"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
1 Peter 5:6&7
Sometimes I think we forget that God really does care for us. I know that there are times when it feels like we are on our own. But God is always with us. There is never a time when we walk alone. I like the wording of the scripture above because it is so personal. There is something unique about a caring relationship. It is love that is being lived out between people and God. God is actively involved in our lives in a loving way. He expresses that love through caring for us.
There is no doubt that God cares for us. The issue with have is whether we will choose to cast our cares or anxieties on him. The cares of the world are many. There is so much that weighs heavily on our minds. Some of us were taught that we should bear these burdens alone, but God reminds us that we should give them to him. The scripture says, "Cast all your anxiety on him..." This means that we cannot keep any of it for ourselves. Cares and anxiety only serve to harm us. We lose focus on the important things in life and dwell on the struggles. The great blessing of the Christian life is knowing that we can literally give all these things to God. He is our burden bearer. He wants to do it because he cares for us.
It takes a certain amount of humility to give our cares to God. We must come to a place where we realize that we cannot bear them on our own. This is humbling for we must admit our weakness. But the blessing of doing this will release us from the pain and distraction of the world. I encourage you today to come to the place of humility. Recognize that you cannot bear the burden on your own. Admit your weakness before God and then give all your cares to him. The resulting peace will change your attitude and your countenance. God cares for us and we must cast them, throw them at God.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
A Brave Heart
"Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
1 Samuel 17:36&37
I love the story of David and Goliath. Many have heard this story from early days in Sunday school. We pick up the story as David is talking to king Saul. The armies of Israel had cowered in fear, afraid to face the nine foot tall giant. The Philistines would often send out one man to fight one man on the opposing side to the death. Whoever won the hand to hand battle would bring victory to that particular side without much loss of life. Of course the Philistines had the giant, but Israel had no one who had the courage to face him...until one day when David showed up, bringing food for his brothers. David volunteered to fight the Philistine and had absolutely no fear in doing so.
David had already learned about fighting enemies. His responsibility as the youngest in the family, was to watch the sheep. In the course of this, he killed both a lion and a bear that had threatened the flock. He knew he could defeat the enemy. For him, the lion and bear were only practice for this day when he would run headlong into battle against a giant. David knew that God would strengthen him to defeat the enemy in the same way he did when he fought the lion and bear. He did not fear for his life because he had seen God protect him before. He may have been inexperienced in battle, but he was experienced in trusting God.
David saw the enemy for who he really was, an enemy of the armies of God. I like David's attitude. He saw Goliath as only someone who was defying the armies of God. Fear would not stop him from engaging the enemy. He didn't need a lot of fancy weaponry. He went with what he knew how to use, a sling and some stones. He took five stones, but it only took one. He was skilled, he was confident, and he won the battle.
We can learn some things from David. First, we have to know that we have nothing to fear when God is on our side. We need the courage that David had. When he saw an enemy coming against the army of God, he engaged him in battle. We need the skill that David had. Each of us have been given particular skills and unique places in the kingdom of God. It is not necessary for us to take spiritual weapons that belong to someone else. We are already equipped by God. Whatever our place is in the kingdom is ours alone. We use what God has given us to defeat the enemy. We should be skilled with the spiritual weapons we have. Let's be skillful in prayer, skillful in the Word of God, skillful in discernment, and skillful as servants of God himself. We are not fearful, we are brave and ready for the battle. Let the army of God arise!
1 Samuel 17:36&37
I love the story of David and Goliath. Many have heard this story from early days in Sunday school. We pick up the story as David is talking to king Saul. The armies of Israel had cowered in fear, afraid to face the nine foot tall giant. The Philistines would often send out one man to fight one man on the opposing side to the death. Whoever won the hand to hand battle would bring victory to that particular side without much loss of life. Of course the Philistines had the giant, but Israel had no one who had the courage to face him...until one day when David showed up, bringing food for his brothers. David volunteered to fight the Philistine and had absolutely no fear in doing so.
David had already learned about fighting enemies. His responsibility as the youngest in the family, was to watch the sheep. In the course of this, he killed both a lion and a bear that had threatened the flock. He knew he could defeat the enemy. For him, the lion and bear were only practice for this day when he would run headlong into battle against a giant. David knew that God would strengthen him to defeat the enemy in the same way he did when he fought the lion and bear. He did not fear for his life because he had seen God protect him before. He may have been inexperienced in battle, but he was experienced in trusting God.
David saw the enemy for who he really was, an enemy of the armies of God. I like David's attitude. He saw Goliath as only someone who was defying the armies of God. Fear would not stop him from engaging the enemy. He didn't need a lot of fancy weaponry. He went with what he knew how to use, a sling and some stones. He took five stones, but it only took one. He was skilled, he was confident, and he won the battle.
We can learn some things from David. First, we have to know that we have nothing to fear when God is on our side. We need the courage that David had. When he saw an enemy coming against the army of God, he engaged him in battle. We need the skill that David had. Each of us have been given particular skills and unique places in the kingdom of God. It is not necessary for us to take spiritual weapons that belong to someone else. We are already equipped by God. Whatever our place is in the kingdom is ours alone. We use what God has given us to defeat the enemy. We should be skilled with the spiritual weapons we have. Let's be skillful in prayer, skillful in the Word of God, skillful in discernment, and skillful as servants of God himself. We are not fearful, we are brave and ready for the battle. Let the army of God arise!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Whom Shall I Fear
"But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him."
Luke 12:5
Jesus spoke these words as he taught the people about fear. This is a scripture that can be misinterpreted if not understood correctly. The Bible has much to say about fear. In fact, there are few subjects that are covered more in depth than fear. Jesus understood that fear is a common problem in people. His desire was to clear up the subject and leave no doubt as to God's view of the subject.
Fear is a common problem and generally has one source. Christians who struggle with it must realize that the author of fear is the devil. He loves to instill fear to keep us from moving forward in our relationship with God. He wants to stop us from entering into the things God has for us. You see, we are doing the will of God on the earth. So if the enemy can stop us from doing God's will, he has damaged the plan. So he uses fear to intimidate us. It takes action to complete our faith. When we are crippled with fear, we will not act. We must overcome fear.
There is no cause to fear the enemy. He has been stripped of his authority. He has no right to harm us or kill us. The fear he brings is like the roar of a toothless lion. It may be intimidating, but there is no danger. The devil wants us to fear him, but Jesus made it clear that we are not to fear. There is only one we should fear.
The point of Jesus' words were to remind us that we are to fear God. He is the one who holds the keys of death and hell. He is the All-Powerful One who holds our lives in his hands. Any other fear is not from God. He requires us to fear him and no one or nothing else. It is healthy to fear God. It is unhealthy and damaging to fear the enemy or any of the things he throws our way. Today, be released from fear. After all, there is only One you must fear, and he loves you completely. Let's say, as Jesus did, "Get behind me, Satan!." He will soon be crushed under our feet. Fear God and nothing else.
Luke 12:5
Jesus spoke these words as he taught the people about fear. This is a scripture that can be misinterpreted if not understood correctly. The Bible has much to say about fear. In fact, there are few subjects that are covered more in depth than fear. Jesus understood that fear is a common problem in people. His desire was to clear up the subject and leave no doubt as to God's view of the subject.
Fear is a common problem and generally has one source. Christians who struggle with it must realize that the author of fear is the devil. He loves to instill fear to keep us from moving forward in our relationship with God. He wants to stop us from entering into the things God has for us. You see, we are doing the will of God on the earth. So if the enemy can stop us from doing God's will, he has damaged the plan. So he uses fear to intimidate us. It takes action to complete our faith. When we are crippled with fear, we will not act. We must overcome fear.
