Month: December 2015

TEACH US TO PRAY – What Did Jesus Teach???


Spiritual Blog - Pray

Luke 11:1 – “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” NKJV

  

I have found, as I study prayer, there as some key elements in this endeavor and activity worthy of consideration.  Jesus said, “After this manner pray…”  (Matthew 6).  He did not say, “When you pray repeat this prayer or these phrases but AFTER THIS MANNER pray…”  What we call the Lord’s Prayer is a model not a recitation or incantation.  One of the things you should notice about this prayer is its brevity.  It is also incredibly specific focusing on the needs of body, soul and spirit.  There is no vain repetition.  It is definitive and to the point.  My cry is, “LORD, teach me to pray like this.”

I want to suggest three elements of prayer that I believe are vital.  Someone said, the Lord’s, prayer as taught by Jesus, divides itself into three looks.  The upward look, the inward look and the outward look.  I would offer that we can identify them as:  Communion, Petition and Intercession.

  • COMMUNION.That portion of the prayer in which we turn our attention to God or the upward look.  If there is no communion established in prayer little will be accomplished other than the exercise of our vocal cords.  Communion removes every hindrance between us and God.  Communion involves and includes worship and adoration of the object of our communion, God!  Communion establishes contact so that our petitions can enter the Throne Room.

    In the first five books of the Bible we find a line of progression, something that should be incorporated in prayer.  In Genesis we see man’s sin and ruin.  In Exodus we see God’s redemption by the blood.  In Leviticus we see the ritual of worship.   In Numbers we find Israel’s walk from Egypt to Canaan.  In Deuteronomy we find the Book of the Law or the Book of Works.

    After man is redeemed he must learn to worship before he is able to walk as he should and no amount of work will amount to anything until he has learned to worship and walk before God.  Communion does something to us whereas in petition something is done for us.

     

  • PETITION.Communion looks to God, petition focuses on the needs of self.  If we have established communion we can rightly move to petition for we will make our requests more rightly in harmony with the heart and will of God.  Petition should be a very simple matter.  There are some things that we need to remember before we make petition to God.  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  (Psalm 66:18).  In Matthew 18 and Luke 17, Jesus tells us that an unforgiving spirit against a brother will hinder our prayers being answered.  Therefore for petition to be effective communion must be established.
  • INTERCESSION and POWER.

    In Luke 11:9-10 we find an incredible promise regarding prayer from our Lord.  There is unlimited power in prayer and we should allow our confidence in God to release that power in our lives and in the matter for which we pray.  Remember the Bible says, “He that comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:6).

    I personally believe that God always answers believing prayer.  I did not say, He always gives you what you ask but always answers.  As a parent I found that there were times when the request of my children was not in their best interest and counterproductive to health and life benefit.  In those cases I answered their request with “No.”  There were times I could see the benefit and acceptability of the request but the timing was bad so the answer was, “Not right now.”  There were times when what they asked was reasonable, right and good and the answer was, “Yes.” 

    Prayer brings the Omnipotence of God into our human realm and can touch hearts anywhere in the world and is released in an instant.  There are no geographical restrictions or limitations to prayer.  Therefore, I believe that the greatest need of a believer is for the Lord to “teach us to pray.” 

    God bless you as you go through this day!

     

     

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE BIG REQUEST OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES WAS…


Spiritual Blog - Pray

Luke 11:1 – “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”  NKJV

 

I have made it somewhat a study to consider what the followers of Jesus asked of Him.  This particular request is interesting, especially in contrast to much of today’s mentality even in the Church.  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to preach”.  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to sing.”  They did not ask, “LORD, teach us to gain wealth.”   They did not ask, “LORD, teach us marketing strategy so we can grow the local church.”  They asked, “LORD, teach us to PRAY.” 

I am fully persuaded that it would be far more beneficial to the Kingdom of God and the Body of Christ to be great prayers than great preachers or singers.  I love both but if we have the power of prayer to move the powers of heaven we will see the hearts of men moved.  Men can train other men to preach, sing, market and strategize but to become a truly great prayer is only learned at the feet of Jesus though the Holy Spirit.  I am not talking about learning some man-made method of eloquence but that activity that wages spiritual warfare and breaks through the barriers bringing heaven to earth.

