Son of David!

"As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!' The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!' Jesus stopped and called them. 'What do you want me to do for you?' he asked. 'Lord,' they answered, 'we want our sight.' Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."
Matthew 20:29-34

Jesus always had compassion for those in need. This story is no exception. When everyone else was telling the two blind men to be quiet, Jesus was paying attention. They did not go unnoticed. Jesus had said earlier that even one sparrow that falls to the ground is noticed by God. Now, he was showing everyone in the crowd the compassion God had for two blind men who certainly were the least in the eyes of all the people.
    There are so many things for us to learn from this story. Perhaps the most important is the persistence of the two blind men. When all those around them were saying, "shut up," they were set on getting the attention of the one who could heal them. Often, those around us will say, "Just accept what you have." But if God has put in your heart a desire and a passion to call out to him, do it! And when the world tells you to be quiet, shout all the louder! Our God is a God of compassion. He is a healing, forgiving, delivering, and redemptive God. We should accept nothing that stands against who he is. We can always know that God is paying attention to us. In the midst of doubters, we need to believe in the one who can save us.
    I have a picture in my mind about the exchange that took place between Jesus and the two blind men. I can see Jesus turning to look at them. He spoke with compassion in his voice, "What do you want me to do for you?" And with what little strength the two men had left, they cried, "Lord, we want our sight." Isn't it a little strange that Jesus would ask them what they wanted of him? It was obvious that they were blind. They were placed in the ditch on the side of the road so they would not be in the way. They were undoubtedly, beggars. This would have been the only way for them to survive. I think Jesus asked the question because it was important for the men to say it out loud. When they did, it removed all doubt. It was what they wanted more than anything else. When God asks us what we want from him, we must be as honest as the blind men. It may be obvious, or it may be something that we have never had the courage to ask. But God wants us to speak it out, confess it, and believe that he will do it for us.
    When the men declared what they wanted, it was done for them...immediately. God wants to respond to us. He wants us to cry out with the same tenacity as the blind men. He wants us to shout, in spite of what the crowd says. He wants us to believe for our healing. Like the blind men, all of us have handicaps that keep us from entering into the life that we desire with God. When we declare it, there is a power and authority that quiets the crowd. Don't be afraid. Don't give into the wishes of the crowd that wants to thwart your declaration. Cry out, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" You can be assured that he will hear you, that you have his full attention, and that his compassion is more than enough to meet your needs. Take a lesson from the two blind men, and receive your healing!

The Temple Foundation

"All the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy."
Ezra 3:11b&12
The scripture above is taken from the book of Ezra. After the city of Jerusalem and the temple that Solomon built, had been destroyed, Ezra returned along with many others to rebuild it. Of course, the former temple was an amazing piece of architecture. It was elaborate and ornate. But the people had been carried off into exile for seventy years. The Persian king, Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their homeland. There they found the ruins of the city and the temple they cherished. So the rebuilding began. This passage of scripture details a moment when the foundation of the new temple had just been laid.
    I'm sure there were great expectations about the new temple. Most of the people had never seen the old one, so their ideas and expectations would have certainly differed from the elders who had seen the previous structure. So there was a mixed response to the new thing that was being done. While this is a story about a man-made building from long ago, there are certainly parallels to our lives today.
    I have seen the church of today change dramatically in my lifetime. Some of it for good, some of it for less than good, in my perspective. But the reality is this; the church is changing. It is not like it used to be, nor will it ever be again. There have been revivals in the church for generations. They came and went. They were wonderful times of growth and change in the church. Now, we live in the new days of the church. God is watching as the church, his bride, prepares herself for his return. Some approve of this new church, others disapprove, longing for the old ways. Some fundamental churches have moved from longstanding ceremonies and rituals, into more contemporary kinds of worship. Some Pentecostal and Charismatic churches have moved away from highly expressive worship to more conservative ways, while others have further embraced emotional, expressive acts of worship. No matter how old you are, or what you have seen in the past, these are new days in the life of the church. We are changing. Whether you shout for joy as some of the Israelites did, or weep for the old days as some did, the reality remains the same: These are new days.
    What really matters is this: We must all keep Jesus as the main thing in our lives. If churches do this, we cannot allow disagreement to come between us. No matter the style of worship, the emotion, or the sound level, if Christ is being preached in truth, all is well. The apostle Paul knew that there were those who preached Jesus who were not part of the Jerusalem church and had not been sent from the elders there. His conclusion was simple: If Christ was being preached, he rejoiced in that. So should we. Like-minded people hang out with each other. That's okay. We should not call them evil or cults or wrongdoers. If Jesus is the center of their church, our blessings should be sent as well. We may like the way things were, or we may long for new things, but either way, a shout of praise should be lifted up. We are all builders of the new temple of God, his church, his bride. Let's prepare for the wedding feast.