There is no cause to fear the enemy. He has been stripped of his authority. He has no right to harm us or kill us. The fear he brings is like the roar of a toothless lion. It may be intimidating, but there is no danger. The devil wants us to fear him, but Jesus made it clear that we are not to fear. There is only one we should fear.
The point of Jesus' words were to remind us that we are to fear God. He is the one who holds the keys of death and hell. He is the All-Powerful One who holds our lives in his hands. Any other fear is not from God. He requires us to fear him and no one or nothing else. It is healthy to fear God. It is unhealthy and damaging to fear the enemy or any of the things he throws our way. Today, be released from fear. After all, there is only One you must fear, and he loves you completely. Let's say, as Jesus did, "Get behind me, Satan!." He will soon be crushed under our feet. Fear God and nothing else.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Chosen People
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
1 Peter 2:9
We have learned that we have been given position in Christ. He has granted that we should be given free access to God. Over and over, the Bible affirms this truth. This scripture is another affirmation to us and we should not take it lightly. We find here, the great truth of how God sees us. And we also see our responsibility as the chosen people of God.
Just look at the things God says about us. We are chosen, we are royalty, we are holy, we belong to God. These are amazing things. All this has been given us. We are not just a mass of humanity running around on a planet. We are loved by God. He has chosen us who have believed, to be his. Many people own things. Farmers and ranchers may own cattle or sheep or other animals. Those animals could say that they belong to the farmer. But animals have no spirits, no souls. All they care about is that they are fed. If not for fences, many of them would wander off in search of greener pastures. We are not like animals. Yes, God feeds us. But he also cares for us and gives us free wills to choose to love him or not. Imagine if the farmer allowed all the animals to live in his house, help themselves to his food, sit on his furniture, and enjoy all the comforts of his home. We laugh. It is ludicrous to think of such a thing. But this is exactly what God has done for us. We have been made in his image and he has ransomed us from death. He has given us a place in his home, living in the Spirit, enjoying the wonders of the kingdom of God.
God only asks us to do two things for him. First, we are to give him praise. We are to declare his praise. This is easy to do when we are in church with others who are praising him. It's easy to do when we're in our cars by ourselves, singing to the music. But it is different when we are among those who don't believe. This is where we should declare the praise of God. I recently heard a sports announcer calling a tennis match at Wimbledon. He was speaking about the weather and its affect on the matches. He commented, "It's Jesus who is responsible anyway. And nobody refers to him as Jesus anymore. But it is Jesus, for he is worthy." This was a declaration, a praise that went out not only to God, but to all who would listen. We must thank God for all that he has done for us. In the same way that we teach our children to say "thank you," so we need to thank our God. He has delivered us from darkness and brought us into his kingdom of light. What greater thing is there? Thank him regularly.
We must understand that we are precious to God. He loves us, takes care of us, and has invited us into his home. He has brought us from the kingdom of darkness into his kingdom. He has saved us from destruction. Our responsibility is simple. We are to declare his praises. We are to thank him for his goodness. We thank him for saving our lives. It is a wonderful thing to be chosen. We have not been left out. Praising and thanking God is what chosen people do. Let's take the joy of the chosen and respond with praise!
1 Peter 2:9
We have learned that we have been given position in Christ. He has granted that we should be given free access to God. Over and over, the Bible affirms this truth. This scripture is another affirmation to us and we should not take it lightly. We find here, the great truth of how God sees us. And we also see our responsibility as the chosen people of God.
Just look at the things God says about us. We are chosen, we are royalty, we are holy, we belong to God. These are amazing things. All this has been given us. We are not just a mass of humanity running around on a planet. We are loved by God. He has chosen us who have believed, to be his. Many people own things. Farmers and ranchers may own cattle or sheep or other animals. Those animals could say that they belong to the farmer. But animals have no spirits, no souls. All they care about is that they are fed. If not for fences, many of them would wander off in search of greener pastures. We are not like animals. Yes, God feeds us. But he also cares for us and gives us free wills to choose to love him or not. Imagine if the farmer allowed all the animals to live in his house, help themselves to his food, sit on his furniture, and enjoy all the comforts of his home. We laugh. It is ludicrous to think of such a thing. But this is exactly what God has done for us. We have been made in his image and he has ransomed us from death. He has given us a place in his home, living in the Spirit, enjoying the wonders of the kingdom of God.
God only asks us to do two things for him. First, we are to give him praise. We are to declare his praise. This is easy to do when we are in church with others who are praising him. It's easy to do when we're in our cars by ourselves, singing to the music. But it is different when we are among those who don't believe. This is where we should declare the praise of God. I recently heard a sports announcer calling a tennis match at Wimbledon. He was speaking about the weather and its affect on the matches. He commented, "It's Jesus who is responsible anyway. And nobody refers to him as Jesus anymore. But it is Jesus, for he is worthy." This was a declaration, a praise that went out not only to God, but to all who would listen. We must thank God for all that he has done for us. In the same way that we teach our children to say "thank you," so we need to thank our God. He has delivered us from darkness and brought us into his kingdom of light. What greater thing is there? Thank him regularly.
We must understand that we are precious to God. He loves us, takes care of us, and has invited us into his home. He has brought us from the kingdom of darkness into his kingdom. He has saved us from destruction. Our responsibility is simple. We are to declare his praises. We are to thank him for his goodness. We thank him for saving our lives. It is a wonderful thing to be chosen. We have not been left out. Praising and thanking God is what chosen people do. Let's take the joy of the chosen and respond with praise!
Monday, June 25, 2012
In the Presence of the King
"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When
he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and
held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther
approached and touched the tip of the scepter."
Esther 5:1&2
The story of Esther is one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. It is renowned as one of the greatest pieces of ancient literature ever written. God is not mentioned even one time in the story, but the entire story is a lesson to us about the King of kings, our position, and our relationship with him. At this place in the story, there had been a plot developed by an evil man named Haman. His intent was to literally exterminate all of the Jews. Esther was a Jew. Her cousin Mordecai learned of the plot and asked her to approach the king because she had been chosen as his queen. The Jews had been exiled to Persia and were under the rule of King Xerxes. The only one who could appeal to the king on behalf of her people was Esther.
How does this story apply to us? Think of it this way. In the story, King Xerxes is a 'type' of Jesus, the King of kings. Esther is a 'type' of us, his disciples. The first thing we need to understand is this: We have a position which allows us to come into the presence of the King. The laws of the land dictated that if the king did not hold out his scepter toward a person, they would be killed, having been denied access to the king. But we always have access to the King of kings. We need not fear being rejected by him, for he will never reject us, he will always extend the royal scepter to us and welcome us. We are royalty as surely as Esther was. God has given us this position through the blood of his Son.
Just as the king was pleased with Esther, so God is pleased with us. Some labor under the lie that God is not pleased because of things we may or may not do. But this is not how God judges us. If we have believed in Jesus, participated in the cross, and received his forgiveness, we are viewed as perfect in his sight and we have right standing with him. You must know this truth today: God is pleased with you! He will always receive you and welcome you into his presence. He loves you and that is his only thought when he sees you coming.
Finally, we need to learn to make a habit of coming into the presence of God. The way we do this is through prayer, worship, and fellowship with him. There is a connection made with God whenever we participate in any of these things. His presence can be so real that you can feel it as you bask in his glory. Learn a lesson from the story of Esther. No matter what the reason, it is always good to enter the presence of the King. There is no fear because he has given us royal blood. All of us have been given a great position in his kingdom. The only question is: Will you go to him? Think about it. Don't miss out on entering the presence of the King.
Esther 5:1&2
The story of Esther is one of the most beloved stories in the Bible. It is renowned as one of the greatest pieces of ancient literature ever written. God is not mentioned even one time in the story, but the entire story is a lesson to us about the King of kings, our position, and our relationship with him. At this place in the story, there had been a plot developed by an evil man named Haman. His intent was to literally exterminate all of the Jews. Esther was a Jew. Her cousin Mordecai learned of the plot and asked her to approach the king because she had been chosen as his queen. The Jews had been exiled to Persia and were under the rule of King Xerxes. The only one who could appeal to the king on behalf of her people was Esther.
