Hey, Look at This!
Genesis 15:1 – “After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram; I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I felt deeply challenged. I began by reflecting on the Blessing of the Covenant with Abraham. The major focus was on others. It had a kingdom feel to it.
In Genesis 15:1, God gave Abram renewed assurance of His presence, provision, and power. Abram’s confidence in God became his foundation in trial.
In Genesis 18:9-15, I saw something that grabbed me and made me say, “Look at this.” Sarah was in the tent. If the tent represents God’s covering and presence, that is significant. In the tent, she was listening! That is the key. We need to press into God’s presence and listen. She questioned, but she heard the Rhema of God that took root and produced the Fruit of the Covenant Seed. First, get into the tent, then listen.
The flesh is easily distracted. John the Immerser (Baptist) had a divine revelation that Jesus was the MESSIAH. Then, from prison (in trial), he questioned, “Are you Him?” We must constantly reaffirm our confidence in Him and His Word. Isolated events, no matter how wonderful, are not enough. We have to keep returning to the tent.
In Matthew 15:34-39, we see the feeding of the 4,000. Jesus asked, “How many loaves do you have?” How much bread? Bread represents the Word of God. They said seven. Seven is the number of completeness. They picked up seven baskets, indicating endless supply. (Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Isaiah 61.)
In God, if we get in and stay in the tent, we can hear Him. Hearing Him, we can respond in obedience. Responding in obedience results in the endless supply. Genesis 17:1 in the Tree of Life Version is interesting. GOD said, “Continually walk (live) before Me, and you will be blameless.” Blamelessness flows out of His presence. Living our lives IN His presence provides the wisdom, revelation, strength, and anointing to be blameless. It is in the tent! God, give us some tent time!
LORD, help us be continually awed by Your presence and promises!
Sin Is Not Benign
Genesis 8:1 – “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, several things came to mind. As I began another trip from Genesis to Revelation, the original intent for man filled my thoughts. Unbroken fellowship and Lordship have become so benign to us that we have forgotten what they are and that stewardship of the planet, health, and life was God’s design. Sin happened and perverted that purpose. Man sinned! That is too nice a word for what transpired.
The word “Sin” has become so benign to us that we have forgotten what it is and does. Adam & Eve did not simply make a misstep or stumble in a mistake; they REBELLED! Their act was an act of treason! Their act was to align themselves with the cosmic rebellion against God, inspired by the devil, seeking to dethrone God. That is Sin! Let its ugliness sink in.
When we read, “All have SINNED and come short of the glory of God,” read it as all have turned against God, rebelled, and sought to dethrone Him. Not so benign then, is it?
Sin always tries to hide and cover itself from the shame of exposure. Fig leaves are man’s attempts to hide shame. We run from God because, in our hearts, we know He knows the truth. Sin always tries to shift the blame. It is her fault, his fault, or some circumstance that caused it. Ultimately, it is saying, “God, it’s Your fault.”
The beauty of God is that He knows our flaws and still loves us. His Covenant Promises are constantly in the forefront of His mind as He actively and eagerly looks for ways to bring them into reality.
Genesis 8:1, “God remembered Noah…” That is not remembered as if He had forgotten, but as a Covenant word meaning God was actively holding His promise at the forefront of His mind, looking for a way and a time to make it happen.
Likewise, when it says, “Our sins and iniquities He REMEMBERS no more,” that means He has pushed our sins out of His consciousness so that He does not have to judge them actively. He has chosen to FORGIVE, and in that position and condition, He is actively looking for ways to fulfill His promises!
Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek FIRST…” God is first, not that we do not seek things, needs, or desires, but that all is in proper order. God first! Life becomes full when we regard Sin as Rebellion and repent, making God our all. If God truly becomes Number One, life will become abundant. We will cease trying to earn and learn to be. But He must become First!
LORD, help us to view sin as You do and reject and resist it!
Do You Want To?
Malachi 1:6-8 – “Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. 7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. 8 But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.”
As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, a thought filled my heart and mind. That thought: “The Want To.” Malachi spoke about seeking to honor God by giving flawed sacrifices. They wondered why they were not hearing from God. He said, “You are giving Him your scraps and expecting His favor. How dare you!”
How do we transform our want-to into positive action? Allowing the want to, to flow to its negative conclusion is easy. If you do not address it, it will flow to the lowest point and become a reality. Hate is murder in seed form. Lust is adultery or immorality in seed form.
But how do you move in the other direction? The Beatitudes give insight. Being poor in spirit means being empty of self and selfishness. Genuine remorse over sin leads to repentance, and repentance means doing an about-face. Through the Holy Spirit, you resist negative desires and focus on the positive. It requires discipline.
Willpower will never prevail over the flesh. Prevailing over the flesh requires total surrender to God. It requires total honesty to self, others, and God. If we deny the problem or need, or diminish it, we empower the problem. We have no victory over the flesh until we surrender completely.