Prayer is the privilege and responsibility of all believers.  We often need preparation and training to become efficient and effective preachers and personal workers but prayer is a gift that God offers to everyone.  Not everyone is called to be a pastor, preacher, teacher, evangelist, exhorter or many other things but there are no such restrictions on prayer.  EVERYONE can pray!  In fact, our LORD said, “…men always ought to pray and not lose heart…”  (Luke 18:1).  I know people who lament they are unable to do great exploits for God and when challenged to pray, they are somewhat put off because that garners no public notice or acclaim.  Powerful prayer is often done in secret and behind the closed door of the prayer closet.  It is not an exercise designed to gain notice but results.

Jesus gave the disciples a pattern of prayer not a formula.  In Matthew 6:5-8 we find some specific instructions from our Lord regarding pattern.  In this passage Jesus gives us the DO NOT’s of prayer and in the Lord’s Prayer He gives us the DO’s.  I am convinced that prayer is a science and by that I mean it is a study.  How often have you just listened to the prayers of others and examined your own prayer life?  How do our public prayers compare to our private prayers?  How much vain repetition is in our prayers?  How often do we pray for things which God’s wisdom forbids Him to answer?

Let me give you some things to consider through the LORD’s instructions.

  • Don’t Pray Like a Hypocrite.

          How does a hypocrite pray?  The prayer of the hypocrite is “public” designed to gain notice, sympathy or status.  Remember the Pharisee who stood in the Temple and lauded his own virtue comparing himself to the Publican nearby.  The Publican simply prayed, “LORD, be merciful to me a sinner.”  Which do you supposed moved the heart of God?  Someone once said, “It is a pretty safe rule, the longer a person prays in public, the shorter they pray in private.”

Jesus was known as a man of prayer.  He spent entire nights praying while others slept.  How many long prayers do you find him praying in public?  He said, “When you pray, enter your closet and when you have shut the door, PRAY…”  (Matthew 6).

  • Don’t Use Vain Repetition.

The specific command of Matthew 6:7.  I have heard and offered public prayers that were so laced with “vain repetitions” I am ashamed.  We used hackneyed phrases over and over again.  Repetition rather than substance will not move the heart or hand of God.  I wonder if one of the reasons so much prayer is filled with repetition is because we have failed to study scriptural prayer.

If God knows the need before we pray He does not need us to be overly repetitive.  He desires us to be specific, focused and determined.  I hope I have challenged you a little and want to say more on the matter in the next devotional.

God bless you as you commune with Him in prayer and go through this day in His strength.  Blessings!

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE ANSWER IS NOT COMPLICATED…


spiritual blog - complicated

Acts 16:25-34 – “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” 

29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.”  NKJV

 

I have heard so many presentations on what is required for salvation and I often come away frustrated for what I hear, at times, is “Jesus Plus…”  In this particular account we find Paul and Silas in prison and these two stalwarts for God were leading a Praise Service and ministering to others who were incarcerated.  As they were singing and praying an earthquake shook the place so hard the doors of the prison fell open and their chains fell off.  Obviously, this was no normal earthquake but the work of God.  The guards had been napping and under Roman law if the prisoners escaped they would pay a serve penalty so rather than face the horrific possibilities the keeper of the prison prepared to commit suicide.  He would have carried out the act had it not been for Paul.

The man was so moved by what had happened he ran to them asking one of if not life’s greatest question, “What must I do to be saved?”  Their response was simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ…”  The promise was not only would the jailer be saved but his house would come under the umbrella of God’s protection and salvation.  THEN… So many times we miss the “then” of Scripture.  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and all who were in his house.  Simply they presented the Gospel which is the Good News.  The Bible teaches that we are to repent, believe, confess, turn from sin and be baptized.  I heard an evangelist one time tell people that because they were not crying as he deemed they should they were not saved and had not repented.  Some incredible soldiers in the kingdom of God have testified that they had little emotion when they encountered the Lord, realized their guilt, confessed and repented.  Most of them have declared that emotions came later but the guilt lifted at that time.