How does this story apply to us? Think of it this way. In the story, King Xerxes is a 'type' of Jesus, the King of kings. Esther is a 'type' of us, his disciples. The first thing we need to understand is this: We have a position which allows us to come into the presence of the King. The laws of the land dictated that if the king did not hold out his scepter toward a person, they would be killed, having been denied access to the king. But we always have access to the King of kings. We need not fear being rejected by him, for he will never reject us, he will always extend the royal scepter to us and welcome us. We are royalty as surely as Esther was. God has given us this position through the blood of his Son.
Just as the king was pleased with Esther, so God is pleased with us. Some labor under the lie that God is not pleased because of things we may or may not do. But this is not how God judges us. If we have believed in Jesus, participated in the cross, and received his forgiveness, we are viewed as perfect in his sight and we have right standing with him. You must know this truth today: God is pleased with you! He will always receive you and welcome you into his presence. He loves you and that is his only thought when he sees you coming.
Finally, we need to learn to make a habit of coming into the presence of God. The way we do this is through prayer, worship, and fellowship with him. There is a connection made with God whenever we participate in any of these things. His presence can be so real that you can feel it as you bask in his glory. Learn a lesson from the story of Esther. No matter what the reason, it is always good to enter the presence of the King. There is no fear because he has given us royal blood. All of us have been given a great position in his kingdom. The only question is: Will you go to him? Think about it. Don't miss out on entering the presence of the King.
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Day of the Bloom
"The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God."
Isaiah 35:1&2
I woke up this morning praying. I prayed that this would be the day of breakthrough. As I thought about it, I was reminded of this passage of scripture. This is where the prophet Isaiah speaks of the joy of the redeemed. It is a wonderful and uplifting passage. I have felt in my spirit for some time that this is a year of breakthrough for many Christians and churches. I know that this is true for me as well. This morning, I heard the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit say, "This is the day of the bloom."
Many people have been living in dry times. It has seemed as if the heat and cruelty of the desert has overwhelmed some. In these times, it is easy to lose focus. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that nothing will ever change. But the truth of God's Word is still relevant. God can either move us from the desert, or cause the desert to bloom around us. Today, I believe the desert is beginning to bloom. What has been dry, will become joyful and life-giving. What has been cruel, will become welcoming. What has been barren, will become plentiful. This is God's plan and the season of change is upon us.
It is not for our pleasure alone, it is for the salvation of all, that the bloom is upon us. God wants to reveal his glory upon the earth. He wants to display his splendor before men. As the desert blooms, the glory of the Lord is revealed in us. We will flourish as we live in the beauty and life of God's holiness. If this sounds beyond what you have imagined is possible, understand that this is simply the fulfillment of Ephesians 3:20&21 that tells us: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." The desert bloom is the revelation of God's glory.
I am going to take hold of this truth today. God is going to cause the desert to bloom and he is going to reveal his glory in great and mighty ways. Let's be encouraged by this. All who are depending on Christ, all who are following the direction of the Holy Spirit, should be blessed today to know that God is true to his Word. If you are living in a desert, expect the bloom. Though you don't see it right now, know that the seeds are there and the watering of God's Word and your faith will bring the bloom. This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice. We see the first fruits of the bloom. It's happening, even now!
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God."
Isaiah 35:1&2
I woke up this morning praying. I prayed that this would be the day of breakthrough. As I thought about it, I was reminded of this passage of scripture. This is where the prophet Isaiah speaks of the joy of the redeemed. It is a wonderful and uplifting passage. I have felt in my spirit for some time that this is a year of breakthrough for many Christians and churches. I know that this is true for me as well. This morning, I heard the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit say, "This is the day of the bloom."
Many people have been living in dry times. It has seemed as if the heat and cruelty of the desert has overwhelmed some. In these times, it is easy to lose focus. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that nothing will ever change. But the truth of God's Word is still relevant. God can either move us from the desert, or cause the desert to bloom around us. Today, I believe the desert is beginning to bloom. What has been dry, will become joyful and life-giving. What has been cruel, will become welcoming. What has been barren, will become plentiful. This is God's plan and the season of change is upon us.
It is not for our pleasure alone, it is for the salvation of all, that the bloom is upon us. God wants to reveal his glory upon the earth. He wants to display his splendor before men. As the desert blooms, the glory of the Lord is revealed in us. We will flourish as we live in the beauty and life of God's holiness. If this sounds beyond what you have imagined is possible, understand that this is simply the fulfillment of Ephesians 3:20&21 that tells us: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." The desert bloom is the revelation of God's glory.
I am going to take hold of this truth today. God is going to cause the desert to bloom and he is going to reveal his glory in great and mighty ways. Let's be encouraged by this. All who are depending on Christ, all who are following the direction of the Holy Spirit, should be blessed today to know that God is true to his Word. If you are living in a desert, expect the bloom. Though you don't see it right now, know that the seeds are there and the watering of God's Word and your faith will bring the bloom. This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice. We see the first fruits of the bloom. It's happening, even now!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Agents of the King
"But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer, and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."
John 16:7-11
I believe that in these last day, the Holy Spirit is releasing great power in the church. It is not that this is new. The same power was released to the early church when he came on the day of Pentecost. Although the disciples were sad because Jesus was going away, the bigger picture told us that it was for the good of all mankind that Jesus return to the Father. The reason is simple: The Holy Spirit was coming to indwell all who would receive him. What Jesus accomplished in his human body would be multiplied by billions as God's people were and are empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
We know that the Holy Spirit is within us and that he guides us, reminds us of the scriptures, counsels us, and gives us direction. But we often forget that the Holy Spirit does much more than that. First, he convicts the world of sin. People feel guilty about their sinful lives because the Holy Spirit is continually convicting them. This can only happen as believers live righteous lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are the agents being used by Him to bring conviction to the world. We sometimes forget that the great thing that marked the early church and many revivals that followed was a strong conviction of sin. When unbelievers came to a meeting, they felt the weight of their sin as the Holy Spirit convicted them. This is so necessary in the church today. We have gone out of our way to make the church comfortable for unbelievers, and this is good. They should feel welcomed. But we can never waiver in our message of righteousness and holiness. This is the plan of God and this is how the non-believing world will know that Jesus is the only way to God.
The Holy Spirit reveals the fact that the enemy has already been condemned. There is no longer any stronghold, any excuse for those who don't believe. The hands of the enemy have been bound. His mouth has been shut through the power of the cross. He is under our feet because we sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus himself. We are the righteous, we are the body of Christ, and we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to display the glory of God. Sin is exposed, righteousness made known, and judgement revealed.
Let us take the free gift of the Holy Spirit and partner with him in the great ministry of the day. When we truly walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, when we truly keep in step with him, great things will happen. Our churches will change, we will change, communities will change, and the world will change. The world will not accept the Holy Spirit, but we are his agents, called to go into the world and make disciples. As much as we may try on our own, we will never be effective unless we are filled with the Spirit of God. Then conviction of sin and the release of righteousness will surely fill the earth. We are his agents!
John 16:7-11
I believe that in these last day, the Holy Spirit is releasing great power in the church. It is not that this is new. The same power was released to the early church when he came on the day of Pentecost. Although the disciples were sad because Jesus was going away, the bigger picture told us that it was for the good of all mankind that Jesus return to the Father. The reason is simple: The Holy Spirit was coming to indwell all who would receive him. What Jesus accomplished in his human body would be multiplied by billions as God's people were and are empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.