In the Beatitudes, we empty ourselves of self; we become sorrowful of our sin and condition; we place our pride on the altar; we stir up our hunger for God; we seek mercy for ourselves and extend mercy to others; we shun the very appearance of evil (let that soak in); we resist retaliation and reaction and seek peace. Then, when trials come, we discover the strength to stand.
Remember, willpower cannot produce victory. It can only point us to our true source of help, God. What level of influence does our ‘want to’ have in our lives? Does the desire for righteousness exceed our willingness to yield to the flesh? Our actions speak louder than our words. We must stop denying it if we want total victory. The denier will be denied, but the truly repentant will find victory!
Check your want to!
No Confusion
Nahum 1:3 – “The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
And will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.”
Uncertainty fills the air for many. Confusion is a constant companion for those not anchored in God. Yet sureties and certainties remain. God is love and loves continuously.
As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I was confronted with realities that were both challenging, comforting, and frightening. God IS! That reality embodies all of those. Nahum 1:3 reminds us that God, our God, the creator of all things, is slow to anger but great in power.
Some confuse God’s patience and long-suffering with acceptance of their debauchery and vileness. The fact that He has not crushed them like bugs gives them a false sense of security and a false sense of acceptance. How tragic! God hates judgment but is righteous and holy, making it impossible to ignore sin and rebellion.
The prophet Habakkuk asked, “How long, LORD, must I cry for help? But You do not listen!” (Habakkuk 1:2). He lamented, “Why do You force me to witness injustice? Why do You put up with wrongdoing?” (v 3). The Law seems powerless, justice abandoned and perverted. God responded (v 5), “I will do something in your lifetime that you will not believe, even though you are forewarned.” Pay Day Someday!
Zephaniah, the prophet, brought it into perspective with a warning, “I will punish the people who are entrenched in their sin, those who think to themselves, The LORD neither rewards nor punishes.” Because God has not judged their indulgent sin and rebellion, they think they are okay. Tragic!
Those who perpetually follow their flesh find themselves in the condition Haggai revealed (Haggai 1:6): “You planted much, but you have harvested little. You eat but are never filled. You drink, but you are still thirsty. You put on clothes but are not warm. Those who earn wages end up with holes in their money bags.” Rebellion produces emptiness and rejection, leading to judgment.
Jesus desires that all be saved. God desires obedience, not sacrifice. The Father loves us so much that He allowed Jesus to pay our penalty. However, we must accept that Grace Gift in repentance and pursue righteousness! He calls us to purity.
If we live lives that continually violate His precepts, we must not think that, because of His long-suffering, He ignores our sin or accepts us. Jesus is the only entrance into God’s presence! Jesus in the heart rejects sin!
“If we confess (recognize, repent, and reject) our SINS, He is faithful (merciful) and righteous, forgiving us our SINS and cleansing us from ALL unrighteousness.”
LORD, help us to recognize Your sacrifice, repent of our rebellion, and receive Your transformational mercy. Help us reject the enticement to become intoxicated with the world and flesh and be saturated with You through the Holy Spirit.
Deception destroys, and God cannot and will not violate His holiness and tarnish the work of the Cross by ignoring sin. NOW is the accepted time; today is the day of salvation.
LORD, I pray for No Confusion!
The Power of Agreement
Amos 3:3 – “Can two walk together unless they are agreed?
Matthew 18:19 – “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God, the power of Agreement filled my thoughts. We see this in Amos 3:3 and Matthew 18:19. Amos tells us that agreement enables two or more to unify for a common purpose.
Jesus reminded us that agreement in faith and prayer applies the principle of tandem. Horses pulling in tandem triple their pulling power, and believers praying in tandem exponentially increase their results. This agreement provides a defense against discouragement, and if one weakens in faith or resolve, the other encourages. It provides continuous focus!
Amos 3:7, an oft-quoted passage, needs further consideration. “God does nothing without revealing His plan to the prophets.” WHY? Agreement! If we know, we can align ourselves, agree to believe, and pursue the purpose presented.
That is another revelation of the importance of unity, the Body, and having someone to whom we are accountable. We become watchmen on the wall to each other. We become sources of warning and strength, enabling us to withstand discouragement and temptation.
Amos 8:11-12 warns that there will come a time in the Last Days when there is no prophetic word. Why? No agreement! No agreement with God. No agreement in purpose. No agreement in purity. Isolation and selfishness destroy agreement and rob us of the power we need to stand.
If you are battling temptation and finding it difficult to progress, check your agreement. Agreement with God is mandatory but inadequate if we try to go it alone without unity and accountability. Agreement in purpose with others gives strength. Agreement to be accountable opens the door to victory!
In that state of agreement, Amos 9:11-13 reveals the picture of Abundance afforded to those living in Agreement with God, His Purpose, and each other.
Try standing alone and fail. Come into covenantal agreement and prosper! The choice is ours!
Revelation 8:5 reveals something we need to keep in the forefront of our minds. Prayer (unified, God-inspired prayer) releases God’s fire. Together (agreement), we overwhelmingly conquer. Alone, we are no match for the enemy.
LORD, help us to come into agreement with you and with each other and say the same thing!
