructions show something interesting to the Christian. According to these oral laws, the bread was to be unleavened, baked, pierced with holes and stripped. These instructions show us some amazing similarities to Jesus.
No leaven was used because leaven always represents sin in the Bible, and Jesus is the perfect sinless Son of God. That is why He is able to take our sins upon Himself. His body was burnt because the full fury of God’s wrath against our sins fell on Him. This fire was supposed to fall on us, but it fell on Jesus instead. His side was pierced and He bore those merciless stripes on His back so that our bodies might be made whole.
God has made it truly easy for His people to walk in divine health. We just need to come to His Table, put our faith in His broken body for our healing and partake. It is so simple, yet so powerful.
July 16, 2014
Recognizing Jesus in Communion
Luke24: 30-31...."Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and give it to them. 31. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight."
Luke 24: 13-35 relates the story of two disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus when Jesus happened to join them but they did not know it was He. The entire discourse between the disciples and Jesus is recorded by Luke. During the walk, which must have taken some time, although they were in the presence of the risen Lord and conversing with Him, their eyes were blinded from recognizing Him.
Although these disciples had knowledge of Jesus; they had been with Him, had seen Him crucified and buried, their knowledge was incomplete. Jesus chose not to reveal Himself to them because they were yet carnal and any visible knowledge would have diminished spiritual knowledge.
When they had arrived at their destination they were hungry and sat down to eat. It was during the meal that Jesus revealed Himself as Lord. In the breaking of bread which was part of Jesus' command at the last supper, they came to know him. The Greek word used here is epiginosko, which means to become fully acquainted with. This is what Holy Communion does for the believer. It brings us into full knowledge of Christ; His sufferings, His pain, His atonement, His substitutionary sacrifice, and His resurrection.
Jesus said in John 6:33 that He was the bread that came down from heaven and gives life to the world and in verse 35 He says He is the bread of life. This is what He became for these two disciples through the breaking of bread. This is what He becomes for us when we receive Holy Communion.
After they realized it was Jesus, he immediately vanished from their presence. Once we see Jesus through the revelation of His Word and communion with Him , we don't need to have a visible manifestation of His presence. Our faith is our evidence (Hebrews 11:1) and obtains for us a greater blessing than believing because of a visible proof (John 20:29).
July 17, 2014
Do All You Can Do
2 Chronicles 15:17…”Although the pagan shrines were not removed from Israel, Asa's heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.”
The King did what was right in the sight of the Lord according to 2 Chronicles 14:2, but he did not do all he could have done. He did not remove the pagan shrines so they remained as a reminder of the faithlessness of the people.
How many of us do what is right in the sight of the Lord but do not do all we could have done? How many of us ignore some of the things that seem not to intimately affect us? For example:
Do we carry our faith in God and belief in His standards and priorities with us into the voting booth? Or, will we bow to the traditions of our ancestors, or just ignore the deformed standard of society on the issues, ie., abortion, and same-sex marriage.
There are other shrines that you will not pull down as well. Will you resist the proud inflated ego that the world honors, but God does not? Is it just a small thing that you do not have to readily do? But God works on even the small things in our lives if we will let Him.
“Asa’s heart remained completely faithful throughout his life.” Yet, he did not do all he could have done. Is this the epitaph you want at the end of your life? Oh, yes your place in heaven may be assured, but what have you left undone? Indeed, what you failed to do may affect other lives you have touched. Perhaps they are emulating what they have seen in you. Therefore, they too may not do all they could have done.
Child of God, seek the Holy Spirit’s help in this matter. Ask Him to show you were you are lacking and then seek His instruction to do everything God requires. Let Him help you grow more completely into the image of Christ.
July 18, 2014
A Revelation from God
James 5:17...."Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.."
Yet he was mightily used of God. This reference is about the time Elijah became so despondent that he asked God to kill him (1 Kings 19:4).
Elijah wasn't perfect; yet he called fire down from heaven, not once but three times; he was the first person to raise the dead; he caused the greatest revival in history up to that point; his word started and ended a three-year drought; he multiplied food miraculously; and he is one of only two men who never died -- he was caught up alive into heaven. There is a lot we can learn from a man like this, both positive and negative.
The Scriptures give us very little background on Elijah. It wasn't his pedigree or education that brought him into a position of influence and power. Elijah was nobody until he received a word from God. It was the revelation God gave him that put him into a position of leadership.
Likewise, anyone who is born again, or baptized in the Holy Spirit, or a has humble, intimate relationship with the Lord, has a revelation from God also. Just as Elijah's revelation from God put him into a position of influence, anyone who has a revelation of God has the potential to influence others also. The only difference is that Elijah knew what he had and was bold enough to speak.
Many of us have been intimidated by the ungodly. We aren't boldly speaking the truth we have from the Lord. What if Elijah hadn't spoken that prophesy to King Ahab? The drought may have occurred anyway, but Elijah wouldn't have been able to use it to affect the nation. The people would have dismissed the drought as a natural occurrence.
Elijah was bold enough to speak before there was any proof that what he was saying would come to pass. That took faith and great courage.
You have a revelation of God in your spirit. When you speak spiritual truths out, the Holy Spirit uses them to change lives and circumstances. You may or may not see the results of the Spirit's work, but never doubt they are there.
July 19, 2014
Worship in Spirit & Truth
John 4:24…”God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Do you know what an explosion of worship is? Think of when a volcano erupts, or a geyser spews forth. There is a lot of visible evidence of the power beneath the surface which you cannot see.
Sometimes I have been in worship services when people have danced, and twirled, and marched, and even ran. These are outward expressions of the joy and praise that is filling the spirit which cannot be seen. David did the same thing when he danced before the Ark. There are many instances in the Old Testament when the Israelites expressed worship in some outward, physical manner. And, I see nothing wrong with this, although I know there are times when people have danced, or twirled, or marched, or ran because they were caught up in the emotion of the moment. This is when the truth of worship is none existent. WORSHIP IS NOT AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE, IT IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
Worship should have nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God.
Worship can be as quiet as a tomb. It can also be as jubilant as a sunrise. Worship should be personal and free.
Jesus said that God is a Spirit. We are also spirit beings. The way to worship in truth is spirit to Spirit. God communicates with us through His Spirit. This is Spirit to spirit. Worship should always be spirit to Spirit: Our spirits joining in agreement with God’s Spirit.
God has given us something much more powerful and compelling than the worshipers of the Old Testament had; the outpouring of Grace. Through His grace we have the ability to be outwardly calm in our worship, while our spirits are dancing and twirling and jumping and running. Let the Spirit of God lead you into true worship no matter where or when you worship (hopefully more than Sundays and Wednesdays). You do not need others present, or a worship leader. All that is needed is a heart of thanksgiving and joy.
July 20, 2014
Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
Genesis 12:1...."Now the Lord had said to Abram, 'Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you."
God is all powerful and all knowing, so why could He not use Abram in his own country among his own family?
There are many of us today who want to know God better but are unwilling to make changes to our lives in order to fulfill this goal. God knows what is best for us but too often we do not seek Him for the right things. The book of James tells us that we pray amiss. While we are asking God for this or that, why not ask for direction. Why not get really serious and seek His wisdom to develop a more intimate relationship.
There are many Christians today that are like a child on a merry-go-round. When they get off they haven’t really gone anywhere. They have just gone around in circles.
The purpose of our Christian faith is to give us the power to grow into the image of Christ. That will take a lot more than going around in circles.
Had God left Abram in his own familiar surroundings, he would have been too comfortable and thereby growth into the man God wanted him to be would have been impossible. This is the same with any Christian. In order to grow into the image of Christ we have to get out of our comfort zones and embark on the great adventure of faith that God has planned for us.
Pray that God will give you the trust to move out of your safe place and go where you have not gone before. Do the miracles, touch the people, spread the word, give the testimony, endure the trials and toughen timid faith in the process.
July 21, 2015
Be Holy
Matthew 5:48….”But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Could Jesus really mean these words; that ordinary people are to be perfect as God is perfect? Have you ever meditated on this passage? Jesus was talking about loving those that hate you (Matt. 5:43-47) and not just those that return your love. Isn’t that what God does?
God loved us before we were lovable; while we were yet sinners He sent His Son to die for us. This was His hope - that we would accept this sacrifice and love God in return. Many of us do, but many do not.
Even Christians are sorely lacking in this perfection to which Jesus refers. We have to first realize that perfection means holiness. You are expected to be holy. Peter reminds us of this in 1 Peter 1:16, and Paul reminds us in a number of his letters; Titus 1:8, 1 Thes. 5:27, Col. 1:23 and 3:12, just to name a few.
Holiness does not come from any effort on our part, but on complete trust in the work of Jesus on the cross. This is where our holiness originates. When we believe this and the very idea of holiness permeates every part of our being, we will know the joys of being like Christ. We are not there yet, at least I am not. But, I am in good company, even the Apostle Paul had not obtained perfection (Phil. 3:12) but was still pressing toward the mark. We must trust the righteousness of God applied to us by faith and not our own righteousness (Phil 3:9).
However, this does not mean that I have an excuse to act in unholy ways. No, it means that I expect this holiness to be an integral part of me, and as I expect such holiness, I am growing in the image of the Holy One Himself. So, that when asked by someone if I am holy, I will respond, “Yes, because the blood of Christ has made me so.” I will, therefore, walk in that holiness so that it is a beacon to all others I meet along my journey of faith.
July 22, 2014
Grace and Peace
Romans 1:7…”to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints; Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Grace and peace to you,” this greeting is used thirteen times by Paul in his letters. Whether he was writing to the people of a church, to his “true son in the faith,” or even writing to discuss the difference between slavery and brotherhood, his blessing is grace and peace.
Why would this man of God greet everyone in this manner? What is so important about grace and peace that Paul feels the need to speak the words immediately, and often? For one thing, Paul was the recipient of great grace and peace from God in a very personal, intimate way. Paul knew the immense struggle that He and all the followers of Jesus were up against, and that without grace and peace from God, no one would succeed to victory. Paul understood our on-going need for both of them.
Part of the good news is that there is more grace: grace for today, and grace for tomorrow. Grace for more than forgiveness. If we are determined to think of grace as merely a ticket to heaven, we miss the joy of grace along the way. Why come to the shores of God’s grace only to dip our toes in the ocean? There is a vastness to God’s grace that we will never know unless we determine to pursue spiritual formation.
God wants to provide grace in the everyday: grace for growth, and grace to sustain. Grace and peace represent more than our need. They are the need of everyone we meet. Do we wish grace and peace on others? Do we have it to give? One of the greatest purposes of God’s grace and peace to us is that we have it in abundance to give away.
July 23, 2014
An Anchor, A Monument
Hebrews 6:19…”We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.” Good News Translation.
There is nothing worse than being pushed up against the wall by some calamity that literally takes your breath away. It is as though everything you knew or thought you knew about God slips away in favor of the overwhelming thing that you face. But, suddenly, your spirit recalls a monument that you erected years ago when God was faithful to His Word and delivered you; a monument that you set up as a reminder of what God can do (Joshua 4:9). This has become your hope. You know that God is able, strong, and mighty to save in even the worst of times.
This hope is now your anchor. The boat of your life is being tossed, dangerously close to being completely swamped. You must throw out an anchor to hold onto the hard ground beneath the sea of troubles that will stabilize your craft. This hard ground is your hope in everything you know God can do, but even more than that it is an anchor of hope in the very character of God.
Then Jesus, your High Priest, escorts your hope (your anchor) into the Holy of Holies, beyond the veil so you can know for a certainty that God has your hope and will never let it fade.
“Knowing God” is so important for every Christian. Just “Knowing about God” is totally insufficient for the task of living. That vital faith we have in the God that we know intimately is what our hope is built upon - so, that when we are saved from the trial or temptation we can give Him all the praise. But even though we die, we will trust in Him because death only leads to a greater reality of being forever in His presence.
July 24, 2014
When Chaos Reigns
1 King 14:25-27…”Now it came about in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak, the king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem. (26) And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house, and he took everything, even taking all the shields of gold which Solomon had made. (27) So King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place, and committed them to the care of the commanders of the guard who guarded the doorway of the king’s house.”
King Rehoboam was the son of Solomon. Instead of reigning wisely as his father, he reigned foolishly, not taking account of the long term effect of his actions and the actions of the children of Israel. Under his reign the kingdom had been split into the upper and lower kingdoms. His people in the south had once again raised up the high places to worship idols, and male cult prostitutes were in the land doing what the Lord had called the abominations of the nations which the Lord dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
Then, with chaos reigning in the land due to the evil of Rehoboam, the city of Jerusalem was sacked by the king of Egypt. The golden shields which Solomon had made were stolen. In their place Rehoboam had bronze shields made. These were used by the guards to guard his house.
All scripture is given for our instruction (2 Tim. 3:16). So, we see what the results can be when we choose not to follow the Lord; chaos reigns. This may mean sickness or disease attacks our bodies, or a job loss, bankruptcy, loss of our home, loss of a loved one, depression and even suicide. All of this is because we have decided to follow our own way rather than the way of God. When we raise up idols to worship like work, sex, alcohol, stuff, etc. we have chosen our own way over the wise way of God.
Rehoboam chose not to heed the wise counsel of his elders earlier when his rein first began. Instead he chose to listen to younger, less experienced friends who knew very little of the ways of God. The symbolism of the golden shields should not be missed in verse 26. Gold symbolizes the purity of God, and in this case the provision to defeat an enemy. Rehoboam had not desired the purity of God in his life and reign so God removed it from Him. Then, the king fashioned bronze shields as replacements. Bronze is not a pure, natural element, but an alloy that is manmade.
All of Rehoboam’s actions had shown his choice to ignore God and rely on his own resources and designs. He used manmade implements to guard his house. When we do that we are sure to fail. When we choose our own way, we fail to accomplish what God desires of us. Rehoboam could have been a great king; instead he is noted for the chaos and trouble he brought upon Judah and Israel because of the wars and the splitting of the kingdom into two.
July 25, 2014
Commit to be Other Worldly
Ephesians 2:2..."in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,.."
Paul is addressing born-again believers who had once been ruled by worldly lusts and contaminated by worldly influences.
When we are born-again, even though we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the worldly influences that have been so much a part of our lives up to that point may still hold a strong influence upon our mind and character. We must identify those influences and be willing to recognize their danger to our new character being formed through the Holy Spirit. We are developing the character of Christ, but that development may be severely hampered by worldly influences.
When one views the world it may seem rather orderly to the natural eye. But, viewed through the spirit's eye we can see an orderly system of deception cloaked by restless activity among humans involved in constant wars, thousands of religions, evil conduct, corrupting entertainments, and other distracting, time-wasting business and social vanities. All of this restless activity is in reality nothing but a smokescreen hiding a sinister influence from discovery. The world is participating in Satan's designs, with no regard for Godly wisdom or knowledge.
To continue in the path toward Christlikeness, we must be wholly committed to be other-worldly. We must be willing to leave the course and fashion of this world for a higher course, the course of holiness in Christ. This is not an impossible goal that is why God gave us His Spirit. But, we must be intentional in our desire to fulfill the will and purpose of God in our lives, so that we can be of value in the breaking in process of His Kingdom on earth.
July 26, 2014
Famine of the Word
Amos 8:11….”Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:”
Is this what we are seeing now among the nations? The Word of God seems to have no place in our modern secular society. The first victims of this famine are the young.
Many young people have not had godly parents who instill truth and wisdom from the Word into their minds. They leave home and the secular world’s influence is overwhelming to them and they become hard hearted in their rebuke of God and His Word.
Having been starved of truth, they are susceptible to the half-truths and falsehoods of pagan religions and the new age philosophy. Many churches are abandoning truth as well which leaves a tremendous void in the God created mind that longs for truth and a relationship with God.
The idolatry of self and materialism is replacing the God of the universe and the result is a dull self-serving generation lead by dull self-serving leaders.
We, the disciples of Christ who long for Christlikeness in our walk and talk, must be the lights that break through the intellectual darkness of this present age. We must stand firm for truth and never let our guard down, knowing that we are fighting not flesh and blood but the principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this age (Eph. 6:12).
July 28, 2014
Clothed for Battle
Ephesians 6:11….”Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Years ago a Pastor’s wife shared a dream or vision concerning the armor of God. This imagery and meaning has never left me. She saw the Lord standing in front of her telling her to put on the armor that lay at her feet. She did as instructed; she girded her loins with the belt of truth; this was the knowledge of the Word that was deep in her belly and loins. It is from here that she stirs up the gifts that are in her through the Holy Spirit, and gives new birth to revelation from the Spirit. Next came the breastplate of righteousness which protects the heart: the vital organ that is aligned with God through the Spirit at the new birth; the gift of integrity and moral rectitude and right standing with God which the enemy can never penetrate. She then put on the shoes of peace which is the result of her knowledge of who she is in Christ. Peace gives her the ability to stand firm without wavering in the face of evil. Then came the shield of faith, to protect all through saving faith, the faith of victory. Then she placed on her head the helmet of salvation, and the Lord said this is the protection for your mind; being saved by grace you can never be tempted beyond what you can bear, but if you give in to temptation you will repent and find peace and rest when you return to the mind of Christ within you. The helmet protects your vital thoughts without which you would never win against the devil. Lastly, she took up the offensive weapon, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. It is by wielding the Word at every opportunity of evil that victory is assured.
Now, fully clothed for battle, she anticipated a fight and looked expectantly at the Lord. She saw fire in His eyes and His robes took on a shine like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Stand still,” He said, “And see the power of you clothed in Me.” With that He turned and laid desolate the enemy forces.
God wants us always to be prepared for battle. But, once prepared, He will go to battle for us. He asks us to be aware of the armor He has supplied and to trust in every piece; by so doing, we let loose the army of God that will defeat our enemies on every side.
Pray for God to refresh you in the knowledge of His armor. Let Him give you the confidence to trust in every piece, for each piece has a purpose that will uphold you in all situations.
July 27, 2014
Trials Build Character
James 1:2…”Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.” (Amp. Bible)
There are many Christians today who blame God for situations and trials in their lives that disrupt them and their families. One thing we can count on is that God is faithful. He will always want to benefit His children anyway He can. However, we must realize the nature of our fallen world. Disasters occur with and without warning. Bad things sometimes happen to good people (although it is recorded in Scripture that when they called Jesus “good teacher” he rebuked them and said, “Why do you call me good, there is none good but the Father.” Mark 10:18)
James’ warns his fellow believers that bad things will happen. They happened to him, to Peter, John, and Paul and other dedicated ministers of the gospel. Paul was shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned, sleepless, and often hungry, but persisted in His calling with all joy. What will be your attitude in the midst of trials; will your faith cave, or will you allow those trials to build patience in you (James 1:3)? Paul says he would not change anything because in his suffering he is strong through his love of Christ. He counted it all joy to suffer for Christ. Since trials are inevitable, we also, should be joyful.
Without these patience building trials would we learn how to really love Him? If it were not for danger would we learn to be courageous; if it were not for obstacles, would we learn perseverance; if it were not for tribulation, would we learn patience; if it were not for adversity, would we build character; were it not for need, would we learn to have faith? If it were not for temptations would we learn how to overcome? We must learn that our joy and abundance has very little to do with our circumstances and much to do with our Trust in God.
Pray that God would grant you the patience to endure in every trial so that through them you will grow in your faith and trust wholly in the Living, Loving God.
July 29, 2014
The Kingdom Within
John 18:36...Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world."
Christ's kingdom is spiritual (in the hearts of people, Luke 17:21), not physical. Therefore, our fight as Christians must not be with carnal weapons but with spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Spiritual forces cannot be defeated with human weapons.
To accommodate our battle we have been supplied with spiritual weapons (Ephesians 6:13-19).
In order for Christians to advance the kingdom of God within we must be totally committed to that advance. Our society today seems intent on limiting religious thought in the public arena. But, there is no way an authentic Christian can possibly separate themselves from the kingdom within for the purpose of activity in the public arena. The great enemy of Jesus Christ in the present day is the conception that the systems of the world have nothing to do with the private life in God. "The central thing about the kingdom of Jesus Christ is a personal relationship to Himself, not public usefulness to men." (Oswald Chambers)
When we surrender to world systems to the extent we abandon our place in the advancement of kingdom living, we give advantage to Satan. This advantage, once obtained, can create havoc in the life of the believer. However, when one is sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit it is possible to avoid the pitfalls of Satan which he has set up in society.
Ask yourself if you are willing to quickly take a stand for Christ when challenged to do so? When you are being attacked for being a part of Christ's kingdom, are you willing to launch into the fight with your spiritual weapons, or are you too willing to use the carnal weapons so easily at hand, such as loud, angry words, a hateful attitude, or worse, violence? Do you allow the conflict to enrage you or do you maintain your peace? The beauty of our spiritual armor and weapons is that we must wear them and have them at the ready, but then we stand and let God take the battle to the enemy.
Pray your intimate relationship with Jesus will be such that confidence in the ability and power of your spiritual weapons will be in constant readiness. Pray for strength to live continually in the Kingdom of God.
July 30, 2014
Do I Quench the Spirit?
1 Thessalonians 5:19…”Do not quench the Spirit.”
The Bible tells us that Christians should be baptized by the Holy Spirit and fire. How does one quench a fire? By throwing water on it, or smothering it.
The Holy Spirit is given for our edification and empowerment to bring the gospel to a lost and hungry world. But can we do that when we also have a tendency to throw water on our fire by indulging in carnal lusts; by loving our neighbor less than ourselves; by envy and strife and jealousy?
Can the Holy Spirit work in us when we are smothering Him by our disrespect for others; by our wilful disobedience when we are directed to do something that we find inconvenient; by our focus on self to the exclusion of others.
What is needed is total commitment on our part. Partial commitment will never do. When I am in constant communication with God, I am close to His heart. I know what He requires of me. I know when I am to give my last dollar to help someone. I know when I am to visit a sick brother or sister and bring a willing heart of prayer to comfort them. I know when I am to go out of my way to encourage someone who needs a friend at that moment. The Spirit will always lead if we let Him. But we quench the Spirit when we disregard these promptings.
We are called by God to be redeemed, and we are also called by God to be inconvenienced. When we have peace concerning the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be a true servant of the Kingdom.
Just as we are hindered in our daily witness by quenching the Spirit, we cease to grow into mature Christians as well. Our foundation may be strong but have we constructed solidly upon what was started in us by the Holy Spirit?
Only by our continued communication with God can we ever hope to achieve success in our daily walk of faith. Brother Lawrence, a 17th century monastic brother, knew the value of constant communication with the Spirit of God. He called it practicing the presence of God. Through his methods of keeping constantly in God’s presence no matter what else he may be doing, he was filled with immeasurable peace and joy, and his life was a reflection of God to others within his community.
July 31, 2014
Some Didn't Come
Acts 1:15…”And at this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together)..”
Peter and all the apostles and other believers in Jesus were gathered in one place as Jesus had requested to receive the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. However, this was a very small number considering the people whom Jesus had touched in His three year ministry.
There were the five-thousand who were fed by the loaves and fish; the four thousand who were also fed; all the people of Samaria that had heard about Jesus through the woman at the well; all the people who saw the resurrection of Lazarus and then broadcast the news all around the territory; the many who listened to His sermons and parables on the mountain, from a boat, along the roadway and in the temple at Jerusalem and the synagogues all around Galilee.
Some theologians and historians who have studied the biblical texts and extra-biblical writings estimate that perhaps 150, 000 to 200,000 had experienced a personal face to face contact with Jesus.Yet, only 120 were awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. What happened to all the rest? The momentary highs surrounding the miracles, the emotional conviction upon hearing His teachings, the amazement at His authority, all these things just withered away after Jesus was no longer present among them. What got in the way of their belief? Perhaps it was the toil of daily living; the demands of family life; the traditions of their fathers and the Pharisees; or maybe it was just their indifference developed from their unbelief which was stronger than their belief. They could not see what a changed life would be like. They lacked spiritual vision.
I am afraid there are many Christians today who face the same turmoil, and unbelief, and indifference. Their vision is limited to what is, not what might be. When the Holy Spirit filled the 120 in the upper room, they became virtual dynamos for the Kingdom. Their lives were changed forever. That small number impacted the entire world. And not just conversions, they mentored whole communities of believers, developing disciples who in turn developed other disciples. That is what the church has been empowered to do.
Are you mentoring others to follow Christ? Perhaps you think this is not your calling. You would be wrong. This is the calling of every believer who has been given grace for salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
August 1, 2014
Don't Be Fooled
John 2:23-25…” During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.”
We live in the age of the end times which means many will be deceived. A phenomenon that was impossible until very recently - that of world-wide telecommunication by television and the web – has created a visually sensitive generation that is easily entrapped. We are too quickly deceived by the glitz, glimmer, and razzle-dazzle of the modern mega churches whose pastors are like super-stars and celebrities more than they are like human men and women whose changing hearts can be vindictive and untrustworthy.
Jesus knew this. He knew that emotions drive people to great heights of belief, but because of their unstable nature, can come crashing down on any and all who attempt to interfere. There are ministers who use emotion to capture their audience. Often times they will get the desired result, but a lasting effect will be very illusive.
Jesus did not want to pander to the most basic instincts and needs of the people. He wanted their hearts to be changed. Through the miracles He showed them a loving God. Through His message He showed them a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
This is what we need in these end days, the message that changes hearts and welcomes the unshakable kingdom into the lives of ordinary men and women who can walk without faltering, and reach the goal of Christlikeness.
Child of God study to show yourself approved; as the scripture says, “Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling and skillfully teaching) the Word of Truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (Amplified Bible). Do not go after and be led astray by the shiny objects which seem to be appealing, but are really counterfeited by that great deceiver, Satan. Take your lead only from the Word of Truth. Focus on what God says and be sure you attend only to messages that reveal His Truth.
August 2, 2014
Partnered With God
Ephesians 2:10…”For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” The Amplified Bible.
Did you ever really stop to think that God saved you so you could be His partner in good works? God wants you to do the things that will bring the kingdom to earth where you live, work, and play. He has assigned each of us a task. The best and most important aspect of being a Christian is to follow Christ into Christlikeness so we can accomplish all the work He has for us to do.
We have His love and His power backing us up at every opportunity. This takes trust in the one who created you to do His work. This means your total identity must be in Him. That may be a big order because you identify yourself with so many things that are temporal and of little real value.
You may identify with your family (you love them, but they didn’t save you and give you a holy calling). Or, you may identify with your career (but you are not your job – think of those whose jobs have been eliminated), when you really ought to look upon your job or career as a means to advance the kingdom of God.
However, when you identify with the one who created you and made you the special person you are, suddenly your whole perspective changes. You realize that your gifts and talents are meant to serve God through serving your fellow man.
Your good life is one that is totally controlled by the Holy Spirit. In it you are living above your circumstances; your behavior is governed by a higher authority; your ambition is to spread the love of God to all you meet as you sojourn through the life that God has given you.
August 3, 2014
Are You Commended by God?
2 Corinthians 10:18…..”When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.” NLT
Do you think you are a good person? How do you evaluate yourself? By what standard do you measure your worth? Do you hold fast to your abilities to accomplish your goals? Are your self-interests the driving factors in all your plans and strategies for success? These are important questions to ask, but they are not easy questions to answer honestly.
We should be focused at all times on allowing the love of God to operate full force in our lives. It is only by this that we can be approved by God. No amount of man-pleasing is going to get us to that place of being commended by God. Of course a lot of this has to do with how one identifies oneself.
Is your identity with your work, your career, your goals, your family or your peer group? Or, do you identify yourself with what God has done in your life; with the love He has placed within you. If you had no other entities (out of work, no family or friends, and no goals) with which to identify yourself, would you then identify yourself with the love of God? Are you so worldly involved that you cannot separate the world’s identity from your own?
You must honestly admit that nothing you may accomplish in your flesh; the people you know or don’t know will commend you to God, but that the love of God, working in you, is the only way to be approved by God. How do you know that the love of God is operating in your life? By the fruit it produces in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This is the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit in our lives. There is no room for pride, self-will, or worldly lusts.
Pray that your self-will be crushed and out of its destruction will grow the fruit that springs out of the love of God operating in your life. Allow God to move you into new and fresh realms of glory by His love for and in you.
August 4, 2014
The Gentle Witness
1 Thessalonians 2:7… “Even though as apostles of Christ we could have used our authority over you. But we were gentle with you, like a mother caring for her little children.”
It is apparent throughout the church of the 1st century that Paul and the other apostles were well known. Paul had planted churches in many areas of Asia Minor and had often visited them to encourage and support their outreach to the gentile community and to each other. Yet, he did not consider it His right to “lord it over” them. This would become a real problem in future centuries as the church grew and become as powerful as rulers, even to the formation of armies to conquer pagan lands.
There are some in the church today that have a judgmental attitude toward what is perceived as sin on a rampage in our modern culture. Instead of quietly and consistently spreading the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world, they would rather badger the sinner into repentance, and that never works.
They sit in their padded-pews and sing their lofty hymns and go home and complain about this and that problem and never walk across the street to bring the message of Christ redemption to their neighbor. This is not the way that was modeled by the first apostles and the early church.
To be sure, there are many areas of our society that are in deep darkness, and will remain so unless someone brings a light. The light may be yours. Perhaps your demonstration of love and acceptance will shine the light of truth in the darkness of their lives. Rather than holding placards with phrases like “Turn or Burn”, “Repent or Go to Hell” which will only infuriate them and inflame their resistance to your message. Satan needs no help in spreading the attitude of Christian intolerance, yet we seem almost to be fighting with Him against our cause.
Pray for God to enlighten your mind with His wisdom in witnessing. Pray to be a light that guides not one that blinds. And, don’t forget to give the Holy Spirit His chance to soften the hearts of those to whom He leads you.
August 5, 2014
Getting the Roles Right
Mark 4:14...."The sower sows the word."
Jesus had just finished giving His listeners the parable of the sower (Mark 4:3-8). When He was alone with the disciples He explained the parable to them.
As I was reading this again for the umpteenth time, God spoke to me a comforting word. You see, for some time I have been discouraged because those I want most to accept the Gospel have not responded to my witness, but I realize that Jesus calls us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:6-8), but that is not a call to convert others. That's right. Our job is not to convert but to witness. Conversion is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8-11). That means that we need not measure our success in witnessing by the number who respond. If that were the case, Jesus would have often been considered a failure: many who heard Him - and even some who followed Him - turned out to be uninterested (John 6:60-66).
The fact is that people are in various conditions when it comes to spiritual matters, as Jesus' story of the four kinds of soils illustrates (Mark 4:3-20). One thing we as ‘farmers' can't do is change the soil. But we can offer good seed and do the best we can to nurture whatever faith sprouts up (1 Cor. 3:7-9). One way to do that is by continually working out our faith in day-to-day life (Phil. 2:12-13; James 2:14-26), making it available for others to consider rather than hiding it (Mark 4:21-23). How others react is between them and God.
That is not to suggest that we should be detached or uncaring about others and their responses. Scripture challenges us to love others as we have been loved. One way is to make available to them our experience of faith - and make ourselves available to God to be used with anybody, anywhere, anytime.
We ought to avoid the trap of evaluating our faith by how others respond to us. The Spirit of God converts people - we don't. If we do, our converts are on shaky ground. The story is told of an evangelist traveling on an airplane who sat across the aisle from a noisy drunk. After watching the fellow carry on for a while, the minister's seatmate turned and sarcastically remarked, "I understand he's one of your converts!"
The evangelist replied, "Must be, if he were God's, he wouldn't act that way."
August 6, 2014
Being Like Christ
2 Corinthians 3:18...."But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
The outstanding characteristic of any true Christian is this unveiled frankness before God so that their lives become a mirror for other lives. By being filled with the Spirit we are transformed, and by beholding His glory we become mirrors reflecting that glory to others. You always know when a person has been in the Presence and beholding the glory of the Lord, you sense in your inner spirit that he/she is the mirror of the Lord's own character. Beware of anything that would fog that mirror in you.
The golden rule for your life and mine is this unyielding focus upon our life in God. Let everything else--work, school, clothes, food, money, ambition, everything on earth -- go by the wayside, except that one thing. The lure of other things always tends to obscure this concentrated focus on God. We have to maintain ourselves in this place of intimacy in order to keep absolutely devoted to His image in us. Let other things come and go as they may, let people criticize, but never allow anything to obscure the life that is hidden with Christ in God. Never let the hustle and bustle of daily life interfere with that relationship of abiding in Him. It is the one thing that is apt to fluctuate but it never should. I suppose the severest discipline of a Christian's life is to learn how to keep reflecting "the Lord's glory."
There are some today who look for the glory in meetings and gatherings, when in reality the glory is in us.
The world awaits your entrance today and with unveiled face you must present yourself in the Lord's glory. This is not a daunting task because the Holy Spirit is your guide and strength. The trust you have in all that Christ is in you will shine out like the glory of God that is bringing you into the likeness of Christ. You are embarking each day on the great adventure of being Christ to others. Praise God for His marvelous plan at work in and through you.
August 7, 2014
Fullness of Love
Philippians 1:9…”And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight (that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment),…” (Amp. Bible)
Paul prayed this powerful prayer for the Philippian believers. This church was a special delight to Paul because of their willingness to respond to the needs of the church in Jerusalem and the exemplary way in which they had responded. They also remembered Paul in his need while imprisoned in Rome. Paul developed a bond of love with this church that was unequaled elsewhere.
Now he prays that their love would develop into its fullest form - to be equal to the agape love of Christ. But Paul realized that in order for that to take place, the believers in Philippi had to have knowledge and insight into the agape kind of love which God ordains for every believer. This love does not come ordinarily through the flesh, but abounds out of the supernatural nature dwelling in every believer by the Holy Spirit.
This love extends to those whose mind is not as quick as ours, or are socially inept, or who may be different in color or ethnicity than we are, or whose education or social standing may not be on a par with ours. And, of course, it extends to those who may have hurt us in some way. It would be shocking to discover how many Christians harbor some sort of grudge against someone else. What is more shocking to learn is that most make no attempt at reconciliation.
When Paul prays for knowledge and insight to guide the believer into the development of the true agape love of God, he is saying that our spiritual discernment must override our natural tendencies to withhold love or to harbor unforgiveness. They may say they have forgiven but they will have no further business or personal contact which actually means real forgiveness has been withheld. How dare we not forgive when we have been forgiven so much?
Of course, there are those who rationalize, “You don’t know how they hurt me,” or “You really don’t know how much I put into that relationship.” Do we not see that these excuses mean nothing to God? Did we not hurt Him even though He had done all He could do for us? Yet, He still forgives and loves us without measure. Can we not do the same? We have a command from Jesus to love one another even as He has loved us? Can we really dare call ourselves Christians when we do not display true agape love for each other, friend or enemy?
Be aware my Christian brother or sister, that withholding forgiveness does not harm the unforgiven party, it harms you because it hampers spiritual development which means you cannot be all God wants you to be.
Pray that your love may abound more and more and extend to its “fullest development” in knowledge and keen insight.
August 8, 2014
Confess the Word
Hebrews 4:14.... "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."
The writer of Hebrews refers to holding fast our confession, which is to say above all maintain, meditate on, and trust in our confession. What is our confession? It is what the Word says about us. We are to set our course toward God and His liberating truth by abiding in His logos (spoken word, now becomes the written word), and we stay on course by holding fast to our confession of it. Confession, in fact, is the word homologia, which could be defined as "to say the logos". "Hold fast to saying the logos."
When we take God's truth -- what He says about us rather than what we think ---write it down, study it, memorize it, analyze it, declare it, say it out loud---when we apply that kind of diligence and obedience to abiding in and confessing His logos, it sets us on a course destined for recovery and freedom.
Speaking God's word keeps us from wavering. Hebrews 10:23 puts it this way..."Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;" It prevents us from giving up or jumping ship at the first sign of a storm. There certainly will be storms, of that you can be sure. The enemy of our soul will come and try to dissuade us. He will use any tactic possible to discourage us, stall us, and get us to veer off course. At times, we may not even realize we're swerving to the right or left. Yet, by abiding continually in and speaking God's logos, His word will keep us on course.
Why is speaking or confessing God's Word over ourselves so important? Both Testaments teach that we should do so (The Old Testament word for "meditate" means not only "to think about" but also "to mutter or speak to one's self.") The best explanation I can give is that God's spoken words are powerful, and He made us in such a way that speaking His Word affects us powerfully:
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Faith comes through them (Romans 10:17)
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Our faith is released through them, causing God's salvation to come to us (Romans 10:10)
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Death and life are released through them (Proverbs 18:20-21).
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They cause us to prosper and have success (Joshua 1:8)
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God's sword, with which we overcome the powers of darkness, is released by them (Ephesians 6:17)
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The world and all it contains was made with them (John 1:1-5)
Many other verses in scripture illustrate the power of the spoken word. It is not enough to simply think about it; we must say it.