We know that the Holy Spirit is within us and that he guides us, reminds us of the scriptures, counsels us, and gives us direction. But we often forget that the Holy Spirit does much more than that. First, he convicts the world of sin. People feel guilty about their sinful lives because the Holy Spirit is continually convicting them. This can only happen as believers live righteous lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. We are the agents being used by Him to bring conviction to the world. We sometimes forget that the great thing that marked the early church and many revivals that followed was a strong conviction of sin. When unbelievers came to a meeting, they felt the weight of their sin as the Holy Spirit convicted them. This is so necessary in the church today. We have gone out of our way to make the church comfortable for unbelievers, and this is good. They should feel welcomed. But we can never waiver in our message of righteousness and holiness. This is the plan of God and this is how the non-believing world will know that Jesus is the only way to God.
The Holy Spirit reveals the fact that the enemy has already been condemned. There is no longer any stronghold, any excuse for those who don't believe. The hands of the enemy have been bound. His mouth has been shut through the power of the cross. He is under our feet because we sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus himself. We are the righteous, we are the body of Christ, and we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to display the glory of God. Sin is exposed, righteousness made known, and judgement revealed.
Let us take the free gift of the Holy Spirit and partner with him in the great ministry of the day. When we truly walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, when we truly keep in step with him, great things will happen. Our churches will change, we will change, communities will change, and the world will change. The world will not accept the Holy Spirit, but we are his agents, called to go into the world and make disciples. As much as we may try on our own, we will never be effective unless we are filled with the Spirit of God. Then conviction of sin and the release of righteousness will surely fill the earth. We are his agents!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
The Great High Priest
"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
Hebrews 7:23-25
The book of Hebrews was written to religious Jews. They were living under the old covenant of the levitical priesthood. But Jesus came to change the covenant. His was a new one that did not require the old priests to offer blood sacrifices for the people any longer. He became the sacrifice offered once for all people. We understand this easily because most of us have never participated in the Jewish religious traditions. But there is a great truth in the scripture above that is important for us to understand.
First, we must understand that the sacrifice that Jesus made, offering up his own life for us, has saved us completely. There is no remnants of unforgiveness left. When God says that we are completely forgiven by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he means it. We are completely saved. The only thing that can remain is guilt, and this is not from God. Guilt is a tool of the enemy. It is a lie to believe that you are not forgiven or cannot be. All sin is covered under the covenant of Christ's work on the cross. So we must be free from guilt. If we ask, God will take it away and free us from the entanglement that keeps us from receiving everything God has for us.
Jesus intercedes for all who have come to God through him. Do you understand the impact of that statement? Jesus prays for us. He talks to the Father about us. He continually reminds God that we have right-standing with him because of Jesus' blood. He tells him that our sins no longer are counted against us because he took them, bore them on the cross, and then gave us his righteousness instead. This gives us absolute confidence to approach God knowing that he will receive us. When we received Jesus, we were justified before God. This means simply that now it is, just as if we had never sinned. Sin is completely forgotten and we live in fellowship with God.
Today, if you continue to struggle with the guilt of past sin, understand that you have been saved completely. It is forgotten by God. You cannot remind God about something that has never happened. In God's mind, what you did before you knew him never happened. It is just as if you had never sinned. Be blessed by the truth that Jesus himself is interceding for you. He is praying for you, covering you with his own blood. As the Holy Spirit also prays, you are covered completely, clothed with the forgiveness of God himself. YOu have a great High Priest. He is not a man. He is the One who overcame, lived an earthly life, died for you, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, reminding him about how perfect you are. Never doubt your salvation again. Jesus is the great High Priest.
Hebrews 7:23-25
The book of Hebrews was written to religious Jews. They were living under the old covenant of the levitical priesthood. But Jesus came to change the covenant. His was a new one that did not require the old priests to offer blood sacrifices for the people any longer. He became the sacrifice offered once for all people. We understand this easily because most of us have never participated in the Jewish religious traditions. But there is a great truth in the scripture above that is important for us to understand.
First, we must understand that the sacrifice that Jesus made, offering up his own life for us, has saved us completely. There is no remnants of unforgiveness left. When God says that we are completely forgiven by the death and resurrection of Jesus, he means it. We are completely saved. The only thing that can remain is guilt, and this is not from God. Guilt is a tool of the enemy. It is a lie to believe that you are not forgiven or cannot be. All sin is covered under the covenant of Christ's work on the cross. So we must be free from guilt. If we ask, God will take it away and free us from the entanglement that keeps us from receiving everything God has for us.
Jesus intercedes for all who have come to God through him. Do you understand the impact of that statement? Jesus prays for us. He talks to the Father about us. He continually reminds God that we have right-standing with him because of Jesus' blood. He tells him that our sins no longer are counted against us because he took them, bore them on the cross, and then gave us his righteousness instead. This gives us absolute confidence to approach God knowing that he will receive us. When we received Jesus, we were justified before God. This means simply that now it is, just as if we had never sinned. Sin is completely forgotten and we live in fellowship with God.
Today, if you continue to struggle with the guilt of past sin, understand that you have been saved completely. It is forgotten by God. You cannot remind God about something that has never happened. In God's mind, what you did before you knew him never happened. It is just as if you had never sinned. Be blessed by the truth that Jesus himself is interceding for you. He is praying for you, covering you with his own blood. As the Holy Spirit also prays, you are covered completely, clothed with the forgiveness of God himself. YOu have a great High Priest. He is not a man. He is the One who overcame, lived an earthly life, died for you, and now sits at the right hand of the Father, reminding him about how perfect you are. Never doubt your salvation again. Jesus is the great High Priest.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Barriers
"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace."
Hebrews 6:4-6
It is a difficult subject to talk about. There has been conflict among the churches about the question of eternal security. If a person comes to know Jesus, is he secure in his heavenly reward no matter what he does? There are those who say yes, and those who say no. This scripture speaks to the state of a person who has tasted all that God has given them and then turns back. His denial of Christ is like sentencing Jesus to the cross again, just as the religious people of his day did. But I think there is a simple answer, a safeguard from the danger of falling away.
I often think of the children of Israel who were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians. Moses was called by God to lead them out of their captivity and into the promised land that God had prepared for them. First, they had to be delivered from the hands of the persecutors. We all know that this took several plagues or God-sent disasters that ultimately forced Pharaoh to release them. After their release, they were led to the Red Sea where Moses stood with his staff extended, parting the waters so they could cross on dry land. But Pharaoh and his army pursued them. God literally put to death the ones who had held his people captive by drowning them in the sea. Next, the people had to cross the desert. Because of their disobedience, they wandered there for forty years, eventually coming to the banks of the Jordan River. Though Moses had died, Joshua led the people to the river where God miraculously backed up the water so they could cross into the promised land walking on dry land.
It seems that God put barriers between his people and the old life of slavery. Although they sometimes longed to go back, it was virtually impossible because of all the barriers God had placed between them and that old place of bondage. They would have had to cross the Jordan again, traverse the desert, cross the Red Sea and submit again to the slavery they had left, and all this without the great miracles God had wrought to bring them out. I think God is faithful to lead us through our lives and place barriers that keep us from forsaking him and returning to the old life. The Red Sea is like our water baptism. In the waters of baptism, God puts the old nature to death. Through the deserts of our lives, God instructs us in the way of holiness and establishes us firmly in his kingdom. And across the Jordan, as we enter the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we enter the spiritual land that God has prepared for us. All these barriers surely make it difficult for us to return to the old ways.
So my conclusion is this: One who has given his life to Christ, who has been baptized in water, who has been taught through the deserts of life, and has entered into the fullness of the Holy Spirit, if he should choose to go back, has many barriers to cross to get there. It would be an even more difficult journey than the one taken to the kingdom of God. Although I think it can be done, God's grace has followed us through the journey of this new life, and it will provide many barriers to keep us from going back. No matter where you are in your journey, always rely on the grace of Jesus to keep you. Even if you are in a time of rebellion against God, you must know deep in your spirit that God and his grace are with you, keeping you for eternity. Don't go back! Don't long for the old life! Remember there is slavery there, and you have been gloriously set free. God's barriers will keep you in his kingdom and days of refreshing repentance will come. God is not willing that even one person should perish. You are that one.