In my own experience had I followed the directive of this evangelist I would have concluded that I did not receive the Lord that faithful night.  I felt as if I were walking on air.  I had a sense that a heavy load was lifted from my shoulders and a peace that I could not describe or explain settled over me.  I was not in tears but was truly sorry for my sin and desirous to be free from the clutches of sin.  My focus was not heaven or hell but the fact that my sinful condition was breaking God’s heart and it broke mine.  I was guilty and wanted to go in the opposite direction in life.  I confessed my sin, repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and GOD SAVED ME.  I was baptized later!  The plan is simple and the work on the Cross finished.  It is Jesus not Jesus plus.  Salvation is a gift not an earned reward.  You will never be good enough but you can be free through His grace!

            God bless you as you go through this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

NO BOOK LIKE THE BIBLE…


Spiritual Blog - Bible

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  NKJV

             The Bible is timeless!  We know that hieroglyphics, as deciphered by scientist, date back to Moses’ day and in the Bible there is frequent mention of the Hittites, Amorites and Canaanites all whom the Bible declare lived in the day of Moses.  There have been some scientist who scoffed at the names of those nations and called them fictitious but then archaeology shattered their resistance.  In fact, some of the tablets referred to the “Habiri” and it is known that the word means “Hebrews”.  The tablets referred to southern Palestine and made mention of the Hittites and other nations.  These historic tablets are called the “Tel El Amarna”.

The Bible is the infallibly inspired revelation of God concerning Himself and His creation.  If you recall the record of Moses’ life you will remember that he was schooled 40 years in Egyptian philosophy.  How is it that the sciences he wrote of never incorporated any of the now discredited Egyptian superstitions?  In Moses’ day people taught that a great man carried the Earth on his shoulders and when he sneezed an earthquake was produced.  Yet, the Bible declared over 3500 years ago that God “hung the Earth on nothing”.  That was scientific.  In Moses’ day the practice of medicine was little more than a gathering of superstitions including the boiling of toads and demon incantations.  How is it that Moses, schooled in these superstitions never included them in his writings?  His directives concerning handling of infectious disease was centuries ahead of its time.  Today, we know through the study of bacteriology, that many diseases are caused by minute organisms called “bacteria” or “germs”.  Prevention of these diseases is through isolation or quarantine.  The Bible taught this 3500 years ago!

When surgeons prepare for an operation they carefully wash their hands with “running water”.  If he used a basin or sink, the very moment he touched the water his hands would be contaminated.  Moses knew that over 3500 years ago!  Read Leviticus 15 for more detail on this truth.  Some attempt to defend the Bible but I always say, “It needs no defense.”  The Bible historically, morally and scientifically can and does stand on its own record.

No wonder our founding fathers wanted the Bible taught in public schools.  The Bible provides incredibly pertinent and accurate information not just about sin and salvation but every dimension and aspect of life.  Thus back to my assertion that “true science” always agrees with Scripture.  The Ten Commandments are still the standard of justice today.  Our laws can be traced to them and it was Moses who first laid down the right of a fair trial for the individual.  No accusation was received except upon the testimony of two or three witnesses.  Not only did Moses give us the foundation for civil law, science, medicine and morality he gave us incredible information regarding horticulture.  He taught “selective breeding” and the “careful pollination” of plants.  (Deuteronomy 2:9 and Leviticus 19:19).  Moses also gave guidance for controlling pests.  Some of the pests farmers contend have a life cycle of one year.  There are some that have a life cycle of seven years and one at least seventeen years.  Moses, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God instructed Israel to set aside the fields ONE YEAR IN SEVEN.  No crops were to be raised on the land in that year.  Today we have a weak copy of that system in crop rotation.

