Psalm 100:4-5 – “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.”  NKJV

Although we are extended an invitation in Hebrews 4 to “come boldly to the throne of grace…”  I contend that there is biblical protocol for coming into God’s presence as there is for entering the presence of an earthly potentate or ruler.  Yet, we sometime seem to give me care to how one comes into the presence of an earthly king or ruler than the Creator of the Universe.  I find that interesting and disturbing at the same time.

I am convinced part of this flippant attitude toward God is partially rooted in the desire to make Jesus our buddy and God is nothing more than “Big Daddy” or “The Man Upstairs” rather than fully recognizing His Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence.  HE IS GOD and who He is deserves and demands proper reverence and recognition.  God wants us to be at ease in His presence but He also wants us to be conscious of His Holiness.

The Psalmist gives us a process by which we should come into the presence of God and it is worth time to consider even briefly.

• Enter His Gates with THANKSGIVING.

If we come before God ‘thankful’ we will at the same time be incredibly conscious of His Divine Sovereignty.  We will be conscious of His Covenants, Promises and the demonstrations of His acts of love, mercy and grace.  If we are anything less than truly thankful we will not regard Him properly.  Therefore the first step in entering the presence of God is “A Thankful Heart.” 

• Enter His Courts with PRAISE.

This is impossible unless we recognize Him in His Divine Fullness.  He is God the Everlasting One the Creator of All Things.  He is the provider of our redemption.  He is the extender of Mercy and Grace.  He is the Door.  He is the Way, Truth and Life.  His Name is above all Names and He is worthy to be praised.  A thankful heart can freely offer praise for it has a proper perspective of the object of the praise. 

If we enter the Gates of God’s Presence with THANKSGIVING and come into His Presence with PRAISE we will find that He is GOOD, His mercy truly EVERLASTING and His TRUTH infallible and unfailing.  Upon those foundations we can offer our petition to Him confident that we are there pleasing to Him and demonstrating a proper heart condition that allows the Holy Spirit to mold and shape our character and guide our steps into the right paths.

We sometimes make God a supermarket or Amazon and want to quickly place our order and run but if we were to approach an earthly potentate we would NEVER take that approach.  We would follow all protocol and exhibit proper respect and honor for that ruler before broaching our petition and once the petition is offered and that potentate has rendered a decision we would continue to follow protocol and give proper respect, praise and thanks.  Dare we do less with God and should we not do even more toward the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY?

In fact if we are THANKFUL we will find that PRAISE flows naturally from that heart and we will appreciate His position, person and power as well as the provision.  God help us to never forget that He is I AM THAT I AM.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Romans 1:28-32 – “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  NKJV 

Each day as various newscasts, newspapers, blogs, articles and websites detail the happenings within our society, cities and various nations around the world I come to an arresting realization.  I realize that man is not getting better but the conditions in our world are growing darker by the day.  Here in Romans 1 the apostle Paul is addressing the unrighteousness of man and the wrath of God displayed toward it.  As I read this chapter I shudder thinking how like our present world this description is and if God’s wrath burned hot then how much more now?

In today’s Politically Correct world we are told what will soon become mandated by federal law that we must subject our core convictions to the will of various groups who discount the Bible and call good those things God calls an abomination.  We will be told that if we speak against sin we have engaged in hate speech and if we refuse to accommodate the practices that violate our convictions we face swift and severe penalty of law.  There will soon come a time when we must decide whether we will incur the wrath of man or the judgment of God and choose which path we will follow.

There are those in today’s world who resent even the mention of the God of the Bible and whose minds have become so debased they are vile, corrupt and engage in continual blasphemy.  Sadly there are those within Christendom who condone, excuse and justify those who practice sexual immorality, all forms of evil as the Paul’s list details.  Excusing sin and remaining silent when the core values of the Bible are trashed and trampled underfoot is, in my view, equal to those who do practice those lifestyles.

There comes a time in any society and individual life when God will give people over to their evil passions and desires.  We have come to a time when many have had their consciences seared as with a hot iron and no longer feel any remorse.  We have entire segments of society who no longer value human life and have no respect for the Bible or God.  Our world has become an increasingly more dangerous place and I tremble for the generations yet to rise to adulthood.  What kind of world will they encounter should God allow this world to continue?