Hebrews 6:4-6
It is a difficult subject to talk about. There has been conflict among the churches about the question of eternal security. If a person comes to know Jesus, is he secure in his heavenly reward no matter what he does? There are those who say yes, and those who say no. This scripture speaks to the state of a person who has tasted all that God has given them and then turns back. His denial of Christ is like sentencing Jesus to the cross again, just as the religious people of his day did. But I think there is a simple answer, a safeguard from the danger of falling away.
I often think of the children of Israel who were delivered from the hands of the Egyptians. Moses was called by God to lead them out of their captivity and into the promised land that God had prepared for them. First, they had to be delivered from the hands of the persecutors. We all know that this took several plagues or God-sent disasters that ultimately forced Pharaoh to release them. After their release, they were led to the Red Sea where Moses stood with his staff extended, parting the waters so they could cross on dry land. But Pharaoh and his army pursued them. God literally put to death the ones who had held his people captive by drowning them in the sea. Next, the people had to cross the desert. Because of their disobedience, they wandered there for forty years, eventually coming to the banks of the Jordan River. Though Moses had died, Joshua led the people to the river where God miraculously backed up the water so they could cross into the promised land walking on dry land.
It seems that God put barriers between his people and the old life of slavery. Although they sometimes longed to go back, it was virtually impossible because of all the barriers God had placed between them and that old place of bondage. They would have had to cross the Jordan again, traverse the desert, cross the Red Sea and submit again to the slavery they had left, and all this without the great miracles God had wrought to bring them out. I think God is faithful to lead us through our lives and place barriers that keep us from forsaking him and returning to the old life. The Red Sea is like our water baptism. In the waters of baptism, God puts the old nature to death. Through the deserts of our lives, God instructs us in the way of holiness and establishes us firmly in his kingdom. And across the Jordan, as we enter the fullness of the Holy Spirit, we enter the spiritual land that God has prepared for us. All these barriers surely make it difficult for us to return to the old ways.
So my conclusion is this: One who has given his life to Christ, who has been baptized in water, who has been taught through the deserts of life, and has entered into the fullness of the Holy Spirit, if he should choose to go back, has many barriers to cross to get there. It would be an even more difficult journey than the one taken to the kingdom of God. Although I think it can be done, God's grace has followed us through the journey of this new life, and it will provide many barriers to keep us from going back. No matter where you are in your journey, always rely on the grace of Jesus to keep you. Even if you are in a time of rebellion against God, you must know deep in your spirit that God and his grace are with you, keeping you for eternity. Don't go back! Don't long for the old life! Remember there is slavery there, and you have been gloriously set free. God's barriers will keep you in his kingdom and days of refreshing repentance will come. God is not willing that even one person should perish. You are that one.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Seasons
"He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning."
Daniel 2:21
I've been thinking about seasons lately. It seems that seasons are important to God. When he created the universe, he said that the sun and the moon were to mark seasons, months and years. Seasons were always important to the people who lived in both the Old and New Testament times. It was the seasons that marked the growth of the crops, the harvest, and even the barren times. Today, people still know and understand the seasons of weather. We know how to discern the seasons. We know how to dress appropriately, when to plant, when to sow, when to harvest. But even with this knowledge, we never know exactly what the seasons may bring. It may be excessively cold in winter or warm in summer. There may be little rain or an abundance. All this comes with the seasons. We know the seasons, but we don't always know what to expect.
So are the seasons of life. We know that seasons are a part of our life here on earth, but we don't always know what to expect or what to do when we are in a particular season. The seasons of life are many. There are times of plenty and times of want. There are seasons of joy and seasons of pain. There are seasons of incredible growth, yet times of loss. There are days of blessing, but days when we feel the curse of sin that robs our blessings. The apostle Paul said that he had learned the secret of contentment in every season of life, in want or in plenty. All people go through seasons of life. We will not escape this truth. But how we contend with the season is what will mark our lives. Difficult seasons have the potential to bring out the best in us or the worst. The choice is up to us.
It is easy to live in seasons of plenty. We enjoy life when we are being blessed. But when the difficult seasons come, we sometimes lose focus. The things that are important; faith, hope, and love, may falter under the pressures of life. It is in these seasons that we must learn to depend on God. These are the times when he will teach us and perfect us in our walk with him. Even if you feel that God has abandoned you in a winter season of your life, don't give up. Even in nature, the death of winter is necessary for the abundance of spring. Seasons change. This is a reality of God's creation and it applies to us as well.
Whatever season you find yourself in, God is there with you. He will not ask you to walk through a difficult season on your own. He will guide you. He will not pass out blessings and then leave you to enjoy it. All seasons are in the hands of God. He has a great purpose for us in every season, whether plenty or want, joy or sadness. The key for us is this: We must continually look to God to be our source. It is not the circumstances that dictate our lives, it is our relationship with Him. When you are struggling through a season, find your strength in God. When you are blessed beyond measure, thank him with all your being. Seasons will come and go, but we will live with the Lord for eternity.
Daniel 2:21
I've been thinking about seasons lately. It seems that seasons are important to God. When he created the universe, he said that the sun and the moon were to mark seasons, months and years. Seasons were always important to the people who lived in both the Old and New Testament times. It was the seasons that marked the growth of the crops, the harvest, and even the barren times. Today, people still know and understand the seasons of weather. We know how to discern the seasons. We know how to dress appropriately, when to plant, when to sow, when to harvest. But even with this knowledge, we never know exactly what the seasons may bring. It may be excessively cold in winter or warm in summer. There may be little rain or an abundance. All this comes with the seasons. We know the seasons, but we don't always know what to expect.
So are the seasons of life. We know that seasons are a part of our life here on earth, but we don't always know what to expect or what to do when we are in a particular season. The seasons of life are many. There are times of plenty and times of want. There are seasons of joy and seasons of pain. There are seasons of incredible growth, yet times of loss. There are days of blessing, but days when we feel the curse of sin that robs our blessings. The apostle Paul said that he had learned the secret of contentment in every season of life, in want or in plenty. All people go through seasons of life. We will not escape this truth. But how we contend with the season is what will mark our lives. Difficult seasons have the potential to bring out the best in us or the worst. The choice is up to us.
It is easy to live in seasons of plenty. We enjoy life when we are being blessed. But when the difficult seasons come, we sometimes lose focus. The things that are important; faith, hope, and love, may falter under the pressures of life. It is in these seasons that we must learn to depend on God. These are the times when he will teach us and perfect us in our walk with him. Even if you feel that God has abandoned you in a winter season of your life, don't give up. Even in nature, the death of winter is necessary for the abundance of spring. Seasons change. This is a reality of God's creation and it applies to us as well.
Whatever season you find yourself in, God is there with you. He will not ask you to walk through a difficult season on your own. He will guide you. He will not pass out blessings and then leave you to enjoy it. All seasons are in the hands of God. He has a great purpose for us in every season, whether plenty or want, joy or sadness. The key for us is this: We must continually look to God to be our source. It is not the circumstances that dictate our lives, it is our relationship with Him. When you are struggling through a season, find your strength in God. When you are blessed beyond measure, thank him with all your being. Seasons will come and go, but we will live with the Lord for eternity.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
New Birth
"Jesus answered, 'I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.'"
John 3:5&6
I was blessed once again, to be present at the birth of my brand new granddaughter, Natali. It was a wonderful experience even though it kept grandpa up all night! I watched my daughter as she bravely labored. Finally, as I waited in an uncomfortable lounge area, I got the news. The baby is here! After a short time, they allowed me back in the room and I saw mom, dad, and the new bundle of joy. All this reminded me that there is a new birth that is even a greater miracle than the one we had just experienced.