The Bible addressed industry and morals and the ramifications of flaws in human behavior.  The Israelites were forbidden to mix linen and wool.  Why?  The scientific answer is linen and wool have different degrees of shrinkage.  The reason for the prohibition of women wearing men’s clothing was God’s desire to have a visible distinction between the sexes.  You can argue, that a woman is noticeable even in men’s clothing and I do not totally disagree.  God designed man to be the toiler and the woman the home builder.  I know today we have moved far from that and some will take offense but I still believe that greatest asset any home, church, community or nation can have is mothers in the home.   Modesty has always been a part of the Bible and that goes for both men and women.

The Bible covers every facet of life and is profitable.  The benefit from its truths is only realized by those who believe it and obey it.   God bless you as you go through this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

I DO NOT WONDER – I Believe…


Spiritual Blog - God

Gen 1:1-2 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”  NKJV

 

The Bible begins with, “In the beginning God…”  That is the foundation for everything else seen in Scripture and witnessed on planet Earth.  Without that assertion, declaration, revelation and truth nothing else has any significance or intrinsic value.  It would become nothing more than theory.  Some believe that is all it is but I believe the Universe, Science, human experience and the Bible verify it is more than theory.  If you doubt the opening sentence in the Bible you have no basis for believing the message contained therein.  Fidelity begins in the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis.  In fact, I will declare that it is probably the most important verse in the Bible.

It is IN THE BEGINNING GOD – – not “in the beginning a nebular mass” or “in the beginning a pool of warm slime” or “in the beginning some hairy monkeys swinging by their tails.”  NO!  It is IN THE BEGINNING GOD!  The Bible declares in Psalm 14:1, “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God…”  Until you believe that IN THE BEGINNING GOD you have no basis for accepting His Son and His sacrifice on the Cross.  Once we believe this then all else becomes incredibly simple.

Imagine back when there was no time, no creation, no earth and no man.  God only had Himself and we read in Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness…”  God had nothing to begin with but Himself and He reached down His Omnipotent hand into the great abyss of nothingness and made nothing something.  Some find that impossible to believe but I find that believing it was all by chance even more difficult to accept.

If I can believe the first few words of Genesis 1 I can believe Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, raised the dead, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, turned water into wine, walked on water and rose from the dead.  It all begins in Genesis 1:1.  We either depend on the speculations of man or we depend on the declaration of the Bible.  Man tells us that it all began with a super-heated nebula and it cooled to form a solid mass.  Then that mass via rapid revolution cast off other masses and those formed suns, worlds and other planets.  The one called Earth was covered with slime and the slime began to crawl, developed fins and became fish.  The fish changed its fins for legs and became reptiles.  The reptile grew hair and became a monkey and that monkey was climbing in a tree, caught his tail in a tree crotch fell to the earth and became a man.  But, the Bible says GOD CREATED MAN in His own image.  Which are you prepared to believe?

The Bible offers no proof of the existence of God you have to believe.  In fact, you are expected to believe.  I suggest that even those in the darkest clutches of heathenism and among the most primitive cultures on the planet believe in the existence of a Supreme Being.  It was civilized man that invented the theory of atheism and evolution.  The Bible declares that, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.”  (Psalm 19:1)  The Bible tells us that the hills skip like lamps at His approach and the trees clap their hands in glee at the mention of His Name!  Of all God’s creation the one that rebels or has rebelled is MAN.

I suggest that “true science” and the Bible have no conflict.  Whenever the Bible and science seem to conflict it is because our scientific deductions are incorrect or our interpretation of Scripture is flawed.  Science comes from the word “scio” meaning “to know”.  True science deals with proved facts, and whereas today many things called scientific are nothing of the kind for they are based on theory not proved facts.  Both science and theology suffer at the hands of incapable amateur exponents.  There are times science is correct and our interpretation incorrect and vice versa.