Expansion

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"
Psalm 8:3&4

While on my four day Thanksgiving weekend, I happened to watch a few science documentaries about the universe. After years of misunderstanding and not having the scientific instruments to measure, scientists now all agree about one thing: The universe is expanding. Since we cannot fathom the concept of infinity, it is difficult for us to grasp what this really means. To us, after all, the universe is already infinite. How can infinity expand? But the reality is there. All that we see is expanding, and this is the work of our God.
    Not only is the universe expanding, so is everything within God's kingdom. Have you considered the possibility that even God's word is expanding? The words that are written in the Bible are set. For many years, none have been added or taken away. But the things that are written there have been placed in hearts like yours and mine. When we receive those words, the Holy Spirit takes them and gives them life within us. As each person undergoes this process, the words of God expand. They are given wonderful and diverse definition as each of us applies them to our own lives and spheres of influence. His Word is alive and growing.
    When we consider the universe, it is impossible for us to imagine the complexities that exist there. We are overwhelmed with the unknown majesty of the heavens. Yet this is only one of the creations of God that is expanding. His kingdom that includes you and me is also expanding. More and more people are coming to know Jesus and thus his his kingdom advances. Matthew 11:12 says this: "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." God's kingdom is advancing and the forceful will take hold. It is a violent process and we must develop the strength to battle for the kingdom and receive it with all the power that lies within it.
    In the midst of all this expansion, God's focus remains on us. God is mindful of us. He never loses that focus. All of creation was built for us. The stars twinkle, the plants live, die, and come to life again, the oceans hold vast and diverse life, all for our pleasure. Everything God has made was created with us in mind. For the first time, people are understanding that the universe is growing. We must now understand that God's kingdom is also growing, and at the heart of that kingdom is the King, Jesus himself. Will we embrace it or reject it? Will we take it by force or or sit back and take it for granted? Consider how his kingdom is expanding. Realize that you have an integral part in the process. And then, go after it with all your strength. Experience the expansion.

Our Delight

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4

Sometimes the simplest of statements bear the strongest message. This is one of those statements. It is a message that David lived for the entirety of his life. King David had one of the sweetest and most unique relationships with God that has ever been described. His life was an open book. It has been chronicled in detail in the pages of the Old Testament. Of David, God said: "I have found David, son of Jesse a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22). He was an incredible man and his success was built on one thing: He delighted himself in the Lord.
    So much of the time, we ask God to give us the desires of our hearts. We do this without giving thought to the fact that we must first delight ourselves in him. When we delight in God, we begin to align with his will. As we spend time with him, we begin to understand his will better. Our lives mesh with his will as we understand his personality, his heart, and his presence. These things can only be found as we spend time with him daily. It is in these times of intimacy that we find delight in him. We must realize that our delight is not found in anything else. We may enjoy other things, but these can never take the place of the closeness we have with God. In him alone is our delight.
    Everyone has desires. All of us have things in our hearts that we long for. When we delight in him, we lose the mentality that God is a great vending machine. He does not exist to give us all that we want. In fact, we exist to live in him, through him, and for him. Once we begin to delight in him, we will change our perspective. We will begin to desire what he desires. And then he will give us the desires of our hearts because they match his.
    I encourage you to take time to be with God. When you do this, you will find your delight in him. I am convinced that King David learned to delight in God when he was just a boy. As he sat on the hillsides watching over his father's sheep, he experienced God. He saw nature, he saw the universe, and he rested in the presence of God. This became his joy and much later, he would pen the words of Psalm 37. So like David, let us all delight ourselves in God. Then he will give us all that we desire.

Honesty

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."
Psalm 51:10-12

King David uttered these words after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Nathan the prophet had confronted him and David responded with these powerful words. What I love the most about David was his honesty with God. He didn't attempt to cover anything. He did not try to soften the impact of what he had done. He didn't mince his words. He was perfectly honest. He understood that he had created a wall between himself and God. He knew that this was the greatest defeat. Only one thing would do; remove the wall that sin had built. And he did it...with honesty.
    I believe that one of the greatest things God requires of us is honesty. We generally are not very honest people. When others ask us how we are doing, we say that we are fine or good. In reality, we may be suffering. We may feel separated from God. We may be thinking that our prayers count for nothing and God is afar off. But still we hide and stand behind a facade of lies. This may work with people, but it never works with God. He already knows exactly how we feel, where we are, and what we need. Surely it must be time to stop the act and just be honest with God.
    David was so distressed that he felt he would lose the Spirit of God that had always been with him. His joy was gone and he didn't feel the presence of the Lord he was used to experiencing. Something was wrong. He had been confronted in his sin, and now his desire was to simply be honest with God and see what would happen. And God showed up. He heard David, forgave his sin and restored him. He literally did create a new spirit within David. His heart was made clean by the only one who could wash it white as snow. David was hurting and he told God his troubles with honesty.
    If you are hurting, tell God. If you are involved in a sin that is separating you from him, tell him. If you are in need of a new heart, ask him for one. If you need new joy, ask him to give it to you in greater measure than ever before. These things are honest. Uttering these words will bring a smile to God's face, not because he exults in your pain, but because he loves you so much. Your honesty is a blessing to him. It is an offering given from a broken heart. He will hear, he will respond, and he will set you free. He will create a new heart in you and give you joy beyond anything you could imagine. And he will fill you with his Holy Spirit to greater measure than ever before. All this happens, simply by being honest before God. What a release. What a relief. What new life is created from a simple act of honesty.