Pray that as you study His Word, the Holy Spirit will reveal unknown truths to your mind. These truths will be your confession. Say them, love them, abide in them, eat them, sleep and wake with them.
August 9, 2014
Pray for The Body
James 5:16…”and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” (The Message Bible).
Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. And it is so much more than seeking answers to our needs, problems, and direction for our lives. Because we are brothers and sisters with all Christians everywhere, we should personally feel the hurt when the Body of Christ is wounded or under attack.
In a more intimate way, the Christians in Iraq are part of my body because we are both in the Body of Christ. The pain of their suffering should be like an ache in my arm or leg. I need healing because they need healing. And not just in Iraq, but the Philippians, and Egypt, and Libya; wherever Christians are being persecuted for their faith, I am also being persecuted. Their suffering is my suffering, their pain is my pain, and their death diminishes me because it diminishes the Body of Christ.
We are called to pray for each other; not just the visible others, but also for the others that we do not see but to whom we are attached by the Cross of Christ. We are not in any way detached from these people we do not know in the flesh. Through the power and tenderness of the Holy Spirit, we can be directed to pray for their exact needs. Of course this method requires that we be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and listening with our hearts to His calling.
God expects us to reach out in prayer to the multitudes that He knows but whose individual identities may not be known to His children. This is one of the great benefits of the Holy Spirit baptism; praying in the Spirit, and the ability to pray through to understanding.
Child of God, pray earnestly for the Body of Christ. Many are suffering and in need of your prayer covering. Realize that when you do, you draw nearer to heart of God.
August 10, 2014
Let Jesus Minister to You
John 4:32 ...But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."
When people make demands on you or keep depending on you, you may become stressed, tired and irritable. But this is not the case with Jesus. When people draw from Him, He is strengthened and refreshed!
Jesus is, after all, God. And you honor God when you take your place as a man/woman who lets God be God by drawing from Him. The One who said, "I did not come to be served, but to serve," (Matthew 20:28) loves it when you allow Him to minister to you. This shows Him your acceptance of His service, your trust and desire for His service.
In the preceding verses in John chapter 4 we see the story related about the Samaritan woman who came to the well to draw water. Jesus ministered to her and she left rejoicing with the promise of living water. The disciples, having returned with food for Jesus, found Him already strengthened and refreshed. When they wondered who had given Him food while they were away, He told them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about."
Today, when you draw from Jesus and let Him minister to you, it is "food" for Him that "refreshes" and "strengthens..
But it takes humility for us to allow Jesus to minister to us. We take pride in doing things for the Lord. We want to build our businesses, families and ministries for Him. All that is good, but without Jesus, we are spiritually bankrupt! We really have nothing to give to the Lord and His work. What we need to do first is to receive from Him because when we freely receive from Him, we are able to freely give. (Matthew 10:8)
Jesus wants to minister to you. Don't try to minister to yourself. That is pride and self-righteousness. The Pharisees, who felt that they did not need Him and that they could provide for themselves, were the ones who could not receive from Him.
Child of God bring all your needs to Him. Let Him minister to you, in this way you can minister to others. What He has given, you can freely give.
August 11, 2014
The Two Descents
Matthew 8:1-2… (1) When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. (2) And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
How passionately merciful is our God as displayed through His Son.
There is another mountain of importance in Scripture, Mt. Sinai. When Moses came down from the mountain carrying the tablets of God’s Law, the people were in open rebellion, demonstrating without doubt that they were incapable of keeping even the most basic ordinances of the Creator. The result was death under the wrathful finger of God. But that was the Old Covenant.
Now, God was doing something new. While the covenant of Law was brought by Moses, the New Covenant of Grace was brought by Jesus Christ. Instead of death at the bottom of the mountain, there was new life and healing.
What is so interesting about Jesus’ encounter with the leper is that it strongly parallels the sinner’s encounter with Him as well. We are like leper’s, being eaten up with sin, dangerously close to death - for the wages of sin is death (Ro. 8:23). We can do nothing on our own to alleviate our distressful and wretched condition. It takes coming to Jesus on our own, worshiping Him and crying out, “make me clean.”
Unlike the results of the Sinai descent, Jesus descent brings healing and wholeness. The great difference here results from the effects of the Law and the effects of Grace. One brings death, the other brings life. Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10), and He did it by giving Himself "completely" on our behalf.
We are no longer in the hopeless predicament of the leper, but have been given hope, and more than hope, assurance that Jesus Christ (always willing) has made us whole, lively stones (1 Peter 2:4) bought with grace through the blood of the Lamb, that will replace the stones of death that once laid us out awaiting God’s wrath.
August 12, 2014
Nourished by Intimacy
Hosea 6:3….”Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord (to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him). His going forth is prepared and certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the (heavy) rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.” (Amplified Bible)
What does it take to recognize, understand, appreciate and cherish the Lord? Is it our casual faith that we use when times are rough? Is it that occasional Sunday morning message we hear on those few times we attend church? Is it when we gather with a group to do work for the church? Is it when we just had to lie to the customer in order to keep our job? Is it when we cheated on our taxes because, well, doesn’t everyone? Is it when we saw that man who was drunk in the park and felt repulsed by his lack of discipline? Is it when we chose our own life-comforts over the comforts of another?
No, my friend: for us to fulfill the longing for God displayed by Hosea in this scripture, we have to be intent on following Him, no matter what the circumstance, or who might see. We must never be ashamed to deepen our trust and faith in our God. Never let the culture around us dictate the level of our faith. Never let our mind be succumbed to the rationality of the world, but insist that we have a transformed mind: the mind of Christ is in us. Walk in all that we are and have in Christ Jesus.
Our society and environment do not recognize the value of an intimate relationship with the Lord. Therefore, this attitude is not on our radar. We have let society dictate our level of faith. “But let this attitude be in you, which was in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 2:5. It takes deliberate separation from the world. Jesus separated himself from others, even His disciples, to spend time alone with His Father. Let Him be our example. Divorce your mind of all temporal concerns, let the quiet conversation of your spirit and God’s Spirit proceed unhindered in you, that you may find true peace, understanding, and joy.
The strength for your day begins in this quiet time with God. He promises refreshment, renewal, and nourishment in your inner being. Seek it as you do air to breathe, food to eat, water to quench your thirst. Let no man or thing hinder your prosperity in this.
August 25, 2014
Give Joyfully and Lovingly
2 Corinthians 9:7-8...."Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (that is, He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without)a cheerful (joyous, prompt-to-do-it) giver.... And God is able to make all grace(every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance." (AMP Bible)
Some people say you need to "give till it hurts." I wonder - does God really want gifts given in pain? He wants gifts given in joy! In fact, those are the only kinds of gifts that please Him. That's why He tacked His promise of abundance onto His command about cheerful giving. The two are connected. The concept of "giving till it hurts" didn't come from God. He would rather you give $10 with that kind of joy than $20 grudgingly. In 2 Corinthians 8:11-12, the Apostle Paul urges the church in Corinth to give with eager willingness. Eager willingness. That's what God looks for! If you haven't given that way in the past, make a firm commitment to start. Repent for the times you've given grudgingly. Then spend some serious time with God and His Word in your prayer closet, so when you give again, you can give from a willing heart.
Some give only because the Bible demands a tithe (tenth) part of your income. This kind of giving is legalistic and is driven by the wrong motivation. Some give because they expect God to give back and bless them for it. Again, there is a problem with motivation. The most important thing that should drive your giving is love, and not just any kind of love, but agape love.
This requires giving from a humble heart without any expectation of return.Put the "pain" of giving behind. Become a cheerful, joyous, prompt-to-do-it giver which gives out of a humble, loving heart and believe me, your blessings will abound!
August 28, 2014
Tasting the Sweetest Fruit
Galatians 5:22…”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith..”
Notice that Paul does not call this the “fruits” but the fruit of the Spirit. When we have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God the fruit indwells us as well. This fruit is the character of the Holy Spirit of God (which means it is God’s character). We have been endued with the attributes of God’s character call the fruit of the Spirit. These attributes continue in vs. 23 to include humility and self-control.
The first attribute is love. This is not human love. In our flesh we will never experience the agape love of God. But we can, through our flesh, refuse to live out the agape love of God. We possess it, but we must let it possess us. The agape love of God must influence all of our everyday actions, thoughts and words. Withholding forgiveness, holding grudges, coveting, anger and hatred, jealousy and lust are attributes of our fallen nature and do not exist in our born again spirits. Our spirits contain the fruit of the Spirit, but we must constantly renew our minds through intimacy with Christ and His Word to allow the fruit of the Spirit to be the only influence which moves us.
Joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness and faith exists in very limited quantities in our flesh. We run out quickly and suddenly. In fact our flesh often fights against humility and self-control.
What a wonderful gift we have from God in the fruit of the Spirit which creates in us the ability to live in a fallen world without being part of it. Yes, the God who created us knows our weaknesses. He has seen how limited the human nature of man is. How deceptive it is. How misguided it can be. He knew there was no way for our new nature in God to trump our human nature without the grace gift of the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Child of God it is your calling to live with the love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, humility and self-control of God actively influencing your mind and heart as you grow into the image of Christ.
August 29, 2014
Comparisonitis
2 Corinthians 10:12…”For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.”
What do we see so prevalent in the world today? - one group comparing themselves with another, deciding that some have more than others and not considering the roots of this unwise comparison but only that they have less. This type of faulty measurement leads only to divisiveness, turmoil and strife. When it is done by individuals who see themselves as victims, they will quickly blame anyone of the class that they see as having more than they, it can and often does lead to violent confrontation. The proof is in any news broadcast on any given day.
But that is the world. We do not expect much better from those who have no insight into Godly wisdom - but what about Christians? Do we not often do much the same thing? Do we not measure ourselves by others in the church, or community of believers? We strive (human effort) to be as holy as Sister Mary, or Brother Jack. We see them as having more faith, more compassion or kindness, and we try in our flesh to be like them. Or we see some doing great things in the Body of Christ by way of evangelism, or helping the poor, and we long to do what they do. We envy their ministries. And though we try to emulate their work and ministry, we fall short by means or strength. Our human efforts will come to naught and we find ourselves discouraged and soon may even backslide altogether.
When we attempt holiness in our flesh it is the product of pride. Pride is the sin that will quickly erode our faith to the point that it is of no value - by doing so we limit God. We limit our usefulness to His kingdom. The manifestation of His will in our lives may never be realized because we have measured ourselves by others.
True wisdom dictates that we are all on our own journey of faith, and no one is more necessary or valued than another. Instead of comparing ourselves with others we should be recognizing the worth and value of others who are jointly fitted into the body, without devaluing our own unique giftedness. After all we are all on God’s plan; it is His design and He must be the ultimate leader, through His Spirit, who guides us into all we need to do and be in order that His kingdom plan succeeds.
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August 30, 2014
Call Out to Jesus
Mark 6:48…”Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.”
There are times in our lives when we too are “straining at rowing,” for the wind seems to be against us. Maybe you worked very hard to be promoted, but you were passed over. Perhaps, you feel you are leaning hard into the wind of a failing marriage and are constantly being pushed back. Or, perhaps it is an addiction that seems to blow hard against you so that you can feel no strength to resist. Whatever your circumstance, believe that Jesus is aware of your storm just as He was aware that His disciples were struggling against their storm.
And like the disciples He may have made you go out on your own to a mission field, even though that field may have been as nearby and familiar as your job, or your community, or neighborhood. And like the disciples whom he “constrained” (verse 45 - KJV) to get into the boat and go across the lake alone, He will be responsible for your safety, just as He was for theirs.
But, look at this, Jesus would have passed them by. What! Does that sound like someone who is responsible, or even cared that they were struggling? What is needed is a cry for help, and the disciples raised it. Do you cry for help in your struggles, or does your fiercely independent nature require that you first try every resource you know before you cry out to Jesus? Jesus will not refuse you in your desperation, but He wants to be invited to help. He will not force you to receive His help, but He will never pass you by when you call out to Him. And, what He really desires is that you are constantly in an attitude of dependence on Him. This is when you please Him most; when your very life displays a sincere need for Jesus every hour. Like the great hymn of faith says...”I need thee every hour – every hour I need thee.” And, more than that, you should need Him every minute of every hour and every second of every minute.
August 31, 2014
To Know Christ More
Philippians 3:10….”That I may know Him…”
This is what a captured heart looks like. Paul desired to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. This is what the heart of a true disciple looks like. Not how many crusades we are willing to attend, or blogs we have written, books we publish, messages we preach, sins we overcome, or how many souls we save. No, it is that we may know the Son as our only aim in life; our only goal in waking up every morning.
Oh, the joy of knowing Christ more and more each day. To awaken to the knowledge that today you will know Him more than yesterday and that tomorrow you will know Him more than today. It is in knowing Christ that we learn to trust Him. It is in knowing Him that we learn that we are not sufficient in ourselves to do anything for Him, but only through Him and our knowledge of the Truth, will our hands be useful in the kingdom to which we are now part.
Let Christ first put His hands on your life. Trust His hands. Love His hands, for they were pierced for the purpose of bringing you to Him. He took your place on the cross so you can take His place in the world. But you can only do this through knowing Him and trusting Him with all you are and all you have.
This is how God measures success in life – by how much His Son is being expressed and manifested. Likewise, the measure of success in your church is by the same standard. How much is Jesus being expressed and manifested in the life of your church. Do you expect to encounter Him in your meetings? Do you leave knowing you have met Him there?
Child of God, the purpose of your Christian faith is to know Christ more and more each day and to share what you know more and more as you are led by the Spirit of God within you.
September 1, 2014
Hearing God
Acts 9:10…”And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Behold, I am here, Lord.’ “
This appears to be one of those nondescript passages that would have no real instructional value except to lay ground work for something more important to come. However, stop and think for a moment about this man Ananias. Obviously he was easy to reach. The Scripture doesn’t say the Lord called several times or even twice. No, at the Lord’s call, Ananias immediately answered.
I wonder how many times the Lord has called you and me but we have been too distracted to hear. Can we hear over the grappling and striving to make more money, or attain a greater position? Can we hear over personal needs that press us so thinly we spend more time worrying than meditating on God and His provision? When was the last time you quieted your mind and reflected on God’s greatness and His plan for your life? When was the last time you brought to your remembrance all the ways God has helped and restored your life?
I remember a time, many years ago, when my wife, Jami, and I were in a meeting where a prophetess was speaking. Several people came up front to receive from her and she prophesied over them all. We remained in our seats. Suddenly she turned toward us and asked us to stand. She proceeded to prophesy and she said that the Lord had several times spared my life. I immediately thought she had made a mistake. Jami was disabled and had had many health challenges. I, therefore, assumed she meant Jami, not I. Driving home that evening, and meditating on the events that we had witnessed and the prophesies we had heard, the Lord spoke to me very clearly and reminded me of certain times in the past when my life was in danger, but I did not even know it. He had intervened in each situation for my protection. I was deeply humbled and began to weep, just to realize how much God loved me and wanted to use me for His kingdom purpose.
However, I would not have heard Him had I not been meditating on Him. What if I had turned on the radio in the car and was listening to the latest pop or rock music? Would I have heard Him then?
We can hear the Lord when we are in an attitude of expectancy. Our spiritual ears are attuned to hear His voice. We do not allow distractions, trials, family, friends, vocations, hobbies, or interests to dim our focus upon the Lord.
I have found that entering into His presence each morning upon rising, prepares me to spend my day in union with Him, no matter what else the day may hold in store. Taking an entire day to spend in His presence is also of great value. Do not allow distractions like television, cell phones, internet, worries or problems, or family members to come between you and the Lord. Spend quality time in expectation, listening for His voice. You might even find fasting on that day is helpful because food can also be a distraction.
Pray that the Lord will prosper you in this desire to focus entirely on Him - to quicken your mind to know His will and your ears to hear His voice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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September 2, 2014
Building A Solid Foundation
John 6:66…”From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
This verse haunts me. Not because of the three numbers in the reference, but because it is a great reminder that many folks simply gave up following Jesus when things became hard to understand. When he shattered their provincial notions of religious things, when he confronted them about their motives, they went away.
Intellectual reasoning has driven many young people from the church and God. When confronted by strong personalities (professors) that have sway over their future success, their weak foundation crumbles. Why should it crumble? – because it was not built on the solid Rock of Christ in the first place. Too many churches spend far too much time sermonizing and too little time training in discipleship.
We must ask ourselves also “What will I do when things get difficult in my walk and I can't figure out all the answers to what is going on? Will I have the foundation to stand in the face of persecution and trials?” I must trust in the Word, and to do so I must know the Word.
Too often Christians are led astray by teachings that are not founded on the Word of God. However, they do not realize it because their knowledge of God’s Word is limited. They have not infested time in study so they can show themselves approved (2 Tim. 2:15). They lack proper discernment which is a skill built on studying the Word and intimate meditation.
When we are too distracted by the world and its devises and temptations, we lack the intimacy with God and His Word that we need to avoid the pitfalls that the enemy has devised to draw us away from true faith. He is quite aware of our weaknesses and he plays strongly on them.
The strength derived from a Spirit led life is what is needed to maintain our hold on truth and the foundations of faith upon which it is built.
September 3, 2014
The Power of Prayer
Luke 3:21-22....When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
The greatest moments in a Christian’s life come through prayer. When Jesus prayed, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. The Spirit came upon the disciples as they gathered to pray on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14; 2:1). When the disciples prayed together after Pentecost, their gathering place was shaken, and they were emboldened to proclaim the gospel throughout the city (Acts 4:31).
Prayer is not a substitute for hard work—prayer is the work! God does things in and through our lives by prayer that He does in no other way. As we pray and as our attention is turned toward God, we become more receptive to aligning our lives with His will. God will not equip us with His power while we are racing off to our next appointment! His Spirit will not empower us if we are oblivious to what He is saying. He requires our complete attention before He will fill us with the powerful presence of His Spirit.
If you want to learn how to pray, use Jesus as your model. Jesus did not always receive what He asked for, but His prayers were always heard and always answered (Mark 14:36; Heb. 5:7). If you do not sense the Holy Spirit’s power in your prayer life, you may not be spending adequate time in prayer. Perhaps you are pursuing your own agenda rather than seeking the Father’s will. You may have abandoned the place of prayer before God’s answer came. When you pray with the Holy Spirit, you are praying the will of God. If you do not know God's will then praying in the Spirit will allign your prayer with His will.If you will commit yourself to spend sustained time in prayer, asking for God’s kingdom on earth, God will work in your life just as He did in the lives of Jesus and His disciples.
Brother Lawrence, a 17th century lay brother, felt that there should be no difference between our times of daily action and our times of devoted prayer. All our day should be spent in prayer to God. Even in the midst of our actions an attitude of prayer should prevail in our spirits. Paul reminds us in Eph. 6:18 to pray continually. This should be our hearts cry, to be continually in conversation with our Lord and King.
September 4, 2014
Uncompromised Love
John 15;17…Jesus said, “This is my command: Love each other.”
Jesus’ simple command has been compromised and thwarted at every turn during every century since he first uttered it.
What makes it so hard is that we simply don’t understand it. How does one love. There is the love driven by pride and the desire to manipulate others. There is the love of our fellow man, when they return love. But Jesus is not identifying love this way; He is calling us to love as He loved.
That is a tall order when we are full of ourselves, our needs, and our desires for more and better. Jesus reminds us to love without regard for personal comforts or even necessities.
I am reminded of the story of a young college student who had never considered God. Then one day, the Holy Spirit drew him to stand outside of a church. He heard beautiful music coming from inside the church which seemed to draw him closer. He entered the door and saw all the people standing and singing. Slowly he was drawn up the aisle. As he walked the congregation noticed his torn and frayed shorts, his t-shirt torn down the sides, his sandals, and his long uncombed hair. He was certainly not appropriately dressed by their standards.
He seemed to take no notice of how people stared, he just kept moving closer and closer to the front of the church. The pastor noticed him with a curious look. As the young man drew closer to the altar area an usher, dressed in coat and tie, began to come up the aisle toward the new visitor.
Once at the front the young man looked around, and then dropped to his knees in an attitude of prayer. The usher come up behind him and put his hand on his shoulder apparently in an attempt to remove him. But, instead the usher knelt beside him and joined his prayer.
This is the love of God reaching out. This is the love of God submitting our will to His. This is how Christ demands that we love. What means do we have to attain such love? The Holy Spirit. It is only through Him that our flesh can be overcome and God’s love in us can reach out to touch that someone else He has sent our way.
September 5, 2014
Cherish the Lamb
2 Samuel 12:2…”But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.”
This is a remarkable scripture as the prophet Nathan relates a parable that describes David’s sin against God for destroying Uriah, husband of Bath-sheba, so he could have her for his own - and more than that it tells about the love for the lamb.
Whenever you see a lamb in scripture you have an opportunity to see Christ in some way that will benefit your faith walk. Here we see a man who treated his lamb like one of the family. Whenever the family gathered the lamb was there. He was there when they ate and when they slept. He was a silent listener to every discussion. He was not treated as a pet to be stroked on Sunday’s only. He was included in every activity of the family’s life every day. The lamb was loved, cherished and nourished tenderly by the man and his family.
Is that what we do with the Lamb of God? Do we nourish Him daily in the Word? Do we cherish Him daily through our praise and prayers? Do we love Him tenderly by obeying Him at every turn? Do we acknowledge Him as a silent listener to our conversations? Do we allow Him to cover us while we sleep and comfort us while we are awake? How much do we even consider the Lamb during our busy, push and shove day?
Child of God, if the Lamb is inconsequential to you – if He is not on your mind and in your heart daily – if He is not an invited witness to your actions and words – come to Him, love His sacrifice, cherish His tenderness, and be nourished by His Spirit. Learn to eat, drink, sleep and wake with the Lamb and you will be near to the heart of God.
September 6, 2014
Discerning Spirits
Acts 16:17-18 …(17)” She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” (18) She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.”
Let us say you are doing the work of the Lord; spreading the gospel, healing, and delivering people from sin and addiction through the power of the Holy Spirit. Everything God wants you to do you are doing. Then, you see someone else following you around and testifying that people should listen to you because you are from God. Would you get kind of puffed up, feeling really good about what you are doing, or would you have the discernment to know that this person was demon possessed?
Paul was never enthused by his own importance. He called himself the chief sinner. But, he walked in the power, love, and supernatural wisdom of God. How did he attain to this lofty place? Through intimate times with God in which he listened and learned the deep mysteries which God revealed to him.
This girl which followed Paul and his companions proclaiming them to be servants of the Most High God (which was true), was a fortune-teller who earned money for her employer. How could a demon-possessed person magnify the truths that they were preaching?
She was doing this in mockery. It was well known to everyone in that region that this girl was possessed by spirits. Endorsing Paul’s message would lead people to believe that Jesus and these demon spirits were cooperating.
This is a good illustration that not every spirit that speaks the right words is of God. When the Scriptures say, "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" (1Jo 4:2), it is talking about more than words; it means lifestyle. One of the biggest "turn offs" to the Gospel is someone who says the right thing but it is not reflected in their lifestyle.
You can prove your faith by living your faith. When you do you will be a great influence on others who see Christ in you. Therefore, the most important thing to do is be with Christ. Know Him so intimately that His wisdom is always at hand and discernment is actively working in your life. This intimacy is developed through the Word and quiet times of meditation while sitting at His feet.
September 7, 2014
Provoking God’s Mercy
2 Chronicles 33:12…”And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.”
Are there any limits to human wickedness? In our modern times we may think of Hitler, or some serial killers. Wickedness has been around for a very long time. Imagine a guy who practices witchcraft and séances, fortune-telling and necromancy. Think of him engaged in human sacrifice, even burning his own children on the altar of fire. Give him nationwide authority and influence, so that he not only practices these things, but encourages and trains others to do the same. Now, that your imagination has been thoroughly filled with all the evil this man did, envision him finding a way to win God’s affection.
If you will go to 2 Chronicles chapter 33 you will meet a King named Manasseh. In the short space of only one chapter this King of Israel morphed from a man who provoked God’s anger at every turn and edict to one who grabbed God’s attention because of his humble heart. The lesson here for every follower of Jesus is not that Manasseh simply experienced God’s mercy, he provoked it.
The Father loves humility. It turns his head. Humility is an expression of truth and integrity. Humility is the sail that captures the grace and mercy of God. God listens intently to hear the weakest words of a humble heart.
Even after a long list of evil and rebellious acts, God still reached out to Manasseh. If you have been told that God hides from sin, you’ve been misled. Our sin is one of the very reasons God continues to reach out to us. He loves us and refuses to give up on us. But it’s not just that his love reaches down; a humble heart reaches up.
In all your getting today, get humility. It may not be easy, because it is not in man’s nature, but we have a perfect model in Christ. Ask God today to show you the way to a humble heart. It is less painful when you humble yourself willingly, than if God should force the issue.
September 8, 2014
Being Separate
Ezra 10:10-11…” Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel’s guilt. Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives.”
This was God’s command through Ezra to His people, Israel. The danger of idolatrous worship overshadowed God’s plan to bring forth the Messiah through the line of Abraham, Jesse, and David. There was much spiritual importance to the purity of the Hebrew race. There was the great and grave possibility that by intermarriage with pagans they would be influenced to worship idols rather than influencing the pagans to worship God. God’s plans for His people have always influenced His commands and judgments. The same is true today, for His people who are His church.
God demands that we separate ourselves from the world’s ways; that we hold fast to the ways of God in all things and reject the influence of worldly lusts. There is an abundance of dazzling distractions to foster our natural predispositions. Overcoming them is why the work of the Holy Spirit is so vitally important to the believer. It is His convicting influence which every believer should seek.
Knowing God’s plan is important, but even without such knowledge, following God’s commands lead to safety and peace. All others in our orbit of influence should see the peculiar difference in our lifestyle so that they desire what we have. Being normal in today’s culture and society is to be conformed to its predisposition for self-gratification. Therefore, being abnormal means being disposed to love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - The Fruit of the Spirit - Quite contrary to the fruit of the world.
Child of God let your aim and purpose be to develop that Christlike attitude that separates you from the world and brings the light of the Spirit into the dark territories which remain in enemy hands.
September 9, 2013
Dead to Self, Alive to Christ
2 Corinthians 4:11…”For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
Who is the center of your universe? Is it you, your wife, your husband, your children, your parents, your carrer, or is it Christ? Nothing mattered to Paul, the author of the letters to the Corinthians, above Christ. He was in danger of death many times, yet with joy he gave himself up for the sake of Jesus Christ.
Physical death occurs only once to our mortal flesh, but our self-will, our pride, our self-adoring, must die constantly. The more we die to self the more joy we experience in the presence of Christ. The more we die to self the more we have to give away for His sake.
Is it your goal today to give up self for the sake of Christ? It is only by this process of continual sacrifice can the Life of Jesus be manifested in your moral flesh. The Spiritual life in Christ must be one of sacrifice. Are you willing to be identified with Christ through your sacrifice of all that is in the flesh?
It is this ability to desire sacrifice that drives many followers of Jesus away. Drawn constantly by the lusts of things to secure their happiness, they miss the opportunity for pure joy within the sacrificial life which the love for Christ insures. Happiness is a state of mind, not a state of being. True happiness is found in only one and that is Jesus Christ.
Child of God, to find true happiness and joy, attach yourself to Christ as you have to no one else. Let Him ascend to that center position in your universe. Let your lifestyle revolve around Him and Him only. Divorce yourself of all self-aggrandizements, instead, expand and enlarge your life in Christ. Seek daily guidance from the Holy Spirit that you may prosper in this, thereby, drawing nearer to the heart of God.
September 10, 2014
Saving Memory
2 Corinthians 15:2…”By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
Do you remember when you were first saved; when your whole mind and will succumbed to the majesty and splendor of the savior who died to set you at liberty? It may have been after many hours, days, weeks, or even years of struggle. But one day you knew you needed something or someone to give your life stability and meaning.
The great tenets of our faith upon which we have based our existence do not fade or diminish with time, but rather should grow larger and more all-encompassing as our spirit life matures into the image of Christ. Our memories are vitally important to that end.
Our faith is actually based on memory. We can remember the struggle, the weariness, the confusion and porous existence which left us desiring wholeness. We remember the remarkable exhilaration when our soul accepted the good news that we could be set free from our prison of self, lust, pride and defeat.
Memory is an important aspect of our steadfast reliance on God. Paul tells the Corinthians that they must remember what he preached to them so that their life in Christ may be fruitful as they grow in truth. He reminds them later that they have not believed in vain, but that all that they were told about Jesus’ death, the remission of sins, and the resurrection, was true. When the memory is faulty, cracks can begin to erode truth, and the final result may become the belief in lies which can be the doctrine of demons.
Child of God, meditate daily on what God has done in and through you since your salvation. Study His methods and purposes that have brought you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Never lose sight of who you are in Christ but let your memory serve well to illuminate more and more truth that will strengthen the faith that has been established in you through God.
September 11, 2014
Revival Revisited
2 Chronicles 7:14….”If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
This Scripture seems to be the mantra for calling up revival. And many times it seems that we are calling for sinners to repent and then we will have revival. That is not what this verse is saying. God is calling for” His people” to repent. Revival is not needed by the lost, but the saved. It is called revival because it is something that was had and needs to be renewed. Sinners don’t need “re” vival because they never had it in the first place. God expects “my people, which are called by my name” to bring revival by turning back to God.
There is not a country on earth that doesn’t need a revival of faith to move God’s kingdom forward. But, revival doesn’t start with a set day, week or month when we advertise for it. Revival is not hoopla and special guests from faraway places that come for a special time. Revival is not a famous singing group to lead praise and worship; neither is it a huge stadium that seats thousands with counselors in every seating section handing out literature and tracts.
Revival can start in only one place – the heart of the believer. When the first love is remembered; when the greatness of God on your behalf is remembered; when you recall from whence you have come – the sorry state you were in before salvation; then revival comes. (Rev. 2:5). When the fiery passion is renewed in your soul that was there before the world and its distractions pulled you away, then you will have revival. Individual revival is first – then community, city, state and nation will follow. The necessary ingredient for revival is always PRAYER.
Pray for God to renew the passion of your first love. Pray that you will no longer be distracted by the world and its lusts, but will return to the heart of God and to the works of the kingdom.
September 12, 2014
Holy Interruptions
Luke 18: 35...”Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.”
Do your plans allow for interruptions? Or, is your schedule so full that it would take an act of God to force an adjustment?
Jesus' task to gain salvation for the entire earth and launch the church under a new and lasting covenant was certainly demanding and carried with it great responsibility; and all of this in less than three years. Yet, faced with this rather daunting task, He still found time to interrupt His journey for the needs of one very ordinary man.
This was the case for a blind beggar by a roadside near Jericho (vv. 35-38). The man called out to Jesus as He and His leadership team was on their way to major events in Jerusalem. Then as now, well-traveled roads were cluttered with such inconveniences. Some tried to ignore the beggar, or at least keep him away. But amazingly, Jesus stopped and met the man’s needs.
It's interesting that Jesus' very next encounter, with a known government crook, was also an interruption (Luke 19:1-10). Yet again, Jesus interrupted His travel plans and turned aside to Zacchaeus' house to talk with him and meet his family and friends.
I am sure you can see where this message is going. Do you have room for others in your life, especially the "little people" such as your children, an entry-level employee, a visitor to your church, the poor and needy, the sick, and the imprisoned? When Jesus took time to serve a forgotten cast-away, it caused everyone nearby to give praise to God (v. 43). Watch out for God's holy interruptions! They may occur for reason of your own improvement. God wants to make you new and improved every day, and it may take some interruptions to your schedule to do so.
Child of God let the discernment offered by the Holy Spirit guide you into the swift recognition of how and when God desires to use you and the gifts which He has seen fit to bestow upon you for the advancement of His kingdom. Be a willing vessel that will allow those "holy" interruptions to improve your serve and bring others into the light of God's wonderful grace.
September 13, 2014
Sinless Perfection
1 John 3:6….”Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.”
Most followers of Christ would agree that they should pursue the highest moral integrity that they can. But John’s statements in verse 6 appear to raise that standard to the point of sinless perfection. In fact, if the person who sins “has neither seen (Christ) nor known Him,” then what hope is there for believers who fail?
Here is a case where the English language fails us. In English the word “sins” appears absolute and final: one sin and you’re cut off from God. However, the form of the Greek verb here (hamartanei) conveys a sense of continuous action: “No one who abides in Christ makes a habit of continually sinning.” The point is that true believers diminish their old patterns of sin as they grow in Christ, replacing them with new patterns of faith and love.
The situation is similar to losing weight by changing one’s eating habits. No one obtains instant health, but over time and by sticking to a disciplined diet, one can make great strides in that direction.
Of course, the fact that we won’t obtain sinless perfection in this life does not mean that we should deal lightly with sin - to do so would be an offense to God, as well as destructive to ourselves. Yes, God forgives individual sins, but if we persist in sinful patterns, we keep the power of Christ from operating in our lives, and our quest for Christlikeness is severely hampered. There are also grave spiritual consequences, such as losing our ability to repent. (Heb. 6:1-7).
Do you keep falling into a particular area of sin? John says that the way out of that frustrating predicament is to learn to continually “abide” in Christ. Confess your sins to Him and then concentrate not so much on avoiding sin as on maintaining your relationship with Him. After all, He has come to keep you from sin (1 John 2:1-2). But if you turn away from Him and capitulate to sin’s mastery, then, as John has written, you can neither see Him working in your life nor know the joy of His presence.
Pray that God will enable you through His Holy Spirit to maintain a focus on God and His Word that builds in you a strong sense of righteousness, holiness and purity that will defend against any enticement toward sin.
September 14, 2014
Lose to Gain
Philippians 3:8…”More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ.”
Before this passage of Scripture, Paul relates how much he had gained as a Hebrew, and as a Pharisee. He had been a driven man to achieve all he had in the culture of his day. His zeal for attacking Christians with unusual vengeance perhaps was his way of being fully accepted by the Jewish society in Jerusalem. This was Paul’s personality. A strong and perhaps impulsive nature drove him to great lengths to eradicate this new sect called “The Way.”
Yet, all of that changed when he encountered the risen Lord. Instead of striving for acceptance, he turned inward and refused to participate in the dominant culture. Now he lists all his achievements and calls them rubbish - of no importance. The only thing important to Paul is knowing Christ and in verse 10, the power of His resurrection. This is relevant to believers today who have to deal with many cultural and societal norms that run contrary to God.
When we look at success and our drive to achieve it, we might ask ourselves what or who has influenced our vision of a successful life? And, what role, if any, has God’s perspectives and purposes played in forming that vision?
You might ask yourself what you have given up or sacrificed in order to achieve success? Have you sacrificed relationships with family, friends, and God? And you might ask the biggy – In what ways do you think God and His purposes are served by the life you are pursuing?
What drives your success meter? If you were to give up everything that interfered with an active, determined and purposeful pursuit of God, would you do it willingly, even knowing that the pursuit of Christ would bring with it more happiness, peace and joy than anything you gave up for it?
Pray that God would drive you to the radical pursuit of Christ in all of your daily efforts and contacts, that nothing will separate you from the knowledge of Christ and the power of His resurrection working in your life.
September 15, 2014
Knowing Jesus Intimately
John 14:9… Jesus speaking…”Don’t you know me….even after I have been among you such a long time?”
How long ago did you make Jesus lord of your life? Think about it. Since then do you know Him any better, or more intimately than at first? How much of the Word have you ingested since your conversion? What intimate experiences have you had with the “lover of your soul”? How much have you allowed the Holy Spirit to impart knowledge of Jesus to you? These questions may be difficult to answer unless you are completely and humbly honest with yourself.
Jesus’ disciples had spent every day with Him for three years. They had been intimate with him every day, yet they did not know Him. They knew Him by their souls but not their spirits. This revelation would not come until Pentecost. By that time He was gone from among them into heaven. Their only hope of knowing Him then was through the work of the Holy Spirit within them. This is also true of His disciples today.
The only hope of knowing Jesus is through the work of the Holy Spirit within us. You might say we know Him by His word. Do we? There are today many Bible scholars who are so familiar with the word they are able to quote it in their sleep. But, they do not know Him. Why, because they have not allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal the Word of truth to them undiluted by modern culture or their own intellectualism. The Word and Jesus are one, but it takes the Holy Spirit to reveal truth. The same is true of many pew-sitting Christians who know the Word, but they have not allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the Word to them. You must know Him more and more each day you spend with him. Rely on the Spirit within you to reveal the heart of Jesus to you.
Child of God let the Holy Spirit continually reveal truth to you as you meditate on the Word of God. Never resist quiet time in His presence, expecting precious communion with Him. When we become intimate with Jesus, we are never lonely, or discouraged, or in doubt, we become full and can pour out all the time and are never empty.