It struck me that everything about a baby speaks of the new world they will be born into. You see, my granddaughter has legs, but she could not walk while in the womb. She has a mouth, but she could not speak or even cry while in the womb. Everything about her, arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet are things that are intended to use in the world she was being born into. So it is with us. Everything about us speaks of the world we will be born into. It is a new life in the Spirit that we look forward to, and God has equipped all of us already with the things we will need in that new, glorious world. What we do not understand will then be fully understood. The incredible spirits that God has placed in each of us will come to life when we are finally born into the kingdom of heaven.
When we received Jesus for the first time, there was an awakening. This was the birth that Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus in the scripture above. There is one great difference between the natural birth of a baby and our birth into the kingdom of God: We have a choice to be born or not, a baby must be born. Nothing can stop it. But the wonder of a birth is mind boggling. When a baby is born, everyone marvels at the miracle. When one is born into the kingdom of God, all heaven marvels at the miracle. And when we are finally birthed into our heavenly home, it will be marvelous to behold.
The phrase, "Born again," has been used for centuries. It has been ridiculed and maligned. But God knew exactly what he wanted to say to make it clear to us. He used the example of the simple, yet complex miracle of childbirth. We can understand that because we have seen it. So he let us know that this new life he has made available is even more miraculous than that. Today, I want to meditate on the beauty of God's salvation. He brought me from death to life and birthed me into a new world of eternal life. But there is another birth that awaits me and even now creation is groaning as in the pains of childbirth, longing for that day. It is wonderful, it is miraculous, it is exciting. I have witnessed a birth, but the greatest one is still to come!
John 3:5&6
I was blessed once again, to be present at the birth of my brand new granddaughter, Natali. It was a wonderful experience even though it kept grandpa up all night! I watched my daughter as she bravely labored. Finally, as I waited in an uncomfortable lounge area, I got the news. The baby is here! After a short time, they allowed me back in the room and I saw mom, dad, and the new bundle of joy. All this reminded me that there is a new birth that is even a greater miracle than the one we had just experienced.
It struck me that everything about a baby speaks of the new world they will be born into. You see, my granddaughter has legs, but she could not walk while in the womb. She has a mouth, but she could not speak or even cry while in the womb. Everything about her, arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth, hands and feet are things that are intended to use in the world she was being born into. So it is with us. Everything about us speaks of the world we will be born into. It is a new life in the Spirit that we look forward to, and God has equipped all of us already with the things we will need in that new, glorious world. What we do not understand will then be fully understood. The incredible spirits that God has placed in each of us will come to life when we are finally born into the kingdom of heaven.
When we received Jesus for the first time, there was an awakening. This was the birth that Jesus spoke of to Nicodemus in the scripture above. There is one great difference between the natural birth of a baby and our birth into the kingdom of God: We have a choice to be born or not, a baby must be born. Nothing can stop it. But the wonder of a birth is mind boggling. When a baby is born, everyone marvels at the miracle. When one is born into the kingdom of God, all heaven marvels at the miracle. And when we are finally birthed into our heavenly home, it will be marvelous to behold.
The phrase, "Born again," has been used for centuries. It has been ridiculed and maligned. But God knew exactly what he wanted to say to make it clear to us. He used the example of the simple, yet complex miracle of childbirth. We can understand that because we have seen it. So he let us know that this new life he has made available is even more miraculous than that. Today, I want to meditate on the beauty of God's salvation. He brought me from death to life and birthed me into a new world of eternal life. But there is another birth that awaits me and even now creation is groaning as in the pains of childbirth, longing for that day. It is wonderful, it is miraculous, it is exciting. I have witnessed a birth, but the greatest one is still to come!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
No Fear
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
Hebrews 2:14&15
Fear is a formidable foe. Of course we know that the author of fear is the devil, the enemy of our souls. There is a freedom that you and I need to have; we need to be delivered from fear, specifically the fear of death. There has been a way made that can remove all fear of death. Even though many have received the gift of life offered by Jesus, some still labor under this fear of death. I say, "Let us be free from fear!"
Christ's victory at the cross was complete. Yes, there was a death, but there was also a resurrection. Jesus left nothing undone. Mankind was redeemed, the enemy was defeated and keys changed hands. Jesus destroyed the enemy at the cross. The one who had control over death, lost his power. Through that, every fear that you and I could possibly have was covered on that day. Truly, there is no fear for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you are one who still deals with fear of death, be comforted by the truth of God's Word. Death is not an end, it is a beginning. It is not a mournful time, it is a time for celebration. It is not something to dread or fear, it is to be anticipated, even longed for. The Bible tells us that it is appointed for every person to die once and then face judgement. If we have participated in the cross and received the atoning work of Jesus, we have no fear of either death or judgement. Death is a graduation. It is a transition to another place that is incomparable. Some of our fears lie with the fact that we don't fully know what to expect. We have some glimpses into heaven, but we don't really understand. No one has ever understood, no one will understand, until the day we cast our eyes on the glory of heaven. But there is nothing to fear. It can only be better than we can imagine.
Jesus died for our sins, he died to defeat the enemy, and he died remove our fear. If you fit the scripture above. If you have been held captive by your fear of death, this is your day of deliverance. Take ownership of God's Word and apply it to your life. There is freedom and joy available that will make your fear seem like a distant memory. There is no fear for all who believe!
Hebrews 2:14&15
Fear is a formidable foe. Of course we know that the author of fear is the devil, the enemy of our souls. There is a freedom that you and I need to have; we need to be delivered from fear, specifically the fear of death. There has been a way made that can remove all fear of death. Even though many have received the gift of life offered by Jesus, some still labor under this fear of death. I say, "Let us be free from fear!"
Christ's victory at the cross was complete. Yes, there was a death, but there was also a resurrection. Jesus left nothing undone. Mankind was redeemed, the enemy was defeated and keys changed hands. Jesus destroyed the enemy at the cross. The one who had control over death, lost his power. Through that, every fear that you and I could possibly have was covered on that day. Truly, there is no fear for those who are in Christ Jesus.
If you are one who still deals with fear of death, be comforted by the truth of God's Word. Death is not an end, it is a beginning. It is not a mournful time, it is a time for celebration. It is not something to dread or fear, it is to be anticipated, even longed for. The Bible tells us that it is appointed for every person to die once and then face judgement. If we have participated in the cross and received the atoning work of Jesus, we have no fear of either death or judgement. Death is a graduation. It is a transition to another place that is incomparable. Some of our fears lie with the fact that we don't fully know what to expect. We have some glimpses into heaven, but we don't really understand. No one has ever understood, no one will understand, until the day we cast our eyes on the glory of heaven. But there is nothing to fear. It can only be better than we can imagine.
Jesus died for our sins, he died to defeat the enemy, and he died remove our fear. If you fit the scripture above. If you have been held captive by your fear of death, this is your day of deliverance. Take ownership of God's Word and apply it to your life. There is freedom and joy available that will make your fear seem like a distant memory. There is no fear for all who believe!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Grace for the Humble
"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
1 Peter 5:5
Have you ever met someone who is full of pride and arrogance? Have you ever met someone who seemed completely humble? There is a clear distinction between these two types of people. Some have learned to live a lifestyle of pride because it helps them get what they desire. But in the end, this pride will be the downfall of all those who indulge in it. On the other hand, the humble are rewarded because of their humility. But why? What is so important about being humble?
We need only to look at the life of Jesus to understand humility and its value. He lived and walked out this virtue. When he left his place in heaven beside the Father, he did so, humbling himself before us. Even though we are so unworthy, so unthankful, so rebellious, he became one of us. He chose to serve us here on the earth and to die the death of a murderer. Even though he was pure and innocent, the sacrificed Lamb. His humility was a result of his love for us. Because he loved us so much, he was willing to give himself for us as a humble servant.