Giving Thanks

"Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people."
Matthew 15:36

I shared with you last week about the feeding of the five thousand. The scripture today is taken from the story of the feeding of the four thousand. Both events were similar. But what I want us to notice today is what Jesus did before the multiplying of the food took place. There would be no miracle if he did not do this one thing each time.
    When the five thousand were fed, Jesus looked up to heaven and gave thanks. When the four thousand were fed, he gave thanks before he broke the bread and fish. Later, when Jesus served the 'last supper' to the disciples, he gave thanks before he broke the bread. Do you see the connection here? Jesus understood that it was vitally important to thank God before he did anything. He didn't ask anything, he simply gave thanks to God. We don't know what he said and it probably has little importance to the story. I have already talked about the principle of exponential multiplication, now we must understand that God desires for us to be thankful.. What if your children never thanked you for anything you gave them? While we desire to give good things to our children, we also appreciate receiving a simple 'thank you.' In fact, we teach our children that it is polite to thank those who give gifts.
    The reason we pray before meals is because we have the example of Jesus doing it. I don't know exactly why it is important to God that we give thanks. But there is a dynamic that is produced when we do it. When Jesus did it, there was a divine multiplication of food. When we do it, it opens up the heavens for blessing. I believe Jesus probably thanked the Father for what was going to happen. He prayed as if it had already been done, because he knew that heaven would be opened and what he thanked God for, was done. Jesus taught us to be thankful.
    It is the time of year when we think more about being thankful. People who don't often give thanks, will at this time. But we need to learn to be thankful people at all times. Not only is God blessed by our thankfulness, but heaven is opened up to us when we do it. There is a spiritual principle that sets the blessings of God in motion when we are thankful. If we need a miracle, we should thank God for it as if it is already done. If we need a multiplication of food or finances, we should thank God for it as if we already have it. This is the kind of thankfulness that Jesus exemplified. And when he gave thanks, the thousands were fed and satisfied. We will be satisfied as well because heaven pours out the richest of fare.

Calming the Storm

"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'"
Matthew 14:32&33

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, the disciples got in a boat and headed across the lake. Meanwhile, Jesus stayed on the shore so he could pray. A squall arose which buffeted the boat. The disciples were fearful. We must remember that many of these men were fisherman. They fished in this sea regularly and knew storms like this had the potential to capsize the boat and bring death to those on board. But Jesus saw what was happening and walked on the water to meet them in the middle of the lake. When the disciples saw him, they were fearful, thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus assured them by identifying himself. Peter made his attempt to walk on the water, but failed due to his lack of faith. Then Jesus climbed into the boat....
    When Jesus got into the boat, the wind subsided and the storm ceased. This prompted the disciples to declare that Jesus truly was God's Son. I wonder why it took an event like this to move the disciples to this declaration. They had seen many miracles. Many were healed and many demons had been cast out. They had heard him teach with authority that could only have come from God. So why did it come to this before they could declare it? I think sometimes it takes a storm in our personal lives, for us to come to the great revelation of Jesus. We can see how he heals others and performs miracles in other people's lives, but if we have not gone through a storm of our own, we may not fully understand the supernatural authority of Jesus. Sometimes, we must insert ourselves into the story of the disciples facing the storm. Then we can experience the power, authority, love, and protection of God in our own lives.
    If you are facing a storm today, allow Jesus to get into the boat with you. Like the disciples, you may be experiencing fear because of the circumstance you are facing. But Jesus is able to calm the storm and deliver you from the danger you see. Sometimes this danger is perceived but not real. Other times, it is a real danger that threatens your life, or family, or livelihood. Whatever the case, let Jesus get into the boat with you. You see, he wants to be there. All of us must understand that God has power over the storms of life. He has authority in every area of life. It may be a time of peace and Jesus is there. It may be a time of struggle, and Jesus is there. It may be a massive storm, and Jesus is still there.
    I hope that you have allowed God to be in every part of your life. But if you have not personally experienced the miracles that are possible for you, I encourage you to invite him into your boat. If you don't know him, get to know him. If you do know him, and you are going through a difficult time in your life, allow him to come and calm the storm. It is a matter of faith. You must understand that God has authority over any difficulty. He can redeem any situation. No matter how deeply you find yourself buried, he can dig you out. It's amazing to see God work and perform miracles. It is even more amazing when he does it in your own life. Don't try to steer your own boat against a spiritual wind that may destroy you. Invite him to come on board and calm the storm!

Exponential Multiplication

"'We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,' they answered. 'Bring them here to me,' he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 
Matthew 14:17-21