September 16, 2014
Defeating the Sin Nature
Romans 6:2…”How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
This is a radical statement! Paul is not saying that once we come to Christ we will never sin. Many who believed this have fallen away because they doubted their born again experience since sin still plagued their thoughts and took hold of their actions.
In the next verse (Romans 6:3) Paul writes that once we are baptized into Christ we experience a death to our old sin nature. The old nature that had us bound is now gone. It no longer exists. Even though we may be struggling with sins, our old nature has died and the new nature, alive to Christ, is working in us.
Every Christian still sins in some way or other. None of us are perfect yet. Paul explores this in Romans, chapter 6, and then goes on to deal with it in detail in chapter 7. Paul, himself, struggled with sin; doing what he knew not to do, and not doing what he knew to do.
Our old sin nature still vies for dominance. The key to winning over it is to have our minds renewed to Christ. The more we are in the Word the more truth we will know. The more we allow the Holy Spirit to guide our meditations the more truth will be revealed and the more our minds will be renewed to the mind of Christ.
It is not the truth that sets you free, it is the truth you know and know intimately. Jesus also said that He was truth. So, we can say that you must know Jesus intimately. That means you have to be intentional and deliberate. You need to spend time with Him, talking to Him, and listening to Him. You cannot do this when half your thoughts are on your present circumstances; your sickness, your empty bank account, your relationship problems, etc.
Child of God get quiet and meditate on the love of Christ that has brought you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Be deliberate in your seeking for truth and the renewing of your mind. The Holy Spirit is your comforter and guide, allow Him to fill your mind and heart with all that is Christ.
September 17, 2014
Having the Right Perspective
John 6:44….”No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Do you stagger under a heavy load of expectation that you alone (or primarily) are responsible for bringing your friends and coworkers to faith? Do you feel guilty because you can’t get them converted? If so, you may be surprised to discover that not even Jesus felt that kind of load for the lost!
While explaining how people enter the kingdom, Jesus clearly declared that it is God the Father who draws them. That means that a person’s response to the gospel does not depend primarily on you or on Jesus. Elsewhere, Jesus taught that:
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“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (v.37).
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“No one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father” (v.65)
Clearly, the responsibility for conversion ultimately belongs to the Father. Does that mean there is nothing we can do as followers of Christ to motivate others toward the Savior? Yes, we can give evidence of how God works in our lives as we grow. We can offer clear, truthful information about the gospel as we have opportunity. And we can invite and even urge others to believe - however, the ultimate responsibility for salvation is God’s, not ours. So relax! Live the faith, talk about it, and offer it to others. Never be ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). Let the dynamic of your conversation be from God, through the Holy Spirit, alone.
Pray that you will be ready and willing whenever God provides the opportunity for you to share the gospel. Pray that God will give you peace in the understanding of His purpose and design in all things, even salvation.
September 18, 2014
What God Requires
Micah 6:8…”He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
The prophet Micah has asked some important questions prior to this verse. He asks of God what kind and how many sacrifices will it take to satisfy Him.
All this is to illustrate the value of humility in God’s eyes. There is nothing we can sacrifice that will adequately satisfy God. Micah even suggests the offering of his firstborn. Surely such a sacrifice would be all that God requires. Yet, even this is not what God wants.
God wants the sacrifice of our pride. There are three great acts of love for God and our fellow man that pave the way for a good relationship with Him.
First: We must be righteous and absolutely fair to all regardless of their status in life.
Second: We must show kindness freely and willingly to others.
Third: We must live humbly in conscious fellowship of the greatness and sovereignty of God.
Only by these three can we glorify God and thereby neutralize our pride.
Our service to God should always be given willingly without prospect of reward. Our motivation should be to honor and glorify Him. Only by pure motivations can we reach the center of God’s heart from whence He is more than willing to provide wonderful gifts as we humbly submit to Him.
September 19, 2014
Chosen Before Time
Ephesians 1:4 "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight."
It is essential that every believer comprehends this act of being chosen by God (through receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and savior) and that they have been chosen for a divinely inspired purpose ( destiny). Not only that but this element of being chosen has been set for all time before time began. How very marvelous to realize that God had you on His mind for all eternity.
You should then realize that being "chosen" by God enables you to fulfill the unique plan for your life, without which you will remain aimless and without focus in your walk with Him. There are many who walk in darkness and see not the aimlessness or hopelessness of their existence. But for you, the one who is born from above and carries the Spirit of Christ within, this difficult problem of living has been dealt with and corrected.
Our purpose is to fulfill the mission of Christ in fostering His kingdom on earth. We have been blessed with redemption through the blood of Jesus, forgiveness of sins, grace as a free gift which brings us into favor with God, knowledge of the mystery of God’s will, a living hope in Christ, and our surrendered lives to become a praise to His glory. For our ongoing work we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit and given our inheritance in the saints.
What a glorious God, who not only chose us and sealed us with the Holy Spirit, but who also blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ!
Give thanks to God for choosing you to do His kingdom work. Thank Him for empowering you through His Holy Spirit to be all you can be in Christ.
September 20, 2014
Overcoming Fear and Doubt
Genesis 20:11 ...Abraham said, "...surely the fear of God is not in this place and they will kill me on account of my wife."
Twice Abraham succumbed to his fear that a ruler would kill him and steal his wife (Gen. 12:11-20; 20:2-13). Fearing for his life, he deceived both Pharaoh and king Abimelech by saying, "She is my sister" in essence welcoming the king to take Sarah into his harem (20:2). With fear dictating his actions, he put at risk God's plan that through he and Sarah a great nation would arise (12:1-3).
But before we judge Abraham, we should ask ourselves a few questions. For fear of losing our job, would we compromise our integrity? For fear of appearing old-fashioned, would we set aside our values? For fear of being ridiculed or misunderstood, would we neglect sharing the gospel and put someone's eternity at risk? Only one thing will conquer our fears, tenacious faith in God's presence, protection, power, and promises.
Fear and doubt plague every believer at one time or another. But, like Abraham, we should never be defeated by them. God called Abraham His friend, not because he was perfect, but because he was sincere in his trust and in his doubts. God understood Abraham’s weaknesses just as He understands yours and mine. What we must never do is camp out where we are weak. Instead we are called to a higher place where strength abides and our fears and doubts are diminished by the great faith with which God has graciously empowered us through His Holy Spirit.
If fear is hindering your work for the kingdom, remember that God will never ask you to do anything that He will not bring to completion, even if it requires miraculous intervention on His part.
When you let your faith overcome your fear, God will turn your worry into worship.
"It often helps in time of trial when fearful and alone, to know that every doubt we feel, the greatest saints have known".
October 1, 2014
The Rescue
Proverbs 12:25…”Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”
There was a time in my life when worry seemed to be my constant companion. So much was my mind plagued by anxiety that my personal and professional life suffered. After a time, it seemed so much a part of me as to be quite normal. I knew no way out of the hole this worry had dug me into so I resigned myself to it.
It is very true that anxiety weighs down the heart. The heart is the soul and personality, and essence of the man/woman. When there is heaviness the soul is depressed, the personality changes, the essence seems to be false rather than true.
When the heart is troubled, sleep is also troubled. Sleep is meant to refresh and revive the human heart, but when sleep is denied or disturbed the refreshing never comes and the mind becomes confused and mistakes are made quite easily that would never have been made when the heart and mind are clear and refreshed.
So you see there are so many evils that can be prospered by the anxiety and care of a heavy heart. But, fear not, for the Wisdom of Solomon assures us that a kind word cheers us up. When I was so terribly anxious and troubled, that kind word was spoke by a friend named Paul who said, “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.” (Philippians 4:6-7).
It was so true - when I adopted an attitude of gratitude (thanksgiving) for all that God had done for me and I presented this thankful heart to Him, my troubles seemed to slip away and His peace (so calming, yet so powerful) invaded my heart and mind to guard me from all those thoughts that whittled away at my born-again resolve to be more like Christ.
Child of God with the Word of God ministering to you through the Holy Spirit, no anxiety can ever take root. The Word will guard your heart and mind from all the tactics of the evil one and keep you steadfast in the faithfulness of Christ, which you have, forever in your spirit.
October 2, 2014
Self-righteousness
John 8:7…. "But when they persisted asking Him, He straightened up and said to them 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' ”
This is the story of a woman who was caught in the act of adultery. The Pharisees and scribes could have passed judgment on her based on the laws of Moses, but instead they desired to test Jesus to see what judgment he would offer. However, Jesus did not condemn the women as they would have. Instead he asked them a question which cast the glaring light of reproof upon those that would judge rather than upon the one being judged, thus showing up their self-righteousness. He asked if any of them were without sin - let him cast the first stone.
I remember watching a motion picture once that enacted this same scene. After the actor portraying Jesus asked that question and held out a stone to any taker, a man from the crowd actually stepped forward. Peripherally noticing the shocked stares of those around him, he quickly withdrew. Obviously his self-righteous nature, developed through the influence of the law and man-made traditions, was about to override what he knew to be true; that he was a sinner. Those around him knew they were not without sin, and this man was not either.
When self (pride) stands in the way of your redemption, you have made “self” your god and have dethroned the savior who died for you. This may not be an overriding principle, but it can be a hindrance to spiritual growth in any given area of your life. Do you die to self in every area of your life, or do you hold on to one or two self-fulfilling characteristics because you have grown to accept that this is who you are? I know this is a tough, even harsh question to ask. But this is the type of query we must continually be making if we are to grow into the image of Christ.
The rebirth has given you a new nature, that of Jesus Christ. You must let your old nature die every day in every way. Child of God - Pray that your new nature, found in righteousness through Christ, will be an overwhelming influence in your everyday life – that your pursuit of holiness be an ongoing hope for which nothing in your flesh will dominate. Through Christ, our Lord.
October 3, 2014
To Whom Shall I Go?
John 6:67…. "Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' "
Jesus’ discourse about eating His flesh and drinking His blood drove many of His followers away. They were not able to see with spiritual eyes. Limited to natural experiences made this teaching from the Master unbearable. However, Peter answered for the twelve when Jesus asked if they also would leave, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life…” (v. 68).
Have you ever thought the Word of God was too difficult to do? Jesus is the Word become flesh (John 1:14). Jesus taught us from the heart of God. Yet are His words too difficult to follow? Perhaps that means love your enemies; or give that last dollar in your pocket; or sacrifice something you hold dear. Have the demands of your faith sometimes seemed too great to carry? Have there been times when your faith seemed inadequate for the need at hand? Have you ever wondered where a Christian goes to give up?
But, then comes this thought: “To whom would I go. Where else can I find eternal life and hope that outweighs my burdens.”
Don’t let everyday trials hinder your growth in Christ. We all have them. But, don’t let them have you. Give them to Jesus. His burden is light and his yoke is easy. When labor seems too difficult, come unto Jesus. Let Him enfold you in His arms and comfort your soul at its deepest level.
Pray for God to enliven your faith with all Jesus has for you. Be willing to give Him every burden, and bear every trial through the hope planted in you by the Holy Spirit.
October 4, 2014
Living Water
John 7:38 …”He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”
Have you thought about how a river flows? It will flow unobstructed from its source to its end which may be another larger body of water like a lake or an ocean. The river may become obstructed thereby stifling the flow for a time, but as the pressure of the flow builds the river breaks through the barrier and proceeds onward. This is how the flow of living water should gush out of every Christian. From the source, Jesus Christ, it will proceed to flow on and on until this gushing water is emptied into the sea before the throne of God.
It may meet an obstacle along the way - a stumbling block to faith; the death of a loved one, loss of something valuable (job), sickness, even sin – but for the believer this is just a temporary blockage. Soon the Spirit within you will well up and the pressure of God’s grace will overwhelm your obstacle and your river will gush on. Obstacles are meant to pressure our river to move on through or around those obstacles.
However, we must never focus on the obstacle; our focus must remain on the Source, Jesus Christ. Trust in the living water that flows out of you and track its progress.
Pray that your mind and heart will be constantly focused on the source of living water, Jesus Christ. Pray for spiritual insight as to how and where your living water is flowing.
October 5, 2014
Empty Nets or Full
Luke 5:5…"And Simon answered and said, 'Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.' ”
Simon Peter really had no natural reason for obeying Jesus, yet He did. We, who are Christians and know our Savior, should have every reason to obey and yet we don’t always. Why is that? Are we not tired of pulling up empty nets? How much would obedience cost us anyway? When we think about it, hasn’t disobedience already costs us too much?
When are we going to learn to do it Jesus’ way? When they did it His way their catch of fish began to break the nets. They received abundance. Do you really think this is the only time this happened, or happens? No my friend. Isn’t it time you lived a profound life of blessing, and favor with God.
The most remarkable thing about living in obedience is that you develop a heart like God’s. You understand His ways. His thoughts become your thoughts, His ways become your ways, and His words become your words. What a wonderful way to live. When the blessings come, don’t say as Peter did, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). Instead, run to His arms and embrace Him for His mercy and loving kindness.
Pray that God will fill you with a will to forgo all things not in His will; to be obedient in your thoughts, actions and words. Pray for the knowledge and understanding to stand for truth and never be shaken.
October 6, 2014
Participation in the Kingdom
Numbers 11:29….”But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!”
Moses was a prophet of God, chosen to be a deliverer and law-giver for and to God’s people. But he longed for the coming day of maturity when all God’s people would become ministers and speak on God’s behalf.
The same sentiments are recorded by Paul to the Corinthians, “Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.” (1 Cor. 14:5). The Holy Spirit HAS BEEN GIVEN and we all have the ability to prophesy for God. Why do so few hold this modern office? It may be that they have requested this gift and are now using it for God’s glory. But this is more the exception than the rule.
We come together every Lord’s Day and we sing a few songs, praise the Lord, read a few lines of scripture, hear a message developed for the benefit of those gathered, we shake hands and chit chat then say good-bye and go home. Have we been changed, perhaps some have, but what kingdom change has taken place? Do any take the kingdom by force, determined to change the world for Christ’s sake? Do any desire to see hard changes take place in their own lives? Are any on their faces before God seeking His will and purpose for their lives? - Probably not so much.
The truth is that both Moses and Paul were envisioning a time when church would be done by the people gathered in order to edify each other in the faith. Many would prophesy, many would pray, many would give a teaching or an exhortation. Many would speak with tongues and interpret for the edification of the body. None would be afraid of the gifts, or how they would be used. They would all cherish spiritual gifts, and seek after them with willing and determined hearts. The church (people) would grow and expand and the effect of that growth and expansion would be felt in the cities and communities, states, nations, continents and then the world. The focus would not be on individual lives and positions, but on the life of the church (people) and the right position of Christ as head of the church.
Pray for the spiritual gifts that would edify the church. Be a willing participant, not a spectator only; do not wait on the leaders to do the work of the kingdom. Remember 1 Peter 2:9...”But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
October 7, 2014
Luke 19:13….”Occupy till I come.”
Be Busy Until -
We are all waiting for the Lord’s return- for the rapture of the church. However, what should we be doing until that event occurs?
Jesus is telling us in Luke 19:11-27 in parable form to expect His return, but in the meantime, be busy with kingdom work.
You may have heard about the people a century ago who believed the rapture would be on a certain day. They left their homes and climbed to the top of a mountain and waited there for the trump to sound. Waiting patiently in an uninvolved manner is not what Christ expects.
We are to be about His business through our work, school, and home life by using our skills, resources, time, mental capacities and physical bodies to advance His kingdom until He returns.
It is vitally important that the church be a viable presence in these end times. To do otherwise would be to disgrace His calling.
In Matthew 24:38-39 Jesus warns that the end days will be like the days of Noah – everyone involved in their secular activities without regard to God or His judgments. Look around – we are in those days. Be aware of all that the enemy is doing. Be about the Father’s business, repairing the breach, building up the walls of the church in your community, with an eye toward His return, sound the alarm that will bring neighbor, friend and family into the family of God.
October 8, 2014
Just Another Event
Ezekiel 33:31...” And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” (AKJV).
Many people are drawn to church by personalities. They like the way a minister looks, talks, acts, sings, etc. Some are drawn by aesthetics and some are drawn by cosmetics. Some like the music, some like preaching, and some like the jokes. And, some just like the idea that they are not challenged to do anything beyond what they like to do.
It is like going to a concert. You go because you enjoy the music or the musician, but afterward, what lasting effect does it have. So it is when you leave the church building. Have you had a supernatural experience with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords? What benefit has there been in being in fellowship with other believers, singing praises, and listening to sermons?
When the rubber meets the road it all comes down to what do you expect to get out of being in church? Are you there just for the entertainment value? Or, is it just that you are so used to going that you dare not miss? Could it be that you want the fellowship and to be seen by others as being spiritual, without any real change occurring on a consistent basis. Being in church has no value at all unless your heart, mind and life are changed each time you attend.
Pray that you will awaken to the need to be in pure fellowship with other believers in a way that will bring real growth and maturity in your Christian walk. Ask the Holy Spirit to enliven a fresh desire to be in His Holy presence not just in church but at all times.
October 9, 2014
The Character of Worship
John 12: 3....”Mary therefore took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
This incident in John’s gospel occurred during a supper meal at the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Present at the supper were Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha as well as the disciples. Supper was a relaxed time of fellowship. It is not a time one would choose as appropriate for worship. Yet Mary chose to do so by pouring out expensive perfume upon Jesus' feet and wiping His feet with her hair. Are we willing to be so ready to worship that we can do so at any time and as extravagantly as Mary did?
Worship is a way of loving God; to set aside the distractions and commonalities of life and lift our spirits to Worship our King. Mary did not wait for a proper time or circumstance.
When she was rebuked by some present, for the ointment was worth a year's wages, Jesus upheld her sacrifice. Mary had chosen an extravagant worship; nothing else would do for her Lord. Do we always give Him our best, in worship, in praise, in sacrifice, in goods, in service?
When Mary poured out the perfume, the scent filled the room. That is what our worship should do. We should fill the room with the fragrance of worship so that it is a sweet aroma to God. And, afterwards, the fragrance should follow us as we go about our business so that we are a sweet aroma of witness to others.
Are you willing to center your focus on worship without regard to time or place, to pour out yourself before your loving savior, and offer a sweet aroma of worship to Him? Or, will you let the common every day troubles and distractions keep you focused on yourself? Worship does more than honor God; it grows our spirits so that we become more and more like Christ which is our ultimate goal.
October 22, 2014
Our Wells Are Deep
John 4:11...She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?...."
"The well is deep"---and a great deal deeper than the Samaritan women knew. Think of the depths of human nature, of human life, think of the depths of the "wells" in you. Have you been disallowing the ministry of the Holy Spirit so that He cannot do anything? Suppose there is a well of fathomless trouble inside your heart, and He comes and says to you, "Do not let your heart be troubled"; and you shrug it off and say, "But, Lord, the well is deep; You cannot draw up quietness and comfort out of it." No, He will bring them down from above. The Holy Spirit does not bring anything up from the wells of human nature. We limit God by relying immeasurably on our own "drawn-up" faith and not His faith in us. God will only do what we allow Him to do. We limit Him by remembering what we have allowed Him to do in the past and then thinking He cannot do this new thing in the same manner, thus limiting God’s freedom of action in our lives through His Holy Spirit. We impoverish His ministry the moment we forget He is Almighty: the impoverishment is in us, not Him. We will often come to the Spirit as Comforter or as Sympathizer, but will we come to Him as the power of the Almighty?
The reason some of us are such poor specimens of Christianity is because we have no Almighty Christ. We have Christian attributes and experiences, but there is no abandonment to Jesus Christ through our submission to the Holy Spirit. When we get into difficult circumstances we impoverish His ministry by trying to draw up the water for ourselves instead of relying on His living water that should flow out of us in abundance. Remember that all the fullness of God dwells in Christ and in Him we have been made complete (Col. 2:9-10).
Yes, our wells of trouble may be deep, but the living water flows from His completeness to fill up our incompleteness.
Oh, that I may learn to draw only from His unlimited well of supply. God grant me this I pray.
October 23, 2014
What Will You Do With Truth?
Jude v. 11..."Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah."
In today's age of acceptance and tolerance, it is not easy or popular to disagree with others. It seems that the one truth everyone must bow to is that everybody has the right to their own beliefs, and what's true for one may not be true for another. To suggest that someone else could be wrong, or worse, to claim that there is such a thing as ultimate, absolute truth, is highly offensive in our progressive culture.
But how can everything be true? That seems to be a contradiction in logic, if we agree with Webster that truth can be defined as fact, the state of something being the case, or as actuality, the body of real things, events, or facts. Jesus claimed to be the truth, not just a truth (John 14:6) He regularly spoke of telling the truth to his listeners (Matt. 5:18, 26; Mark 10:15, 29; Luke 21:3, 32; John 3:3-11; 16:7-23). So what God communicated through Christ is extraordinarily important and must not be compromised.
God's people are not called to be bigots who flaunt their connection with the truth. But we are called to be loyal to the truth of Christ, and we should challenge people to avoid anything less than what God offers (Jude 17-23). We are not to be a "truth squad," inflated with our own importance. But neither are we to be Milquetoasts who will agree to anything for the sake of peace. No, we must proclaim God's truth with mercy (Jude v. 22) to those who will perish without it (Jude v. 23). Also, we must be discerning to avoid being swayed by what may appear as truth, but in reality is just a trap of the enemy to invade our resolve and cause cracks in our faithfulness.
Pray that God will grant you wisdom and perception beyond your own ability, so that you may be true and pure to the faith He has given you.
October 24, 2014
The Value of Confession
Hebrews 4:14.... "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession."
The writer of Hebrews refers to holding fast our confession, which is to say above all maintain, meditate on, and trust in our confession. What is our confession? It is what the Word says about us. We are to set our course toward God and His liberating truth by abiding in His logos (spoken word, now becomes the written word), and we stay on course by holding fast to our confession of it. Confession, in fact, is the word homologia, which could be defined as "to say the logos". "Hold fast to saying the logos."
When we take God's truth -- what He says about us rather than what we think ---write it down, study it, memorize it, analyze it, declare it, say it out loud---when we apply that kind of diligence and obedience to abiding in and confessing His logos, it sets us on a course destined for recovery and freedom.
Speaking God's word keeps us from wavering. Hebrews 10:23 puts it this way..."Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;" It prevents us from giving up or jumping ship at the first sign of a storm. There certainly will be storms, of that you can be sure. The enemy of our soul will come and try to dissuade us. He will use any tactic possible to discourage us, stall us, and get us to veer off course. At times, we may not even realize we're swerving to the right or left. Yet, by abiding continually in and speaking God's logos, His word will keep us on course.
October 25, 2014
Let God Minister to You
John 13:8...Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have not part with Me."
Peter's refusal to let Jesus wash his feet came from a knowledge that he was totally unworthy to have the sinless Son of God serve him as a common servant would. Peter was correct in his assessment of his relative worth, but what he missed was that God doesn't minister to us because of our worth but because of His love.
Years ago my wife and I were in a Spirit-Life conference. We were seated in a large auditorium. While praying in the Spirit, my wife had a vision. She saw Jesus walk toward her with a basin in his hands and a towel draped over one arm. Miraculously the seats and people in front of her vanished and only Jesus stood before her. He bent down and placed her feet in the water and washed them. After drying her feet with the towel he rose and withdrew. She began to weep. When we talked about it later she told me that Jesus ministered His love to her. She had felt unworthy of His love but suddenly she knew without a doubt that Jesus loves her beyond measure.
Some people today refuse to let God bless them, as Peter did, thinking they are unworthy of His favor. While it is true that our actions don't warrant God's goodness, a truly humble person will receive the Lord's blessings as an expression of His love and grace toward them. When Peter refused to let Jesus wash his feet, he was displaying an attitude of false humility. By resisting God's will Peter was actually committing an act of pride. Pride is not only exalting yourself above what is proper, but also, it can be debasing yourself below what is proper.
Peter wanted to serve Jesus, but did not want to be served by Jesus. Jesus was telling Peter that unless he received His ministry to him, Peter would be unfit to serve Him. We cannot cleanse ourselves or others. We are totally dependent on the work of God's grace in our lives. Then and only then, are we equipped to minister to others. Before we can be the blessing that we desire to be to God or to others, we have to let God be the blessing to us that He desires to be.
October 26, 2014
Abandoned to God
Mark 14:6..."She has done a beautiful thing to me"
Jesus spoke these words about Mary, the sister of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. He was touched by her love and devotion. All of the Gospels record an account of Mary's devotion. In Luke 10:38-42 she chooses the better thing by sitting at Jesus feet, listening. In John 11:32 she fell at his feet again, this time because she was broken over the death of her brother. In Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9 and John 12:1-8 she anoints Jesus with expensive fragrant oil.
Mary displays her great capacity for love. On each of these occasions, this quiet woman was criticized by others. But apparently she didn't notice or didn't care. Mary seemed to be a woman who made choices based on her love and commitment to Jesus that went to the very core of her being. This is love that carries you beyond yourself. If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but is has not the true nature of love in it.
Have you ever been carried away to do something for God not because it was your duty, or because it was useful, or because there was anything in it at all beyond the fact that you love Him? Have you ever realized you can bring something of value to God simply because of your all-consuming love for and sweeping devotion to Him. Not great and mighty things which could be called marvelous, but ordinary, simple human things which will give evidence to God that you are abandoned to Him? Have you ever produced in the heart of the Lord Jesus what Mary of Bethany produced?
Abandonment to God is of more value than personal holiness. Personal holiness focuses our attention on our own rightness; we are greatly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, fearful that we might offend Him. Perfect love devours our own rightness and completes our abandonment to God. We have to stop wondering if we are any use to God because the question itself is suspect. When we desire service to Him we may be doing no more than bolstering our pride in what we can do. It is never a question of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. When we are abandoned to God, He works through us all the time. Rest in that revelation and you will be useful in His Kingdom.
Pray for total abandonment to God. It is your choice to be so involved, but it is God’s power to develop this attitude in you. Be a willing vessel for God to use that in no way involves you but only God working through you.
October 27, 2014
Exodus 4:6-7….(6)Furthermore the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. (7) And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh.
Moses had to be shown that God could do what He said He would do. How many times do we require proof from God that He can do what He said. Where is our trust, if not in God? It is only in ourselves, our resources, what we can see, taste, touch, hear and smell.
Have you noticed how many entertainment choices contain content about the supernatural; from movies to television to books? But these offerings are not from the Spirit of God, but from another spirit that does not honor God. All of this is to deceive the world so that when the God- type of supernatural occurs it will not be recognized as such.
It is time that the church starts living the supernatural life that Jesus promised and is willing to lend His Spirit to accomplish. Trust that God will do what He said He will do. His Spirit is active in the earth to move in and through ordinary, common, everyday people like you and me, who are the church, to show God’s glory in the world.
Child of God do not be afraid to step out into the supernatural. It is where every child of God should be. The kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matt. 11:12). Brother and Sister Milquetoast will not take the kingdom, but Brother and Sister “Moving in the Supernatural” will.
November 18, 2014
Straining Against The Wind
Mark 6:48…”Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.”
There are times in our lives when we too are “straining at rowing,” for the wind seems to be against us. Maybe you worked very hard to be promoted, but were passed over. Perhaps, you feel you are leaning hard into the wind of a failing marriage and are constantly being pushed back. Or, perhaps it is an addiction that seems to blow hard against you so that you can feel no strength to resist. Whatever your circumstance, believe that Jesus is aware of your storm just as He was aware that His disciples were struggling against their storm.
And like the disciples He may have made you go out on your own to a mission field, even though that field may be as nearby and familiar as your job, or your community, or neighborhood. And like the disciples whom he “constrained” (verse 45 - KJV) to get into the boat and go across the lake alone, He will be responsible for your safety, just as He was for theirs.
But, look at this, Jesus would have passed them by. What! Does that sound like someone who is responsible, or even cares that you are struggling? What is needed here is a cry for help, and the disciples raised it. Do you cry for help in your struggles, or does your fiercely independent nature require that you first try every resource you know before you cry out to Jesus? Jesus will not refuse you in your desperation, but He wants to be invited to help. He will not force you to receive His help, but He will never pass you by when you call out to Him. And, what He really desires is that you are constantly in an attitude of dependence on Him. This is when you please Him most; when your very life displays a sincere need for Jesus every hour. Like the great hymn of faith says...”I need thee every hour – every hour I need thee.” And more than that you should need Him every minute of every hour and every second of every minute.
November 19, 2014
Prayer Needs
Mark 10:51…. Jesus said, “What can I do for you?” The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”(The Message Bible).
Blind Bartimeaus knew what to ask of Jesus. Although he was desperately poor, begging on the streets, with no hope, no monthly social security check, no Obamacare, the only food bank was the mercy and generosity of his neighbors, yet of his life’s woes and troubles, it was his sight that he desired.
How often do we ask for something that we do not really need? Think of the investor who simply cannot seem to gauge the market correctly. He always has hope but finds each investment choice to be no better than the last. He doesn’t need to ask for a payday, he needs to ask for Godly wisdom.
Or, think about the severely trapped man who cannot seem to stop viewing pornography. He can pray to stop, but what he needs is a heart change. He needs to pray against the cause not the symptom.
This is what James refers to as “praying amiss.” (James 4:3). We pray for healing but then continue to eat improperly, or refuse to exercise, or continue to smoke, or drink alcohol, etc. I think you see my point. Yes, God is definitely in the miracle business. But be sure you are in agreement with the miracle He desires for your life. The most important miracle is the miracle of complete surrender. Add to that the constant intimate communication with your healer, deliverer, and friend.
When you get right down to it – we are quite obnoxious and selfish to request our immediate needs without first asking God for wisdom to pray aright. Especially when He has furnished us with the tool most useful in prayer: our prayer language. When we give our prayer over to the Holy Spirit, who knows the heart of God, He will pray according to God’s will.
November 20, 2014
The Word in Your Heart
Matthew 26:75…” And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, ‘ Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’ So he went out and wept bitterly.”
There are several Greek words used for “word”. The Greek word used here is RHEMA and it literally means, “a spoken word; an utterance, a saying , but specifically a spoken word appropriate for the situation.” It is not the Bible lying on your coffee table that makes the enemy flee, but the Word of God hidden in your heart, activated by the power of the Holy Spirit, and spoken in the appropriate situation. It is similar to what Jesus says in John 6:63, that “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” The words that we speak from the written Word of God are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Word by itself doesn’t make us free. It is the Word we know and speak that will deliver us (John 8:32)
Why is the Word so effective? Because it is the WORD of God - It has authority. God’s Word supersedes all authority of the church, of reason, of intellect, and even of Satan. That is why it is so effective.
In Luke, chapter four, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days in the wilderness, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy. Jesus constantly met His temptation by quoting from God’s Word as He repeatedly stated the phrase, “It is written.” Likewise, the Christian soldier must avail himself of God’s Word by placing it in his heart so that the Holy Spirit may bring it forth at the appropriate time to accomplish a complete and total victory. Soldiers never go into battle without proper training. So, the Christian soldier must be trained in the Word to withstand all the assaults of Satan. Neglect not this training. It is the most important thing you can do.
Pray: Father, thank You for Your Word. Your Word holds the truths of life and the power to defeat the enemy. Reprimand me O Lord should I neglect Your Word by thought, word, or deed. Build in me an insatiable hunger for the Word, so that I am never full but always requiring more, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
November 21, 2014
Partnering for Victory
Luke 22:46…"Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."
Temptations are all around us every day. They exist in the workplace, in places of entertainment, in the home, and even in our churches. Temptation is tough. It’s a test. It’s an enticement to do wrong. It may involve great pleasure, a chance to escape risk, or illegitimate gain. Whatever the offering, it is usually very attractive.
Giving into temptation the Scripture calls sin. It even warns us that repeatedly giving way to temptation can result in falling away permanently with a total loss of interest in returning to God (Heb. 6:6-8). Clearly we need God’s strength and wisdom to flee (1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11).
As Jesus and His closest companions faced great danger, they were afraid and tired (vv. 42-45). Jesus knew how vulnerable and confused that condition can make a person. He urged His followers to join Him in prayer so that they would not fall into temptation. They could not face the trials to come without new strength from God.
Earlier Jesus had taught His followers to ask the Father not to lead them into temptation (Matt. 6:13). There is no sin in being tempted. In fact, temptation is a sign that our spiritual lives are strong enough to recognize values that conflict with godliness. But giving in is sin. That is why it is crucial to take time to declare to God our weakness, weariness, and need for help in the midst of testing.
It is often helpful to have others pray with us. That is what Jesus needed in the dark hour before his trial began. Jesus wanted his closest companions to act as prayer partners to help strengthen his resolve to proceed with the Father’s plan.
It is important for us to have prayer partners that can help us pray through to victory. Do you have someone who can pray with you in your hours of deepest need? Are you available when others need you? Pray that God will make you sensitive to the needs of others. Be a willing aide in prayer to bring strength to others when needed.
November 22, 2014
The Public Side of Faith
Matthew 14:13..."When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities."
Much of Christianity that has come down to us today dwells on private spirituality--prayers, private devotions and Bible reading, self-examination and confession, personal holiness, individual acts of charity, and so on. This is all to the good, inasmuch as Christ seeks a relationship with individuals and has provided the Holy Spirit to enable this relationship.
However, there is a public side to our faith. For example: how do we, as believers, live out our faith in our workplaces, communities, relationships, civic responsibilities, and so on? Also, we need to examine how we represent our faith in our faith communities, our churches. How vibrant and strategic is our collective witness as God’s people to a watching world? Then there is also the question of how do we as believers influence our society as a whole – its institutions, its needs, and its values?
These are broad, complex questions that have no easy answers. But we cannot afford to ignore them, not when we consider the public side of Jesus' ministry. Unlike others of His day who withdrew from society to practice and perfect their own, private spirituality (such as the Essenes) Jesus actively engaged His culture. He participated it its rituals, focused His work on its cities, and interacted with its leaders. He welcomed the crowds who constantly sought him out. He particularly reached out to its poor, not only the financially poor but the "poor in spirit," those left behind, those left without hope.
In short, Jesus not only affects our private lives, but our public lives as well. We need to recover that dimension of the gospel today. As believers we are no longer simply individuals, but have been made part of a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation". Out of those who were once "no people," we are now "the people of God" (1 Peter 2:9-10). We need to discover how to live our faith in visible, public ways, as the collective people of God (our first and foremost identity), in order to powerfully impact our world. In this way we can and should change the atmosphere around us to better reflect God's Kingdom.
November 23, 2014
Seek First Things First
Matthew 6:33... Jesus speaking…"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you."
In the preceding verses Jesus mentions basic needs after which everyone seeks. Then He says that your heavenly Father knows your needs. This may seem obvious to a modern believer, but not to the Jewish believers of antiquity. Before Jesus began his ministry God was not perceived as Father. That was an intimate term that was actually too informal to use for the Creator of the Universe and protector of Israel. Jesus was bringing a new concept of God. But this concept would not be completely realized until the new covenant was initiated at the cross. Now, Jesus is telling the Jews that all their needs can be met if they would just do two things: Seek the Kingdom of God and the righteousness of God. Of course this instruction is for the gentiles (us) also.
This is a very familiar verse and we have heard it and said it dozens of times, and even sung it in a popular chorus made famous in the charismatic movement.
But, how does one seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Well, it starts at the cross.
It is at the cross that our self-will dies, and our spirit is reborn. It is at the cross that God imputes righteousness to us - His righteousness. We then must remain within the shadow of the cross in order for the kingdom to prosper within us. We must focus more on things above than things of earth. When we let the distractions of need and want sway our thinking we can no longer be useful in the kingdom. However, when we keep our focus daily on the cross our self-will is not capable of its distracting influences.
So, turn your eyes upon Jesus. Keep your focus on Him and His sacrificial love. Let your spirit soar to new heights as His Kingdom shines within you and His righteousness empowers you to the daily adventure of living out your salvation.
November 24, 2014
Trust and Not Be Disappointed
Psalm 22:5..."In Thee they trusted and were not disappointed."
For he who trusts in God shall not be disappointed. How many times have you had occasion to be disappointed? I know I have had many. But, I have learned that the more of God you have in you the more trust you have in Him. No matter what situation or event befalls you, your trust will determine whether you are disappointed or not.
When you are disappointed it is because of unbelief (lack of trust) and your unbelief is further enhanced because of your disappointment. There are many Christians, sad to say, that never realize their potential in the kingdom, because they have become disappointed in some aspect of their walk. Or, they have not extended themselves into areas where disappointments may happen.
When you step out in faith to do something for God and it appears to be a non-starter there is that tendency to be disappointed and refrain from stepping out again. But, they that trust in God shall not be disappointed. When you rest in that fact, God is able to show you why your effort did not succeed (according to your standard of success). It may have succeeded in some way you cannot see or understand. So, it is not time to cry in your soup, it is time to rest in Him and trust that He will do what you cannot see or know at the time.