So this is the heart of humility. It is not an attitude, or a virtue that one is born with. It is an expression of love. If we love God, we will be humble before him. If we love other people, we will be humble before them. One cannot possess humility without having love as the foundation. The scripture above admonishes us to clothe ourselves with humility. This means that it must completely cover our lives. It seems to me that humility radiates from a person who genuinely has a heart of love. In a world where pride is the norm, genuine humility shines like the sun.
Humility is not a naturally occurring thing. We must press in to have it. For all the days of our lives, pride will attempt to overwhelm us. One of our lifelong goals should be to remain humble in the face of opposition that promotes pride. God responds to the humble. There is a connection because God himself is humble. He proved that through the incarnation of his Son. God expressed his love and grace through an act of humility. And we are called to live in this way. When we love God and people with a love that is only born in the Spirit, humility will follow. True servants are humble people. Humility marked the life of Christ, and it should mark ours as well.
1 Peter 5:5
Have you ever met someone who is full of pride and arrogance? Have you ever met someone who seemed completely humble? There is a clear distinction between these two types of people. Some have learned to live a lifestyle of pride because it helps them get what they desire. But in the end, this pride will be the downfall of all those who indulge in it. On the other hand, the humble are rewarded because of their humility. But why? What is so important about being humble?
We need only to look at the life of Jesus to understand humility and its value. He lived and walked out this virtue. When he left his place in heaven beside the Father, he did so, humbling himself before us. Even though we are so unworthy, so unthankful, so rebellious, he became one of us. He chose to serve us here on the earth and to die the death of a murderer. Even though he was pure and innocent, the sacrificed Lamb. His humility was a result of his love for us. Because he loved us so much, he was willing to give himself for us as a humble servant.
So this is the heart of humility. It is not an attitude, or a virtue that one is born with. It is an expression of love. If we love God, we will be humble before him. If we love other people, we will be humble before them. One cannot possess humility without having love as the foundation. The scripture above admonishes us to clothe ourselves with humility. This means that it must completely cover our lives. It seems to me that humility radiates from a person who genuinely has a heart of love. In a world where pride is the norm, genuine humility shines like the sun.
Humility is not a naturally occurring thing. We must press in to have it. For all the days of our lives, pride will attempt to overwhelm us. One of our lifelong goals should be to remain humble in the face of opposition that promotes pride. God responds to the humble. There is a connection because God himself is humble. He proved that through the incarnation of his Son. God expressed his love and grace through an act of humility. And we are called to live in this way. When we love God and people with a love that is only born in the Spirit, humility will follow. True servants are humble people. Humility marked the life of Christ, and it should mark ours as well.
Monday, June 11, 2012
The Will of God
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2
There is a lot of confusion surrounding God's will. People don't understand what it is, or how it works. Many believe that God imposes his will on us so that in the end, our choices really mean nothing. Others see God as passive. They believe that his will has little to do with our lives. What we do, the choices we make, dictate the direction of our lives. But God does have a will and it is perfect. The reason we struggle is because we don't understand it.
The scripture above is a very clear statement about why we don't understand God's will and how we can better understand it. We don't understand because we continue to conform to the world's thinking. Some of the things we have grown up with highly influence how we live. We were taught to 'pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.' This means that we take care of our own issues and problems by gaining some kind of inner strength. We're taught to scrape and scratch for everything we can get. The strong are the ones who will survive, and it is up to us to make our own way. But these things oppose the the teaching of the Bible. There is but one way to really know God's will.
We must forsake the false teaching of the world and receive the truth. This can only happen as we are transformed in our thinking. This is called 'renewal.' Our first experience with God was a renewal. We passed from death to life and our spirits that were once dead were brought to life. But to know God's will and to walk in it requires that we also transform our minds. We must learn to think in light of the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of the world. It is difficult because we are so accustomed to the ways of the world. But when we begin to think in the Spirit and not the flesh, God's will for our lives becomes much more clear. His will for us often has much more to do with our spiritual place than our physical one. We continually ask God to show us his will for our lives. We want to know where to go, what to do, or how to fix the problem. But when we transform our minds, the answers to these questions become less important. When we gain spiritual direction, the physical direction follows easily.
I understand that all of us face difficult situations. There are so many things that occupy our thoughts. But if we will change the way we think and press into the things of the Spirit, the answers for the struggles will come naturally. It is a lifelong endeavor to change our thinking. But the rewards of doing so are immense. If we really want to know God's will for our lives, we must make this breakthrough. God's will is revealed by the Spirit, not by anything we can think of on our own. When we think in the Spirit, revelation comes and God's will is made known. Just think how much less pressure there is when we live in the Spirit and allow God's will to flow into our lives. The burden is lightened and joy returns. This is how we know the will of God and he wants to show us.
Romans 12:2
There is a lot of confusion surrounding God's will. People don't understand what it is, or how it works. Many believe that God imposes his will on us so that in the end, our choices really mean nothing. Others see God as passive. They believe that his will has little to do with our lives. What we do, the choices we make, dictate the direction of our lives. But God does have a will and it is perfect. The reason we struggle is because we don't understand it.
The scripture above is a very clear statement about why we don't understand God's will and how we can better understand it. We don't understand because we continue to conform to the world's thinking. Some of the things we have grown up with highly influence how we live. We were taught to 'pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.' This means that we take care of our own issues and problems by gaining some kind of inner strength. We're taught to scrape and scratch for everything we can get. The strong are the ones who will survive, and it is up to us to make our own way. But these things oppose the the teaching of the Bible. There is but one way to really know God's will.
We must forsake the false teaching of the world and receive the truth. This can only happen as we are transformed in our thinking. This is called 'renewal.' Our first experience with God was a renewal. We passed from death to life and our spirits that were once dead were brought to life. But to know God's will and to walk in it requires that we also transform our minds. We must learn to think in light of the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of the world. It is difficult because we are so accustomed to the ways of the world. But when we begin to think in the Spirit and not the flesh, God's will for our lives becomes much more clear. His will for us often has much more to do with our spiritual place than our physical one. We continually ask God to show us his will for our lives. We want to know where to go, what to do, or how to fix the problem. But when we transform our minds, the answers to these questions become less important. When we gain spiritual direction, the physical direction follows easily.
I understand that all of us face difficult situations. There are so many things that occupy our thoughts. But if we will change the way we think and press into the things of the Spirit, the answers for the struggles will come naturally. It is a lifelong endeavor to change our thinking. But the rewards of doing so are immense. If we really want to know God's will for our lives, we must make this breakthrough. God's will is revealed by the Spirit, not by anything we can think of on our own. When we think in the Spirit, revelation comes and God's will is made known. Just think how much less pressure there is when we live in the Spirit and allow God's will to flow into our lives. The burden is lightened and joy returns. This is how we know the will of God and he wants to show us.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
APOLOGY
To all my loyal readers. I've been sick for the past three days and unable to post my daily blogs. Please forgive me, I will be back as soon as possible. I'm planning to post again on Monday, June 11.
Barry
Barry
Monday, June 4, 2012
Man of God
"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."
1 Timothy 6:11
The phrase, "man of God" has been an important one to me lately. In the Old Testament, many of the prophets were called by this title. In fact, some were known by the phrase, not by their own names. It was common for the people of the day to refer to the prophet as 'the man of God.' But the only reference specifically attributed to a man in the New Testament is found in this scripture. It was written to the pastor, Timothy and penned by Paul the apostle. Why did Paul call him 'man of God?'