The story of the feeding of the five thousand is one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. From the time we were children, we have had this story told to us. Children learn that God cares for us and can meet our needs. But this story goes well beyond that. This is a story of multiplication. It is a graphic reminder that our God knows no limits. He is not limited by the supply we see or even by the laws of nature. The same benefits the five thousand men enjoyed that day are available to us today. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
    The background of the story is important to understand. Jesus had just been given the news that his friend and predecessor, John the Baptist had been beheaded by the king. He had gone to a remote place to be alone and pray. However, people saw him and soon the large crowd had gathered. Jesus responded to them by healing all those who were brought to him and then feeding them. Afterward, he still went to a solitary place to pray. To me, this speaks of the selflessness of God. We always come first. Even though Jesus was undoubtedly troubled by the events, he chose to minister to the people first. I love this about our God. He always takes time to take care of us.
    With only five loaves and two fish, Jesus fed thousands. Sometimes we may feel this way. Our strength may be gone, the cupboards may be bare, or the bank account empty. But the same God who fed the five thousand takes care of us. The kind of math that God uses is not addition, it is multiplication. He does things big. Imagine how big the multiplication was. There were only two small fish and five small loaves. Jesus didn't divide it among the people, he multiplied it beyond what they needed. There was more than enough. This is how God deals with us. The problem is that we struggle to believe it and therefore receive it. God's will is to bless us richly in every way. He is most concerned about our spirits because this is the eternal part. But he is also concerned with our souls and our physical beings. He wants to care for us in incredible ways. Our part is to simply believe, obey what he tells us and receive what he has. Even the five thousand had to obey Jesus' command to sit down on the grass. If some left, not believing they would be fed, they missed the blessing. Let's not miss God's blessings.
    Whatever you need today, look to God. He will provide. When you look to him, believe for the principle of exponential multiplication. This is how God intends to bless us. His blessings are immeasurably beyond what we can imagine. Be prepared to receive in every area of your life; spirit, soul, and flesh. If you are in financial need, believe for the incredible. If you are in emotional distress, believe for a peace that you cannot understand. Whatever the need, God will provide and he will multiply the blessing...exponentially.

A Sinking Ship

"'Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.' He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety."
Acts 27:34,44&45

These scriptures are taken from the story of the apostle Paul being shipwrecked. There were hundreds of men on board the ship. The storm was so great that the ship was literally torn apart as it became lodged on a sand bar near the island of Malta. God had shown Paul that not one man would be harmed if they did as he told them. So Paul instructed them to eat some food to gain strength for the swim to shore. He told them to stay with the ship as long as possible and then get to shore. In this way, every man was saved and the promise of the Lord was fulfilled.
    We face shipwrecks as well. It may not be a physical ship, but circumstances sometimes feel like we are going down. I think some of the things Paul shared with the men on his ship apply to us as well. It is important to take care of ourselves when we face difficulties. The men on Paul's ship hadn't eaten for fourteen days because they were so fearful of the circumstance. Often, we neglect our physical needs because we worry about the situation we find ourselves in. It may sound simple, but we are spiritual as well as physical beings. We must care for both.
    The most important part of the story is this: We will be saved. Even if it looks like the most horrific situation we have ever faced, we will be victorious in the end. Let me encourage with that truth today. It is so difficult to see beyond the circumstances we find ourselves in. We cannot see it from God's point of view. But everything that God does in our lives is for our good. He is not bent on destroying us. Just as Paul was promised that no one would be harmed, so I can assure you that none of us will be harmed in our shipwrecks. Our God loves us and is intimately involved in the circumstance. Don't give in to fear, worry or failure. The shipwreck is only a transition to a new place. We will arrive there safely.
    Whatever your shipwreck looks like, do not fear. God has a purpose that far outweighs any earthly thing. It may not be easy, but be assured of the result. God will be glorified and you will be changed for his purpose in your life. The men on Paul's ship had to work to get to shore and they spent some time on the island before they could move on. But they were saved. Their lives continued without harm. So will yours. The swim may not be easy and the island may be lonely for a time, but it is a place of safety where you will be covered by God's hand. Take heart! A new adventure awaits. There is so much more to your life than one shipwreck!

Sins of the Fathers

"Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need."
Psalm 79:8

There are so many ways to apply this scripture that it is difficult to know where to begin. We hear the phrase, "sins of the fathers," all the time. Hollywood has exploited this theme in several movies. Even those who know nothing about the Bible know this phrase. What makes this such an important theme, and how do we apply it to our lives?
    First, let's apply it to our nations. Throughout the history of the United States and many other nations, there have been grievous errors and atrocities that have been perpetrated. Our fathers were not always righteous in the things they did. Nations are forced to contend with sins that have followed them throughout the course of history. Some of these go back to ancient times, others only a few hundred years.But I know this about God. He is a Redeemer. We do not have to live under the curse of the sins of our nations' fathers. This takes a unified people who are willing to seek God. The reason many nations still labor under these curses is because they have failed to repent and seek God. If we are to move on in the grace and mercy of God, we must confess and repent of the sins of our forefathers.
    We can also apply this to our own families. Some live under the curse of addictions such as alcoholism, drug abuse or sexual immorality. Some have fathers who were thieves or murderers. How does one defeat the things that have been passed down through the generations? The answer is still the same. We must repent for our fathers. They may have never done it themselves, so we must. We must renounce those sins and ask God to remove the influence from our lives. In other words, we must say, "It stops here and now!" We must be the generation that takes a stand so these things are not passed on to our children. Nehemiah, the Old Testament rebuilder of Jerusalem confessed the sins of his fathers before he even began the project. Before we go on from here, let's put an end to the sins that have been passed down through the generations.
    Whatever sin you are affected by, you do not have to live with it. The Bible tells us that curses may continue to the third of fourth generation, but God's blessings flow to a thousand generations. This is where we live, in the blessings of God, not in the curse of sin. It has been paid for already by Christ on the cross. Let's take a stand for ourselves, our children and our children's children. The curse of sin is broken in our lives.