Instead of searching for myriad reasons why it did not seem to work, trust in Him. There are many lessons a Christian must learn while working out their salvation (Phil. 2:12), and this is an important one. There are many opportunities to be disappointed, and you must choose not to be. It is this choice that will grow your trust and keep you steadfast in the faith.
November 25, 2014
The Gift of Wonder
Psalms 113:6…”Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”
There is a story told of an old rabbi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, who suffered a near-fatal heart attack. A friend, Sam, knelt by his bedside to listen as the rabbi motioned him closer. In barely a whisper the old rabbi said, “Sam, I feel only gratitude for my life, for every moment I have lived. I am ready to go. I have seen so many miracles during my lifetime. Never once in my life did I ask God for success or wisdom or power or fame. I asked for wonder, and He gave it to me.”
"I asked for wonder, and He gave it to me". By and large our world has lost its sense of wonder. When was the last time you beheld with wonder the beauty and majesty of a rose, or the quiet splendor of a sunset, or the jubilant brilliance of a sunrise? Have we become too sophisticated, and worldly-wise to see the wonder in creation? The pride of achievement has erased the humble heart of the seeker that did not know how a thing worked, or why it looked the way it did.
In the not too distant past a thunderstorm caused grown men to shudder and feel small. This was the effect upon Ludwig Von Beethoven when composing his sixth symphony, Pastoral: a man, almost deaf, who interpreted the ominous majesty of a thunderstorm into the language of music (as never done before or since). A man filled with wonder at the Master’s creation. It seems the more we know about meteorology, the less inclined we are to pray through a thunderstorm.
Today, thanks to satellite TV and jet planes, we can visit sites we only imagined 100 years before, or could only be found by a Columbus or Balboa, or some other daring explorer. Rabbi Heschel observed, “As civilization advances, the sense of wonder declines.”
When the beauty of a painting by Monet, or Van Goh, leaves us just pleased, and not so awestruck that we are filled with wonder and have to fight back the tears, can we really appreciate how amazingly constructed our world is to bring joy to our hearts.
And, when we are so stifled in our ability to be taken in by the wonder of creation, are we really able to fathom the great depth, width, and height of God’s love for us? Can we comprehend how a King left a throne to die for the redemption of a world He had created?
Only in the heart and mind of the Holy Spirit within you can you still be filled with the wonder and majesty of God, His Son, and the creation He gave you.
Pray that God may grant to you the gift of wonder. Then, be ready to be amazed.
November 26, 2014
Being Positive in a Negative World
Matthew 24:12 …”And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
Jesus spoke this prophesy as a characteristic of the end times. He was saying that the negative things going on around us, not necessarily in us, would cause the love of many to grow cold.
The word “waxed” used in this scripture is from the King James translation and it is significant. It goes back to the way candles are made. A wick is dipped in hot wax and then taken out and allowed to cool for a few seconds, leaving a thin layer of wax. The process is repeated hundreds of times until the wick is buried deep within the wax.
The same is true with the heart. If we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on the evil of this world and our circumstances, then, little by little, the layers of negativity harden around our hearts, and the love for God and others waxes cold.
The world if full of negative influences. So, how can we keep a positive attitude in a negative world? Well, you can start by remembering God’s promise to Joshua in chapter 1 verse 9…”have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee where ever thou goest.”
Either you believe the promises of God or you don’t. God commands us in Zech. 9:12 to be “prisoners of hope”. Without hope faith ceases to exist. Hebrews 11:1 says it this way…”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” Without hope faith has no substance.
I see a lot of people today who stand for a period of time and then quit. It is like there are limits on how long they’re going to believe God. You might be thinking, Well, how long am I supposed to stand? The answer is really quite simple. You stand on the Word of God and His promises until you’re encouraged and it works. Don’t quit!!!
November 27, 2014
Real Thankfulness
1 Thessalonians 5:18…”in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Thanksgiving means many things to many people. Some people think about spending time with family, as this is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Other people look forward to watching football games on television. Thanksgiving comes during hunting season; so many people go hunting for the Thanksgiving holidays. And, there are some who have a deep understanding of giving thanks to God. This is what we are really celebrating.
Sometimes the idea of being thankful grates on us because we have lost a loved one, a job, a marriage separation or divorce, etc. Our circumstances often dictate our level of joy and thankfulness. Real thanksgiving, biblical thanksgiving, is much greater and deeper than that. It is based not on our circumstances, but on God's sufficiency; not on our production, but on God's provision; not on our performance, but on God's providence.
There is a huge difference between knowing about God and knowing God. Even the devil knows about God, and trembles because of what he knows. To know God personally is to love and serve Him as Savior, leader, counselor and friend.
If I am the primary caretaker of people and possessions that are important to me, I am in deep trouble, because my power and wisdom are so limited. But when I entrust to God the care of these people and possessions, then I have enlisted the all-wise, omnipotent God. This does not mean that God puts an invisible protective shield around me and my family so that nothing bad can happen to us. This is a fallen, sin-marred world in which bad things do happen to people of faith. God does not love me more or less than any other person on earth. What then can I be sure of in this insecure world? God's Word assures me that nothing can separate me eternally from God. Nothing can happen tomorrow that God and I cannot handle together. No tragedy can erase God's sufficiency.
So, give it all to Jesus. He is more than capable of handling any problem or struggle in your life. “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God for you.”
November 28, 2014
Continue in Thankfulness
Isaiah 26:3..."You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."
Most of us long for peace, and Christians especially desire to live in that place of perfect peace. However, this scripture states very plainly that perfect peace comes from God, and more specifically, from keeping our minds focused on God and trusting in Him. Begin with that.
I believe one of the greatest antidotes to anxiety is thanksgiving and praise. When we thank God for all His blessings, it refocuses our attention from the negative to the positive things in our lives. Sure, all of us have problems. We live in a fallen world, but God is good, and God's goodness to us is greater than all of the Enemy's attacks.
Every one of us has much for which to be thankful and more than enough reason to be praising Him. We just need to put everything into perspective. Paul praises God after being beaten, stoned, whipped, and thrown in jail. Then he said these were but light afflictions that last for a moment, nothing to be compared to eternal things (2 Cor. 4:17-18).
Paul understood that praise coming from a thankful heart has great power. It will build you up spiritually, it is a source of strength, it is a powerful weapon against the devil, and it ministers to the Lord, just to mention a few. Praise is the source of peace, joy, pleasure, and contentment in every area of your life. It will change your perspective.
The benefits of praise and thanksgiving are many, too numerous to mention here. We have just celebrated a sacred holiday in America, when we give thanks to God for His blessings on our nation, our communities and our families. But that spirit of thankfulness should continue each day thereafter. There should be no end to our celebration of praise and thankfulness to our God. This is where our strength, hope, and trust originate for each days trials, temptations, and turmoils. We are never promised a rose garden, but we are promised a way through the thorns and tests of life. Praise and thanksgiving is the golden key which allows you to enter the soul-rest only God can provide.
Keep a thankful heart!!!!!
November 29, 2014
Take the Initiative
2 Peter 1:5..."and add to your faith goodness..."
"Add" means there is something we have to do. Let us not forget that we cannot do what God does, and that God will not do what we can do. We cannot save ourselves nor sanctify ourselves, God does that; but God will not give us good habits, He will not give us character or integrity. He will not make us walk holy with Him. We have to do all that ourselves. We have to work out the salvation God has worked in (Phil. 2:12). "Add" means to get into the habit of doing things, and initially it is difficult. But, we must take the initiative, which is to make a beginning, to instruct one's self in the way one should go.
Having the Holy Spirit in your spirit means you have the ability to know the right way always. Take the initiative, then, stop hesitating, and take the first step. Be resolute when God speaks, act in faith immediately on what He says, and never revise your decisions. This takes trust and most importantly a strong sense of your importance to God. Do not fling away your confidence by resisting the knowledge that God wants to speak to you. Have, instead, an attitude of expectation. Wait patiently in full anticipation that God will speak and that He will speak often.
Be aware of any tendency to hesitate when God asks you to do something. We have to get into the habit of listening for and to God about everything, to form the habit of finding out what God says. If, when a crisis comes, we instinctively turn to God, we know that the habit has been formed.
Take the initiative, take it yourself, take this step with your will now, and make it impossible to go back. Burn your bridges behind you --- "give that extra amount"---"be a friend to that friendless one"--"share your faith with that one." Place yourself in God's hands and let Him reign in your life.
November 30, 2014
Your Day in Court
2 Corinthians 5:10…”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Have you ever felt wronged and had someone say, “Don’t worry, you’ll have your day in court”? All of us will eventually have our “day in court” before God when we stand before the judgment seat (bema) of Christ.
Paul’s Corinthian readers must have been quite familiar with bema. As in most cities of Greece, a large, richly decorated rostrum call the bema stood in the middle of the marketplace at Corinth. It was used by the officials for purposes of public proclamations, commendations, and condemnations.
Paul himself had been brought to the Corinthian bema by Jews who opposed his message. The case was heard by Gallio, the Roman proconsul (governor) of the region, who dismissed the complaint (Acts 18:12-17).
But the bema was used for more than just tribunals. It was at the bema that winners of Corinth’s prestigious athletic contests were announced. Thus, Paul’s statement that believers will appear before the bema of Christ is as much a cause for joy and hope as it is for fear.
One thing is certain: the judgment rendered at the bema will be fair, for Christ will be the judge, and He Himself once stood before Pilate’s bema (Matt. 27:19; John 19:10). He knows what it feels life to have one’s life weighed in the balance.
However, the Lord will not be deciding the eternal fate of believers as He sits on His bema; that was settled at the moment of salvation (John 5:24). Instead, the bema of Christ will be our chance as believers to look at our lives according to Christ’s perfect assessment. It will be the ultimate opportunity to experience honest evaluation and true justice as we stand before Him.
Consider that time when you will stand before the bema of Christ. What will Christ say to you? Are you paying attention to your “deeds done in the body” in light of that moment of accountability? Are you striving to earn the Lord’s praise in every area of life? Or, are you willing to let the amazing grace of God move you into the arena of total trust that will work its way in, through, and out of you to do the work and purpose of the Kingdom?
December 1, 2014
Stir Up Your Gifts
2 Timothy 1:6-7…” For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (ESV).
Paul truly loved Timothy, even as his own son, and knew how dynamic and powerful he was when he was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to minister in the name of Jesus. Paul sent special instructions to Timothy in two letters that were meant to encourage and energize his faith anew.
Do you remember when you were first saved and filled with the Holy Spirit? How excited and animated you were for the faith. You felt you could change the world. But in time, did the flame of that first ignition dwindle so that it could barely be seen or felt again? Unfortunately, this happens all too often in the Body of Christ. As a result we suffer under ungodly laws and see the name of Jesus become a means of controversy and division in our society. Had the same fire that exploded within us not only remained but grew larger, brighter, and hotter, our country would be in constant revival.
Paul goes on to remind Timothy of the nature of the Spirit that resides within him. A Spirit of power and love and a sound mind, not one that has been overcome by fear. When we fear man and not God our faith suffers and the power within us is diminished.
Child of God, lay hands on yourself and stir up those holy gifts that were given you: the gift of, faith, forthrightness, righteousness, mercy, self-sacrificing will, honesty, boldness, and most importantly the gift of love. Stir them up through legitimate prayer. Everything you need is already inside you. It was put there by Jesus Himself. Your calling awaits accomplishment, and that can only happen when your fire is burning bright, and hot.
December 2, 2014
Help Arrived
Acts 1:4-5…”And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' " (ESV)
Many times in our lives trouble comes unexpectedly. Many times we are sorely prepared for what life has to offer. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that, no matter what the trouble, help is always provided?
After Jesus’ death the disciples were despondent and in fear for their lives. Once they realized Jesus was alive their perspective changed but no matter how they felt, they were not prepared for the opposition they would encounter once they started broadcasting the “Good News.” What could prepare them for the imprisonments, stonings, beatings, tortures and deaths they would suffer for the sake of the Gospel? They would certainly need more than water baptism; they would need the baptism of power which the Holy Spirit brings. This was the promise that Jesus supplied.
It is true today. Let no one tell you that the Holy Spirit baptism was only for the purpose of starting the church. God knew what the first disciples needed, and He knows what we need today. He is a just and merciful God who would never provide help then take it away. The promise is for us just as surely as it was for the first disciples.
The Holy Spirit in your life changes everything. He renews your life and brightens your future with hope and the power to overcome. He will give you strength to face fierce opposition, and the trials of everyday life that many others have to face without hope. He will set a fire in your belly to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ. Some of the benefits of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit are:
He revives our hope and faith and our spiritual vigor. He lifts our head. He lifts our hands. He puts a dance in our feet and a song on our lips. He fills us with joy. He puts a shine on our face. Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit heals our hurts and neutralizes our anger, and calms our fears.
If you have felt your fire wane over the years, place your hands on your belly and stir up the gifts that were given you at your baptism. Let God renew that fire of the Holy Spirit so that once again you can go forth in victory for the sake of the Gospel. If you have not experienced that extraordinary infilling of Holy Spirit power, pray for it. God has promised to give you the Holy Spirit when you ask.
December 3, 2014
The Wonder of the Cross
Hebrews 11:6…”But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them than diligently seek Him.”
It is never enough to know that God exists. The Apostle James tells us that even the demons know God exists and they tremble. (James 2:19). There are millions of people who know in their heart that there is a God out there somewhere, but that knowledge does nothing to alter their lives. Even though they have accepted this premise, they feel no need to further understand or investigate it. For them, there is no wonder in the stars, or a bird’s flight, or a soft breeze, or a colorful sunset. Their wonder exists in things that are made to make their lives more exciting, profitable, or safer. Then when something new trumps the former thing, they are excited and run to acquire the newer thing.
Understanding how something works, or why it works the way it does, removes the wonder. Knowing that man has been to the moon and back removes the mystery, so that even lovers can no longer find romance gazing at a full moon. God exists in the stars that illuminate the night, in the dew that bathes a rose, in the softness of a baby’s kiss, and He exists in the heart of every true believer.
It is in the seeking that God will manifest His awesome presence in a life. Collapsing into the merciful, loving arms of the Savior is where true wonder finds its home. Knowing how great is that love that bought your freedom from sin and the awful stain left by it, will permeate your soul with wonder and create in you a true seeker’s heart.
My friend, if you have wandered away from the cross because it is basic and too familiar, you need to come back. No matter what works you have accomplished, or honors you have received for a life of sacrifice; no matter how much you have given in money, time, and other resources; whatever it is you have accomplished for the kingdom, you must never leave the proximity of the cross, for this is where your reward is given. You can only find God’s true identity at the Cross of Jesus. And, it is there that you will also find the true YOU.
December 4, 2014
Love the World or Love God
1 John 2:16…” For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world.”
We are in the midst of the season of Christmas, a time when everyone seems to be running after that one more thing or things to get or give. We easily lose sight of what we, as Christians, should be after. John warns us that if we love the things of the world the love of the Father is not in us: Quite a bold statement.
It is so easy to forget the powerful message of Christmas in the hustle and bustle of the season. We allow the world's influence into our hearts when we covet things we see (lust of the eye), and push ourselves to accumulate what will make us more appealing or necessary to someone or something else (job) - (pride of life). We lose all power of trust in the promises of God; in His provision; in being at the center of His will, no matter what that means to our resources or desires. When we can replace our fleshly, natural desires, with the desires of God, we can truly say we love God more than we love the world.
It appears that there were people in the churches to which John was writing that had some of the same problems as people in the Body of Christ today. Though they were claiming the new life in Christ they were harboring hate for others and were continuing to pursue the things of the world and were trying to claim that they really loved God. In other words, though they claimed to believe all the truths about God that John had been sharing, they were not living as if these truths were reality. Like someone who visits the doctor, believes in this doctor's ability and judgment, writes down all the doctor's commands, and yet goes away and does none of it. John insists that what Jesus has done is reality and it affects real change. It is not possible to go on living as before because that is to live a lie, an unreality.
Today, let the truths of God’s love for you shape your emotions, your thoughts and your actions. Be a willing vessel in the hands of God to be used for the glory of His Kingdom.
December 5, 2014
Authorization Given
John 14:12….”Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
This scripture makes it abundantly clear that it is God’s plan that the disciples of Jesus are to do the same miraculous deeds that Jesus did and even greater works. In another place he instructs His disciples (the 12) to go and make disciples. There is no doubt that ALL disciples are given the same authorization as Jesus had. Do we see this remarkable ability at work in the church today? Not so much. And why – because very few actually believe what the scripture says.
The cessationist element of Christendom has hi-jacked the doctrine of signs and wonders by instructing that the early church ONLY received the authorization to proceed with miracles equal to and greater than those performed by Jesus. Their faulty and frail interpretation of this verse is to say that the greater works refers to the preaching of the gospel through television, radio, and the printed page which reaches more people than Jesus ever did. The problem with this thinking is that it ignores the statement of Jesus that the same miracles He did would be done by His followers. Miracles are meant to happen today. Nothing has passed away except possibly the faith of the cessationists.
It is unfortunate that in our modern culture miracles are considered too mythical to occur in a sophisticated age of science and technology. Modern reality leaves little room for God’s supernatural reality which can move mountains and still storms. Too many modern theologians and ordinary church going-believers are intimidated by the natural which dampens or expels any understanding of the supernatural.
When we fail to see the miraculous power of God working in our lives it is our fault not God’s. When we finally give up our worldly rationalizations and grasp the TOTAL TRUTHS of the Gospel, we will be, once again, moving in the supernatural. Signs and wonders are as much needed today as they were in the first century. We still have a faith problem; we still have an unbelief problem, which circulates and permeates our society creating every negative circumstance of a faithless world.
It is time – rather, passed time – that our Christian faith move us into the realm of the supernatural where we belong, so that we can move those mountains of doubt and unbelief that are keeping so many people bound.
December 6, 2014
Nature and Character of Worship
John 4:24..."God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
Do you know what an explosion of worship is? Think of when a volcano erupts, or a geyser spews forth. There is a lot of visible evidence of the power beneath the surface that you cannot see. Sometimes I have been in worship services when people have danced, and twirled, and marched, and even ran. These behaviors are outward expressions of the joy and praise that is filling the spirit that cannot be seen. David did the same thing when he danced before the Ark. There are many instances in the Old Testament when the Israelites expressed worship in some outward, physical manner.
There is nothing wrong with this. But, I know there are times when people have expressed themselves by these behaviors because they have been caught up in the emotion of the moment. This is when truth in worship is none existent.
WORSHIP IS NOT AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE, IT IS A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
Worship should have nothing to do with us, and everything to do with God.
Worship can be as quiet as a tomb. It can also be as jubilant as a sunrise. Worship should be personal and free and from the depths of the spirit within us.
Jesus said that God is a Spirit. We are also spirit beings. The way to worship in truth is spirit to Spirit. God communicates with us through His Spirit. This is Spirit to spirit. Worship should always be spirit to Spirit; our spirits joining in agreement with God's Spirit.
God has given us something much more powerful and compelling than the worshipers of the Old Testament had; the Spirit of Grace. Through His grace we have the ability to be outwardly calm in our worship, while our spirits are dancing and twirling and jumping and running. Let the Spirit of God lead you into true worship, no matter where or when that is (hopefully more than just in Church). You do not need others present, or a worship leader. You really don't need music. All that is needed is a heart of overwhelming thanksgiving and joy. So let your worship be without restraint; let no natural, social or cultural barriers hinder the truth and sincerity of your worship to God, your Father, Savior, and Creator.
December 7, 2014
Don’t be Left Behind
1 Thessalonians 4:17..."Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
This date marks the seventy-third anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that brought America into the bloodiest conflict in its history, WW II. This date changed America. Men went willingly to fight in far off lands, leaving families abandoned. Women became bread winners for their families, doing jobs only men had done previously. Patriotism was a dominate sentiment. The sorrow of the depression began to fade and new hope filled many hearts. We came together to defeat a common enemy. We held Democracy high. We befriended our fellow American because we all felt a strong sense of kinship while being less compassionate to those immigrants who identified with the homelands of our enemies.
Another date which changed America was September 11, 2001, when the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell. Up from the ashes arose a determined American pride that would carry on with life, disregarding our enemies wish to cast our nation into confusion and chaos. Ushering in two far-away conflicts, we were once again hearing and seeing images of destruction and bloodshed. We were caring for our wounded warriors, yet the mood of the nation was different. Patriotism was not esteemed like before, and our culture was being threatened more from within than without.
The next date that will change America and the World is not yet known, but it is fast approaching. On that day millions of people will go missing; famous people, ordinary people, your neighbor, your relative, your doctor, your teacher, hopefully your pastor as well. Those who remain will be frantic. There will be widespread anxiety as all manner of scientific explanations are put forth. There will also be widespread disappointment because many who thought they would go are left behind. The world will be filled with deceit as never known before.
Of course I am referring to the rapture. We are told in Scripture that we are not to know the day or time, but we can know the season. End time prophesies are being fulfilled at a break-neck pace. Students of eschatology are looking to the heavens for the Lord's return to collect His beloved.
After the rapture, Christ's church on earth will be gone. Without hope, the world will become a horrendous place in which to live. This will be the torment told in Scripture that will be greater than any before known to mankind.
But, there is still time to shore up your faith. Still time to cast all your cares on God, for He cares for you - still time to make that confession unto salvation that guarantees you a place in the courts of the King - still time to find that peace that surpasses all human understanding. Maybe you had once given your life to Jesus, but societal and peer pressures have caused you to fall away. Or, perhaps you profess to know God, but are not in the least familiar with Him as your heavenly Father. Maybe, you call yourself a Christian just because you can't identify with any other faith. My friend, there is yet time to remedy your situation and fall into the loving arms of the Savior who died for you and is ever interceding for you to the Father. All it takes is a moment of choice, when you choose life with your King. Please, don't be left behind. When the call comes, when the trumpet sounds, let your hearing be sure, and your flight be quick.
December 8, 2014
Benefits of Prayer and Fasting
Luke 2:36-37…”Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, (37) and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
Prophets such as Anna were known for their spiritual wisdom and the proclamation of God’s word to the people. Anna spent her time in the temple, serving God through fasting and prayers. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple for presentation, Anna recognized Him as the One who would bring redemption to Israel.
No doubt many of Anna’s prayers over the years had expressed a longing for God’s Anointed. Her many years in the temple had probably given her a keen knowledge of the Scriptures, which were read there regularly.
Along with Simeon (vss. 25-35), Anna helped to testify to Jesus as God’s Redeemer. Her testimony as a woman would have counted for little in Jewish courts of the day. But Luke includes her in his Gospel, perhaps to highlight one of the changes that Jesus, the Redeemer, wanted to bring about among His followers. No longer should they regard women as untrustworthy witnesses, but as full members of a new community of faith in Christ. After all, hadn’t Jesus chosen a woman to bring the good news of His resurrection to His disciples?
God honored Anna’s times of fasting and prayer by giving her the awesome privilege to testify that Jesus was the Redeemer of the world. Her devotion in fasting and prayer gave her keen insight into the supernatural workings of God in the earth. This same insight is possible today to those who devote themselves in fasting and prayer. The more fasting and prayer you do, in the proper attitude of devotion, the more God will reveal His mysteries to you and answer your prayers for your family, church, community and nation.
Begin to prepare your heart to devote yourself to God through fasting and prayer. There is much in our world that needs change. Revival comes through you. Fasting and prayer will move God’s kingdom forward through the selfless devotion of His Body on Earth, and will light revival fires from you to the Church Universal.
December 9, 2014
Manifested Glory
Romans 8:19…..”For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship).” Amplified Bible
This verse makes it very clear that all of creation is eagerly and intensely anticipating the day when the glory of God that is already deposited within God's saints will be revealed. That day won't completely arrive until the Second Coming of the Lord, but it is logical to think that creation rejoices to some degree every time a saint manifests His glory here on this earth.
Are you ready and willing to manifest the glory of your Creator in your everyday life? You might ask, “How do I do that.” This is a good question and one that needs to be answered, and has needed answering in every century since the Church of Christ began on earth.
The glory of God is not some big special effects spectacular from Spielberg or Cameron or like the old films of C.B. DeMille. It is manifesting the life of God within you. You must realize that you are, as a born again believer, the deposit of God’s glory, power, and love on earth, to be used to manifest those qualities and characteristics to everyone and in every situation. This need not be a daunting task, not for the child of God. It is simply who and what you are. Walk in the knowledge of your sonship in Christ.
As the Apostle John said, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be" (1 John 3:2). We are already the sons of God. This is not something that has yet to transpire. All of creation is waiting for us to manifest what is already in us.
So, child of God, when you open your eyes in the morning your prayer should be first one of thanksgiving and praise and then a request to let God’s glory shine out of you to bring light to the dark world that needs it and is intensely anticipating it.
December 10, 2014
Remembrances
Luke 16:25….”But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember…' ”
The portion of scripture from Luke 16:19-31 relates the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, a beggar, as told by Jesus to the Pharisees. His point was that while many will have wealth in this life, they may have no reward in the next, and may even suffer in hell, while those of the poorer class who have nothing in this life may have great reward in the after-life. Wealth doesn’t necessarily bring damnation after death – many wealthy people give away their wealth to help others and to advance the gospel. However, there are many who hoard their wealth or maintain a very selfish and lavish lifestyle while ignoring the plight of those who are poor and hungry.
This is also true of the poor. While many poor adhere strongly to their faith and even in their poverty seek to help out their neighbor, there are some who are angry and grab onto every morsel of life that comes their way with no regard toward sharing with or caring for others.
What is remarkable about v. 25 is that it calls on the rich man who is in torment to “remember.” While in his life there were daily opportunities to help Lazarus, yet he chose not to, and now after death no opportunity to correct his wrong exists.
Child of God, once this life is over, there will remain no further opportunity to advance the kingdom, aide the hungry, clothe the naked, or show compassion to the stranger. Your life is given you to give away. It is only in giving your life away that you can gain eternal rewards. Don’t wait until tomorrow to start your journey of giving. Start right here, right now.
December 11, 2014
Rejected Messengers
Luke 16:31…”But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”
This is a terrible indictment on humanity. These are the words of father Abraham, in Jesus’ parable, to the rich man who lies in torment for hoarding his wealth while Lazarus, a poor beggar rests in Abraham’s bosom. The rich man wanted Father Abraham to send messengers to his brothers to warn them of their carless lifestyles of selfishness and pride.
You may remember a similar circumstance occurred in Charles Dickens famous story, “A Christmas Carol.” Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by four ghosts in order to persuade the miserly, self-absorbed, denier of the Spirit of Christmas of the need for generosity, compassion and mercy. The first ghost was his long dead partner who trudged through eternity laboring over a heavy chain weighted down with money boxes and safes which he forged during his money-grubbing existence on earth. The second ghost carried Scrooge back to his past to view the incidents which molded his character. Scrooge always had opportunity to choose a different path just as the rich man in Jesus’ parable had opportunity. But both rejected chances toward goodness, kindness, giving, and compassion.
In Scrooge’s case, after all ghosts had come and gone, the Christmas Spirit was born anew in the heart of the man who had once called Christmas a “hum-bug.”
But that is fiction. My friend, no ghosts will ever visit mankind to persuade. The one true gift to humanity has already come. He showed us the Father; His character and His love. If we do not accept what Jesus brings, we will not accept other messengers, because the greatest messenger has come, left His mark along with His Spirit, and departed to sit at the right hand of the Father. We can either choose His way, or choose our own. We can make others miserable by our lack of humility and humanity, or we can abide in His Spirit and rejoice that we have opportunities to advance the Kingdom of God on earth through our compassion, giving nature, kindness, mercy and love (implanted in us by God Himself).
December 12, 2014
Having What it Takes
2 Peter 1:3-4..."seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."
You may not think you have what it takes to “make it” in life? But according to vs. 3 you do. Peter tells us that God’s power is in us and by that power we can experience real life in a way that will sustain us and please God. Don’t you know that God wants to affect every area of our lives? That includes our marriage, work, family, relationships, church, and daily life and dealings within our communities.
It is by the “knowledge of Him who called us,” that we make God’s power operational in our lives. The closer and more intimate you become with Christ, the more power you will obtain because you will understand more and more God’s purposes and how to rely on His provision.
You must understand that God’s provision is directly related to your relationship to Him and your ability to obey Him. Haphazard obedience will not help you continue in the blessing channel. Your commitment is what He requires.
When you accepted redemption you also accepted the responsibility to grow in grace which happens through increased knowledge of and intimate relationship with your King. For this task you have been given a precious gift – the Holy Spirit. But you must not set up road blocks to His work within you. These road blocks consist of unforgiveness, selfish and wanton desires which lead to disobedience and sin, pride and arrogance.
Complete surrender is the only option for a believer. That means you are willing to replace your personal desires and wishes with those of God, trusting always that His desires are the better ones.
Ask yourself if you are excited by the things of God? Is walking with God a new and exciting adventure every day? I will wager that if you answered no to either or both of those questions, it is because you have not been regular in the Word of God. The Word of God is "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4-12).
December 13, 2014
Tempered by Love
1 John 4:8…”He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
John gives us this definitive statement on love that should shake us to our core. How can we hold unforgiveness for hurts endured, or shun that dirty homeless person, or ignore the hungry, naked, forsaken, lonely, reject the ethnically different or the homosexual. God’s love is without condition, therefore should ours be conditional?
We must realize another important truth gleaned from this Scripture – every thought, word, and act of God is an expression of love. Our trials may be from the loving hand of God by way of perfecting us in patience and durability. How can He know our strengths unless we are tested? How can we trust our strengths unless they are tested? As James says, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3). In fact James wants us to see that without these trials we cannot be perfected. (vs. 4).
When that trial is pressing upon you, remember that this may be meant to stretch you and perfect you for God’s purpose. You are important to God. Your ability to be an active and vital part of advancing His kingdom on earth depends on your training and skill level in spiritual power. Therefore, rejoice that God is tempering you and shaping you into the power-house of faith that will move mountains for His Glory.
December 14, 2014
Being at Peace
John 16:33..."These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
None of us want trials and tribulation, but Jesus said we would have them, but that, through His peace, we would be triumphant over them. Not only triumphant but that we would have an attitude of cheerfulness through them.
Tribulations come upon us for several reasons. Sometimes they are of our own making. Sometimes there is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil and we are caught in the middle. Satan wants nothing more than to thwart every plan and purpose of God. This means he will attack the very ones God has chosen to fulfill His plans and purposes. However, in the midst of any trial Jesus has promised us a remarkable ability to maintain an attitude of cheerfulness which is the result of His peace which sustains and fortifies. When we forgo that peace it is because we have succumbed to the world’s perspective on tribulation. The eternal perspective is perceived when we acknowledge His peace and welcome it.
Under no circumstance are we to allow trials and tribulations to rob us of the Word of God. It is through the Word that we gain more and more strength and power to overcome whatever our adversary throws our way. According to the Book of James trials and tribulations will build in us patience and endurance which in turn will perfect us so that we will lack nothing, which means we will be in total victory (James 1:2-4).
Child of God it is important that you learn to rest in the assured Peace which Jesus gives. Jesus in you and you in Him means that the overcoming power of His faith resides in you as well. Trust that no situation in your life will ever be stronger, deeper, or more powerful than His peace which is guaranteed to sustain and fortify you for consistent victory.
December 15, 2014
Praying in the Spirit
Romans 8:26..."We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."
Do you realize that you are energized by the Holy Spirit for prayer; that when you pray in the Spirit that the Spirit often prays prayers which cannot be uttered? When we are born again of God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God, He expresses for us the unutterable.
He, the Spirit in you, intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will, and God searches your heart, not to know what your conscious prayers are, but to find out what is the prayer of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God needs the nature of the believer as a shrine in which to offer His intercession. "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit." When Jesus cleansed the temple, He "would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts." The Spirit of God will not allow you to use your body for your own convenience. Jesus ruthlessly cast out all those who sold and bought in the temple, and said ---"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers."
Have we recognized that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? If so, we must be careful to keep it undefiled for Him. We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Spirit. He will look after the unconscious part of which we know nothing; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible. Therefore, we must be diligent about those things which center our focus. If we are to be used in prayer by the Holy Spirit, we must maintain a center point on Jesus. He must be preeminent in our thoughts, actions, and words.
Child of God, do not think you are unable to attain to this high level of life in Christ. You have all you need pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3) because you have the Holy Spirit in you. Trust in that assurance. God needs you full of Him in order that His kingdom may be advanced in the earth. And, the advancement of that kingdom hinges on praying in the Spirit.
December 16, 2014
The Nature of God
Hebrews 11:6 …”But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he rewards those that diligently seek him”
Many Christians don’t feel worthy to come to God in faith that He will help them, because they have been taught that their sin has disqualified them. After all, none of us are perfect, and we do sin. God does not want you to think of Him as the punisher of those who aren’t perfect; He wants you to come to Him with the expectation of reward – not because you are good but because He is good.
This is opposite of what “religion” has taught us, but it is clearly illustrated in the parable that we often refer to as the Prodigal Son. When most of us read this story, we relate with the son who ran away. We know our behavior has made us unworthy to be in the presence of our Father, so maybe if we beg forgiveness and confess our sins, God will let us live in His kingdom as a lowly servant.
However, Jesus was not telling this story to illustrate man’s nature; He was illustrating God’s nature.
Luke 15:20 explains how God feels about us when we become born again.
"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
The son confessed his unworthiness to the father, but the father didn’t even acknowledge it. There was no putting his son on probation or making him work his way back into the father’s good graces. The father wasn’t interested in punishing his son; he was too excited about getting back to what brought him pleasure – blessing His children.
He immediately restored his son into the family by putting a ring on his finger, putting shoes on his feet, and dressing him in the best robe. Then he threw a party. The son’s disloyalty and rebellion would no longer be remembered or brought up. It didn’t matter anymore. The only thing that mattered to the father was expressed in Luke 15:24:
"For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
That is the attitude of a loving father. That’s the true nature of God. John expressed this lack of trust and understanding of the true nature of God in 1 John 4:18:
"If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love."
Just because you fear that God wants to punish you doesn’t mean it’s true. It just means you don’t yet understand God’s loving nature. After all, it was Gods’ idea to redeem man and bring him into right relationship. God even went to the point of sacrificing His only Son for this purpose. Is there any further proof necessary as to the loving nature of God?
December 17, 2014
The Battlefield of the Mind
Ephesians 6:17..."And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God:"
There are several scriptures that mention the helmet of salvation; Isaiah 59:17, 1 Thes. 5:8. But why the helmet of salvation, why not the helmet of truth, or righteousness, or the helmet of peace. You see, salvation is a concept of the mind. When you were born again you took on the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). You know, that you know, that you know that when you accepted Jesus and the finished work of the cross for your redemption, you were saved (not partially but totally saved). This is where faith first took root, in your mind. The Holy Spirit began the work of renewing your mind to the mind of Christ. We should not discount the work that progresses in your heart through the power of the Spirit, but it is the mind that harbors your negative and positive thought life. What better place for Satan to attack than the mind. This is the real battlefield. If Satan can deceive you by accusations of guilt that will cause you to doubt your salvation you will be heading for trouble, because from their Satan can attack you in all other areas of your life.
Romans 8:1 reminds us that," There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Condemnation can do irreparable damage to a Christian. Paul himself dealt with condemnation and guilt (Rom. 7). But the weapon he had available was the Word of God which he knew from the Holy Spirit.
When your mind is preoccupied with fleshly and worldly thoughts you are setting yourself up for Satan's temptations and lies! You need to get it hard-wired into your brain that if you are living according to the world's standards you are committing spiritual adultery (James 4:4).
The helmet allows you, as a believer, to have a relaxed mental attitude and be spiritually self-sustained. It gives the believer tranquility of soul, stability, composure, grace orientation, strength and a personal sense of destiny. Pressure cannot penetrate this helmet. When you are pressured beyond your ability to withstand, you are not wearing your helmet.
The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God --this is both a defensive and an offensive weapon. When Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, Satan came to him in attacks of the mind. With each attack, however, Jesus wielded this mighty weapon, the Word of God. Satan's attacks, therefore, were overcome --- he left and angels ministered to Jesus.
The Word of God is your defense against the deceptions of Satan and his demonically controlled worldly systems. But it does no good to own a Bible if you don't know what it says. Satan isn't afraid of biblically ignorant Christians ---he uses them for his purposes. But Satan is afraid of well-informed Christians. And, not just well informed, but well indwelt Christians -- those who have made the Word their own through the Holy Spirit. The word is their personal revelation. Just like soldiers would engrave their names on their swords, your name should be engraved into God's Word, so that it is personally yours.