I think the primary reason was to instill confidence in Timothy. He was a young pastor who faced some tribulation because of his age. But Paul was confident in him and knew that God was with him as he did the work of a pastor. It must have encouraged Timothy to hear these words coming from his mentor and hero in the faith. But being a man or woman of God requires some work on our part. Yes, we become men and women of God when we receive Jesus. All heaven knows that and calls us by that name. But for other people to call us that, there must be fruit in our lives that gives them the confidence to give us that honor.
There are many negative things in the world that become traps to us. Specifically, Paul had pointed to those who followed false doctrine. He said that these people became conceited and wasted time and energy on meaningless things rather than following the true doctrine of Jesus and him crucified. This is still true today. There are many people and groups who launch out into peripheral teachings that draw attention away from Jesus. Whether it is an overblown teaching about miracles, or angels, or legalistic rules and regulations, these things can distract us and cause us to waste our time. It seems to me that there is no time to waste. God is doing great things now and the time is near for his returning and the physical establishing of his kingdom on the earth. We simply do not have time to run down the rabbit trails of false or misleading doctrine. If instead, we pursue Jesus and his kingdom with all our being, we will be storing up eternal things instead of things that we will later regret.
I am encouraged when I hear the Holy Spirit call me a man of God. It settles me and reminds me that I am running a good race. I am seeking God and his kingdom and heaven recognizes it. But I am to live my life so as to convince others that I am a man of God. This is not done for my own glory. Accolades from men are of no value. It is for God's glory that I am to be called a man of God. And the same is true of you. When the evidence of a Spirit-filled life is present in us, others will see that we are men and women of God. They will see it and want to know how to become one themselves. Today, be encouraged as God calls you a man (woman) of God. Then prove it to others by doing exactly what the Father does; He loves people, he yearns for them to know him, and he seeks those who are lost. If we do the same, we are truly men and women of God.
1 Timothy 6:11
The phrase, "man of God" has been an important one to me lately. In the Old Testament, many of the prophets were called by this title. In fact, some were known by the phrase, not by their own names. It was common for the people of the day to refer to the prophet as 'the man of God.' But the only reference specifically attributed to a man in the New Testament is found in this scripture. It was written to the pastor, Timothy and penned by Paul the apostle. Why did Paul call him 'man of God?'
I think the primary reason was to instill confidence in Timothy. He was a young pastor who faced some tribulation because of his age. But Paul was confident in him and knew that God was with him as he did the work of a pastor. It must have encouraged Timothy to hear these words coming from his mentor and hero in the faith. But being a man or woman of God requires some work on our part. Yes, we become men and women of God when we receive Jesus. All heaven knows that and calls us by that name. But for other people to call us that, there must be fruit in our lives that gives them the confidence to give us that honor.
There are many negative things in the world that become traps to us. Specifically, Paul had pointed to those who followed false doctrine. He said that these people became conceited and wasted time and energy on meaningless things rather than following the true doctrine of Jesus and him crucified. This is still true today. There are many people and groups who launch out into peripheral teachings that draw attention away from Jesus. Whether it is an overblown teaching about miracles, or angels, or legalistic rules and regulations, these things can distract us and cause us to waste our time. It seems to me that there is no time to waste. God is doing great things now and the time is near for his returning and the physical establishing of his kingdom on the earth. We simply do not have time to run down the rabbit trails of false or misleading doctrine. If instead, we pursue Jesus and his kingdom with all our being, we will be storing up eternal things instead of things that we will later regret.
I am encouraged when I hear the Holy Spirit call me a man of God. It settles me and reminds me that I am running a good race. I am seeking God and his kingdom and heaven recognizes it. But I am to live my life so as to convince others that I am a man of God. This is not done for my own glory. Accolades from men are of no value. It is for God's glory that I am to be called a man of God. And the same is true of you. When the evidence of a Spirit-filled life is present in us, others will see that we are men and women of God. They will see it and want to know how to become one themselves. Today, be encouraged as God calls you a man (woman) of God. Then prove it to others by doing exactly what the Father does; He loves people, he yearns for them to know him, and he seeks those who are lost. If we do the same, we are truly men and women of God.
Friday, June 1, 2012
It's Still Happening
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Mark 16:17&18
There continues to be a debate over whether the things that are written in this scripture are still valid, or if they were valid even when they were spoken. Jesus uttered this after his resurrection. Shortly thereafter, he ascended into heaven. Some translations omit these verses or note that they are not found in all manuscripts. But whether we choose to believe this particular scripture or not, there is plenty of scriptural support for the fact that God is still in the miracle and healing business. In addition, there is real life, current evidence that these things are happening.
I recently heard reports about the church in Cambodia. There are literally thousands of churches there that have emerged within the last ten years. One comment caught my attention. They said that everyone of those churches started because of a sign, wonder, or miracle. They went on to tell story after story of people who were healed instantly, demons being cast out of people who were gripped by the enemy, and miracles that are on par with the book of Acts. Not only does the Bible teach that these manifestations of God's presence are for us today, but practical experience around the world testifies to that truth.
In Cambodia, hundreds of thousands of people have come to know Christ because of these miraculous happenings. We simply must understand that this is the purpose for miracles. God wants to make himself known in powerful ways to those who have yet to believe. So you and I cannot give up. We cannot stop believing in the God we know. We do not love and serve a weak, lying God. We serve a Strong, truth-telling, loving God who wants everyone to know him. What is happening around the world can happen and is happening wherever you live. God loves us, wants us to be healthy and cared for, and blessed beyond measure. He is the same God now as he was in the time of the Bible.
I will never stop praying for people to be healed. I will never stop believing for miracles. This is the kind of God I believe in. There is nothing that can sway me, no setback that will derail me. I am convinced. Are you? God uses our belief and faith to bring forth his miracles on the earth. To see them, we must act on what we know. When was the last time you laid your hands on someone and cried out to God for them to be healed? When was the last time you prayed with an unbeliever? These are the moments when God shows up. First, we must believe, then we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us to situations where God's Word will be confirmed. Believe me, IT'S STILL HAPPENING!
Mark 16:17&18
There continues to be a debate over whether the things that are written in this scripture are still valid, or if they were valid even when they were spoken. Jesus uttered this after his resurrection. Shortly thereafter, he ascended into heaven. Some translations omit these verses or note that they are not found in all manuscripts. But whether we choose to believe this particular scripture or not, there is plenty of scriptural support for the fact that God is still in the miracle and healing business. In addition, there is real life, current evidence that these things are happening.
I recently heard reports about the church in Cambodia. There are literally thousands of churches there that have emerged within the last ten years. One comment caught my attention. They said that everyone of those churches started because of a sign, wonder, or miracle. They went on to tell story after story of people who were healed instantly, demons being cast out of people who were gripped by the enemy, and miracles that are on par with the book of Acts. Not only does the Bible teach that these manifestations of God's presence are for us today, but practical experience around the world testifies to that truth.
In Cambodia, hundreds of thousands of people have come to know Christ because of these miraculous happenings. We simply must understand that this is the purpose for miracles. God wants to make himself known in powerful ways to those who have yet to believe. So you and I cannot give up. We cannot stop believing in the God we know. We do not love and serve a weak, lying God. We serve a Strong, truth-telling, loving God who wants everyone to know him. What is happening around the world can happen and is happening wherever you live. God loves us, wants us to be healthy and cared for, and blessed beyond measure. He is the same God now as he was in the time of the Bible.
I will never stop praying for people to be healed. I will never stop believing for miracles. This is the kind of God I believe in. There is nothing that can sway me, no setback that will derail me. I am convinced. Are you? God uses our belief and faith to bring forth his miracles on the earth. To see them, we must act on what we know. When was the last time you laid your hands on someone and cried out to God for them to be healed? When was the last time you prayed with an unbeliever? These are the moments when God shows up. First, we must believe, then we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us to situations where God's Word will be confirmed. Believe me, IT'S STILL HAPPENING!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)