The Fourth Man

"He said, 'Look!' I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.'"
Daniel 3:25

There are few of us who haven't heard the story of the three Hebrew children, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in the fiery furnace. The king had decreed that since they would not bow to the image he had created, they were to be put to death. He ordered the furnace to be heated to well beyond its capacity. It was so hot that when the soldiers approached it to throw the three in, they were killed by the flames. Of course, we know the end of the story. The three men survived. They not only survived, but they were not hurt at all. In fact, when they were brought out of the furnace, they had no smell of smoke on them. It is an incredible story. It has been told for countless generations.
    When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men. Obviously, he had only cast three men into the fire, so where did the fourth come from? He said that he looked like "A son of the gods." Some translations record it this way, "A son of man." It is obvious that whoever the man was, he was not of this world. He was sent by God to protect the men from harm. Some believe the man was an angel, and some believe it was Jesus himself who came to the aid of the men. No matter who it was, the men were miraculously saved. In the same way, we are protected by God himself.
    Sometimes the fire we face is not a physical one. We often face the fire of circumstances. Struggles in relationships, finances or health. The same help that was given to the three Hebrew children is available to us. No matter what the fire is, we have the help of God himself to help us through. We should take comfort in the fact that we are never alone when we face fires of any kind. God promises that he will never leave or forsake us. We may never have to face the fires of a furnace, but we will face fiery times in our lives. There will be a decision that must be made when these times come. Will we cry out to God or try to endure on our own? We are never alone. But if we choose to leave God out of the circumstance, we will indeed face the fire in our own strength. If the three men had not called out to God, they would have surely burned in the furnace. But God was their rescue. He is ours as well.
    Take this encouragement today. If you are facing a fire right now, cry out to God. If you have already done that, then be assured that God is helping. Many times we do not understand that plan of God. Our idea of how the fire should be quenched may be different than his. This does not change the fact that he is with us. He is intimately involved in our lives, our circumstances, and even our fires. When in the fire, trust in God. He will deliver you. When God delivers, you will come out of the fire without even the smell of smoke! His deliverance is sure, his redemption is complete!

Yes and Amen

"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God."
2 Corinthians 1:20

Today I am thinking about the promises of God. He has spoken many promises in his Word. These apply to all of us. He has also given promises to each one of us. I don't know what your promises are, but I'm sure there are things that you know in your heart God is going to do for you. You feel it and you know it. But over the course of time, we sometimes lose faith. It seems like it will never happen. The promise came so long ago, but the fulfillment is yet to come. So we give up and think it may never happen.
    But the word of encouragement to us to day is this: Every promise God has made, both in his Word and to us personally, has been confirmed by Jesus himself. He has already agreed with the Father, and his answer is 'Yes.' If God has made a promise to you that you know will change your life, the answer that Jesus speaks to you is 'Yes.' It will be done exactly as the Father has ordained. There is no disagreement within the trinity. There is full agreement and thus it will be completed.
    There remains one element in receiving the promises of God. We must add our 'Amen' to it. If we disagree with God, we are making the decision to not accept what he has for us. Where there is disagreement, there is a lack. And our God is not a God of lack. He does not lie, he cannot lie. He never fails to follow through. He always finishes what he begins. We need to simply add our 'Amen' to his promises.
    We must believe God's Word completely. Every promise that is contained in the pages is ours. God made the promise, Jesus says, 'Yes' and the Holy Spirit confirms it in our hearts. Then we make the choice to believe it or reject it. I say let's believe. If God has given you promises that you have yet to see, add your 'Amen.' Tell God that you do believe his promise and you agree with it. When we do this, we will not lose heart. We are actively participating in the fulfillment of a promise. There must be agreement in heaven and on earth. Let's believe his promises and agree with them. Then along with Jesus, we will say, "Yes and Amen!"

Wisdom and Tact

"These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke."
Acts 6:9b&10

I must admit that I sometimes fail at the very thing Stephen excelled at. First, I don't like to argue with people. My personality is one that would rather avoid confrontation than participate in it. Then there is the issue of speaking within the dimension of the Holy Spirit. When forced into an argument, I sometimes default to the flesh.This usually ends up in anger. Over the years I have discovered that this is no way to have a discussion or argument. So I have learned something from what I see in the life of Stephen. Now I must put it into practice.
    Stephen spoke with wisdom. I don't believe Stephen was an old man, he still had some of the characteristics that follow those who are young. Ordinarily, wisdom is not associated with young people. It is often thought of an attribute of those who are older. But it is not age that defines wisdom, it is wisdom that defines age. I have seen young people with incredible wisdom that can only come from God, and I have seen older people with little wisdom. So how do we live, walk, and speak with wisdom? How do we learn to handle arguments with the same wisdom and tact that Stephen did?
    The key to Stephen's wisdom was this: He spoke by the Holy Spirit. It was not wisdom alone. It was not a kind of wisdom that was received through worldly experiences. It was a wisdom that came directly from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, he had Godly wisdom. Even in the face of incredible opposition from people who hated him and what he stood for, he still handled himself with Godly speech and tact. In just a few hours from this confrontation, Stephen would be martyred for his faith. But even in the last moments of life, he still spoke with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. His last words were ones of grace. He did not allow himself to be consumed with anger or hate.
    I believe that we all need to learn the kind of wisdom that Stephen had. Sometimes, we have confrontations with people who only want to discredit us. Rather than become defensive or angry, what if we spoke with wisdom and tact with the help of the Holy Spirit? I think it would change the outcome. I believe people would recognize and acknowledge that God is with us. You see, people are used to seeing the fleshly responses of anger and hatred. If we respond in a completely new way, they will know that God is with us and maybe they would want to know about him. The result of this kind of confrontation could be the new birth of a human soul instead of another bad outcome. We are the key. If we will walk in the Holy Spirit, we will begin to experience the kind of wisdom that can only come from him. Let's try it. Let's be known as people who speak with wisdom and tact with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hat done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done!
Count Your Blessings
Johnson Oatman Jr.
Published 1897