There is a remedy for the problems of our world and that is Jesus.  Someone said, “Come to Jesus and your problems are over.”  The truth is that when we come to Jesus we just entered the battlefield of life and as He declared we become hated by the world.  Jesus will not remove all problems from one’s life but will afford a peace that is unknown to the world.  In the midst of the perilousness of our day we can walk in perfect peace and with supernatural power.  Man, as a whole, is not getting better but the Church of Jesus Christ is beginning to shake herself and is about to rise in power!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Proverbs 18:2 – “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart…13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.”  NKJV

            I have been around people who no matter what the situation or event another was relating seemed compelled to chime in saying, “That was nothing…” as they proceeded to tell their event(s) that topped the account.  I have been around those in church, business and politics whose greatest desire is to ‘be heard’ or to ‘express their opinion’ often at the expense or disregard of the pathway of conversation.  When something is being related they will often butt in and give an answer before they hear the question.  The Bible calls that person a FOOL. 

You may not like calling anyone a FOOL but you have to admit it is both offensive and foolish to conduct oneself in that manner.  It is an evidence that the individual has little or no interest in the circumstances of others or the purpose of the discussion.  It is an evidence that the focus of their heart is SELF so in a sense it is talking a selfie with words and is counterproductive to any rational or reasoned discussion.  Even if the person is unaware that they are dominating the conversation with SELF it screams to everyone involved that they are without interest in understanding.  That will result in people finding excuses to avoid them over time and they will become isolated.

I have learned that one of the most important components in effective communication is detailed and careful listening.  If I listen more than I speak I find an unveiling of the hearts and motives of others and can more effectively speak to the situation and heart.  If before you conclude your sentence I am beginning mine you are put off for my action indicates that what you are saying is of little interest to me.  Some engage in a conversation or discussion and rather than listening to what is said they are thinking and formulating their response to what they perceive is going to be said.  Sometimes they are correct and often they miss the heart and details of what is being said and their response, though reasoned and possibly well phrased is off the mark.

If we are trying to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ and engage in that type communication we will find that those outside the family will become unresponsive to our message.  I experienced this as I observed a fellow Christian attempt to witness to a person who was not a believer.  The unbeliever had questions and presented ideas that this believer failed to hear because they were engaging in the type of behavior I have described.  The unbeliever was so put off as they felt, and rightly so, the believer was not truly interested in their concerns, arguments, questions or thoughts.  They felt that this person witnessing to them was only interested in hearing the sound of their own voice.  How do I know that?  They later told me as much.  I tried to diffuse the criticism and at the same time listen carefully and in so doing over time was able to plant seed that germinated in to spiritual fruit over time.

Don’t be that person but be one who hears the conclusion of the whole matter before rendering a judgment.  Be a person that reserves his answer until he hears the matter fully.  Be a person that is slow to speak and swift to hear.  Be a person that listens for the heart as well as the words.  Become a LISTENER and you will also become a better COMMUNICATOR.

            God bless you as you go through your day!

Psalm 20:1-9 – “May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you; 2 May He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion; 3 May He remember all your offerings, and accept your burnt sacrifice.Selah

4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.  5 We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!  May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. 

6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. 

7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. 8 They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright.  

9 Save, LORD!  May the King answer us when we call.”  NKJV

The Psalmist captures the situation and the solution when we encounter times of darkness, difficulty and trial.  He recognizes there is a problem “Day of Trouble” and the source of our help, “God of Jacob”.  He reflects on the heart, God’s salvation and our proposed plan of action.  He identifies that God does not fail to protect or come to the defense of His anointed and answers prayer.  THEN without shifting gears he brings us face to face with a powerful and pertinent issue – “What or Who do we trust?”  

• Some Trust the Arm of Flesh.  (Chariots and Horses or the ability and equipment at man’s disposal or within his makeup.)

I have had people tell me more than once that God helps those who help themselves and He should not be bothered with what we can handle.  There may be some elements of truth in that but if we TRUST in the Arm of Flesh the Arm of Flesh will fail us.

• We Will Remember The Name Of The Lord Our God.   (The choice ever before us is TRUST.  We can opt to trust our ability, resources or something natural or we can turn to the supernatural and the Arm of the Lord.)