December 18, 2014
Nature of the Believer
James 1:9-10...."Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation because as a flower of the field he will pass away."
We live in a day of the "fast track," the "sound bite," and the instant everything. But what is so attractive about the rush to achieve quick results? Is that the way life was intended to be?
A study of James 1 shows that God wants people to be someone rather than to get somewhere. Rather than measuring our worth through achievements and acquisitions, He evaluates our character, looking for such virtues as peace, truth, serenity, and strength of character. He values us for who we are and who we are becoming. He wants us to be:
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People who can endure testing and trial (v. 4)
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People who trust God to provide for their needs and feel free to ask for His help (vv. 5-9).
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People who can discern between good and bad choices and make wise decisions (vv. 12-16).
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People who give generously to others, just as God has given generously to us (vv. 17-18).
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People who listen well and respond thoughtfully (vv.19-21).
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People who act instead of just talking and whose actions benefit others (vv. 22-25).
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People who value and show compassion toward others who are in need, especially those forgotten by society (vv. 26-17).
It takes time to develop character like that. But God is interested in long-term growth, not just a quick fix. We may need to slow down and take a long, hard look at the direction of our lives. If we are driven to gain as much as we can as fast as we can, we are headed down a road toward destruction. By so doing we are not putting our trust in God and His plans for us and His benevolence toward us.
Child of God, His desire is for us to be constantly striving for perfection; that perfection as measured by God and not ourselves. Our here and now perspective can be deceiving. But, get in the habit of seeing through God’s eyes; have an eternal perspective. We are meant for that. It is God’ good pleasure to enlighten our minds to His purpose and plans if we will but let Him.
December 19, 2014
Listening Well
Isaiah 30:21…”And your ears will hear a word behind you. ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”
How many times have you supposed you should do this or that and actually did nothing at all or did something opposite, only to have realized the wrong path had been chosen? It has happened to me too often to mention. Since becoming a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian I have had the Holy Spirit as my guide in walking with Christ and staying on the right path. But, often I have ignored His wisdom and advice and gone my own way, only to realize it later when trouble ensued.
Even in our trials and tribulations we tend not to wait on the Lord’s wisdom through His Spirit. We are anxious to see an end. We, therefore, pursue our own plans, only to find them inadequate for the task. Trials and tribulations are often teaching tools applied to us for achieving character, strength of faith, endurance and a more pure walk in holiness. They are only limited by our willingness to be taught.
James tells us that we should count it all joy when we come up against trials and tribulations. These are meant to produce patience and that perfected patience will be all you will need. Impatience is costly to the life that is seeking more of God. Sometimes the failure caused can take years to overcome.
But, Paul, tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17 that we should not even consider light, momentary afflictions, because they will abundantly prepare us to produce and achieve an everlasting weight of glory. So much so, that we cannot even measure this vast transcendent glory and blessedness. These light afflictions to which Paul refers are shipwreck, stoning, imprisonment, hunger, for these are just some of the trials that beset him in his quest to bring the message of Christ to the Gentiles.
Returning to James again we are shown how to achieve the best reward for our common everyday trials and afflictions, and even those not so every day. This is done in thankfulness. This attitude of thanksgiving will lift you up into those heavenly places with Christ Jesus that Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:6.
Child of God, whatever your affliction today, whether small or great, rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit which is within you. View these afflictions as opportunities to grow and mature in Christ. Ask your heavenly Father to open your eyes and heart to all that is being accomplished in you through these difficulties. Relax and let that perfect work continue, for He has promised to complete the work He has started within you. Do not fear His hand, for it is a hand of love and comfort for anytime and in any circumstance.
December 20, 2014
Let God Fight for You
2 Chronicles 20:12…”O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
When King Jehoshaphat was surrounded and outnumbered by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said to the king, “Don’t be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you. Don’t fear or be dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them for the Lord is with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:14–17)
What King Jehoshaphat did next was brilliant. He acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting his strong and brave commandos in front, he put worshipers in front! What did the worshipers sing? They sang of God’s love for them — “Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!” And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21–23, NIV)
It is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, “Where is God?” But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us. (Romans 8:37).
So, child of God, whatever valley you are in today, don’t be afraid, God is there strengthening and upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles!
December 21, 2014
Joseph Was Also Chosen
Matthew 1:19-20...And Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly. 20. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."
We hear much about God’s choice of Mary as the mother of Jesus, but Joseph was also chosen. He was chosen to be the earthly father of Jesus. It was his responsibility to be sure Jesus was raised in accordance with the Torah. He was also a descendant of David. Centuries before, God promised David that his throne "would be established forever" (1 Chronicles 17:14). But how did God know that this man would be up to the responsibility of raising the Son of God?
Even though royal blood flowed in Joseph's veins, he was an ordinary man. a simple carpenter by trade. No doubt he was successful, at least enough to be betrothed to Mary. This meant he would have to provide a livelihood for her and their prospective children. He would have to build a dwelling suitable for his family. On the surface it would seem that there was nothing remarkable about this man.
However, we must remember that God looks upon the heart. He notices character. According to Matthew, Joseph was a righteous man. This meant that he upheld the laws of Moses to his best ability, and trusted in the atoning sacrifice each year for his sins. It also meant that he was faithful in small things. If you bought furniture from Joseph, you could be confident that he didn't use cheap materials just to make a profit. He dealt honestly and fairly with his fellow man. He worshiped God and endeavored to follow Him faithfully in these "little things", and God noticed.
When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he wanted to deal mercifully with her. He knew that should the fact of her pregnancy become widely known that the law would be fulfilled and she would be stoned to death. So, he decided to divorce her quietly. Although his decision was an honorable one, it was wrong. God could not allow this to happen. His plan was perfect and it included Joseph. It was necessary to send an angelic visitor to bring Joseph into the loop.
So, you see, you can also be used of God, even in your ordinary circumstances and situations. God notices your integrity. He notices your attempts at holiness not your sins because your sins are covered by the blood of His Son. You are righteous before God. Trust in God with your whole heart. Know that you do not have to worry about "missing" God's will as long as you are honestly seeking Him with all your heart. He will do whatever is necessary to make His plan clear to you, just as He did with Joseph.
December 22, 2014
Words of Life or Death
Luke 1:20…”But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
Luke 1:5-20
Zacharias, while ministering in the temple, was visited by an angel who presented him with some amazing news. Throughout this meeting Zacharias was incredulous and argued with the angel, even questioning his truthfulness. With such doubt brewing in the heart of Zacharias, the angel had no recourse but to strike him mute for the duration of his wife’s pregnancy. More than just punishment this was very necessary for the fulfillment of God’s plan . No negative reports could be tolerated.
The angel knew that Zacharias’ doubting heart would lead to negative speech and therein stop the plan of God. This seems impossible, because with God all things are possible. However, the Bible also says in Proverbs 18:21 that death and life are in the power of the tongue.
Were Zacharias to exit the temple and tell those waiting outside that he had been given a message by an angel and then relate his negative view on the message, he would be speaking death to God’s plan. God’s plan had to be fulfilled so Zacharias had to be made mute.
Why did God give us Proverbs 18:21? Perhaps as a warning that we need to line-up our our speech with the Word of God. How many times have we spoken negatively over a situation and thereby brought about negative results, even though God had better plans. Words carry a powerful importance in the spirit world, just as they do in the natural world. Jesus said in Matt. 12:34 “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
We must ask ourselves what we have in abundance in our hearts. Do we have the Word of God in abundance, or do we have worldly cares and pride? Do we have abundance of faith, or of natural remedies and devises? Do we have an abundance of hope, or an abundance of doubt?
Another insight we might glean from this passage is that the Bible calls Zacharias and Elizabeth righteous before God (v. 6), walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. The Bible does not say they were sinless, but rather blameless. Through their faith in the blood sacrifices (which were symbolic of Christ), God put the blame for their sins on the Lamb (John 1:29). You might think a man who had so much faith in the laws and ordinances of God would more readily believe an angel’s message. However, it seems obvious that Zacharias put more faith in traditions than in God. He was still limited to the report of his five senses, which left little room for a Word from God.
If we are, also, limited so profoundly to the natural, we will have little faith in the Word of God. Will our hearts have abundance of faith, or of natural remedies and devises?
At this season of Christmas it is important for every believer to relish the story of the miraculous birth and all events pertaining to it. These are signs of His coming among us. Signs of our own need are seen every day in our thoughts, words, and actions. We need the saving power of Christ to make continual advent into our hearts and minds by which source we reach our ultimate goal of Christlikeness.
December 23, 2014
Why the Humble Birth?
Luke 2:7...”And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Why did Christ come in such a humble and lowly way?
Christ was born through natural means. He was carried in the womb and was born as a helpless, vulnerable, powerless, and dependent newborn (of course, God supervised everything so He was not at risk). He didn't come to earth as a conquering angel or a mighty emperor. His parents were poor and probably had no livestock of their own (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8). Not to mention they were from Nazareth, an area not held in high regard, as even Philip said, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46).
It is difficult to think of something more humble, vulnerable, and lowly than a newborn. God could have entered into this world as the Angel of the Lord, but He chose a much more humble way. Christ's incarnation was a reflection of God's character and heart. He was the utmost example to us of how to approach and present ourselves before the Father.
Proverbs 29:23 tells us that "a humble spirit will obtain honor." We know that Christ was the most humble of all who have lived on earth, even though He was and is also God, but for our sake He humbled Himself. And because of His humble state, He was given the highest honor:
''...who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name" (Philippians 2:6-9).
According to Isaiah 57:15 God dwells "with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite." God desires to lift us up from our lowly position, even if one suffers from a broken heart or a crushed spirit.
Christ's lowly condition should always remind us how we are supposed to approach the Father. God also uses the weak to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:26-19). God came in weakness so He could shame those who were looking for a strong political leader and were blind to their spiritual needs.
Child of God, never assume too much on your behalf but always be conscious of the significant trait of God displayed in the lowly state of Jesus' birth, humility. It is in vain that we approach God through pride or self-interest, but in a contrite and humble spirit our approach obtains much in mercy and grace.
December 24, 2014
Why the Shepherds?
Luke 2:8-9....And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
Have you ever wondered why shepherds-- out in a field on night watch, minding their own business - were the first to receive the good news that the Savior of all people, Christ the Lord had been born?
Why them? Why did God choose them, why did He invite them to be the first to see the Birth of all Births? The Miracle of all Miracles, - the incarnation of God!!
Have you ever thought how awesome it would have been to have been there that night? To have experienced the heavens filled with the messengers of God with an incredible light show going on all around and the sound of multitudes of voices praising God. Using your God given imagination you can enter into His Word and experience the fullness of His message and glean remarkable insight through the Holy Spirit.
You would realize that God has a great affinity for shepherds. Think about it. Abraham, Issac and Jacob were shepherds, as was David, who, incidentally, may have shepherded in the same fields in which these shepherds were when the angel appeared to them. God was referred to by his people, as the Shepherd of Israel. The Psalmist personally exclaimed, "the Lord is my shepherd." Peter referred to Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd who was willing to lay down His life for the sheep (John 10). He is the Shepherd King of all humanity, and by the way, he happens to have a special love and longing for straying, misbehaving, knuckle-headed, lost sheep. Luke 15.
God has the heart of a shepherd. God was coming in person to gather the lost sheep of Israel, and all of humanity to himself. He told the news to fellow shepherds first! There is probably something there for which he wants us to attend.
The shepherds were the low- lives, not part of the "in crowd".
Doing a little research, I discovered that during the time of Jesus, Jewish father's dissuaded their sons from shepherding as an occupation. It was not considered a good livelihood. Additionally, many Jews frowned upon shepherds. They were looked down upon, not trusted, even scorned. Apparently they were often peripheral to Jewish life and culture. Outcasts. Low- lives.
When Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth she exclaimed that God exalts the lowly (Luke 1:52).
They were certainly not who you would invite to a party. Certainly not to T-H-E BIRTHDAY PARTY!
Yet they were the only ones God invited to the birth of Jesus -The Savior and Lord! Gentiles, the wise men, would come later! If it were wise women they probably would have been there in advance and helped to clean up the stable, prepare meals and help with the delivery!
There were two great messages God had for mankind. The first was that a Savior had been born. The second was that the Savior had risen from the dead. The first message was given first to shepherds, and the second message was given first to a woman. Both recipients were not considered trust worthy to carry news of such import. Shepherds, as stated earlier were looked down upon, and women were considered unreliable witnesses whose testimony would have been doubted at best.
God never seems to do things the way man would. He always has a higher view, a truer vision, and a surer design than His creatures do. Yet, He chose to become one of us, in order to rescue humanity and creation!
December 25, 2014
MERRYCHRISTMAS
Announcing the Good News
Luke 2:10-11....And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11. for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." NASB
Suddenly in the quiet night, illuminated only by the warm glow of a fire, there appears to these poor shepherds a sight which they have never before seen, and which struck fear into their hearts. There, suddenly before them, bathed in brilliant light, is an angel of enormous size. This was probably the angel Gabriel. He had brought the message to Zachariah about the birth of John, and to Mary about the birth of Jesus. He was the messenger of God, so it is safe to assume he was the angel delivering the message to the shepherds.
To ease their fears the angel first speaks comfort to them, then announces news that the earth has been longing to hear. There had been born a Savior. How wonderful that God sent a Savior. He did not send a lawyer, or a judge to condemn, nor did he send an economist or a politician (God could not be that mean). He sent what the world needed then and now. He sent a Savior. Man could by no means of his own save himself from ultimate destruction. It took the very Creator to become the creature in order to save mankind.
After the remarkable announcement by Gabriel, a host of angels began praising God. They were saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace goodwill to men". A message of extraordinary meaning.
The war between God and man had ended. God had ended it. No longer would man suffer the wrath of God. His peace was offered to all. The dreadful sin nature that man acquired through the first Adam, will soon expire through the sacrifice of the Second Adam. No longer would man be separated from God by sin.
No message could have been more wonderful that is why the angels put on such a marvelous show before man, so man could know the greatness of the message.
Do you ever wonder the problems inherent in the Creator of time, who is outside of time, limiting Himself in time? Or, how He, who is Omnipresent, everywhere at once, limited Himself to a certain space within that certain time?
Child of God, humble yourself before the great Creator who suspended all of His own infinite dimensions to bring His love and forgiveness to His creation; to YOU. Praise His Holy Name.
December 26, 2014
God With Us
Isaiah 7:14...Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. KJV
In the Gospel of Matthew, the angel tells Joseph about the child in Mary's womb and that his name is to be Immanuel, which means God with us. This is to fulfill the prophesy given by Isaiah hundreds of years before. A deeper understanding of this term gives us a clearer meaning of the Savior's purpose. Literally this means that God has come to dwell with us and this is not a partial or temporary arrangement. God has come to be with His people and He has come to stay. Jesus Himself said, "I am with you always, even unto the end of the age."
The message of Immanuel is that God has met us on our level. For thousands of years man was expected to reach God's level of holiness and purity. Throughout all those years of striving, man was a disastrous failure. God knew the only way for man to meet God was for God to come to man. God is bringing His presence into the world in a whole new way. The Old Testament records the presence of God in various ways, a burning bush, a prophetic vision, a pillar of cloud, a fire from heaven but here was something new and entirely different. God was coming to His people through the womb of a virgin.
The Creator of the universe would experience human life as a human being. Jesus saw things through human eyes. He heard things through human ears. He felt things through human emotions. He even tasted food through a human mouth. All of this may seem insignificant since these are all things with which we are intimately familiar, but stop and think about it for just a moment. Jesus experienced life on our level and He has seen life up close and personal. Not only does He understand the very basics of life, but, also he understands the basic reality of human suffering and pain. Jesus knows what it is like to lose a loved one. Jesus knows what it is like to be betrayed. He knows what it is like to be accused without cause. He understands what it is like to have physical pain. Immanuel means He understands us because He has been through the realities inherent in the lives of His creation.
We should never think God far beyond our trials and tribulations. He chose to walk as a man to know with great intimacy man’s weaknesses and strengths. He will never require anything of you that you cannot accomplish through the strength given you by the Creator who has walked in your shoes. And, what is of such importance to vulnerable man; He will know by what means we should be comforted, having known comfort in the flesh Himself.
December 27, 2014
Patient Faith
Luke 2:25..."And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him."
Have you ever thought about those unsung heroes of the Bible? Those quiet souls who do everything for the pleasure of God and who receive from a thankful Deity knowledge no one else has. Let me introduce you to Simeon. We really don't know much about him. He is mentioned only in Luke's Gospel. But from that we can surmise much about Simeon.
There really was nothing special about Simeon that qualified him to take up the Christ child in his arms and bless Him (v. 28). To my knowledge he was not an ordained religious leader, he had no credentials or special authority. He was simply a "just and devout" man who had a close walk with the Holy Spirit (vv. 25-27) Through this description of Simeon I can imagine that he spent much time daily in intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. I imagine he made no decisions without guidance and direction from the Spirit.
Simeon, whose name means "God hears," is an example of how God honors those who engage in life-times of quiet prayer and constant watchfulness. Simeon was a man of patient faith, yet his wait for the Messiah must have seemed interminable. He likely had many opportunities for doubt, as numerous would-be Messiahs sounded false alarms in the land (information from extra-biblical sources).
Yet, somehow he knew that the Redeemer would first come not as a great, heavenly champion wrapped in banners of nationalism, nor with a political agenda of violence, but as a baby carried in the arms of His parents. His kingdom would prove to be a stumbling block to some and the Rock of salvation to others, both Jew and Gentile. Simeon also knew that the young couple standing before him would be hurt by the controversy that would eventually surround their Son (vv. 34-35).
Do you think you are incapable of having a prophetic vision from God? According to vv 26 and 34 the Holy Spirit had revealed something extremely important to Simeon. I am forced to wonder if Simeon had asked for this knowledge. I see nothing in Scripture that tells me that God would NOT give you special knowledge if you ask for it. The qualifications to receive such knowledge would seem to be a very close personal and intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit – a relationship that is never hampered by daily trials and circumstances, by attitudes of others, by worldly distractions, or by fear and doubt. Is this the type of relationship you have, or is it something for which you only think about fondly? When you leave self-will trampled in the dust, you will be closer to achieving an attitude of heart that would lend itself to joining with the Holy Spirit on a constant basis. Let this be your will and desire above all else, and you will achieve it.
December 28, 2014
What Star Do You Follow?
Matthew 2:9…”and behold the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.”
What star are you following and where will it lead you? Even after meeting Jesus at the cross, many follow their own star and often times, with no Jesus in their focus; end up far from where the Savior is.
The men that followed the star where wise men from the East, probably from Babylon, or a country beyond, who were familiar with Jewish Scripture and prophesy. They came on an errand to find a Child, whom they supposed to be the King of the Jews. We assume there were three because only three gifts are mentioned, but there were probably more because a journey of such length would be unsafe for just three.
God had chosen these wise men to bring to the parents the means needed to travel away from Judea and into Egypt in order to protect their newborn Child from the murderous hands of King Herod. With gold, precious perfumes and ointments they would be able to pay their way into Egypt and there remain until God called them back to Judea.
What journey has God called you to make? He has even given you the gifts He wants you to use while you are sojourning in exile in Earth awaiting the time when you will be called back home. No one is insignificant to God; we all have a journey, a purpose, a star to follow.
Yes, child of God, you are on a journey, in exile, just as the Holy Family was. Just as the wise men journeyed to find the King of the Jews, you are on a journey to find the true Jesus; the Jesus who is healer, comforter, savior, peace-giver, protector, and lover of your soul. Don’t look just for the King, but look also for the shepherd who cares for His flock and sacrificed His own life for them. Let your star be one of hope and joy because it leads to the place of overwhelming glory in the presence of the One true King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
December 29, 2014
Weep for the Children
Matthew 2:16....."Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men."
In this tragic account, vv. 16-18, we read of an entire village of baby boys being slaughtered, due to the insane rage of a jealous king. The story should remind us that growing numbers of children today die needlessly for the sins of adults.
Like Rachel (v. 18), mothers all over the world, particularly in urban ghettos and developing nations, weep over their dead children. The weeping and wailing in Bethlehem must have gone on for days or weeks. But, where are those who are weeping over the millions of unborn children slaughtered in their mother's wombs? Do we see them in our public schools - no they are painfully absent? Do we see them in our churches, where the sanctity of the Word of Life is ignored? Do we see them anywhere? Are we overcome by the weeping and wailing of the thousands who stand for LIFE? A greater tragedy is perpetrated than has ever been known to mankind, and where are the Rachel's among us. Can their weeping be heard above the sounds of the cries for women’s rights? There is a great din in our society that is drowning out the sound of Rachel’s weeping. The din is one of pride, selfishness, and the wanton disregard for human life.
Do we see the broken heart of Jesus as He weeps over His lost children? Children the Father knew from their wombs - Snatched away. Never to realize the life that God had granted. Are we any better than Herod?
The babies of Bethlehem and the unborn millions aborted in America have a common bond: proud, ungodly acts of selfish wills acting out power in declaring their need for life to be of more importance than that of a helpless, unborn life.
Jesus still weeps today. We have thrown away our conscience and taken up instead our own selfish sense of survival as replacement.
Please God help us! Fast and pray as the New Year begins for all the hearts of our nation to be renewed to Godly principles of life and holiness. Be a willing vessel for God to use to change the direction of a society doomed for destruction. Our times are growing short. Our King stands at the gate, waiting to make His appearance in the clouds to rapture home the saints of His heart. Pray that many who are now to be left behind, will, instead, be ready to go.
December 30, 2014
On Peace
2 Peter 1:2…”Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
In our world today many desire peace in their lives and have none or very little. Striving to be richer, more powerful, or just more comfortable, they miss the opportunity to acquire peace. As the Apostle Peter tells us, peace comes from the knowledge of God.
How do you see God? Is He a demanding tyrant that will bring affliction when you disobey? What do you know about the character of God? Is your idea of God one that is based on faulty knowledge acquired through others or some Sunday school lesson from long ago?
The only way you are going to know the true, living God is through His Word and spending time in His presence. When you get to know God intimately, you will understand His peace and that peace will be multiplied to you for any and all situations.
Jesus promised to leave His peace behind when He ascended to the Father (John 14:27). This peace is a lasting, consuming peace. It is not to be compared to the peace the world gives. The world’s peace is dependent on circumstances and can vanish as a whiff of smoke. Not so the peace of God.
If you do not have peace in your life, but long for it, may I suggest you get into the Word. Study out the character of God. Study the love of God for His creation, which is YOU. Spend quiet time in His presence. Know that you have Jesus’ very own peace in your heart and mind, and don’t allow trouble, envy, anger, or fear to change your attitude or intention. His peace will keep you from those things which displease Him. It will keep you going forward in your journey to Christlikeness. His peace is a place of rest for all that He is, and all that He is in you. Through the Holy Spirit you have the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, PEACE, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The Peace of God truly does guard and keep you. It keeps you focused on the good things of life, and keeps out the bad things upon which the enemy wants you to focus. In prayer, thank the Lord for His peace.
December 31, 2014
A Call to Fast & Pray
Joel 1:14…”Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”
Joel 1:9-20
These are the words of God spoken through the prophet Joel. God’s people were in dire need of supernatural power and God is telling them how to achieve it.
To enter God’s gateway to supernatural power, we must model spiritual brokenness, humility, and repentance before the people of God and the world in which we live. How can we testify to the world about our changed lives unless the change is visible?
Some things may be the worse for breaking, but a heart is never at its best until it is broken by the things that break the heart of God.* If we do not model brokenness and repentance before the world, we will be, instead, modeling, pride and stubbornness which is no different to the world’s view.
Our modern structure and economics is much different and more complex than in the time of Joel, but we are in much the same condition today as then. The time has come to respond to the alarm. It is time for America to wake up, just as the priests and the ministers of the Lord in Joel’s day were shaken out of their sleep over the sinfulness of Judah.
The situation is grave in our nation, and much of the fault lay squarely at the doors of our churches. Complacency and even apathy has invaded the halls of Christendom and the hearts of God’s people. We need a revival of power in our hearts and minds, an awakening to the truths of God’s word. We need to stand and be counted on God’s side.
We need to be lights aglow to our families, and our neighbors need to see the power of God at work in us. When we are truly perceived as different; a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, we can testify to our transformed lives with conviction.
Prayer is needed, and power in prayer is needed even more. The source of that power lies in the discipline of fasting. Fasting and prayer is what the Church needs today, just as it was needed in the time of the prophet Joel. We have missed opportunities because of our lack of purpose, now is the time to focus, the time for action; to answer the call to humility and obedience. To show God our willingness to deny our flesh in favor of the higher call of faith in, and obedience to, Christ.
Child of God, won’t you come into the New Year, which God has granted to us, in an attitude of humility and brokenness before Him. Fast and pray for yourself, your family, your community, and your nation. Break the bonds of slavery to pride and the world, by summoning the supernatural power of God in your prayer life. This is the power that will change you and your world. Amen.
January 1, 2015 Blessings to You in the New Year - 2015
New Year’s Resolutions
Philippians 1:9-11...."And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
I am wondering about all those people who are making New Year's resolutions and how many of them are Christians - To lose weight (probably no. 1), to stop smoking or drinking, to use money more wisely, just to name a few. They are all common and in most cases quite unsuccessful. I remember for years I resolved every New Year's Eve to stop smoking. I always began well. Once I even made it to March. Mostly though, I failed within a short period of time, once within 12 hours. With each failure I was left with deep feelings of condemnation. This finally resulted in the resolve to make no more resolutions.
Now, I have to wonder, should a Christian make resolutions for the New Year? They may resolve to read the Bible more often, perhaps even attempting to read the Bible completely during the year. Or, perhaps, the resolution may be to pray more often, or to tithe regularly and more willingly, perhaps to help the poor or visit the sick and elderly more often, or even to begin; all of these sound quite worthy of a Christian seeking to live more fully for God. The attempt at any of these through the flesh will ultimately lead to failure and condemnation. Why must we always fall into the same trap as the world? When will we learn to let the Spirit lead and not the flesh? There is nothing good in our flesh. Pride will be the motivating factor in all of the above mentioned resolutions unless the Spirit is in control.
God is a Spirit and He communicates with us Spirit to spirit. Our spirit knows what God desires of us. It is in the spirit that we have knowledge of the steps that will lead us from glory to glory.
After a mind-blowing, Spirit-filled encounter with God a few years ago, I took it upon myself to pray for everyone I encountered. Silently my prayers were raised to God. I didn't know who the people were or what their needs might be, but I prayed in the Spirit for them, and I felt good about what I was doing. After a few days, during a soaking time in the Spirit, God revealed to me that my motives were not true. I was not praying out of a sense of caring but out of a sense of duty. What God wanted was for me to rest in Him for a time - to stop all my labors at achieving a holy life, and simply rest in Him. Nothing I could do would ever bring me to His purpose. I needed to let His Spirit take hold and guide me. I had to release my flesh to His control. My spirit was already obedient unto righteousness, now my flesh had to be also, and this could only be achieved through His Spirit. I had to let go. After I started to learn this truth, I began to see a complete change in my attitude. I started to understand God's grace.
Now you may ask, "What does this have to do with New Year's resolutions?" Everything. How do you know what need you have in God's eyes? He may not care that you smoke right now. Focusing all your attention on your resolution to stop smoking may mean you are not focusing on a more pressing problem that must first be resolved. The same can be said for losing weight and a host of other resolutions attempted each year. Now hold on to your chair - It may not be that God wants you to read the Bible more, or even to pray more. But, what He does want is that you desire Him more, which will lead to more Bible reading and prayer. When I was finally able to wrap my mind around this basic truth, I was able to stop smoking effortlessly. In the process I became so hungry for the Word of God, I was like a starving man being admitted to a banquet.
Here is my suggestion. Get alone with God; in the secret place of the Most High; fast and pray for direction. Rid your mind of all worldly cares and fleshly desires. By denying your flesh through fasting you are opening up more of yourself to God. Focus on Him and Him only - rest in His presence. Soak in His presence as you would soak in a warm bath. Immerse yourself in His glorious presence. Then, let His Spirit move in you to reveal His desire and His purpose. You will be more successful through His methods than any method of your own.
JANUARY 2, 2015
Jesus Is God
John 1:1.... "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.."
Jesus was not just a man sent from God, He was God. This is the most important statement of the Bible. On this truth hang all other truths.
We may believe and understand this truth intellectually, but, until we discover it spiritually we will not be able to live a life of sacrifice and love. This is the life we were called to when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Just as Jesus learned obedience through His suffering,( Heb. 5:8), we must suffer our flesh to conform to the image of Christ day by day and hour by hour. No longer should we allow others, not of the Spirit, to influence our actions or speech.
We are now called to walk in the Spirit, and that may mean separating ourselves from our common companions. Our call and mission is to gather among like-minded believers. Even in our workplaces we must keep our focus on a higher plane – remembering that we are seated with Christ is heavenly places (Eph. 2:6), and offering ourselves to honesty, integrity, and justice.
We belong to Christ and our lives are not our own (Ro. 14:7). As His beloved children, we must rest in Him and allow our entire being to be permeated by the presence of the Holy Spirit of God. In this way we will testify to the truth that Jesus is God in the flesh and by His Spirit we are being renewed daily to be the image of the Son of God.
January 3, 2015
The Mind of Christ
1 Corinthians 2:16...."For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ"
Do you realize that your born-again spirit came replete with the mind of Christ? In your spirit, there is a mind that already knows all things. The rest of the Christian life is learning how to draw it out into the physical realm. When that happens, you experience what is called "revelation knowledge".
It is sad but true that many Christians do not experience revelation knowledge. The knowledge they obtain is from the preacher, or teacher who instructs them. Seeking their own revelation never seems to occur to them. Have you ever noticed how many people in the congregation actually bring their Bibles to church, or use them to check for themselves the scriptures being quoted from the pulpit? Or, how many will go home and study out the Word for themselves to confirm the message they just heard in church.
There was a time years ago when Jami and I were attending a church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida whose pastor was a young man of about 30. He had a beautiful young wife and two young children. For a time we noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Then, to my surprise I began to wonder about some of the things the pastor said and did. Although he was very friendly and encouraging, something was wrong but I could not identify exactly what. I talked it over with Jami but she didn't seem to have the same insight. So, I did not heed what, I realized later, my spirit was trying to tell me. The discernment was in my spirit but I wasn't willing to let the information into my natural mind. I was influenced by the way others reacted. Had I let my natural mind be renewed to the discernment in my spirit I would have seen the problem. Within a few months it was revealed that the pastor had had an affair with an 18 year old member of the congregation and she was pregnant. This was a terrible blow to the church. Many of the members had not been grounded in the Word enough to withstand this blow. Some left the church so discouraged they withdrew from their faith.
Although this is a painful story to relate because of the damaged caused in the Body of Christ by such circumstances, it is useful to consider how much your faith may depend on what you see rather than what your spirit knows. But, you will not know how to discern unless you are in the Word often. As a believer in Christ who suffered the ultimate sacrifice to give you the opportunity for eternal life in Him, you should want to do nothing less than eat the word like you eat food. Nourish your soul with the Word so your spirit and soul can operate in tandem. When you do this you will not be easily deceived or led astray by every whim of doctrine. Satan loves it when Christians accept his lies because he knows how damaging this is to faith when it is not established in truth. How else can you explain the wide-spread change in doctrine concerning homosexuality. There are some main-line churches choosing to ignore sound doctrine based on truth for a lie fostered by Satan. This lie says tolerance is more important than truth.
Don't trust your faith to others, not even your pastor. Check everything by the Word and the Spirit. But if you do not spend time in the presence of God's Spirit you will miss opportunities to reach into the heart of God. The same is true of prayer and fasting. I know of no better way to reach the heart of God than through prayer and fasting. It is too bad that the church today overlooks so important a discipline.
January 4, 2015
Being Righteous
Luke 16:15....And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God."
Justification is not something to be earned, but a gift to be received. Seeking to earn salvation is the only sin that will prevent a person from being saved, because you cannot submit yourself to the righteousness of God which comes as a gift through faith as long as you are seeking to establish your own righteousness.
Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of righteousness. Only one type is acceptable to God. There is our righteousness, which is our compliance with the righteousness of the law. This is an imperfect righteousness because human nature is imperfect and incapable of fulfilling the law. And then there is God's righteousness, which only comes as a gift that must be received by faith. God's righteousness is perfect. Our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). A person who believes that he must earn God's acceptance by his holy actions, does not believe in God's righteousness which is a gift. It has to be one or the other, we cannot mix the two.
Righteousness is not what Jesus has done for us plus some minimum standard of holiness that we have to accomplish. Right standing before a holy God is not to be achieved through the keeping of the law, but in humble trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ. No one who is trusting in his own righteousness can have the benefit of Christ's righteousness. The righteousness that gives men relationship with God is the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, and it comes freely through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).
Child of God it is so exciting to realize the depth of this awesome reality of God’s love and mercy. WHEN YOU PLACE YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST, THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT CHRIST OBTAINED BY HIS FAITH BECOMES YOURS. YOU NOW POSSESS CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HIS FAITH PRODUCED.
December 5, 2015
You Do No Labor in Vain
1 Cor. 15:58…. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Do you ever wonder if your evangelism is effective? I know I have. There have been times when it seems I am beating my head against a wall. But, what does that say about our trust in what God can do? We must remember that God did not appoint us to be mini-Holy Spirits. Our job is to plant the seed. Someone else may water, and the water bearer may not be a person, it may be a circumstance. Many times a person doesn’t think about God at all until they are up against a life-threatening event, or realize that no matter what they do, they are still in a hopeless life. It is then that water is applied to the seed you planted and the fruit is another redeemed soul who has cried out to Jesus.
We must never confuse roles. Our role is to plant seed, someone (something) waters, and the Holy Spirit brings forth the fruit of eternal life. Or, perhaps the seed was planted and now we come along and water. Either way, we are not ultimately responsible for the salvation of someone else. That is in the hands of the Holy Spirit, and the person who receives the ministry.
I have known some people who become so frustrated that they lose focus on their own walk because they are so intent on getting their family, friends, or co-workers saved. When Jesus said “come to me all ye that labor, and I will give you rest,” this is part of what He was referring to.
Child of God know that when you do your job of spreading the gospel message in the love of God, as you are called to do, the Holy Spirit moves on the hearts of those to whom you minister, and God gets the increase. Evangelism should never rob us of our peace. We must learn the valuable lesson of placing it all in God’s hands. Never doubt that what you do for the Lord is useful in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Trust in Him to bring about fruit from your labors in the vineyard of life.
January 6, 2015
The God of the Impossible
Luke 1:37..."For with God nothing shall be impossible."
What a statement! If we just believed this, how different our lives would be.
From birth we are trained to know our limitations. You can't have this. Don't touch that. Don't put things in your mouth. You can't touch the fire; on and on the list goes.
As we grow up it is actually a sign of maturity to recognize our limitations and learn to live within them. There are limits to everything. It's a fact of life.
But God has no limits. When we enter into the realm of the supernatural, we have to take off all the limits. We have to renew our minds with the truth that God is not like us. He can do anything.
We have an awesome God whose power is so great that we cannot even comprehend it. He created the universe and it didn't even tax His ability. Yet, many times we find ourselves wondering if our situation is too hard for the Lord. We can't see how even God could pull us through.
The Lord said to Jeremiah, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for me?" (Jer. 32:27). The answer is a resounding NO. The only thing that limits God is our unbelief (Deut. 7:17). Today, let's honor God by believing nothing is too difficult for Him.
Child of God, stand up, lift up your hands and praise Him for His great power on your behalf.
JANUARY 7, 2015
Trust and Disappointment
Psalm 22:5...”In Thee they trusted and were not disappointed.”
For he who trusts in God shall not be disappointed. How many times have you had occasion to be disappointed? I know I have had many. But, I have learned that the more of God you have in you the more trust you have in Him. No matter what situation or event befalls you, your trust will determine whether you are disappointed or not.
When you are disappointed it is because of unbelief (lack of trust) and your unbelief is further enhanced because of your disappointment. There are many Christians, sad to say, that never realize their potential in the kingdom, because they have become disappointed in some aspect of their walk. Or, they have not extended themselves into areas where disappointments may occur.
When you step out in faith to do something for God and it appears to be a non-starter there is that tendency to be disappointed and refrain from stepping out again. But, they that trust in God shall not be disappointed. When you rest in that fact, God is able to show you why your effort did not succeed (according to your standard of success). It may have succeeded in some way you cannot see or understand. So, it is not time to cry in your soup, it is time to rest in Him and trust that He will do what you cannot see or know at the time.
Instead of searching for myriad reasons why it did not seem to work, trust in Him. There are many lessons a Christian must learn while working out their salvation (Phil. 2:12), and this is an important one. There are many opportunities to be disappointed, and you must choose not to be. It is this choice that will grow your trust and keep you steadfast in the faith.