I remember singing this old song in church when I was a child. It became so familiar that I still remember the lyrics and the tune, though I have not sung it for many, many years. Today, it came back to me with a new passion. I began to sing and then I thought about the powerful words that this little chorus offers. There are some amazing truths found in the stanzas.
    Maybe it was brought to my attention by the Holy Spirit. Cathy and I have received some amazing blessings over the past few days. They weren't big things in the eyes of the world, but to us they were big. They were blessings from God who loves us and wants the best for us. Though some would say these were small things, the measure of a blessing is not based on the size. All blessings flow from the kingdom of God. Therefore, all are equal. Sometimes we forget that small things God does for us are just as important as the big ones. That's why I love this little song so much.
    You see, if we take the time to count our blessings, we will remember things that we never even thought were blessings. God is so gracious, so giving, and so loving that we are showered by his blessings all the time. We lose track of them because of the abundance. So we select the ones that seem big in our eyes, and remember those. But if we take time to remember, we will be amazed at the many blessings God has wrought. The song instructs us to name the blessings one by one. This means that we should speak them out loud. Let God, people, and even the army of the enemy know that we have been blessed. We should speak out the blessings so that all will hear and know the goodness of the Lord.
    Really, it is all about being thankful. We have become like spoiled children in some ways. We are so used to receiving blessings that we fail to thank our Father for them. I have decided to be thankful no matter the size of the blessing. The small ones are equally important and God deserves my thanks for those blessings as well as the big ones. I encourage you to take some time and count your blessings. Speak them out before God. Let everyone know that you have been blessed by our loving Father. And then, thank him for all that he has done. Let's not get so caught up in the whirlwind of life that we forget to be thankful. He is worthy of our praise, he is deserving of our thanks.

Observing Fruit

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."
Matthew 7:15-18

There were false prophets in the days of Jesus' life on earth. There were false prophets in the days of the early church. There are false prophets today. Anywhere and anytime there is truth spoken, there will be distortions of that truth. It was true in Bible times and it is still true. Jesus recognized that all generations would be forced to deal with this problem. He wanted to prepare us for the inevitable. I believe Jesus taught us some simple but powerful ways to deal with the issue of false prophets.
    We are to watch for false prophets. We often get so caught up in our own Christian lives that we forget there is a broader picture. Even though we may never meet a false prophet face to face, we will all be affected in some way by them. Jim Jones led many people astray. Although he began as a well-respected leader in the Christian faith, he moved away from the foundations of our faith to suit his own desires. Ultimately, hundreds died in a tragic mass suicide in Ghana. The Christian world was rocked by this senseless act. This is the kind of thing that can be produced by false teaching. We must be alert, watching those who stray from the center road of Christian faith.
    We will know them by their fruit. The kind of fruit that Jesus was speaking of is spiritual, not physical. It is never about the number of people who gather around a person or how successful they are by the world's standards. It is about the spiritual fruit, the changed lives, and the glory that is brought to Jesus through their ministries. I have noticed that a key marker of false prophets is a change of emphasis. The centerpiece of our faith is Jesus Christ. When any man begins to take glory for himself, we should pay close attention. When the main thing changes from Jesus to another person or ministry, the error has already blossomed into lies and deceit.
    Jesus made it simple for us. A good tree will bear good fruit. A bad tree will produce bad fruit. We must look carefully at the ministries and leaders that emerge on the Christian scene. If spiritual fruit follows them and if it is good fruit, we have no right to label them false prophets. It is not about whether we agree with their style or ministry focus. It has everything to do with the building of the kingdom of God. If destructive things follow them, if the fruit is bad, we have a responsibility to stand up and oppose. Spiritual fruit is spiritually discerned. It is the Holy Spirit who will warn us about heresy. Make it simple. Observe the fruit and judge based on what you see. It is not ours to judge what we cannot see. It is God who will judge the hearts of men. But we must watch, discern, and stand against false prophets. It is our responsibility to observe the fruit.