             He reminds us that those who choose the first option of the Arm of Flesh bow and fall.  Failure is almost guaranteed in trusting the Flesh.  He then reaffirms that those who choose the latter course of Trusting the Name of the Lord will rise and stand upright in victory.

I realize that making this blanket statement does not equip you to wage the spiritual warfare required for victories in life but it identifies where you need to turn.  The apostle Paul informed us that the purpose of the ‘five-fold ministries’ in the Body of Christ is to “equip and train” believers for the work of ministry.  We are informed that we are to put on the ‘whole armor’ of God and withstand the devil.  God has the provisions, will guide through the preparation and empower us to STAND if we turn our Trust to the Name of The Lord!   Never trust in your chariots or horses but always anchor you hope in THE LORD OUR GOD!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

Isaiah 5:20-21 – “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!”  NKJV 

I know, I know this is a devotional blog and I’m not supposed to be political but the overbearingness of political correctness has paralyzed much of today’s church and that is troubling to this believer.  We live in a world today where many believe there is ‘No Universal Truth’.  We are engaged in cultural wars to the point that many have been placed in chains out of fear of offending anyone, losing members, support, finances and/or position.  I believe Isaiah spoke to that quite plainly and perfectly.  I believe that the disciples when ordered by the Jewish leadership to speak no more in the name of Jesus understood when they responded, “Shall we obey God or man?” 

It seems that many today are asking the question of Pilate as Jesus stood before him, “What is truth?”  It would seem by the attack on free speech and religious convictions that the modern view is “There is no definitive truth only relativism.”  If we, as the Body of Christ and the representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ in this world, do not reclaim our voice and holy boldness in standing for and speaking truth we will see the fulfillment of the Lord’s question in Luke 18:8, “…when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

In our modern world and much of Christendom we have evolved to the place that many believe:

• Truth is Subjective. (No longer believing in ultimate or absolute truth)
• Morality is Subjective. (If it feels good do it therefore whatever a person desires should not be condemned or judged by any definitive standard)
• Consciousness is Being Elevated. (Belief that to hold moral and ethical standards based on the Bible reflects a narrow-mindedness and should be rejected.)
• A Prime Objective Must be Sensitivity. (Imprisoning figuratively if not literally who declares Sin)
• In Victimism. (If one is deemed a victim then they are exempt from personal responsibility and accountability.)
• In Multiculturalism. (Ending the ‘melting pot’ ideal of America and separated us into a myriad of varying sects, groups, ideologies, and cultures.  No longer becoming one but remaining isolated and divided.)

          In the Body of Christ we are supposed to become one with Jesus and thereby one with each other.  We are instructed in 2 Corinthians 6:17 to “come out from among them and be separate…”  We are to be holy because He is holy.  The Bible is not silent on sin and lifestyles or actions considered by God to be abominable and we dare not be.  We are instructed to suppress our fear of man because all he can do is kill the body and develop a reverential and holy fear of God who controls our eternal destiny.

           If the Bible calls something sin dare we not call it sin and avoid it?  In fact we read in Proverbs 17:15, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.”  In Proverbs 24:24-25 we find, “He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him.  But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.”

The simple question for each of us is, will we adopt a mindset of Political Correctness or Biblical Correctness.  There are two paths before us and as Joshua addressed the nation, “Choose you this day whom you will serve…”   I choose to follow the LORD!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

1 Corinthians 4:15-17 – “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”  NKJV

Today is Father’s Day and as I reflect on my own earthly father I am so thankful for his influence in my life as well as my earthly grandfathers and how they helped shape my character through words, discipline and their lives.  They gave me an image of an earthly father that has proven invaluable in both the raising of my children and mentoring spiritual children.  Today, I salute all Fathers who are fathering their children earthly or spiritual.  God bless you!

Producing offspring does not make one a father but provides the opportunity to father.  There are those who father children who have never produced a single offspring in the natural but they have invested themselves in the lives of those children and provided them with the male role model, disciplined, taught and gave oversight to those lives nurturing them into adulthood and able to assume their place in society.  Those men deserve high praise!