January 8, 2015
Heavenly Treasures
Matthew 6:20…”but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew Chapters 5 & 6
Jesus tells us, as recorded by Matthew, that we should lay up treasures in heaven. Did you ever wonder how to do that? Since you cannot take anything with you from this earth when you leave it, how can you lay up treasure in heaven? That may depend on what you call treasure.
This entire discourse in chapters 5 and 6 of Matthew’s gospel, called the Sermon on the Mount, is to show us what is of most importance. Our treasure stored in heaven will not be material in any way. Our material needs are known to God and He has promised to care for us if we will put His Kingdom and righteousness first (Matt. 6:33). The treasures we must store in heaven are much more important. They are trust in God, obedience to the Word, love of our enemy, caring for the poor (Matt. 19:21), clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, living a life that reflects the truth of Christ’s teachings and the love of God.
When you trust in God, even when everything around you seems to be turning to garbage, you have a heavenly store of treasure. When you sacrifice more and more of yourself for more and more of God you are laying up treasures in heaven. When you show compassion and love to someone who has willfully done harm to you in some way, you are building up treasure in heaven (Matt. 5:44). When you see a need and are capable of meeting that need and do it, you are adding to your store of treasure in heaven (Matt. 19:21). When your treasures on earth become a channel to help others, and the spreading of the gospel, you are laying up treasures in heaven.
Child of God, know that whatever blessings you have from God, whatever treasures you have acquired are simply on loan until He tells you to give it away. By this obedience and trust you prove your love for Him and lay up for yourself treasures in heaven.
January 9, 2015
The Fullness of Your Spirit
Mark 7:21...."For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries."
Christians still struggle with things like pride and foolishness which Jesus said comes out of our heart. It is certain that our born-again spirit is not the source of these sins; therefore, the heart encompasses more than our spirit.
The word "spirit" is used different ways in scripture. The most frequent usage refers to either the Spirit of God or the spirit of man. In that context, it denotes the person of the Holy Spirit or identifies a part of our three-part being (1 Thes. 5:23). But, the word "spirit" can also describe a mental disposition (Strong's).
In Ephesians 1:17 Paul is praying that what is already true in our spirit will become our mental disposition. He is praying for a release into the physical of what is already true in our spirit being.
The Christian life is not an attempt to get more faith, or more anointing. We already have these things in their fullness (Colossians 2:9-10). We just need a revelation of what is already ours. Understanding this takes away a lot of frustration and doubt. It is much easier to release something you already have that it is to try to acquire something you don't possess. And why would anyone doubt whether or not he could receive what he already has? Through Christ we are already blessed with all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). What we have to do, through the renewing of our mind, is to appropriate what is already ours.
Child of God if you will align your thinking to believe what God says in His Word about who you are and what you have, then this agreement between your spirit and your soul forms a majority, and your flesh will experience the life of God that has been deposited in your spirit.
January 10, 2015
A Pervasive Influence
Matthew 13:33....Another parable He spoke to them: "The Kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
Webster's Dictionary defines leaven as a fermentation devise used in dough to cause it to rise; also, any pervasive influence that produces a significant change.
Every Christian should be considered as leaven. Jesus said that the leaven was hidden. That is what God has done to Christians -- hidden them in schools, workplaces, homes, hospitals, private and public institutions throughout the world. This is how His Church began and how it will continue until He returns.
It is the God ordained task of every Christian to be that pervasive influence that produces significant change. We are anointed for this task and we must take it seriously. We must each discover the plan of God for our lives; to be willing and able to take on any challenge presented to us.
God has given us all the tools and equipment needed for the task. According to 1 Peter 1:3 God has granted to us by His divine power all things pertaining to life and godliness.
We are to be beacons of light in a dark world; the light that will lead others to the cross, the light that will shine like a city on a hill to dispel the darkness in the lives of those in our sphere of influence.
Child of God, when you present yourself today to your waiting world, be aware of who you are in Christ, be encouraged to proceed with confidence, never wavering, because your pervasive influence will produce a significant change.
January 11, 2015
Cherish Your Birthright
Genesis 25:32… “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” NLT
How often do we seek to satisfy our immediate needs without considering the long term effect of our actions? Here we see Esau willing to give away everything contained in his birthright just to satisfy his immediate hunger.
What is it you hunger for? Is it a new job, a promotion, a house, a car, a spouse, family, wealth, health – all these things are a poor second when we consider what God has promised as our inheritance in the saints. For this life and its needs are considered by our Father (Matt. 5), but more than that is our willingness to desire all He has for us rather than even our basic needs.
When we set priorities for life, or just for our daily journey, do we consider what God desires of us? Do we look at how He views our needs and wants? His greatest desire is for us to obtain Christlikeness. In order to accomplish this lofty goal we must consider the needs of our journey very carefully. Many times our wants hinder what God is trying to do in us. We may even develop a complacent attitude, or an attitude of pride in our own accomplishments to the exclusion of Godly praise.
When we prioritize our fleshly desires above our need for God and growth in His Spirit, we have become like Esau – we have sold our birthright for a few measly crumbs that mean nothing in the overall scheme of life.
Child of God, your birthright (due to the new birth from above) is the same as your older brother, Jesus. In Him you have the fruit of the Spirit which is joy, peace, love, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, and faith (Gal. 5:22). We have heavenly promises that give us eternal life now, and all that heaven has to offer when we leave this life. Our life on earth is but a whiff, a vapor, compared to our eternal life with God. Why let the pleasures of the temporal hamper your acquisition of the eternal?
January 12, 2015
Mirrored Glory
2 Corinthians 3:18...."But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Before God there is no veil or covering. The frankness of who we are in Christ is a mirror that reflects Christ to others. When we are filled with the Spirit we are transformed into the image of Christ and that is not only immediate but on-going as we are transformed daily by the glory we behold in Christ. And, that glory which we behold, we also reflect to others.
You always know when a person has been in the Presence and beholding the glory of the Lord – you feel in your inner spirit that he/she is the mirror of the Lord’s own character. As you become more and more that mirror of God’s glory a responsibility arises that you never fog that mirror in you.
Child of God, you must always yield your life and substance to this one true and eternal focus upon that glory found in God’s Presence. There are some today who look for the glory in meetings and gatherings, when in reality the glory resides in us as we acquaint ourselves more and more with God’s Holy Presence.
So, when you embark on your daily journey out into the negative world, remember that the positive glory of God’s Presence goes with you. The world is waiting for you – it needs that reflected glory that is in you so it can know the light and shun the darkness.
January 13, 2015
The Battlefield of the Mind
Philippians 4:8..."For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your mind on them)." AMP Bible
Why was Paul telling the Philippians to garrison their thoughts? Perhaps it was because Paul knew that the battlefield is in the mind of the believer. It is here that the believer either wins against Satan, the flesh, and the self or he loses.
In the previous two verses Paul told them not to be fearful over any situation or circumstance and to rely on God's peace. To be content with whatever lot befalls you in life. He promises that the peace of God will transcend all your human understanding. This is an amazing statement especially when one considers that he was writing from his prison cell.
But Paul was concerned for the believers in Philippi because he knows every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom where there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Those who resist the devil will see him flee (James 4:7). The only ones whom he devours are those who don't actively fight against him.
The mind is a battlefield where thoughts and reasonings that are contrary to God's Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander. Paul, no doubt, had to use this very strategy he is now encouraging the Philippians to use.
Just as enemy soldiers are captured in war, so rebel thoughts must be taken captive and made to submit to Christ. Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears. The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the express purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.
Child of God, these weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things: imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Both of these areas are dealing with the mind. Focus on the GOOD in every area of your life. Failure to recognize God's blessings in everyday living will cause care and anxiety. Recognizing God's hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.
January 14, 2015
Pleasing God
Hebrews 11:6…” And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” NLT
Would your testimony be that you please God? There are many Christians that would not say that because they are judging themselves by their actions. Pleasing God has nothing to do with actions, and everything to do with faith.
When you were born again (born from above) your spirit was completely changed. Old things passed away and all things became new, in your spirit. The rest of your Christian life should be spent in bringing forth that born again change into your soul and body. This can only be done by faith. Even though you make mistakes, sometimes big ones, it is your faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work on Calvary that will give God pleasure.
The great heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11 were not perfect, but they pleased God because of their faith. Faith is the key that opens the door to heaven on earth and allows your participation and accomplishments in the kingdom of God that is moving throughout the earth. Do you have to be perfect to be used of God? I hope not, or none of us would be of use.
The Book of James tells us that faith without works is dead. But that does not mean that works is what pleases God. God is pleased by your faith, and your works are out-growths of your faith. Many people do great works but do not please God because their works are dead not being the result of faith. There are many atheists who are great humanitarians, donating much time and resources to doing good works, but their works are dead works because they have no faith. What faith they do have is not in God, but in themselves.
Child of God, be bold in proclaiming that God is pleased with you. Because of your faith in Jesus Christ and His saving blood, you can truly say, “God is pleased with me.” This testimony, spoken by and through faith, pleases God. Out of this great internal knowledge and belief grow many works that move the everlasting kingdom of God forward.
January 15, 2015
Listening to God
Proverbs 3:6 “Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track.” Msg. Bible
When you are engaged in any activity, upon what are you focused? Can you maintain a focus on God even when you are at work? There are many jobs that require complete attention – surgeon comes immediately to mind. But I have known surgeons who never attempt a procedure without first placing themselves and their skills in the hands of God. They have told of being fully involved with their skill, yet aware of God’s hand upon them.
Brother Lawrence, a 17th century lay brother influenced many others inside and outside of his monastic order through his dedication to a continual conversation with God. The book, “The Practice of the Presence of God” explains how he managed to continue with God even during the most troublesome of tasks.
This is an observation by the director of the monastic community, Joseph de Beaufort.
“Things have worked similarly in his duties in the kitchen, to which he naturally has a great aversion. He simply has accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of God. And on all occasions he performs his work with prayer, asking for God’s grace to do his work well. As a result, during the fifteen years that he has been employed there, Brother Lawrence has found everything to be easy….For even his greatest tasks in the kitchen never divert him from God.”
Your reward for keeping God close in everything you do, and listening for His voice of comfort, instruction and wisdom, will be that you will never make a wrong turn, or detour from your journey of becoming more like Christ.
As a child of God you must not let your own sense of self-worth guide you, but in everything place your confidence in God’s voice and listen well and always to His guidance. Know for a certainty that He will never fail to lead you into paths of safety, comfort, and righteousness. In this you will find fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).
January 16, 2015
The Wonder of God’s Gifts
Psalm 19:1-2…”The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (2) Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.”
As we look around at this wonderful world, we see it as it is, created out of love for mankind. God’s hand is seen in every facet of His creation. His love and hope for mankind is seen in even the smallest parts of creation.
In each sunrise we see the hope of newness: a chance to begin again: a fresh opportunity.
As each new bud bursts into full flower, we see our spirits bursting forth to praise God.
When we take the time to stop, look, listen and attend to creation, we will hear God speak.
He speaks in the gently falling rain as well as the thunderstorm. He speaks in the softness of a baby’s skin and the roughness of a tree bark.
To behold the order and majesty of creation is to see the grace and mercy of God at work in our lives.
We hear the roar of ocean tides, the silence of moonlight. We see the wonder of the stars and the beauty of the butterfly, and we behold the majesty of creation.
All of this is God’s gift to us. He gave it to us for His pleasure in that we can behold His love through His gift. Give Him all praise and glory for the awesome wonder of His world.
January 17, 2017
Prophesy for Life
Ezekiel 37:3-4… “He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live? ”I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones….”
It is sad that in today’s mainline churches and even some not in the mainline, prophecy has disappeared or is at least held in disrepute. Some ministers believe that prophecy, along with other Spiritual gifts have passed away. Is it any wonder that the church is losing its influence in today’s society.
Paul loved Timothy as a son. He was concerned that Timothy may be discouraged if his leadership were not fully accepted. He told Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 to use the prophecies previously made to him as weapons to fight the good fight of faith.
Prophecies can be used as warfare weapons, did you realize that? When you are up against an evil influence, prophesy against it. Bring life into dead finances, relationships and healing through your prophetic utterances.
When someone prophesies over you, use those prophecies when Satan tries to influence you away from God’s plan and direction. Fight the good fight of faith by the prophecies you know and even new prophecies that your Spirit may have hidden in the secret place of the Most High where your spirit dwells in unison.
Prophecies are not seen as important or valid in the church today but they are a powerful weapon against the evil influences of this ungodly culture which Satan controls.
Child of God, speak prophetically over your family, your health, your finances and your calling from God. Speak life to what seems to be dead. Don’t let Satan have any victory.
January 18, 2015
The Love of God
1 John 4:20…”If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
The most important aspect of a Christian’s life is that he/she love God. And, this love is to be a consuming, consistent, ever present unfolding of God’s life in us. It is only by this love that we are able to undergo the change that will make us into the image of Christ.
When the love of God is not in us at any given moment we are likely to hate. Hate is the absence of love. Hate can only exist because love exists. Upon arising each morning, are you enraptured by the love of God anew? Or, has that love become so familiar that it is no longer a presence that moves you and sustains your walk in the Spirit? When that happens, hate, anger, envy, and jealousy can quickly invade our hearts
Keeping our hearts pure means we are constantly aware of the Love of God. We must never forget the great love that gave all to renew a lost fellowship. I am not talking about sin, I am talking about purity. The flesh is fallen, and although we try with everything in us, sin may still protrude on occasion. But, purity is only possible for the faithful one that knows the love of God, and the love of God moves that one into realms of human nature that can only be reached by such love being actively alive. Our human nature must be changed into the nature of God for He has shared His divine nature with us (2 Peter 1:4b). In His divine nature we have purity and through that His love abides in us and captures our hearts continually.
Child of God, you must intentionally and continually remind yourself of the Love of God that paid so great a price to bring you the redemption that no other means could afford. He is your light and your salvation, and by His love you are sustained and made the likeness of His Son. His love in you will enable that light to shine out on others who may not be lovable, or even likable, but whom you love because He first loved you (1 John 4:19).
September 19, 2015
Jesus is in the House
Mark 2:1…”And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.”
The most important thing to remember is that Jesus is in the house. When you go to the House of God, do you really expect Jesus to be there also? You have several options, don’t you? You may choose to go to church because of habit or tradition, or you may go because you can meet people with whom you may do business, or perhaps you go because you like the people there (they aren’t threatening) and the pastor always makes you feel good and comfortable. But, really, your expectations are no higher than these options. The idea that Jesus is in the house doesn’t occur to you in any real sense.
This, unfortunately, is how many people attend church. They expect to sing songs hear a message and give in the offering, but do they expect to meet Jesus there? They may even think they did because the sermon was good, or the music was anointed – however, if they were not challenged to make a real heart change – if they were not convinced of the Love of God – if they had no idea that every sin was forgiven and that God’s amazing grace is sufficient for every need – they did not meet Jesus. They met friends, pastors, musicians, etc. who also needed to meet the resurrected Jesus. So, there is confusion as to whether meeting people can be the same as meeting Jesus. Of course it can because all Christians should be abiding in Christ and Christ should be abiding in them. This is a very real attribute of Christianity, but unless one is sufficiently intentional about walking out the life of God within them, those who meet and greet them may be unaware they have met Jesus also.
Child of God, remember Jesus is in the house, whether that be your place of worship, or your own heart, He is in there. Start acting like it and respond accordingly.
January 20, 2015
The Order of Worship
Mark 2:5… “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’ “
Mark 2:1-17
Jesus was in a house in Capernaum and there were crowds of people in and outside of the house. He was no doubt teaching – perhaps about the kingdom, or whatever the Father had given Him to share. How often had the roof been lifted off of the house so someone could come in? Evidently Jesus was more concerned about the needs of the people than He was about rules, or the proper order of worship. Whatever the Spirit wanted to do, Jesus was going to do.
How often do we see that in today’s church? The pastor (the master of ceremonies) leads and everyone else follows. We have to sing four songs, take up the offering, deliver a message, call to the altar and then dismiss. What if the Holy Spirit wants to move in a different way? What about having an altar call after the praise and worship (people can be moved dramatically to respond to God through music) – or perhaps instead of four songs the Spirit wants an extended period of praise of worship – or perhaps instead of the leader delivering a sermon, the Spirit wants testimonies from people who have experienced God in a dynamic way that week – so that instead of one sermon, we have three or four, or maybe even five or six sermons that express how God is moving in His people.
Jesus teaches us that the order is not important; the move of the Spirit is what we should be looking for in our church services. Jesus is ready to forgive and to heal, so don’t waste time with order and rules when the Spirit is ready to move. Being sensitive to the Spirit is what is needed. Jesus was always aware of the Spirit in His ministry. So, too, should our modern day pastors and teachers who meet with God’s people in order to make Him known. Making God known is only going to happen when the Spirit is in control. Why don’t more pastors, preachers and teachers realize this? Man’s control is fragile and susceptible to flesh, but the Spirit will control from the heart of God.
January 21, 2015
Benefits of Fellowship
Hebrews 10:25…”not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
The true church can be identified by the mark that members have love one for another (John 13:35). One of the criteria by which Christ will judge believers, according to Matthew 25:31-46, is how well we treat other believers. But, how can we love and serve each other unless we fellowship with each other?
There are those who claim to be Christians but never darken a church door. They are undercover Christians. The true test of Christianity is to be found in free and lively association with others, believers and non-believers alike.
We are commanded to encourage others in the faith, this requires fellowship. We should use times of fellowship to show love for our brethren which will motivate them to perform acts of kindness and service for others.
Church should be a training ground for equipping believers in acts of mercy, kindness, support, encouragement and most importantly love. John tells us that if we cannot love our neighbor whom we do see, how can we love God whom we do not see (1 John 4:20).
Another important aspect of fellowship is that it helps in the development of the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The church is truly Christ’s body, and like the human body, each part depends upon the other parts. When we fellowship with other like-minded believers we develop ministry skills, and Spiritual gifts which are needed to advance the kingdom of God on the earth (Ephesians 4:12-13).
Child of God, never fail to fellowship with other believers at every opportunity. In this you will find great satisfaction and reward.
January 22, 2015
God's DNA
1 Peter 1:23..."having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,...."
The moment we accept God's offer of "zoe" life (the Life of God) through Jesus Christ, we are instantly reborn of God in our spirit. Spiritually we receive the very life and nature of God.
We are not just adopted into God's family (Ephesians 1:5), we're born into it. The word translated "adoption" (huiothesia, literally "the placing of a son") is not referring to a child being placed (thesia) into a family but rather a child already in the family being placed into the authority of a fully matured son (huios). It's about jurisdiction and rights, not entering the family.
The word seed in 1 Peter 1:23 is the same Greek term translated as "sperm" or "spore." Any biologist knows that a discussion of genetics isn't complete without mentioning "seeds" - these are the means through which a species' nature is passed on. When we're born again, that is exactly what happens: God's life (zoe) and nature are planted in us. In the same way we receive our DNA from our biological parents, we receive our spiritual DNA from our heavenly Father. It is planted in our spirit to grow and mature directly after His image.
Think about a plant's seed. Contained within it are the blueprints for what the baby plant is destined to be. The design is already there as are all the essential schematics. Everything the plant-to-be needs to grow and be just like its parent plant is contained within the tiny seed.
Likewise, everything you need to again be in the image of your heavenly Father is given to you the moment you accept Christ. Your spirit is loaded with God's DNA, His eternal life. Your destiny is secure. You are complete in Him (Colossians 2:10) -- in your spirit. All you have to do from that point is become outwardly who you already are inwardly!
Child of God, meditate on these truths and your life will be fruitful and your joy abundant in the reality of His love for you and who you are in Him.
January 23, 2015
Breaking the Clay Pots
Judges 7:20…Suddenly they blew their trumpets and broke their clay jars so that their torches blazed into the night. Then the other two hundred of his men did the same, blowing the trumpets in their right hands, and holding the flaming torches in their left hands, all shouting, “For the Lord and for Gideon!”
God chose an ill equipped teenager named Gideon to save Israel from the Midianites who were oppressing them to the point of poverty. But God wanted to be sure Israel would have no reason to boast of the victory so God reduced Gideon’s army from over 30,000 to just 300.
Then, God gave perhaps the most absurd battle plan in history to Gideon and the army of Israel. God’s instructions were to take torches, insert them into simple clay pots and then to gather around the massive opposing army by night. When a trumpet was sounded all the men of Israel were to blow a trumpet and smash the clay pots which allowed the torches to shine out all around the opposing army. This caused such confusion in the camp of the enemy that they began killing each other. Gideon and his army were victorious without any human effort. The victory had been given to them because they were obedient.
The deeper truth here should not be missed, but often is by many Christians. The victory is a picture of the Christian walk of faith. You can see here a visual image of walking in the Spirit. Let’s look at the symbolism.
The torch is symbolic of the light of Christ which is placed in our hearts at salvation. The clay pot is the flesh of our bodies. Recall 2 Cor. 4:7 which says that we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the power may be of God and not us.
Child of God, great actions and human strength do not assure victory. We must break the flesh (clay pots), so the light (torch) of Christ can shine through. So, we can see that the battle is not in accomplishing the work of God, but in breaking the flesh. We remove the flesh (the earthen vessel) so the treasure of God’s power can work in our lives.
January 23, 2015
Sabbath Rest
Exodus 20:8...“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
It is remarkable that of all the commandments that God could have put here to honor a geographical location, or a building (temple) for Himself to call Holy, He is giving us time and calls it Holy. Not just anytime, but a time when we cease our struggles, labors and strife, and come into intimate relationship with Him.
Remember that it was God who created time. He is outside of time and proved it by giving Jesus to die once and for all on the cross for the sins of all time. So, your sins which are past, present and future have been paid for in full.
Jesus said in Mark 2:27 that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” God desires a quiet spirit to Spirit time of intimacy with His children. It is this for which we were created.
In the beginning God spoke to the universe and it was, He spoke to the seas and they were, and the moon and stars, and the land, animals, trees and to the rocks He spoke and they were. But He did not speak to man - He formed man with His own hands out of the dust of the earth, and then He breathed His life into man. This is intimacy. But it was lost when Adam chose his way above God’s.
God’s command to His people Israel was to set aside a day to honor Him and fellowship with Him. He knew that to keep His commandments would require work. He knew also that eventually He would have to establish a new covenant that would not require people to work for salvation. But, for a time all He could hope to expect was that the people would at least honor one day and call it Holy.
However, under the New Covenant established in grace and truth by Jesus Christ, we do not work to be saved because Jesus finished the work on the cross. Now we have intimate times with God every day because He lives in us. We are part of Him and He is part of us. He expects continual intimacy. What a glorious opportunity we have to really know our God more fully and more personally than ever before.
Child of God, we have that same Sabbath intimacy back thanks to the redemptive work of Christ on our behalf and we have it every day. We can cease our labors, and rest in the glorious work already accomplished on our behalf. Glory be to God.
January 25, 2015
God “with” us..
Revelation 21:3..."And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”
What a wonderful statement from the revelator, John . God gave Him a remarkable vision to end the Word which the Spirit was presenting to man-kind. And the most amazing and telling word derived from this passage is the word “with.”
God wants to be “with” us. He has wanted that since the beginning of creation. His tenderness toward Adam demonstrates His great desire to be with man. He was also sensitive to man’s needs and therefore created a companion for him. Then there were three that shared companionship, Adam, Eve and God.
After companionship was lost due to sin, God’s mercy and grace pursued man and even called him friend (Abraham – James 2:23). God communicated with Moses as one does with a friend (Exodus 33:11).
Jesus calls His disciples friends…” No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15).
Friendship denotes intimacy. A friend knows all about you and loves you anyway. A true friend will stand by you, support you, and care strongly for you. God wants to be our friend. We need to let that need aspire in our own spirits as well. When friends need each other, great things can happen.
God answered the longing of man by sending His only begotten son to live and die for all of mankind’s needs. His name shall be called Immanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23).
God’s great act toward man is to be “with” him. When man could not live up to God’s standards, His way to accomplish this “withness” was to do it Himself. He reached out to man to bring man home to Himself. Now we have this great and awesome moment by moment experience of being “with” God.
Child of God, enjoy your every moment spent “with” God. This is how you will know Him, because you are His friend and as such you will know all that He has for you. Your communion with God is sublime because you and He are one (John 15:4).
January 26, 2015
Complete in Christ
John 20:31...."but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."
Recognition of our completeness in Christ is a tremendous safeguard against deception. Prior to salvation we are incomplete and constantly strive to satisfy our hunger for things of the flesh and the world. But through the new birth, we are complete in Christ and our hunger should only be for more revelation of what we already have in Christ. Total satisfaction with Christ disarms Satan's lies. A big part of all temptation is dissatisfaction.
Adam and Eve would not have eaten of the forbidden fruit if they had not been made dissatisfied with what they had. Through Satan's lie they were led to believe they didn't have it all (Gen. 3:5). The truth is they did have it all. They were more like God before they ate of the fruit than after they ate the fruit. Their dissatisfaction was a preliminary step to their sinful action.
Satan tempts us in the same way he tempted Adam and Eve (2 Cor. 11:3).
Therefore, a full revelation of our completeness in Christ will prevent us from chasing after all the things that Satan has to offer. If anyone tells you that Christ is not enough and that you need something more, that is the devil trying to turn you away from your completeness in Christ.
In the same way that Jesus has the fullness of God in Him, we have the fullness of Christ in us. That makes us complete or perfect in Him - that is our spiritual man. Our born-again spirit is identical in righteousness, authority, and power to Christ's Spirit because our born-again spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) which has been sent into our hearts crying "Abba Father" (Gal. 4:6).
So, Child of God, when Satan come's to you with his lies you can send him packing because of "Who you are in Christ."
January 27, 2015
Living Out God’s Will
John 5:19...."The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does these things the Son also does in like manner.”
Do you think perhaps Jesus was exaggerating a bit when He said this? I don’t think so. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus knew what God wanted Him to do and say. The Holy Spirit was His guide. When soul-dominated doubters came and asked Jesus for signs and wonders, He would do nothing unless He had instructions from the Spirit. He performed no miracles not ordained by the Father. You see, Jesus was reversing Adam’s decision to exalt man’s own will and knowledge above God’s.
When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, the enemy’s primary goal wasn’t to get God’s Son to show him miracles, but Satan wanted Jesus to exalt His soul (Greek word; psuche) – to fall into the same trap that snared the first Adam – and be disqualified as our Redeemer. The devil wanted Him to defy His Father, to do something on His own initiative, just once: Work a miracle on His own volition. Exalt His will. Make some decisions with His personal, human wisdom. Just do something to exalt self--psuche – above the Spirit.
Satan is still using this devious tactic on God’s children today. He has no new plans, just the same old plans he has used in the past. Unfortunately, he has a pretty good success rate. Just look at what is going on today in the church. The scandalous sin of same sex marriage is being sanctioned by many main-line churches, completely ignoring the instruction and wisdom of Scripture. They have exalted their own “psuche” above the Spirit of God. The standards of society and culture should not influence the church – the exact opposite is true. Man’s influence is always faulty, never true. Instead of standing up for truth and trusting God, some churches are buckling under threats of losing tax-exempt status.
Many times Jesus had opportunity to exalt His own soul, but determinedly rejected His own way for the Father’s way. Matthew 16:21-22 is one incident. Soul-dominated Peter tried to persuade Jesus to reverse His plans. Here Jesus strongly rebuked Peter for siding with Satan against the plans and will of God. In the Garden, once again, Jesus had opportunity to reject God’s plan. He struggled with the “psuche” but set His face on the suffering and death which lay before Him. What He had to do, we all must do - bring “psuche” to the cross and crucify it there.
Child of God, you must defeat the soul and exalt the spirit every day. It is your spirit that has all the power and promises of God locked in. You must free this God-life within you to bring about the attrition of the soul. Thank God for His gift – the Holy Spirit is your strength just as it was with Jesus, you can choose to live above the soulish realm and do only what the Father shows you to do. Live out the Father’s will today, it is a way of life filled with joy, hope and promise.
January 28, 2015
Mustard Seed Faith
Matthew 17:20...."He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith (that is, your lack of firmly relying trust). For truly I say to you, if you have faith (that is living) like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." (Amp. Bible).
Can you see the amazing power of this statement from the lips of Christ? The mustard seed comparison is to be found in Luke 17:6 as well. A mustard seed is small. It is alive and growing. Almost invisible at first, it will begin to spread, first under the ground, and then it will become visible. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Although each change will be gradual and possibly imperceptible, soon this faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We don't need more faith; a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.
According to Romans 12:3 every man has been given the measure of faith (Authorized KJV), and according to Rev. 14:12 that measure is the faith of God. You can't have more faith than that. It was this faith that created the universe and raised Jesus from the dead. According to Ephesians that same power that raised Jesus from the dead abides in us who believe.
We are the workmen in the vineyard. God has equipped us with the power to do His work on earth. That is what a disciple does. He models himself after the teacher. Jesus showed us through his teachings, through the fig tree, through the loaves and fish, through healing and deliverance and many other ways how to use faith. A disciple is one who follows close after the teacher, he stays with the teacher day and night, always learning and applying what he has learned.
Child of God, keep your faith alive and active by applying it to your situations, thereby attaining experiential faith that builds and grows and moves any mountain you may be facing. Be a continual learner, following your teacher, the Holy Spirit of God, and you will find greater and greater empowerment of your faith .
January 29, 2015
The Personal Word
Mark 4:16-17…”The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.”
Have you ever been in church, or a revival meeting, or conference and heard a message that literally set your heart ablaze? You run out and start proclaiming what you just heard and when others don’t accept it and start persecuting you because of the word you just brought to them, you become discouraged and filled with offense? It has happened to me. In my case I started first to question what I heard, rationalizing that maybe it isn’t for everyone, then, I began to judge those who would not receive the message in the same way I did. Neither response is acceptable to God. This is what Jesus was warning us about in this Scripture explaining some of the problems that may arise when the seed of the Word is sown.
When we start with another’s revelation, we have no “deep” root in ourselves. There may be understanding (vs. 15), but there is no revelation that deeply grounds the word in our heart. Unless the Word is personally alive (Heb. 4:12) to you, you will only be regurgitating someone else’s insight. This is what happens in so many churches. The worshipers have no personal insight, but will go away with the preacher’s revelation and therefore no “deep” root exists. By the time they gather again, most of what they previously heard is lost to them, or they have experienced hurt and disappointment in trying to bring the preacher’s insight to a neighbor, co-worker, friend, or family member. Instead, what should be happening is that the worshiper takes the word and meditates on it (Ps. 119:11,15-16) and continues in the Word (John 8:31) until insight comes by the Holy Spirit.
Child of God, unless you find personal insight in the Word of God, you will not see great change or growth in your walk with God. The Word is for YOU. Passing on what someone else experiences can often be like gossip - it never arrives at the end the same way it began. Perhaps that is how some completely erroneous doctrines have emerged, i.e., “God helps those who help themselves.” Thanks to satellite TV there are too many Christians who have come to rely on televangelists to interpret the Word which can lead to dangerously false or misleading doctrines.
January 30, 2015
Idols in Your Life
Genesis 35:2….So Jacob told everyone in his household, “Get rid of all your pagan idols, purify yourselves, and put on clean clothing.”
First God chose Abraham, then Isaac, Abraham’s son, then Jacob, Isaac’s son. The Israelite’s knew their God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All of Jacob’s family and servants had known that God was with them. Isaac had told them so, and he did once again as they were going back to Bethel (which means House of God) where Jacob had wrestled with the angel of God (vs. 3).
It would, then, seem strange that he would have to tell his family and servants to rid themselves of pagan idols and to purify themselves and put on clean clothing. Do we not behave in the same manner, yet we do not understand this to be the case? We will put away our idols (drinking, smoking, cursing, pornography, etc.), we get dressed up and purify our thoughts as much as possible when we are entering the house of God. Yet, we know about our God. We know Him because we hear about Him, we may even read about Him once in a while. All the while our idols are nearby. We carry them with us on all of our daily journeys. Once a week we put them aside for a while, and then pick them up again as if there is no problem.
Many Christians still see God as in a place, a physical structure of brick, wood and stone. How very foolish we look when we realize the truth of the matter is that He is in us – all the time. He is there when we drink our beers and become incoherent, when we smoke, inhaling damage to His temple, when we use His name in vain, even when our minds and hearts are degraded and perverted by pornography, He is there. He is even there when Satan controls our gossiping and unbelieving tongue.
Child of God, the only way you will ever be able to defeat the idols in your life is to let Jesus fill your life. Get to know His presence, intimately, through His Holy Spirit. The more of Jesus you know, the more of you will be released. You will truly be amazed at the You waiting to be revealed in Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit take control of your life and He will lead you in paths of righteousness.
January 31, 2015
The Temple of God
John 2:15..."When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables."
Everyone, no doubt, recognizes that this verse and the several subsequent verses depict Jesus displeasure at the money changers and price gouging going on within the temple walls. But, then in verse 19 He changes up the focus and calls His body the temple .."Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." John tells us in verse 21 that He was speaking of the temple of His body.
Before Jesus the temple was always a place, for a while it was a tent, then Solomon built the first stationary building, and then King Herod rebuilt the temple. What Jesus was doing here was indicating the new temple under the new covenant. That temple is housed not in a stationary building but in the bodies of His people, that is His church.
Paul reminds us of this in 1 Corinthians 6:19...."Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and you are not your own?"
Jesus cast out the money changers and the vendors because there was no distinction any longer between the world and the temple. Merchandise was being sold in the very place where prayers were also being offered.
This is a lesson to us who are the temple of God. We must be sure our temple is not defiled by greed. Greed; the need of the soul to satisfy its wants. As the temple of God we should not resemble the world but be noticeably different. The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 2;15-16 that if we love the world then the love of God is not in us.
Child of God, you must be willing to drive out those things that defile the temple of God within you. Drive out not only greed, but envy, strive, hate, pride and lust. Be constantly in the process of renewing your mind to the mind of Christ. This can only be done by the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit that you will grow more and more like the image of Christ. This is why the second baptism is offered to believers: the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is by this that we are enlivened, strengthened, and empowered to live out the life of God within us.
February 1, 2015
Fighting the Enemy
Matthew 12:28-30… “But if it’s by God’s power that I am sending the evil spirits packing, then God’s kingdom is here for sure. How in the world do you think it’s possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out. This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.”
Jesus really did consider Himself at war with the powers of darkness and of Satan. And, He said if we were not fighting with Him (on His side), we are actually fighting against Him, making things worse. These are powerful indictments and, unfortunately, they apply to the church today.
Too many modern Christians are inconsiderate of Satan and his wily, deceptive tactics. After all, haven’t many churches succumbed to the lie that same-sex marriage is permissible, and haven’t many decided that there are times when abortion is appropriate. Haven’t many churches given up the fight against idolatry by holding onto tax-exemption rather than fight government edicts? We are in an age of strong satanic influence. The war is waging, but many Christians don’t even know it.
Child of God, the way to fight satan is with the weapons provided by the Holy Spirit, chief among them being praying in the Spirit. You can bind satanic influence in your life by your strong opposition in the Spirit. Being true to the Word and intimacy with the Spirit will empower you to fight the good fight of faith. If you don’t know how to pray in the Spirit, ask for the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, for this is where the true power lies. Do not be intimidated by the influence of the non-believers who get their wisdom from Satan, but rely on God to give you all He has for you, making you a formidable power fighting for the Kingdom of God in the earth.
February 2, 2015
Effective Praying
James 5:17...."Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly....."
What sort of person does it take to pray effectively? James offers Elijah as a model.
In a way, Elijah seems an unlikely choice to be a model for ordinary people. After all, he was one of Israel's greatest prophets. He took on the evil Ahab and Jezebel, brought a punishment of drought on the land, called down fire from heaven, and was translated to heaven in a whirlwind accompanied by fiery chariots (1 Kings 17-22, 2 Kings 1-2). How much do we have in common with such a man? How could our prayers possibly emulate his?
Yet James insists that "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours." So apparently he did not pray because he was great man; perhaps he became a great man because he prayed.
James shows some reasons why Elijah's prayer life was so effective. First of all, he prayed; one cannot be effective in prayer unless one prays. He prayed fervently; he was aware of what he was praying, and kept praying with diligence and discipline. Also, he prayed an "effective" prayer (v.16); that is, he expected results. He was a righteous man (v.16); he did not allow sin to cloud his conversation with God. We, also, can be confident of this righteousness because we have Christ's righteousness. And, lastly, he prayed specifically, first for a drought, then for rain, in accordance with God's word (for example, Deut. 28:12, 24): he prayed according to Scripture.