Strength in Numbers

"Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon."
Daniel 2:17&18

The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzer had a dream one night. The dream distressed him to the point that he could not stop thinking about it. So he called all the enchanters, magicians, and astrologers in the land. He told them that he had had a dream and he needed to have an interpretation. He had decided that these men must not only interpret the dream, but tell him exactly the content of the dream as well. Of course none could do this, so the king became angry and ordered all the wise men of the kingdom to be killed. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who had come to Babylon in the exile from Jerusalem. In an attempt to save his life and his friends', he asked the king to stay his order for one day so that he could ask God for the answers that were necessary. His desire was to save his own life as well as the lives of his friends.
    It seemed like an impossible situation. Who could interpret a dream without knowing the content? Surely no man could ever do such a thing. But Daniel had faith in God. He believed, therefore he knew that God would give him the answers he needed. Daniel also knew something else; he believed in the power of prayer and the strength that is found when groups of people pray. He did not attempt to bear the task on his own. He did not isolate himself with God to seek the answers. The first thing he did upon returning to his house was enlist the help of others to pray with him concerning the matter. Of course, all four of these men had a vested interest in finding the answers. If they didn't, they would die. But they believed in the God of heaven.
    Of course, God did answer their prayers. Daniel was given not only the interpretation of the dream, but the content as well. He delivered it to the king and he and his friends were not only spared death, but were elevated to high positions in the kingdom.
    How many times have we faced circumstances that seemed impossible? What did we do to overcome the situation? Often, we feel that we must bear the burden ourselves. We feel that the only hope is for us to seek God until we get an answer. While the idea of praying is certainly the correct thing to do, we must understand that there is strength in numbers. I do not believe that God has called us to bear our burdens alone. He has given us spiritual brothers and sisters. We must be secure enough in our relationship with God and with others to enlist people to carry our burden with us. We need not feel embarrassed or weak when we ask others to pray. The Bible teaches us that there is a divine power exerted when people pray together. There is no circumstance that God cannot redeem.
    When you face difficult situations, gather people to pray. No soldier fights a battle by himself. He is only one part of the army. Stop trying to go it alone. There is an exponential increase in spiritual power when we pray together. As surely as Daniel received the answer to an impossible situation, so can you. Pray for wisdom, pray for answers. Be transparent with prayer partners about the problem. Gather the troops and watch what God will do. If one can put a thousand to flight, two can send legions fleeing. This is the power of prayer, this is the strength in numbers.

Acts of Righteousness

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven."
Matthew 6:1

When Jesus spoke these words, he was talking to the religious people of the day. He went on to talk about three specific things that they were doing that did not honor God. He told them that they should not look for glory from men when they gave to the needy. He said they should pray privately, not publicly with loud voices, so as to not draw attention to themselves. Finally, he rebuked them for making sure everyone knew when they were fasting. This was the first known sermon that Jesus preached, and these things were at the top of his list to talk about.
    You see, the problem was this: These religious people wanted everyone to know when they did something good. It became their priority. They would disfigure their faces so people would know they were fasting. They would shout their prayers publicly so others would think they were ultra-religious. They would make a point to tell everyone how much they had given to the poor. It really doesn't sound all that much different than today, does it? What Jesus was pointing out is the truth that there is an eternal difference between religion and relationship with God. Acts that come from a religious person are motivated by a desire to be seen as good. Acts that come from someone in right relationship with God come from a heart that only wants to please him and do what he would do. Which are we? It is a question worth asking today.
    In each of the three things Jesus mentioned, giving, praying, and fasting, he told them that if they did these things to be seen by men, they already had their reward. In other words, the only reward they would have would be the praise they received from people. He told them that the Father had no rewards for this kind of behavior. But when we act as God acts. When we give, pray and fast for his glory, everything changes. Eternal rewards that we cannot comprehend are set in motion for us. The true mark of a God-pleasing person is giving no thought to the reward. It is always about the needs around us.
    If there is a hint of the old religious, man pleasing mentality within us, we must remove it. The time has come for us to do as Jesus did. Our 'acts of righteousness' must be done to honor him and touch other people with his love, grace and mercy. Certainly there are eternal rewards, but our reward now, is knowing that God has been glorified and his fame is being spread around the world. After all, he is the Famous One, not us.

Defining Contentment

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it."
1 Timothy 6:6&7

I have often wondered what it really means to be content. Some say contentment is felt after eating a satisfying meal. Others believe that being happy with what you have, your family, friends, etc. is true contentment. I think contentment is a double edged sword. On one side it is a happy and peaceful place, but on the other it remains a challenge to our faith to never rest in our pursuit of God.
    In the context of Paul's letter to Timothy, this scripture is definitely referring to being contented with what we have. There is no eternal value in having wealth or possessions. Timothy was being instructed to be content with what he had and not fall into the trap of seeking worldly wealth. We are clearly warned to not allow this to become a problem in our own lives. But I would like to talk about contentment is light of our relationship with God. How do we be content, yet not apathetic or lazy?
    Notice that it takes godliness to make contentment become a great gain in our lives. There is a peace that comes when we are content in the arms of Jesus. There is a security that is found nowhere else. Even when everything around us is failing, we can always rely on the truth that we are secure in his arms. This is true contentment and it is only available as we embrace our relationship with God. If we attempt to find it anywhere else, we will fail. There is only one source of true contentment. So in this we rest, knowing that eternity has been secured. Our contentment cannot be based on what we see around us, it must be the result of faith and knowledge. We believe, therefore we know that we will spend eternity in the presence of God.
    But there is a discontent that we must all have. We should never become content in where we are in our relationship with God. We need to be growing, changing and becoming more like him. This is a pursuit and it cannot end at any time during our earthly lives. The pursuit of Jesus begins when we receive him and it ends when we see him face to face. Everything in between is our time to go after him with all our beings. Many Christians are lazy. They don't read the Word of God, they seldom pray, and they continue to live life within their own strength and understanding. These are childish ways. We once lived there, but we have grown into a deeper relationship. Things have changed. Our habits, shortcomings, and selfishness have given way to godliness. So we are discontent, yet content. Oximoronic, isn't it?
    I have decided to be content in view of the things of the world. Everything I have is given to me by God. So in this truth I find peace. But in my pursuit of Jesus, I am not content. I will not rest, I will not slumber. To me, content is the two-edged sword. I will sharpen it evenly. With that, I challenge you to do the same. Be content in what you have, and your security in God. But never, ever stop growing in him. Continue the pursuit!