When I think about this nation and our Founding Fathers I suggest that if one studies their writings and examine their contributions to the founding of this nation it could be argued they truly Fathered generations.  Today they are under assault by those who would rewrite history.  When I think about my own spiritual father(s) and their invaluable contribution in my life helping to shape, teach, train, nurture, discipline and guide me they gave me a standard to live up to and a goal to strive for spiritually and they are to be praised.  Most of us have been fathered by someone or more than one and today is a day to remember their contribution in our lives.

Yet there is one Father who deserves recognition above all others and that is our Heavenly Father!  Without His love we would not know the joy of salvation or have the promise of eternal life.  He so deeply loves us that He gave His only begotten son that we could have our sins forgiven.  He so deeply loves us that He refused to leave us comfortless and dispatched the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth.  He so loves us that a place is being or has been prepared for us that where He is there we can be also for eternity.  Thank you Father for your love!

So on this special day set aside to honor fathers I encourage you to pay tribute to your own earthly father if he is still with you and if he has gone on to the other side then pause and remember his contribution to your life.  On this day I would encourage you to pay tribute to your spiritual father(s) if they are still on this side of eternity and if not then reflect on their contribution in your life.  If you are a father I urge you to take a moment and reflect on your privilege, duty and responsibility as a father and take your children in your arms (if possible) and let them know you love them.

So as you celebrate Father’s Day I pray that God make it a joyous day for you and your family.  Blessings to one and all on this special day!

Acts 1:4-6 – “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;  5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  NKJV

How many times in pursuit of the purposes of God and fulfillment of a call or dream from God have we gotten the cart before the horse?  How many times have we run before we had fully developed the message, understood the strategy or received the empowering needed to fulfill that destiny?  How many times have we failed to fully obey the directive of the Lord in fulfilling His call?   HOW MANY?  Tragically many more than any of us would like to admit or possibly even realize.

In this account of the followers of our Lord after the resurrection and before the ascension of Jesus the Lord gives a direct and specific command that can be applied to many situations in life.  It is also a directive or command that is overlooked when applied to situations beyond this particular account.  Jesus had been with them forty days unveiling the heart and purposes of God and the Kingdom.  He gathered them together and commanded, not suggested that they NOT DEPART Jerusalem but WAIT for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit.  The coming of the Holy Spirit was to transpire BEFORE they launched out in their ministry as directed in Mark 16 to GO INTO ALL THE WORLD. 

I am sure they wanted to immediately launch out into the deep but the Lord gave specific directions to WAIT UNTIL.  I am reminded of the story in 2 Samuel 18 where Joab takes David’s army to battle against Absalom and Ahimaaz begged to be allowed to run with the message.  Joab gave the command to the Cushite to run and Ahimaaz continued to press to be allowed to run also but he had no message.  He felt inspired to run but he had not been properly prepared, did not have the clear message and did not have the full authority to run but he wanted to run.  Finally Joab said, “Run”.  Ahimaaz ran through the valleys and across the plains and outran the Cushite.  The watchmen for David saw both runners and David anticipated news from their lips.  Ahimaaz arrived first and David asked for the report but all he could say was, “I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”  David was not pleased nor edified with those words.  He ran, he ran well, he ran fast but he ran in vain for he had not been fully prepared. 

In a great sense, that is what we are being told here in this passage.  If we are to effectively take this message to the world we must be fully prepared and that means we WAIT UNTIL.  We wait until the Holy Spirit fully empowers us.  We wait until the release of the Lord to run.  We wait until we have seen the message.  We wait until we have been developed, equipped and trained.  We wait and that, for most of us, is almost impossible.  I personally hate to wait.  I don’t like lines.  I don’t like waiting lists at restaurants.  I don’t like slow computers.  I don’t like traffic jams.  I don’t like fighting through in prayer when the answer is delayed.  I, like most, like instant gratification and immediate answers.  BUT, there is a tremendous power in learning to WAIT ON THE LORD.  We learn to reign in our emotions.  We learn to channel our zeal.  It is in waiting that we learn to hear that still small voice of the Lord saying, “This is the way walk in it.”  They that wait upon the Lord renew their strength.  They that wait on the Lord hear His voice.  They that wait on the Lord receive His clear directive, understand His plan, and receive His power.  They that wait fulfill His purposes!

May the Lord quicken to your heart the importance of WAITING UNTIL!  God bless you as you go through this day!