Elijah was a great prophet granted extraordinary results by God. Nevertheless, there is no reason why any believer today cannot pray using the same principles as he did, especially considering that we have a better Covenant than he did. Imagine what God might do in our world if Christians began praying like Elijah!
February 3, 2015
Don’t Be Snared
Galatians 5:25-26…“Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original” (Message Bible).
Paul’s wisdom to the Galatian Christians is imperative because it speaks to the very heart of living out the Life of Christ in every believer. The truths we know intellectually will not help us to live out the Gospel in our daily lives. We have to internalize those truths so they are not just mushy sentimentality but actively moving and growing in us to change us into the very image of Christ.
Satan has numerous traps awaiting every true Christian - traps consistent with an immoral culture - greed, sexual impurity, hate, envy, jealousy are all part of his grab-bag of traps that ensnare too many believers that do not arm themselves with practical, experiential knowledge of God’s truths. They become vulnerable and are swayed to and fro by the changing mores of a culture in decline. For example, look at the move within Christ’s church itself to uphold same-sex marriage, and even ordain homosexuals into the ministry. Instead of being transformed by the renewing of the mind, they become the image of the unholy thing that they should be standing against. This surrender to the changing and evolving culture has satan and his cohorts jumping with glee.
Child of God never stop seeking to know the truth, that you may be set free from the traps of satan that so capably ensnare many who do not take precautions through the knowledge of the Word. Your experiences of intimacy with God through His Holy Spirit will keep you from making false and imperfect comparisons. In this way your transformation into the image of Christ can proceed unhindered. The wisdom of God which you apply to any situation will determine how much truth is measured out to meet each new challenge.
February 4, 2015
Glory Resting Upon you
1 Peter 4:12-14…”And now dear friends of mine, I beg you not to be unduly alarmed at the fiery ordeals which come to test your faith, as though this were some abnormal experience. You should be glad, because it means that you are called to share Christ’s sufferings. One day, when he shows himself in full splendour to men, you will be filled with the most tremendous joy. If you are reproached for being Christ’s followers, that is a great privilege, for you can be sure that God’s Spirit of glory is resting upon you.” J.B. Phillips New Testament.
If you ever thought for a moment that living the Christian life was going to be easy, let me discourage that thought right now. As a child of God we are all given the same measure of faith that dwelled in Christ. And, just as His faith was tested so must ours. Faith is like a muscle that withers away when not used. But, it becomes strong and powerful when used regularly.
Whatever ordeal you may currently be going through, God has given you ample faith to endure. And He has promised victory to the one who endures without wavering. So, consider yourself blessed to have the opportunity to strengthen your faith once again.
The refining process is difficult, but without trials how would we know how faith works. Without ordeals how would we know how God works? These are precious times saints and your example is always Christ. He endured much to bring His soul to the cross, and we must do the same. He was both God and man, and Hebrews 4:15 affirms that He was tempted as we are, but without sin. As He endured temptation we must endure temptation. As He endured persecution we must endure persecution. And, as He had the Holy Spirit for comfort and strength, so we also have the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, Child of God, cheer up and get on with your life. It may sometimes feel like the refining process is bringing you right through the fire, but let not your heart be troubled, for this Scripture gives us abundant hope that God will bring you through the trial to a peaceful place of beauty and glory that is just around the corner.
February 5, 2015
Do-it-yourself Idolatry
Exodus 20:3...."Thou shalt have no other gods before Me."
I once heard someone on television talking about the Hindu religion and the problem evangelists have in true conversions. The Hindus have millions of gods, and they do not want to miss-out on any god, so they quickly accept Jesus Christ as another god. It is not unusual to find a statue of Jesus on a shelf in a Hindu's home alongside statues of all his other gods. The rubber meets the road, however, when it comes to discipleship. When they are taught that there is only one "true" God and Jesus is the only way to God, they will often times reject Christianity entirely rather than accept the fact that their other gods are worthless.
I believe there are many Christians today who treat Jesus the same way the Hindu does. They place Jesus on a shelf alongside all their other gods: the god of "self", the god of "lust", the god of "work", the god of "pride" (that's the biggie), the god of "greed", the god of "diversity", the god of "sports", the god of the "earth", the god of "evolution", the god of "personal liberty", the god of "family", the god of "friendships", and on and on. There are literally hundreds of gods we worship alongside Jesus Christ, which means our worship is not in spirit and truth as Jesus says it must be in John 4:23. God's command is that we have NO other gods before Him. He leaves no room for smaller gods, or weaker gods, or personal gods. His command is "NO OTHER" gods.
Perhaps it is time to do a little self-examination, although painful, to see if there is anything or anyone that you hold to so tightly that you cannot give it up for the sake of God. Is there anything that you would find difficult to relinquish should God ask you to do so.?
If your "honest" self-examination reveals other gods, then you should ask yourself the big question, "Why." What is it within you that would allow the existence of other gods in your life. Is it lack of knowledge? Or, is it creature comfort derived from familiarity? In other words, are you afraid to make the leap to "One" God because you do not recognize yourself "changed." What part of who you see yourself to be will you have to give up? What will you be like as a self-sacrificing, humble, radical believer in Jesus Christ? How will you act were you to let Jesus permeate every fiber of your being? It could be the greatest, bravest, most fulfilling adventure of your lifetime to find out.
February 6, 2014
Let God Lead
James 4:13-14...."Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit,' whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
All of us have hopes, dreams, and plans, and the Bible never discourages us from looking to the future and hoping for the best. But, as followers of Christ we must bring certain qualifications into our perspective on future planning. As we make our plans whether in business, in relationships, in our personal lives, we must do so with a perspective on God’s ultimate goal for our lives and remember that we must always let God take charge.
I remember a story told to me by a pastor friend. When he was saved his life radically changed. He knew God was calling him into ministry. Therefore, he quit his job and spent his time studying the Word and ministering to as many people as he could in his daily life. It was not long before he realized he had gotten ahead of God. No money was coming in and as much as he relied on God’s hand in blessing, soon he was in dire need of the very basics. It was then that God gently reprimanded him about his leading by the flesh, and reminded him that God desired control.
Our tendency as humans is to seek control over our circumstances. When we do that we acknowledge that we are the best resource in our lives. By leaving God out of our plans we disallow His input. The result can be chaos and suffering.
When we include God as our partner in our life-plans we acknowledge submission to His superior wisdom and design. Humility will bring us to a place of ultimate trust. The result will be tremendous peace. We know God's will for us is to do good, not harm. In all situations He will always provide the peace and soul rest that will see us through.
Whatever your hopes, dreams, and plans are for the future, be sure to include God. You will find tremendous peace just knowing you are in His hands.
February 07, 2015
Trusting God Throughout
Romans 4:4-5…“If you’re a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don’t call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God.” (Message Bible).
There are times when we can become overwhelmed by our daily struggles and weaknesses. We can often see ourselves as incapable of living the righteous life that God desires. We continually work toward our right standing, and when we get discouraged we tend to give up on this or that part of our walk with Christ. But we see that the Word gives us hope that when discouragement comes and we want to chuck it all, God can and will do what we find impossible.
But you may never know this without knowledge of the Word. When those times of trials and struggles come, do you go directly and immediately to the Word for your comfort and help? When you find that relying on your own good works to establish your relationship with God fails because you can never be good enough, what is your fallback position. You see, God offers an alternative – trusting in Jesus’ righteousness to cover your sin and make it possible for you to know God personally.
Child of God, it is not you, your works, your good intentions, or your attitudes that work out your salvation. Your salvation is a gift that keeps on giving. With your cooperation, God continually works out your salvation on a daily basis (Phil. 2:12-13), giving you the grace you need for each day’s struggle. This is God’s beautiful gift to you - He will be with you in the midst of your daily struggle, holding up that promise of companionship through it all. The righteousness of Christ imposes on you that covering which God uses each day to make you who He wants you to be.
February 8, 2015
Sealed and Secured
Ephesians 4:30…” And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).” Amplified Bible.
As a born again, Spirit filled believer, you are sealed unto the day of redemption. You are secure in your salvation. This security is not to be taken for granted. Instead, it should lead you to be ever thankful and by such thankfulness to be free from all the plaques of sin to which the flesh is heir.
You have the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These attributes infuse you to the point that temptations bounce off you because your shield of faith is tempered by them.
Do not be like many Christians who live constantly under condemnation having more consciousness of sin than of Christ. But be wise in the ways of God who promised your total security by the blood of His Son. Instead of guilt and condemnation, rely on God’s grace for each new trial and temptation. As sin abounds against you, His grace much more abounds (Romans 5:20).
Relax child of God, His peace leads you into paths of righteousness. When you hang on to this with both hands you will not grieve the Holy Spirit. And when your flesh gives in, fear not, for your forgiveness is assured when you ask. His presence is always with you.
February 9, 2015
Safe Places
Hebrews 2:1-4.."It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit." (Message Bible)
We have in this passage from the letter to the Hebrews a stern warning not to lose what we once had and drift away. The word translated “drift” describes a boat that is unmoored and is drifting away aimlessly. The Greek philosopher, Plato, used it to describe something slipping away from memory. The author of the letter feared that the Hebrews would forget the salvation that had been freely given through Christ and go on to other things like earning grace through the law (message delivered by angels - Gal. 3:19, Acts 7:5).
Later the author of the letter reminds the Hebrews of what God had done and is doing to validate the message of Christ. It is so sad that many churches today have actually forgotten the great things that were done by God in the past to demonstrate His power and love through the gifts given to the church. Many today insist on keeping the order of spiritual fellowship alone, without the demonstration that keeps a lively faith moving and growing.
And when mentioned as criticism, the response is always a false piety which insists that it is better to seek the person of Jesus than healings and other miracles – as if the healings and deliverances where actually distractions rather than demonstrations of power through the Holy Spirit. Could it be that there is more fear than faith at work in the church today? Fear that the miracles won’t happen, that deliverance won’t be forthcoming. Without relying on faith, and believing in the fundamental truths of the Word, we can avoid a confrontation that shows our own low expectation of faith to be a real hindrance to our spiritual growth. In other words, we can remain in our safe places.
Child of God, never fear that your faith will not be sufficient to bear up under your own or other's needs. But, rely fully on what has been done in you and for you by the Holy Spirit of God. It is by His Spirit that you are coming into the fullness of Christ. It is by His Spirit that you are blessed in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 1:3). Never doubt that signs and wonders follow the believer. You have God’s word on it. Never accept the safe place of pew sitting inactivity, but grab a hold of your faith and use it to bring Christ to others with every gift of the Holy Spirit.
February 10, 2015
Faith Unleashed
Hebrews 10:22...."…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..."
For some followers of Christ, faith is not merely a private matter but a timid one as well. It's as if faith is such a delicate thing that unless one carefully protects it, the world will surely destroy it.
However, Hebrews challenges believers to a different way of living. Faith that is alive and growing need not be treated like a pet bunny rabbit that is periodically brought out of its cage to be adored and fed on special occasions, but quickly returned to its haven of safety. To be sure, we live in a world of roaring lions (1 Pet. 5:8) and therefore must be on guard. Yet the safest way to live in a world of spiritual dangers is to build up our strength, not to hide our faith in secrecy. The Book of Hebrews tells us that we can keep a firm grip on the basics of our faith, which rests on the integrity of Christ (v.23) not our own. We are also told that we can take confidence by freely entering into God’s presence through Christ (vv. 19, 22).
Spiritual strength and health means integrating our faith with every area of life. Faith is not just one more thing on a list of a hundred things, but rather the foundation of who we are. Therefore, in every way our behavior should reflect our faith. If our walk with Christ is real, it should become evident to others (James 2:14, 26; 3:13).
Child of God for your faith to be real it must be active and powerfully alive. Faith that is alive and active is faith unleashed!
February 11, 2015
Lowliness of Mind?
Philippians 2:3..."Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."
Lowliness of mind? Who would want that? A "lowly" (or humble) person meant a slave - a servile, groveling, wretched individual. And for Paul to associate the word "lowly" with "mind" was a laughable contradiction: everyone assumed that lowly people had no intelligence, and everyone honored higher thinking and self-conceit. Sounds a lot like today doesn't it.
The idea of humility seemed especially out of place in Philippi. Pride and self-importance were part and parcel of Philippian life in Paul's day.
Yet Paul insisted that Christians there cultivate humility - but not a groveling, abject demeanor. No, biblical humility means not thinking of oneself more highly than is true (Rom. 12:3), but rather acknowledging what one is - with all of one's strengths and weaknesses, pluses and minuses, successes and failures.
Far from self-loathing, real humility makes people so truthful that they don't hesitate, when necessary, to tell about even their good qualities.
To have true humility you must see yourself in relation to God, not other people. Today, unfortunately, thanks to our self-indulgent culture with its emphasis on self-reliance and self-importance, and philosophies like evolution and pantheism, the idea of the Majesty of God has been severely diluted.
David knew what he needed was to understand himself in relation to God when he said in Psalm 39..."Lord, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am."
The prophet Micah had this to say in Mic. 6:8...."He has shown you O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Humility is not an option for us as believers - it's an essential if we want to walk with God. Over and again, Scripture insists that we either walk humbly with Him or not at all. In short, a biblical lifestyle knows nothing of looking out chiefly for Number One. Just the opposite. With John the Baptist we need to say "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30).
February 12, 2015
Working for the Kingdom
Colossians 4:11...."These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me."
Do you ever wonder what your life contributes to the work of God in the world? If you are in a "secular" occupation, you may conclude that the only way to further the kingdom is to pray for and contribute financially to those who are in "full-time" Christian work. But are those your only options?
Paul described Aristarchus, Mark, and Justus as fellow workers for the kingdom" (v. 11), indicating that they may have been vocational Christian workers. However, there is no way to say whether they were employed in that work as a full-time occupation. In fact, if they followed Paul's example, they probably had other jobs through which they made their living (Acts 18:1-3).
The point is that drawing a paycheck for doing "ministry" is not the criterion by which to judge whether someone is a worker for God's kingdom. Kingdom work involves promoting the values, beliefs, and lifestyle of the kingdom. That may involve professional employment such as pastoring a church or serving on a mission field. But kingdom workers are also found among doctors, accountants, engineers, painters, salespeople, teachers, auto mechanics, and homemakers. Wherever believers are furthering the goals and objectives of Christ, they are working for His kingdom.
Child of God, don’t consider your work unworthy of the Kingdom. Whatever honest occupation you may have is useful in the great design of God to advance His Kingdom on earth. Building the image of Christ in you allows your integrity, honesty, sincerity, diligence, even temper, steadfast trust even in the face of difficulties, and love for others to speak volumes to those outside, and my eventually be the very characteristics that draw them into the Kingdom.
February 13, 2015
Oh, the Fruit
Galatians 5:22-23…”But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (NLT)
When you were born again you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior and the gift of total redemption. But you were given much more than redemption. You were given the “fruit of the Spirit.”
Many Christians walk around not knowing how much this great fruit means in their lives. They may know that their patience is weak, so they pray for more patience. Or, they may feel they need more self-control, so they pray for it. Since God has already given us all we need to live a godly life, (2 Peter 1:3), He must wonder at our lack of faith when we ask for what we already have.
The problem is not that you need more fruit of the Spirit, but rather, that more of the fruit needs to be manifested in your flesh. Your Spirit has everything you need in abundance. Getting all that abundance out into the flesh is what we need, and we need it desperately. So, what is the answer? This answer and the answer to every other question we have or will ever have can be found in the Word. It is by the Word that our minds are renewed to the mind of Christ. No one who ever lived on earth had more fruit manifested in the flesh than did Jesus. He is our model and our source.
Child of God, let the Word fill you with all the knowledge of truth that the Spirit can provide. Know that all you have been given freely by God will enable you to walk in the Spirit daily. He is not a God that would require you to be fruitful and withhold the means to do so. Trust in the fruit that resides in you, and let it shine out so that others can see the difference being a child of God can produce.
February 14, 2015
The UnGodly Mixture
Galatians 5:7…”You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?” (Amplified Bible)
Paul wrote this letter to the Galatians who believed what he had shared about the redemption promised through the death and resurrection of Jesus. They started out well, trusting in everything that Jesus had done to bring them into right standing with God. But, then they started listening to certain Judaizes who told them they also had to adhere to the law. So they began to add the law to what Jesus had done.
It is so sad that there are many born again Christians today who do the same. They mix law and grace. Paul warned the Galatians that by doing so they have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). Wow, that is a powerful indictment.
Jesus plus something equals nothing. However, Jesus plus nothing equals everything. God requires our WHOLE TRUST to be in Jesus. So, when you get sick, or you lose your job, or any number of other mishaps that can and do happen in this life, you must not think this is punishment for something you did or failed to do. You may suffer consequences from life choices but that has nothing to do with God’s punishment. We all wonder why bad things happen to good people. But the Bible tells us that no one is good. That means a born again, spirit filled Christian is not good. The only thing that can make you good in God’s sight is the blood of Jesus which you have on your life because of your trust and belief in Him and His work on your behalf.
Life has consequences, we all must realize that. But, never think for a moment that those consequences are God’s wrath. God’s wrath was metered out entirely on Jesus for your sake. Trust in just that, and not in your abilities.
That Sunday you decided to sleep in instead of going to church, that morning you did not read your Bible, that cross word you said to your neighbor, that angry thought you had toward your spouse, that temptation you gave into, will not bring forth God’s anger and retribution. The situations themselves may bring forth bad consequences. Your works only matter in that your love for God moves you to do them. But, those works, no matter what they are, do not bring you into grace; only your trust and belief in the work of Jesus on the cross will do that. In the same way that gasoline and water don't mix, so grace and works will not mix. Justification has to be all works or all grace, but not a combination of the two (Romans 11:6).
Child of God let your life be a testament to the fact that your love for Christ is your true and pure motivation for your works. Consider not that those works bring you into grace and the love of God. He loves you without your works. He loves you because His Son lives in you and your ultimate goal is to be more like Him.
February 15, 2015
Born to Change the World
2 Peter 1:4…”By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.” (Amplified Bible).
Have you ever really thought about the FACT that we have such great and powerful promises from God that through our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit (vs. 3), we are actually partakers of the divine nature.
I am overcome with humility and devotion when I behold what this means in my life. God has not only given me life, He has empowered my life through His Spirit that I can be like Him. So, when that wayward thought comes to mind, my spirit which is participating with God’s Spirit will hold up a huge HALT that says “go no further.”
Of course Peter can write this way to fellow believers because he knows that they all have the divine power of the Holy Spirit within them. It is only by the Holy Spirit that such power is given. Just as the Apostles needed this power, and the early church needed this power, we also need this power today.
There are too many churches filled with too many believers that are desperately trying to move in their own power all the while accomplishing very little of lasting quality. When the first believers filled with power from on high set out to bring the kingdom of God to earth, that is just what they did. They changed the world.
Today, our world is changing, but it is not the power of God that is changing it. A powerless church is fighting hard but losing ground.
Child of God, get on your face and require the Holy Spirit power to move in you with the energetic force to move not only mountains, but neighborhoods, communities, cities, states, and even nations. Seek this power from on high and all the great benefits and gifts that accompany it. This is what we are made for; this is what we were born for. Amen.
February 16, 2015
Quiet Rest
Mark 6:31…”Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.” (NLT)
The world’s answer to stress is often to take one or two pills and continue in the stressful lifestyle that requires those one or two pills. Jesus had a better idea. He calls us to rest. But, not just to rest, but to rest in Him. This is rest that rejuvenates and even changes perspectives.
There was a time in my life when I allowed stress to run my life. It seemed the more I would strive to succeed, the more I needed to strive to succeed. Sounds like the pill dilemma doesn’t it. I couldn’t enjoy success because I couldn’t relax. I couldn’t enjoy my family because I had one more thing I had to do. What a rat-race.
Thank God he saw my need and led me to a place of rest where I was refreshed and because of that refreshing I could see clearly that my life was being controlled by the world and not by the Holy Spirit. I had lost that vitally important aspect of walking with God, resting in the Spirit. It had been a long time since I had even stopped to talked to God, or ask for His help and worst of all to love Him. I had been worrying instead of worshiping.
Child of God, it is so easy even in the Christian life to become so busy and involved that we lose sight of God. It may be time to stop the hurrying, the worrying, the striving, and the getting, and just rest in the loving arms of Jesus. He says to bring all your burdens to Him and you will find rest for your soul. Relax and let God help you find that new perspective that will refresh and invigorate your journey.
February 17, 2015
Enemy at the Gate
Colossians 2:8…”Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (NKJV).
Everyday Christians are put to the test, and unfortunately, many fail. Satan has rigged society and culture to work against the will of God and His kingdom in the earth. A powerless foe, Satan’s only ploy is deception, lies, and half-truths.
Many mainline church leaders have succumbed to the deceptions and half-truths of the enemy. Denominations are accepting political correctness rather than the sound doctrinal truths of the Word. Christians are not moved by moral principles as much as they are moved by expediency and the favor of man.
Many Pastors today do not preach the cross, repentance, or even salvation because it will too easily offend some in the congregation. The way of the world has crept into many churches who seem more like a venue for entertaining than for spiritual growth and empowerment.
Most Christians will not even defend the basic premise of the Bible in that God created all things, and man in His image. Rather, they will compromise with the evolutionists because they, Christians, are intimidated by a theory that cannot be proven, or even stand the most basic tests. But because this lie from the hand of Satan has been so readily accepted by a duped and gullible world, it seems too difficult to oppose it. To do so would require examination, and most Christians are too lazy to do so.
I hope this devotion moves you child of God to not be counted among the timid, duped, and misguided Christians who are vulnerable to every whim of doctrine that comes along. Test the spirits, whether they be from God (1 John 4:1). Don’t believe everything you hear from the pulpit, or from the so called experts, the media, your professors and teachers, or scientists. Require the discovery of truth for yourself. You are like a soldier who must never let down his guard. Be vigilant at all times because your enemy is vigilant to deceive the entire Body of Christ.
February 18, 2015
Finishing Well
1 Corinthians 9:26-27…”I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.” (MSG Bible)
I love the way the Message Bible interprets this scripture because it passionately depicts the driving force behind the Apostle Paul’s dedicated life.
The effects of an idolatrous society are devastatingly obvious to Paul. Life is held cheaply, lust and greed are rampant, all governments, whether they be local, regional, or national are corrupt. All the converts to Christianity must deal with the temptations of these corrupt societies. And he is warning the Corinthian church how it may happen that in all their attempts to influence others in the Christian faith, they could ultimately miss out themselves.
Without realizing the detrimental effects of societal contamination, they may begin to rationalize all sorts of conditions of slopping living in an effort to win favor. We see that prevalent in the church today which has left the basic principles of righteousness in favor of politically correct attitudes which avoid offending the sinner. They tend to lull their flocks into complacency rather than challenging them to a broader, deeper faith by adopting an attitude of watchfulness which demands the full impact of devotion to Christ.
All the work that one does for Christ may come to nothing if their motivation is self-aggrandizement or fulfillment rather than for the love of Christ which reaches out to the lost and hurting among us. In bringing the salvation experience and discipleship to others, they may miss the impact of total devotion to Christ themselves. So, rather than finishing well, they have corrupted their own ministry through the flesh.
Child of God, if you are now napping, please wake-up and be alert. Like an athlete, train for the race you are running. It is the most important one of your life, and one for which the prize will be rewarded by the hand of the King himself. Be diligent to avoid the easy and wide way that will lead to destruction. Be forewarned through the power of the Word and the gift of the Holy Spirit of all that would impede your glorious and victorious finish.
February 19, 2015
Holy Interruptions
Luke 18: 35...Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging.
How full is your schedule? Is it booked so tightly that only an act of God seems able to force an adjustment?
How would you like the task of gaining salvation for the entire human race, at the same time launching the church and you are given only three years in which to do it. A staggering thought, I’m sure. Yet, this is what God expected from His only begotten Son.
Had that been you or I, I am sure we would have been on a high stress level which would preclude any interruption to the plan. Yet, Jesus valued each opportunity to present the true nature of His Father to a sick and dying world. Many times people barged into His presence for this or that reason, and even though His associates tried to dissuade Him, He would always interrupt His journey.
Such was the case for a blind beggar by a roadside near Jericho. The man called out to Jesus as He and His leadership team was on their way to major events in Jerusalem. Then as now, well-traveled roads were cluttered with such inconveniences. Some tried to ignore the beggar, or at least keep him away. But, without regard to schedules, Jesus stopped and met the man’s needs.
It's interesting that Jesus' very next encounter, with a known government crook, was also an interruption (Luke 19:1-10). Yet again, Jesus set aside His travel plans and turned aside to Zacchaeus' house to talk with him and meet his family and friends.
I am sure you can see where this message is going. Do you have room for others in your life, especially the "little people" such as your children, an entry-level employee, a visitor to your church, the poor and needy, the sick, the imprisoned? When Jesus took time to serve a forgotten cast-away, it caused everyone nearby to give praise to God (v. 43). Watch out for God's holy interruptions! They may occur for reason of your own improvement. Every day God wants you to be new and improved, and it may take some interruptions to your schedule to do so.
Child of God remain constantly in an attitude of service to God and your fellow man. Never despise those Holy Interruptions that God brings your way – desire them and the intrinsic pleasure afforded by following His lead in every area and time of your life.
February 20, 2015
New Clothes for Old
Colossians 3:9-10…”Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (NIV).
Do you realize brother and sister that it is as important to put off the old man as it is to put on the new man? One can’t be done without the other. The Message Bible puts it this way… “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.”
Do you get it? Your old life with its pride, lusts, greed, jealousies, jockeying for social positions, selfish ambitions and the like are now obsolete. Your new you is made from the hand of God Himself, and it fits you far better than what you had before.
Don’t think for a minute that your new clothes become ill-fitting and soiled throughout because you put on the wrong shoes, t-shirt, or blouse. No. You just made a mistake and got into the wrong part of your closet. What you did was keep some of those old clothes just in case you needed them. When, what you should have done was to burn them.
This is what the life in Christ is like – letting the attitudes of our born-again selves begin to dominate our thoughts and actions. It is in our thoughts that we are either winning or being defeated.
The mind of the born-again spirit is just like that of Christ, because it is the Spirit of Christ that enters the believer at salvation (1 Cor. 2:16). But our new mind is manifested in our flesh only to the extent that our old mind is diminished.
Child of God, you must come to grips with the reality that you have the mind of Christ within you. This mind is full and complete, so you must believe that it is able to manifest in you all the power, righteousness and goodness that are in Christ. Put the old mind to death and let that re-born mind take control so that everything you do and say - everything you are is of Christ
February 21, 2015
Great Accomplishments?
Philippians 3:4..."If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:"
In Paul's letter to the Philippian church he lists all the reasons why he should not need Christ. The litany of his achievements is quite impressive (v. 4-6). Paul was saying that if anyone could trust in his or her own goodness, he would be the one. He was holier than all of them, yet as he stated in verse 9, the righteousness that justifies people before a holy God must be a righteousness that is equal to God's.
What do you consider to be major achievements in your life? How do you measure success, and how have your arrived at that standard? Who has influenced your vision of a successful life? Have there been any Godly influences, perspectives or purposes motivating you so that at day's end you rest in the knowledge that it is not your achievements that count but God's work through you that matters?
Ask yourself what have you given up or sacrificed in order to pursue success? What have you determined to be worth your investment of time, energy, and/or money? Where do your "true passions" lie? Before Christ, Paul would have said His passions lay in His abilities alone. But in comparison to God's own righteousness he had failed! The truth is that we all have sinned and come short or the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). No matter how good we are, we still need a Savior. Who wants to be the best sinner that ever went to hell?
Paul gladly renounced his faith in himself (v. 7) and his own accomplishments so that he might receive Christ by faith along with His accomplishments. The Living Bible renders verse 7 as..."But all these things that I once thought worthwhile -- now I have thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone."
Child of God focus on your life in Christ as being wholly YOU. Deprive all other influences their subtle invasion into your perspective. Maintain the Truth of the Word and the knowledge of God as your steadfast anchor holding you secure. Therefore, you may put all your trust and hope in Christ alone and not in yourself.
February 22, 2015
Humility!!
Philippians 2:3..."Do nothing from factional motives (through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends) or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself (thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves)." (Amp. Bible)
Humility can be defined in many ways, one of which is the absence of pride. Typically, pride is described as arrogance, but that is just one dimension of pride. Pride is also timidity, because, in its simplest terms, pride is self-centeredness, and a timid or shy person is very self-centered. Paul gave the antidote to self-centeredness here: esteeming others better than yourself.
How can we esteem others better than ourselves when, in truth, we see ourselves as better than others. Some people are better athletes than others, some are better speakers, some are better businessmen, and so forth.
First, we need to realize that our accomplishments do not make us better than others. There is a difference between what we do and who we are. Better performance does not make better people. The character of people may be severely wanting even though their performance may be exceptional. You see examples of this in many celebrities, and political leaders, and athletes of today. You see their foibles exposed often even though they seemed to be gifted in their particular fields. And, we might say, "If I had all that going for me, I would certainly have not done that so and so thing." However, without the proper input, you cannot expect a proper output. In other words, what you put into your mind and heart will reveal what will come out in your actions and words.
If you are constantly involved with self, your desires and actions will be selfish. However, in true humility, which can ONLY be acquired through the Word and the activity of the Holy Spirit in your life, you will see others as Christ sees them. You will learn to esteem others better than yourself. There remains a sad tendency in the Body of Christ to place undue attention on our attributes as children of God. We should remember what Jesus gave up in order to become the creation. In Philippians 2:7 & 8 we see that He made Himself of no reputation, and humbled Himself. Yet, Christians who have been unduly influenced by the positive benefits of grace, have become arrogant when, in actuality, they should be humbled by the fact that He gave His all to rescue and unworthy creation. You would be nothing at all were it not for Christ. And, what He did for you He did for all of humanity, no matter how lowly you perceive them to be.
Child of God let the Holy Spirit give you a vision of others through the eyes of God. Then let Him help you walk in true humility as He works in and through you.
February 23, 2015
Can I Really Do It?
John 14:12…Jesus speaking…”The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it.” (Message Bible)
What were the works of Jesus? - Healing, deliverance, raising the dead… along with comforting, sharing, forgiving, and loving others.
Do we really think we are able to do the same works that Jesus did? Or do we think He meant that only for his immediate disciples, and not the disciples yet to come?
I have been in a good many churches in my over 60 years and have seen that most churches are filled with people who do not believe Christlikeness is possible. Individual believers have camped beside the river of God’s grace so they might drink daily of forgiveness, unaware that this same grace can provide spiritual transformation into the image of Christ. Many consider this goal to difficult to obtain – that it is only for those few super-saints who are called to the ministry or just don’t have all the complexities and worldly temptations with which to deal.
Although not a conscious thought, many believers sub-consciously think of the road to Christlikeness the same way a busy man might, who hears his priest or pastor say, ”Aren’t you tired of doing the same thing every year? Don’t you ever want to learn how to live a better life? To grow so close to God that you don’t constantly need to seek forgiveness?”
To which the man answers, “Not really. I’m a sinner. It’s what I do. You’re the Priest – you cleanse me – it’s what you do. Why don’t we both just do our jobs? See you next time.”
Isn’t this like a Wal-Mart version of forgiveness? When we expect to sin, and then expect forgiveness, it is cheapening redemption to a transaction. What about relationship? What about empowerment through the Holy Spirit? What about seeking Godly wisdom? Are these hallmarks of the Christian faith too difficult for us to deal with?
Any born again believer who is filled with the Holy Spirit has, built into himself/herself, the ability to achieve Christlikeness because the Holy Spirit endows them with the power to overcome the sin-and-forgiveness pattern.
Child of God, ask yourself … Do you believe Christlikeness is possible? Do you believe you can overcome pride, worry, and all the worldly lusts that seem to hinder this development? When you read in the Word about a principle that seems too difficult, do you simply overlook it because you think you would have to be a super-saint to do it? Are you constantly excusing yourself with the, “I’m only human, after-all,” rationalization?
Isn’t it time to grow up in the Lord? To put away childish things like selfishness, pride, ego, and proceed to be like Christ in humility, faith and power. We are all called to minister in His name. But we will never do it if we let our self-absorption get in the way.
February 24, 2015
Do All For God
I Corinthians 10:31...."So then, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you may do, do all for the honor and glory of God."
Modern culture and society seems intent on dividing and separating the secular and the spiritual. This seems to be quite acceptable to many Christians as well. Yet, that is not what God meant for his people as seen by this and other Scriptures. In fact, people and even governments never pursued this separation until the beginning of the industrial age and the influence of existentialism and evolution.
One of the greatest hindrances to internal peace is this soulish habit of trying to juggle these two arenas of living. The secular and spiritual are morally and spiritually incompatible. When we attempt to live in both realms, jockeying back and forth from one to the other, our inner lives become whip-lashed, and we live a divided instead of a unified life.
We, who honor Christ, live as children of God in both the spiritual and natural worlds. We are instructed by Paul not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). This is meant as a guide to help lead us to a comfortable place of rest where we will no longer be suffering from the strains of living in two opposing kingdoms.
To renew our minds is to acquire the mind of Christ. Looking in the Gospels to glean understanding about the life of Christ, we see that He too lived in the spiritual and natural world, but without ever losing His poise or rest. Any suffering and pressure He encountered were the direct result of His role as sin-bearer for mankind, but were never the result of moral uncertainty or spiritual maladjustment.* He had a fixed center. That center was in His Father. Jesus said that always He did those things that pleased His Father.
Paul mentions two specific tasks; eating and drinking. These are so basic and common that we share them with even the lowest of creatures - signifying that if we can perform even these lowly acts to honor God then if becomes difficult to conceive of any task that could not also be done for the same honor.*
Brother Lawrence, who lived over four centuries ago, acquired the wonderful ability to remain continually in God's presence. When he knew he would have to work each day in the Monastery and therefore would have to focus on other, natural things he would pray: "O my God, you are with me, and I must now (in obedience to your commands) apply my mind to these outward things. I therefore implore you to grant me the grace to continue in your presence. To this end, please prosper me with your assistance. Please accept all my works and possess all my affections." **Let this also be our prayer. Without this Godly help we can never succeed in truly honoring Him with all we are and all we do.
*"The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer
** "The Practice of the Presence of God" Published letters and conversations of Brother Lawrence
February 25, 2015
Pure Obedience
1 Samuel 15:22-23…And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry…”
This Scripture records the Prophet Samuel’s response to King Saul’s disobedience. Saul believed because he had done what seemed more economically sound, that God would overlook His commands. Saul soon discovered, however, that God was not at all pleased.
Don’t we do the same as Saul? Do we not ignore God’s warnings and directions? Do we not fail to listen to God’s will? Don’t we often shut up our ears when He speaks to us, and then rationalize that we weren’t absolutely sure it was God speaking. And why do we think that? It is because He did not say what we wanted to hear. We therefore presumed upon God for agreement.
Sometimes it seems never to occur to us that God may be making a request just to teach us obedience. Once my wife, Jami, felt God was telling her to give a particularly prized item away. She ignored the request for some time. But God persisted until she finally obeyed. She did not know why God had been so demanding, but sometime later she discovered that God was requiring that she love Him enough to deny herself a prized item. She valued this as an object lesson against idolatry (and she has never forgotten it). God is not above testing our obedience. We have to remember that He is trying to perfect us.
Obedience is so important to God. We can sacrifice everything for His sake, but if we are disobedient, no sacrifice is enough. And our disobedience may seem so inconsequential that we may simply overlook it. This is when our intimate relationship with God is so beneficial. When we are constantly practicing the presence of God in our lives, these miss-steps become less and less frequent.
God is pleased with our faith; He is not pleased with our presumption. When we presume we place demands on God. This leads to assumption, because we think we understand God. We don’t allow for God’s knowledge of the end from the beginning.
Rationalizing is a dangerous game for Christians to play. Excusing disobedience leads to a hardened heart. This was Saul’s problem. A hardened heart is callous and hard, difficult to mold and heal.
It is important for every child of God to listen when God speaks. When you are intent on hearing Him, believe me you will. Then follow His commands without question. The more you trust, the more you learn. The more you learn, the more you obey.
February 26, 2014
You Can't Take It With You
Luke 16:25....But Abraham said, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil, but now he is comforted and you are tormented."
This parable in Luke 16:19-31 draws a stark contrast between the rich man and the poor beggar, Lazarus. The key to understanding it is to notice to whom Jesus was speaking - the Pharisees, who Luke describes as "lovers of money" (v. 14). Like the rich man, they were set for life - but not for eternity. They displayed an image of righteousness but were actually hypocrites (v. 15). Careful to preserve the letter of a greatly expanded Mosaic tradition, they violated the spirit of the Mosaic Law. Worst of all, they rejected Jesus as the Christ (v. 31).