Conception

"An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 1:20

Although it may be a little early, I am already beginning to think about Christmas. I love Christmas and I especially love the story of the coming of Jesus. The love shown to us by our Heavenly Father is amazing. His grace appeared even before it was taught. Mary was about to be quietly divorced by her husband Joseph. He had discovered that she was pregnant, but he did not want to embarrass her or bring shame to her. He was set to to do it when the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and delivered the word. Joseph was to extend grace to Mary, and he did.
    What impresses me about this scripture passage is this phrase: "What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit was present in all the preparations for the coming of Christ. Even John the Baptist, while still in the womb, leaped with joy when Mary, carrying Jesus within her visited Elizabeth. The Holy Spirit was present when the plan of redemption was conceived by God. He was present when the forerunner to Jesus, John the Baptist was conceived and he was present in Mary when the Christ child was conceived. How incredible it is to realize that the Holy Spirit was involved in the conception of redemption. He did not stop conceiving after these things, he continues today.
    It is important for us to realize that there are things within each of us that have been conceived by the Holy Spirit. For example: Do you have an inner strength that can't be explained? Perhaps people recognize you as a strong person. These are things that the Holy Spirit conceived in you. Even if you don't recognize it, he is the author of all your virtues. Are you naturally loving? You may have a soft spot for children, or people who are in need. Again, the Holy Spirit has placed these things within you. The sad part is that many people who never come to relationship with Christ, don't realize that they have things in them conceived by the Holy Spirit. As Christians, let's recognize the truth: The Holy Spirit has placed great things within us. What we choose to do with those things is up to us.
    Anything that has been conceived within us is intended to be brought to the fulness of birth. Again, we must nurture these things to see them become productive blessings in the kingdom of God. Most women, when becoming aware that they are pregnant, make a point to do everything possible for the good of the baby. They change their lifestyle, get more rest, eat properly, avoid certain foods and activities, all for the nurturing of that which is within them. Are we doing this? Are we nurturing that which the Holy Spirit has conceived in us? When we think about it in this light, we may have new motivation. What if Joseph had not taken Mary to be his wife? What if Mary had refused the call to bear the Christ child? What if Jesus had never been born? The plan of God is dependent on our involvement and willingness to cooperate. So think about it. God has placed the seed of his kingdom within you. What will you do with it?

The Art of Faithfulness

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 5:27&28

You know, we just don't talk about this very much any more. Te act of adultery has become so commonplace that we are numb to it. Sexual sin is depicted in virtually every movie and television show. We have become the proverbial frog in the pot. We adapt to our surroundings and become desensitized to the wickedness around us. But God has never changed his view of adultery and sexual sin. His Word has been established on the matter and he will not relent. Sexual immorality is an evil that damages people for life, and for eternity.
    Certainly God will forgive the adulterer in the same way he forgives any other sin. But the affects of this sin are widespread. The apostle Paul said that all other sins we may commit are outside our own bodies, but when we sin in this area, we sin against our own bodies. We are told to flee sexual immorality. Not many that are reading this are adulterers in the true sense of the word. But I am certain that many of us are guilty of the very things that Jesus spokes about in this scripture. We may not be indulging in the act of adultery, but our hearts and our eyes betray us.
    It was a new level of teaching when Jesus declared this truth. Before this, it was only the physical act of sexual sin that was spoken of as evil. But Jesus boldly said that even if we look at members of the opposite sex with lust, we have already committed adultery. In Jesus' day, he spoke to men. Today, we must declare this to both men and women. The same lust that consumes men has made its way into the lives and hearts of women as well. The enemy has had his way in propagating lust in people. So we must choose to flee from this kind of sexual immorality as well as the actual act. God knows that the seeds of sexual sin are planted in the heart by eyes that wander. When the seed is planted, the full grown sin is sure to follow.
    I say we talk about it. Let's hold each other accountable in this area. If we continue to allow ourselves to harbor lust in our hearts, we will soon become apathetic to its evils. the cover-up will begin and the deep seeds of secretive sin will be planted in our hearts. When we are willing to expose our weakness to the light of Christ's glory, we will find protection and freedom. It is impossible to hide anything when it is exposed to light, especially the light of Christ. If you have a dark secret in this area, expose it to his light. Then freedom will come, the enemy will be disarmed and your flesh will be forced to bow before the king of Kings. It is sad that lust is paraded before us daily by the world. It is even more sad when we give into the evil. Stand firm and live in purity. This is the art of faithfulness to God and our loved ones.