So Jesus told the parable to rebuke them. He was not saying that all the poor will go to heaven and all the rich will go to hell. He was warning those who live as though this life were all that matters: they are playing with fire!
Clearly, it is a dangerous thing to have it made in this life. The insensitive rich man received his "good things" during his lifetime. He was like the men described in Psalm 17:14 who "have their portion in this life," but have no portion in the life to come. Likewise, Psalm 73 talks about the wicked that appear to have it all: They live above the everyday problems that everyone else faces. They wear their pride like jewelry. They have more wealth than they can possibly use. Yet they belittle those who live hand-to-mouth. With all of their status and power they strut though life, giving not a care for God. Who needs Him?
But in eternity, the tables turn, as the rich man discovers to his horror (v.23). The parable concludes on an ominous note. Jesus describes the hardness of people who are determined to reject God. Despite plenty of evidence to warn them that they are headed for ruin, they persist in their ways - just as the Pharisees did.
Many Christians, who have succumbed to the hypnotic effects of materialism, career, and status, have, without realizing it, set their sights on today's pleasures rather than the treasures of eternity. I am so excited when I hear of someone who gave it all up to follow Christ. One of my favorite movies of all time is "You Can't Take it With You." It contains a subtle Christian message. If you have not seen it, you should rent it or get it on Netflix, but watch it.
"Financial freedom through biblical principles means that real prosperity is defined by God and comes from God. If we think we can grow 'rich' apart from God, we become victims of our own schemes or entrapped by our own pride to do this 'on our own'. 'For it is He (God) who gives us the capacity to gain wealth' (Deut. 8:18). Do you use God's reference for wealth, or do you use the world's reference for wealth.
There are many children, even in Christian homes, who come home to an empty house or to a babysitter or relative because both parents are out building careers and trying to obtain more and more of the "good life." What would happen if Mom stayed home, and they trusted God for the salary Mom gave up? The results may just be that the parents realize the superior benefits of family time, and no longer see the extra income as something to strive for.
Child of God, look to the benefits of storing up treasures in heaven. Fasten yourself to God’s design for wealth and accept it as better than yours. Never let an opportunity pass to share what you have with someone else. Let the Holy Spirit build in you the desire to give all you have or ever hope to have to furthering God’s kingdom on earth.
February 27, 2015
Assurance in Prayer
John 11:41…”Father, I thank you that you have heard me.”
When Jesus prays, He is assured of the Father’s attention. He has only one arena of thought, one consciousness, and that is of His Father. God always hears the prayers of His Son, and if the Son of God is formed in me, the Father will always hear my prayers.
The Son of God needs to manifest in my flesh, so much so, that it is a moment by moment reality. I must forever recognize the truth of the Scripture which identifies my body as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
In my everyday life with its capriciousness, its nonsense, its inadequateness, and the very ordinariness that can bring me low, am I living out the prayer of God’s Son to His Father? Remember, He said, “In that day you will ask in my name…” To what day was He referring? I think it is that day when the Holy Spirit is given access to my mind and heart in the indwelling nature which is the forever promise of Jesus to those who believe in Him. In this way I am effectually one with Him.
Child of God, ask yourself if the Lord Jesus Christ is being abundantly satisfied in your life? Or, are you trying to bring about the spiritual through your own strength?
Never allow common sense to intrude and push the Son of God to one side. Common sense is a gift given to human nature, but it is not the gift of His Son. The Son knows the Father and recognizes His character, but common sense cannot recognize the Father and never will. This is the sense of the mind which has to deal daily with human needs and circumstances. To rely on our human nature means we would never give ourselves over to worship our King. But, let our individual nature be transfigured by the indwelling Holy Spirit and we can worship in the way we should and must, in “Spirit and in Truth.”
Pray that the Lord will give you the grace to live moment by moment dependent on Jesus Christ so that you are being transformed into His image.
February 28, 2015
Their Pain is My Pain
Hebrews 13:3…..”Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body..”
Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life. And it is so much more than seeking answers to our needs, problems, and direction for our lives. Because we are brothers and sisters with all Christians everywhere, we should personally feel the hurt when the Body of Christ is wounded or under attack.
In a more intimate way, Christians suffering persecution in other countries are part of my body because we are both in the Body of Christ. The pain of their suffering should be like an ache in my arm or leg. I need healing because they need healing. Wherever Christians are being persecuted for their faith, I am also being persecuted. Their suffering is my suffering, their pain is my pain, and their death diminishes me because it diminishes the Body of Christ.
We are called to pray for each other; not just the visible others, but also for the others that we do not see but to whom we are attached by the Cross of Christ. We are not in any way detached from these people we do not know in the flesh. Through the power and tenderness of the Holy Spirit, we can be directed to pray for their exact needs. Of course this method requires that we be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, and listening with our hearts to His calling.
God expects us to reach out in prayer to the multitudes that He knows but whose individual identities may not be known to His children. This is one of the great benefits of the Holy Spirit baptism; praying in the Spirit, and the ability to pray through to understanding.
Child of God, pray earnestly for the Body of Christ. Many are suffering and in need of your prayer covering. Realize that when you do, you draw nearer to heart of God.
March 1, 2015
Are People Basically Good?
Romans 7:21..."So I find it to be a law (rule of action of my being) that when I want to do what is right and good, evil is ever present with me and I am subject to its insistent demands." (Amp. Bible)
Many of us want to believe that we are "basically good" people - or at least better than other people. In fact, it's popular today to subscribe to the view that humankind is basically good, and that moral problems are simply the result of bad parenting, bad education, and the foibles of "society." You see advertisements celebrating humanity, songs enthrone humanity, and culture praises humanity. We are left with the view that humanity is supreme and can redeem itself.
The Bible presents a different view, however. Scripture affirms the inherent dignity and value of every human being (Psalm 139:13-14, Heb. 2:7). But it insists that each of us is born "in sin" - that is, apart from God, naturally tending toward wrong rather than right. That's what Paul addresses in Romans 7.
Original sin is a sobering concept, one with which our pride would dearly love to eliminate altogether. But then, pride lies at the root of sin. Therefore, the first step toward rooting it out of our lives is to humbly admit our true condition - not to blame someone else, but rather to confess our sin to God and trust solely in His grace for forgiveness and acceptance (Luke 18:13).
This attitude of humility in light of our sin needs to become a way of life. Once we admit our fallen condition, and that no help can be obtained within ourselves, we have made the first move to total redemption. Brother Lawrence stated this quite eloquently when he said:
"To be honest, I consider myself as the most wretched of men, full of sores and corruption. I think of myself as one who has committed all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched with a conscious remorse, I confess to Him all my wickedness. I ask His forgiveness. I abandon myself in His hands so that He may do with me whatever He pleases." Thus, you see the condition of a contrite and humble heart. Once you have come to this conclusion, and admitted your fallen condition, then the King's response follows. The words of Brother Lawrence continue:
"However, I have found that this King is full of mercy and goodness. He is so full of mercy that instead of chastising me, He embraces me with love. He invites me to eat at His table. He serves me with His own hands. He gives me the key to His treasure. He converses with me and delights Himself with me incessantly in thousands and thousands of ways. In every way, He treats me as the King's favorite. This is how I visualize things concerning His holy presence."
My friend you must never believe you are too far from God's redemptive heart or loving embrace. By your humility and contrite spirit you will find true peace with God and your burdens lifted.
March 2, 2015
Holy Spirit Power
Acts 2:4…”And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The disciples had been poor examples of committed followers of Christ. Because of their association with Jesus they had hidden for fear of being put in prison or worse. Yet, Jesus had prepared them to spread His gospel (good news) throughout the world and had even commissioned them personally to do so (Matthew 28:19-20).
Jesus seemed to have more faith in them than they had in themselves. But, there was more to the plan of God than had so far been revealed. In accordance with the instruction given them by Christ, they gathered in Jerusalem, in an upper room, where they prayed and fellowshipped together awaiting the promised coming of the Comforter – the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5).
Once the Holy Spirit came and filled them, they immediately began to speak boldly about Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection and did so in a way that amazed the people who had come from many other lands and spoke other languages. But the people heard the disciples in their own language. The miracle of the message moved many and 3,000 were added to their number that day, according to Acts 2:41.
Many contend that this power was available to start the church but since the first century it has ceased along with other gifts of the Spirit. However, all through the history of the church power has been needed to maintain its testimony and correct its errors. Isn’t it rather arrogant of modern day Christians to deny this power, as if to say we can do it only on our own initiatives?
I was a nominal, pew sitting Christian, moved and swayed by competing philosophies of the world until I received the power of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. No other force could have induced me to desire a true relationship with God. It is by this power that darkness flees and people are set free to bask in the light of Christ. And this infilling may need renewal and the Holy Spirit is always available when the need arises – Acts 4:31.
I have come to realize that the power of tongues used in prayer is one of the greatest benefits to this infilling from God. Often, when prayer is needed but how to pray has been in doubt, praying in tongues (the language of angels - 1 Corinthians 13:1), has brought peace and assurance that the right prayer has reached God’s ear.
March 3, 2015
Fallen from Grace
Galatians 5:4...."You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace."
I have heard many Christians, even ministers and Bible teachers; evoke this Scripture as a consequence of sin. In the entire Bible you will find this term "fallen from grace" only here. The problem is that grace is subject to the law when sin is epitomized. The truth of the Gospel is that the law is subject to grace.
Paul, in his letter to the Galatians is issuing a warning that to continue to seek justification through the law was to be separated from Christ and thereby fallen from grace.
Too many Christians today are ignorant of the fullness of God's grace toward the believer. I have seen it over and over again when visiting churches. Not reading the Bible often enough, not praying every day, not giving to the needy when you are told to do so, not tithing, and many, many more obligations you place on yourself and then fail to do.
And then there is the drunken man who sees his need for salvation one Sunday morning and comes forward, kneels at the altar and receives Christ. By Saturday he is drunk again. The deacon who sees his drunkenness immediately rebukes him. He tells the man that he cannot go on sinning with drink if he expects Jesus to save him. He must do this and that to prove He is worthy of Christ's love. The deacon is putting the man under law and subjecting it to grace.
The very idea that we can earn grace by what we do or don't do means that Christ need not have died. What a pompous view for us mortals to take. How dare we ignore Christ's sacrifice and subject it to our own response.
The only way one can fall from grace, according to Paul, is to once again subject oneself to the law for justification. The liberty of Christ means freedom from the effects of the law. Christ became a curse for us so we could escape the curse through faith in Him.
I am reminded of the story of a high school student who was enrolled in an honors English class. The first day of class the teacher talked about her expectations and handed out an overview of what the class would be studying.
The student was completely overwhelmed. She came home and told her father he had to go talk with the teacher to get her out of the class. He agreed to set up a conference during which he and the teacher struck an agreement. The teacher wanted the girl to remain in class, so she offered to give her an "A" from the very beginning, with the understanding that the student still do the work and participate in class discussion. The student agreed to the arrangement. And do you know what the teacher found? The student turned in "A" work anyway. The teacher removed the threat of failure, and in its absence, the student excelled.
This is what Christ has done for you. He has given you an "A" and in return he asks only that you accept it and then participate in the Christian life as outlined in His Word. He has removed the threat of failure because He has completed the work for you, "It is Finished." So, you need not panic at the thought of all the work the Christian life seems to demand. You could never make a passing grade. Thankfully just like the student in the story God went ahead and gave you an "A". He has given you the best possible solution to life; you can pass on to the next grade, heaven.
Pray: Lord, I am so thankful for Your finished work on the cross on my behalf. I accept all you have done for me. I have no fear that I will not measure up to Your standard, because I know it is not in me to do so, but it is in You and You are in me. There is nothing more that I need. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
March 04, 2015
Called Out
Mark 3:13…."And He went up on the hill-side and called to Him (for Himself) those whom He wanted and chose, and they came to Him." (Amplified Bible)
Are we called out or are we staying put? When we came to faith in Christ; when we received that call to salvation through His name, we were meant to join with Jesus just as the disciples did (v. 14). The disciples were with Jesus constantly. They ministered alongside Him. They learned from Him as they walked, ate, and lived next to Him. This is what joining is all about.
Being called out means your citizenship is in another kingdom. You have a passport to the worldly kingdom, but your identity should be 100% in the Kingdom of God. You can move freely between both kingdoms because of your passport, but your allegiance rests with the Kingdom of God.
You will be in conflict when you try to serve both kingdoms. This is when confusion and strife arise and the result is usually sin. When the drama of life becomes overwhelming you need to withdraw as Jesus did (Mark 3:7); retire into your intimate place with your King.
Being in full citizenship in the Kingdom of God means you are drawn to Jesus. You identify with Him; with His vision, His compassion, His sufferings and His love. Then, you respond to all that you see in Jesus. It is ingrained in you so that your complete being is identical with Jesus. Jesus in you reaches out to help a brother or sister in need; Jesus in you sits in the last seat, not the first; Jesus in you gives sacrificially to enhance the Kingdom; Jesus in you recognizes the hurt in others and comforts and encourages; Jesus in you decreases self so that only Jesus is recognized in you. And, Jesus in you KNOWS the power of the Holy Spirit is available for every need and in every situation.
Then, you stay with Jesus just as the disciples did. You join Jesus in His work. You are a willing and excited participant in all the work He has for you. You have been made priests in the Kingdom (1 Peter 2:9). You have a stamp on your citizenship document (your soul) that says diplomat. This means you have special privileges because of your kingdom identity. You have received grace upon grace. You share in all the grace and spiritual blessings and favors and gifts. They are heaped upon you (John 1:16 Amp. Bible).
As a child of God you are called to live the supernatural life of a citizen of the Kingdom of God. That life is not one of worldly cares, but one of abundant hope in the promises which God in His mercy and love has bestowed upon you (2 Peter 1:4) because He has seen fit to share His very nature with you. Amen.
Pray: Lord I am called out by You. Through the grace and spiritual blessings You have given me I will respond to You and join with You in Your work. I will stay with You and be a true citizen of Your Kingdom. Help me to decrease so that You may increase. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
March 5, 2015
Stay Alert, Be Ready
Mark 13:33..."Be on your guard (constantly alert), and watch and pray; for you do not know when the time will come." (Amp. Bible).
Jesus wants His followers to evaluate turbulent times of change not just from the perspective of history but even more from the perspective of His kingdom. As believers, we are citizens of eternity. Therefore, our confidence needs to be rooted in something far more important than our positions and achievements here and now. It's not that the here and now has no importance. But as we live our lives, God wants us to be loyal workers for His kingdom, serving the people He sends our way.
Is your significance tied too closely to achievements - building buildings, reaching business goals, acquiring material possessions, climbing career ladders? There is nothing inherently wrong with these. But if you lost them, would your confidence completely crumble? If your sense of worth depends on them, what happens when you reach the top of the ladder, only to discover that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall?
The problem is that our world has a system of values that is upside down from the way God determines value. It lacks any sense of what Scripture describes as "calling", or what Christians later termed "vocation" - a perspective that God has called and equipped people to serve Him through their work in the world. Instead, our culture encourages us to climb a work/identity ladder that is ultimately self-serving, and often self-destructive.
Climbing that ladder can be very misleading. The higher one goes, the more one's identity, value, and security tend to depend on the nature of one's work. But what happens if we lose our position, titles, or high-level compensation? Perhaps this explains why severe emotional problems - drug and alcohol abuse, abuse of spouse and children, divorce, suicide, and even mass murders - often accompany job loss. If our significance relies on our job, then it dies with our job.
God calls us to a far more stable basis for significance. He wants us to establish our identity in the fact that we are His children, created by Him to carry out good works as responsible people in His kingdom (Eph. 2:10). This is our calling or vocation from God. According to Scripture, our calling is irrevocable (Rom. 11:29) and is a function of how God has designed us.
Above all else, believers are called to character development, service to others, and loyalty to God. These can be accomplished wherever we live or work, whatever our occupational status or position in society.
As children of God, we should be salt and light in our workplaces, schools, homes and churches. When we have a kingdom perspective our significance rests in our eternal position with Christ. When our focus is thus fixed we will be in a constant state of readiness.
March 6, 2015
What is Righteousness?
Romans 1:17..."For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.' "
One of the greatest challenges to witnessing is the proper communication of the Gospel. Certain phrases carry little weight in today’s society because they are little understood.
The term “righteousness” is almost unrecognizable to most people today. The idea of sin has become a relative term that need not apply to everyone. So, the idea of being a sinner becomes offensive.
On television recently, I had occasion to watch a Christian witnessing to a man on the street who was a non-believer. The Christian was having difficulty relating the concept of righteousness to the non-believer. The man did not see why his life was in need of saving because he was a "good person".
Unless a person sees their need for a savior, what motive is there for seeking forgiveness? We must remember what it was that drove us to our knees seeking forgiveness? What made us seek an invisible God who seemed too far away to care?
Our experiences with salvation are the testimony that reaches the heart of a nonbeliever. After all, we were just like them. However, when our attitudes place us on a different plan, because of our salvation, we are failing Christ and our fellow man. Recognizing our own lack of righteousness can speak volumes when we witness. Then it becomes easier to talk about the righteousness of Christ being given as a gift to make us right with God.
The more you explain the character of God, the more unrighteousness is revealed in the human character. We must understand that God’s character reveals what is absolutely right. Our arrogance in believing we are always right and have all the answers is a major stumbling block to revealing the rightness of God and our lack in His sight.
When we realize that God has done everything needed in order to make us righteous, the burden is lifted and we are finally free to recognize our own lack and God’s infinite supply.
March 7, 2015
What Remains
Hebrews 1:10-12… “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth. And the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain, And they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And your years will not fail” (Psalm 102:25-27)
When our focus is limited to the physical world that seems solid, substantial, permanent, and perhaps indestructible, our eternal vision is also limited or non-existent. Our greatest hope in this changing world is the changelessness of God.
What are most important in our lives should not be the immediate gratifications offered by the world. The things we possess, the accomplishments we achieve, the power we obtain or strive to win, are all of no consequence when seen in the light of our eternal lives. We are but a vapor, yet our sanctified spirits, joined with God, hold our future intact.
We can base all our hopes and aspirations for eternal bliss on the unchanging Word of God. He has given us this great monument of faith upon which to rest throughout our natural existence, and then to trade for a heavenly reward.
To this end our worship must be true and spirit joined. We are in the world, but not of the world. We are not bound by this world’s influence, but the influence of a greater reality which we find in Christ.
As a child of God, you are to get your attention off the immediate, the physical, and orient your life, thinking, and focus toward the eternity of Christ’s dominion and the changeless power of God’s Word.
March 8, 2015
An Anchor, A Monument
Hebrews 6:19…”We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.” Good News Translation.
There is nothing worse than being pushed up against the wall by some calamity that literally takes your breath away. It is as though everything you knew or thought you knew about God slips away in favor of the overwhelming thing that you face. But, suddenly, your spirit recalls a monument that you erected years ago when God was faithful to His Word and delivered you; a monument that you set up as a reminder of what God can do (Joshua 4:9). This has become your hope. You know that God is able, strong, and mighty to save in even the worst of times.
This hope is now your anchor. The boat of your life is being tossed, dangerously close to being completely swamped. You must throw out an anchor to hold onto the hard ground beneath the sea of troubles that will stabilize your craft. This hard ground is your hope in everything you know God can do, but even more than that it is an anchor of hope in the very character of God.
Then Jesus, your High Priest, escorts your hope (your anchor) into the Holy of Holies, beyond the veil so you can know for a certainty that God has your hope and will never let it fade.
“Knowing God” is so important for every Christian. Just “Knowing about God” is totally insufficient for the task of living. That vital faith we have in the God that we know intimately is what our hope is built upon - so, that when we are saved from the trial or temptation we can give Him all the praise. But even though we die, we will trust in Him because death only leads to the greater reality of being forever in His presence.
March 9, 2015
In Stride With God
Colossians 1:10...."so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord..."
I remember as a young boy walking with my grandmother to what we called "downtown". That was where all the shops were. We lived in a small town and on Saturdays grandmother would go downtown to shop and I would walk with her, well, not exactly with her, because she walked fast and I was often lagging behind. It seemed every so often I would have to run to catch up. I would stride with her for a short distance and then start once again falling behind.
I see, now, that walking with grandmother was similar to walking with God. I am often lagging behind, which means I am not walking with Him because I am either slow to understand, distracted, or just plain stubborn. For-instance, I often lag behind when He tells me to witness. I shy away and let fears intrude. Sometimes He tells me to give more than I had intended, but, I only see my own needs rising up before me and not God's plan for my giving, which also means I do not trust His reward for obedience. So, you see, in these times I am not in stride with God.
There have been times when I did fall into step with God and accomplished His Kingdom purpose. But, unfortunately, there have been many times when I lagged behind, and have had to run to catch up. This is so typical of Christians today who become distracted by personal drama and circumstances. The test of one's spiritual life and character is not what one does in the exceptional moments in life, but what is done in the ordinary times, when there is nothing exciting going on. It is those times that God can adjust our thinking and we can stride alongside. Once we have gotten our spiritual second-wind we can proceed in company with God.
Staying alongside is difficult because we are more used to our own pace. We even desire to stop along the way for a breather. But God strides on ahead and we must run to catch up. We will constantly be playing catch-up until we can finally give up our will, and relax and let the Holy Spirit discipline us in the ways of God.
God's ways are not our ways and we must come to realize that Spiritual insight comes by atmosphere, not by intellectual reasoning. God's Spirit alters the atmosphere which is our way of looking at things, and what was once impossible suddenly becomes possible. Getting into stride with God means nothing less than union with Him. It takes time to get there, but keep at it.
Child of God, don't give in because the pain gets bad now and then - get on with it. You will find, like the marathon runner, you can get past your pain to the point where you will discover a new vision and purpose - the more intense the training, the more rewarding the race.
March 10, 2015
Dwelling in the Secret Place
Psalm 91:1....”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
There are many Scripture passages in the Bible that are only for those who meet the requirements. This is one. There are conditional and unconditional promises of God found in the Bible. Most promises that begin with the word "if" are conditional. God promises to do something if we do something. Some passages are meant only for people who live in a certain way. For-instance, Romans 8 is such a passage. If you live according to Romans 8:1 then Romans 8 is yours.
(Psalms 91:1 is one of the favorite Psalms of the people of God. Yet this is a psalm known by the devil and quoted by him in Matt. 4:11-12 when he tempted Christ. It is a shame that the devil who hates God and all that is good knows the Bible while many Christians who say they love God do not!)
The Psalm says that when you dwell - this does not mean to visit on occasion, or to say you dwell when you really do not, or to wish that you dwell. It means to abide, to stay, to make your camp there, to reside (John 15:4). Where are you to dwell? - In the "secret place".
Many people dwell in the sinful world and feel more comfortable with strife and drama. They know only how to manipulate others and rely on their own resources to overcome problems and circumstances in their lives. Their "secret place" is one of their own making. Instead of a soothing place of peace and assurance with streams of life giving water flowing through, it is a dark cave of pride and selfishness and individuality devoid of Holy ambiance.
The "secret place" is where you will find the living God - the place where He dwells with His people. It is a place of the heart where one rests in the shade, away from the heat of temptation, sin, pride, self-worth, arrogance, and shame. It is a refuge from satanic storms. When we are in the personal, secret place of abiding communion with God we are fortressed against the temptations and troubles of life.
Child of God, when you can intentionally purpose with your whole being to "dwell in the secret place of the most High" you will qualify for the promises of the rest of the Psalm: refuge, protection from fear, strength, the help of angels, deliverance, to be set on high (to rise above your problems), a ready answer when you call upon God (the privilege of prayer), help in times of trouble, honor from God, long life, salvation (long-life now and heaven later).
March 11, 2015
Competing Philosophies
Colossians 2:8 ….. "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." NAS Bible
In Paul’s time there were many different philosophies that were ungodly. People worshiped many gods and there were many man-centered, earth-centered philosophies that contended with the Christian Philosophy that the Colossians learned through Paul. There were also those of the Jewish tradition that wanted to burden the Christian believers with the law and rituals and festival days that would derail belief in Jesus as the only way to salvation.
Today we also have many philosophies competing with the Christian philosophy: evolution, secular-humanism, atheism, and pantheism, just to name a few. Paul warns us not to be taken captive by them. Many Christians would immediately reject most of them, with the possible exception of evolution. But will still entertain many aspects of them in their daily lives. Have you chosen any of the modern vampire or zombie selections as entertainment? Have you sided with the secular-humanists in advocated same sex marriage based on human ideas of fairness rather than Biblical doctrine? Does your resolve against abortion fade when the safety of the mother is at stake, or for the incidents of rape, notwithstanding the fact that there is no circumstance that places these choices for the innocent in the hands of man rather than God? Does your philosophy depend daily on material compensation or upon spiritual enlightenment? Do you seek your own mind in daily decisions, or the wisdom of God?
There are today many Christians who believe in a form of Christian evolution; wedding the two philosophies together. An increasing number of scientists are rejecting evolution as good science. Only those with an atheistic agenda are hanging on to it for dear life. Many Christians are too lazy to seek out the truth, or too intimidated to take a stand for true Christianity.
Only through faithful personal study of the Word of God can believers resist the subtle influences of ungodly philosophies in today’s society.
Child of God, stay faithful in the word so you will not become captive to these idle fancies as the Amplified Bible calls them. They may carry you away and spoil your fruit and your testimony. Seek to know God’s wisdom in your daily life and choices. Do nothing for the motive of expediency, but for loyalty to the truth.
March 12, 2015
Evidence of Life in Christ
Mark 14:55…"Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none.”
Are you a “closet” Christian, an undercover follower of Christ, keeping your faith a secret? Would your friends or coworkers describe you as a loyal believer? Is there any evidence that could be used to convict you of practicing the faith?The religious and political leaders of Israel wanted to rid themselves of Jesus. They tried every means possible to convict Him of a crime. They paid an informant from among Jesus’ own followers – but he returned their money and declared the Lord to be innocent (Mark 14:43-46; Matt. 27:3-5). They orchestrated an armed mob to intimidate Him – but He kept His cool and restrained His followers (Matt. 26:51-54). The leaders even presented witnesses to testify against Him in court – but the witnesses either perjured themselves or contradicted each other (Mark 14:55-56).People tried to convict Jesus of a crime for which they lacked even a shred of evidence. Suppose you were on trial instead of Jesus. What would be some of the best evidence against you, that you were “guilty” of following Christ – something good, and something for which there should be evidence? Would there be anything conclusive?
Do you wonder about those Christians slaughtered by ISIS? What evidence convicted them in the eyes of these evil men? No matter what evidence they saw, the most important is the fact that none of the victims succumbed to threats of death without conversion to Islam.
Some evidences that might foretell you as a Christians would be that the fruit of the Spirit is active in your life (Gal. 5:22-26). You are more interested in the welfare of others and act in the humility of Christ (Phil. 2:1-4). Rejoices in any circumstance, is always positive, displays faith for every situation and prays without ceasing.
Child of God may I suggest you pray for the Holy Spirit to show you weaknesses in your faith and then adjure His aide in bolstering your resolve to live and die for Christ.
March 14, 2015
Dead Religious Traditions
2 Kings 18:4...."He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan."
This incident records the time when God sent serpents to bite the Israelites because of their murmuring. God told Moses to fashion a brazen serpent and when the people looked upon it, after being bitten, they were healed. Amazingly, almost twelve generations later, King Hezekiah (whom scripture records did right in the sight of God - 2 Kings 18:30) found Jews burning incense to that brazen serpent! Idolatry! Hezekiah destroyed it, and God sent revival. This brazen serpent was a dead religious relic; something God had used for a specific purpose at a specific time. It was not an item of worship and the people were in sin who worshiped it.
What dead religious traditions do you idolize that prevent revival in your life? Perhaps it is works that you worship. The more work you do for God the more He will bless you. Is "works" your religious idol? Perhaps it is false piety. You know what that is. When the motivating factor behind what you do is so others will recognize you as a spiritual leader. When you, seemingly, carry around a legal pad full of your achievements, ready to display for all to see, even God, then you are walking in false piety.
Another religious tradition is related to individual sin. How can God use you fully when you are constantly in a state of sin-consciousness? You are not letting grace be grace. When you succumb to this trap of condemnation, Satan uses your guilt to hinder your work for the Kingdom.
And, there are those Christians who see Jesus only as savior and not as mentor. These are those who never get past salvation. They never see the possibility of being like Jesus, because they relate to Him only as the Son of God, therefore, they do not recognize His humanity. Jesus learned obedience through His suffering, (Heb. 5:5). And since Jesus was obedient throughout His life, this could not mean the sufferings leading up to the crucifixion. Jesus learned obedience just as we should learn obedience; by relying on and trusting in the Holy Spirit in our daily walk.
Any child of God should reject, out of hand, all attempts to manipulate God based on personal need. False idols begin with self then expand to things, other people, denominationalism, religiosity, and false piety. We should be tempered in our spirts by humility and faithfulness thereby purifying the vision of Jesus as both God and man.
March 15, 2015
Reconnection
John 21:15...So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?"
Do you ever feel hopeless regarding your faith? Do you doubt God's willingness to forgive you over and over again?
Peter might easily have felt that way. He had risen to a position of leadership among Jesus' followers. He had even been given the "keys of the kingdom" (Matt. 16:19). And he had positioned himself as the defender of Christ when Roman soldiers came to arrest Him (John 18:10). But when he felt the heat of a national trial, conviction, and death, Peter denied three times that he even knew Christ (John 18:15-18, 25-27) and afterward disappeared. What Jesus had predicted about him came true (John 13:31-38).
So when Jesus engaged Peter in a conversation on the shore in John 21, Peter might easily have felt that he was already disqualified from further service for the Lord - after all, as we would say, three strikes and you’re out.
Have you ever felt that God could no longer use you because you just blew it again? If ability to be useful to God depended on good or bad actions, we would not have need of a savior. Our salvation would be in our own hands.
Jesus reconnected with Peter and called him to genuine love and the continuation of His work. Reconnection is not difficult for Jesus. He will do it as often as need be, and each time it will strengthen your faith and empower your witness. And each time it should perfect your forgiveness for others in your life.
March 16, 2015
More Supernatural than Natural
John 3;8.. “You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.” The Message Bible
In this conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus is explaining a new concept. One that is only alluded to in the Old Testament – but will now become the driving force for the expansion of the Kingdom of God on the earth. The Spiritual re-birth.
While the first birth was natural, the re-birth is spiritual in nature and cannot be detected by the five senses. Only the result can be detected.
This re-birth is not controlled by man or nature or any other created entity. It is controlled by God himself, and offered to all who will draw near and receive. God is offering something to believers in Christ that was not offered to the saints of the Old Testament.
When you agreed to accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross on your behalf and made Him Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit took up residence in you to begin the process of changing you from the inside out. Over time, as you renew your mind to the mind of Christ, the Spirit moves in you with more and more power until you become more and more in the image of Christ. Then, when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, this becoming process will be greatly facilitated.
As a child of God, born from above, you are more supernatural than natural. Make it your daily purpose to react as an heir with Christ – as one who has a distinct and powerful family.
March 17, 2015
Listen Well
Isaiah 30:21…”And your ears will hear a word behind you. ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left.”
How many times have you supposed you should do this or that and actually did nothing at all or did something opposite, only to have realized the wrong path had been chosen? It has happened to me too often to mention. Since becoming a born-again, Spirit-filled Christian I have had the Holy Spirit as my guide in walking with Christ and staying on the right path. But, often I have ignored His wisdom and advice and gone my own way, only to realize it later when trouble ensued.
Even in our trials and tribulations we tend not to wait on the Lord’s wisdom through His Spirit. We are anxious to see an end. We, therefore, pursue our own plans, only to find them inadequate for the task. Trials and tribulations are often teaching tools applied to us for achieving character, strength of faith, endurance and a more pure walk in holiness. They are only limited by our willingness to be taught.
James tells us that we should count it all joy when we come up against trials and tribulations. These are meant to produce patience and that perfected patience will be all you will need. Impatience is costly to the life that is seeking more of God. Sometimes the failure caused can take years to overcome.
But, Paul, tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:17 that we should not even consider light, momentary afflictions, because they will abundantly prepare us to produce and achieve an everlasting weight of glory. So much so, that we cannot even measure this vast transcendent glory and blessedness. These light afflictions to which Paul refers are shipwreck, stoning, imprisonment, hunger, for these are just some of the trials that beset him in his quest to bring the message of Christ to the Gentiles.
Returning to James again we are shown how to achieve the best reward for our common everyday trials and afflictions, and even those not so every day. This is done in thankfulness. This attitude of thanksgiving will lift you up into those heavenly places with Christ Jesus that Paul mentions in Ephesians 2:6.
Child of God, when you listen intently for the Holy Spirit’s leading, you are following after the heart of God. But, when you ignore His guidance you open yourself up to possible disaster, or at least failure. It is not hard to hear Him when you are expecting to do so. When your heart is leaning hard after God in any situation, trust the sensitivity to the Spirit to be on board in the pilot’s chair.
March 19, 2015
Testimony Time
Matthew 9:22…”Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” (NLT)
This woman had broken Levitical law by coming out in public with an issue of blood. She took an enormous risk by doing so. Yet, she knew in her heart that were she to even get close enough to touch the master’s garment, she would be healed. Her faith was great and when she touched the hem of Jesus robe she was healed.
Jesus spoke encouragingly to her, but first he sought the one who touched him. This was testimony time. He demanded that the person who touched him speak out and give testimony of what had happened.
In many churches testimonies were once part of each Sunday service. It was important for people to tell what God had done in their lives. Over time that has become less and less a part of what church is all about. Could it be that we have allowed our faith to become stale and flat.
Testimony time encouraged new believers and long-time believers alike. These messages about what God had done animated our faith in a way that simply listening to sermons or teaching couldn’t seem to do. It is a great strategy of the enemy to try to undo what faith has accomplished. By eliminating testimony time from mainstream church services He has used a masterful stroke. From this lapse of encouraging faith messages which has prevailed in our modern churches, the church as a whole has slipped more and more into irrelevancy.
Even some church leaders no longer stand up for basic Christian principles. They become wishy-washy when pressed by secular media about doctrinal truths. How can we hope to be purveyors of hope and truth when even our leaders set such poor examples?
Last fall my wife and I had the privilege of visiting a church in Nashville, TN on a Sunday morning. The entire service consisted of one testimony after another. The pastor delivered a very short message then turned his microphone over to anyone who wished to testify or bring forth an insight from scripture. Instead of a single sermon delivered by the pastor, we heard a dozen sermons about living the Spirit life on the streets, at work, in homes, schools and neighborhoods.
That church is Berry Street Salvation Army and the extraordinary pastor who encourages congregational participation is Steve Simms. He is to be congratulated for taking a church that was losing membership and community influence and turning it into a beacon for the lost, lonely, disenfranchised, abused and hurting. Through the participatory church format immense strides have been made to bring relevance into the lives of many who could otherwise have been lost and wasted.
I remember approaching the pastor of a church we attended not long ago about inviting more participation in the worship services and his response amazed me. He believed the people were not ready for it. He was concerned about losing control and having all sorts of unbiblical messages coming forth. Yet, Pastor Simms at the Berry Street church leaves everything in the hands of the Holy Spirit and nothing happens that is not Spirit controlled.
Let’s encourage our pastors throughout Christendom to bring back Testimony Time. For those whose churches never left it, bravo to you. Then, of course, we must be ready to give testimony of all that God is doing in our lives. Testimony time is important and we must not allow it to become extinct.
March 20, 2015
The Heart-Home of God
John 14:23… Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
When you are away from home for an extended period of time, especially if it is a trying time or the place is distasteful, returning home is a time of joy, peace and rest. You are so pleased to be there that you just want to breathe in and sense its warmth and inviting charm. This is home. And we thank God that we have a home to enjoy.
God wants very much to bring into your spirit that homelike quality that feels extremely comfortable - a place of escape, where you can rest, relax and enjoy just being at peace. One translation refers to this as a dwelling place, which reminds me of Psalm 91.
In the secret place of the most high; the dwelling place where you will find refuge, trust and safety.
When you love Christ and that sincere love leads you to obedience, His promise is that God and Jesus will come a make their home in you.
In your heart-home, the floors may be un-swept, cobwebs may hang in the doorways, the roof may leak a bit, and the décor may be shabby; but God sweeps away dust and cobwebs, repairs hinges and roofs and makes your heart-home suitable for His residence. This, He is more than willing to do. He will be your handy-man and decorator. And, the best part is that His service is free. You didn’t earn it, you certainly don’t deserve it, but He does all this for you absolutely free.
Your heart is so full of His presence that love spills out continually. So much love flows out of you that you can supernaturally spill out onto all the one-anothers in your orbit.
Now, child of God, rest, knowing that the love of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are at home in YOU. Is there anything further that you need?
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