I read an illustration that I have found valuable.  Up until the latter part of the 19th century, the skeptic and higher critic took incredible pains to tell us that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because Moses supposedly lived in a time when there was no civilization.  Man, according to this theory, was still in the Alley Oop stage and just emerging from the nebula of his slimy primal ancestors.  Their assertion, “In the day when Moses was supposed to have written these books there was no culture, no extensive social intercourse, no literature and no organized government or community.”  In 1877 something happened to silence those critics.  An old woman living in Egypt was digging in the ruins of an ancient city to obtain fertilizer for her garden and she dug up what appeared to be bricks of clay which she ground up and spread in her garden.  One day a missionary saw the bricks and as a result the archaeologist dug up what was left of an ancient library containing extensive correspondence between the Egyptians and Babylonians in the days BEFORE MOSES.   Only 350 tablets remained after the old lady’s fertilizer experiment.

I do not wonder – I BELIEVE!   God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE COVERING OF LOVE…


Spiritual Blog - Love

John 17:20-23 – “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  NKJV

 

In 1 Corinthians 13, commonly identified as the Love Chapter of the Bible, we find some powerful characteristics of love.  This chapter provides an insightful look into our own hearts and offer a pattern by which we should strive to live.  The expressed desire and prayer of our LORD Jesus as revealed in the text above was for love to prevail in the Body of Christ and that we ALL BE ONE.

The Body of Christ is not divided, yet we see division, dissension and discord among professing followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  God’s Plan is Unity of the Faith.  Jesus came to give us life and that life was to be Abundant and He is our common ground.  I believe that the greatest hindrance to the work of the Kingdom and personal spiritual development today is DISUNITY.  Likewise, there is nothing the devil would like better than to destroy the local church, especially those who seek the Unity of the Spirit.

I ask that you consider a few specifics that I believe will prove to be beneficial in our Christian walk and warfare.

  • Born-again People Constitute the Body of Christ.

Every truly born-again person is a member of the Body of Christ.  I am speaking specifically about the biblical experience of the “new birth” in Jesus Christ.  It begins with repentance – “Confess and Forsake”.

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if any man (person) is in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); the old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.”

We read in John 3:16 about God’s love and plan.  In Romans 10:9-10 we find confession of sin and in verse 13 the revelation that “if” we call upon His name we will be saved.  In 1 John 1:9 we read, “For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Repentance is the full realization of one’s sin and a change of attitude, heart and direction.  Biblical repentance involves conviction of sin, with a sense of condemnation, godly sorrow and the forsaking of sin.  It is a 180 degree turn.

  • God Extends Fellowship To All Believers.

Not just those who practice our particular brand of doctrine or preference.  Clearly God extends His fellowship to people of varying opinions about various doctrines.  He accepts them but too often we exclude them because they are not like us.  We too often major on minors straining at gnats and swallowing camels.  The hand is not the ear and the ear is not the eye.  We are different and in life we have different preferences but require the same air to breathe.

  • The Basis of Fellowship Is Life Not Opinion.

It would serve us well to acknowledge and remember that all truly born-again believers have the same Spiritual Father.  That truth is the only hope we have of achieving that for which Jesus prayed, “That they all be one…”

Biblical Unity is not possible aside from AGAPE LOVE which is our source of Hope and Unity.  That means our love for the Family of God will have to exceed our devotion to person opinions and non-essentials to salvation.  Remember Love Covers!  Love Covers!

I am going to tread on thin ice with some by saying, “Fellowship” is more important than believing you have the absolutely correct theology.  Do not understand that to be a call to compromise your convictions but a call to realize that you might not be 100% correct in all things.  Also, it is my conviction, the greatest sin and hindrance in the Church is DISUNITY.  The problem of building walls and barriers and infighting among various elements of Christianity does far more harm and alienates more than virtually anything else.  God hates the sowing of discord among brothers.  Having a right spirit is as important, if not more important than making accurate decisions.

In fact the Bible is so strong on DISUNITY and DISCORD that it says, “MARK THEM which cause divisions.” (Romans 16:17)  The devil will never defeat the local church from the outside.  I conclude with this:  Romans 16:17 says mark one group of people and Philippians 3:17 says mark another group.  The first group are those who cause division and the second group are those who set the right example.  Mark them both but avoid the first and flock to the second.   You can choose your attitude.

Spiritual Blog - Attitude

            God bless you as you go through this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

CHRISTMAS DAY HAS ARRIVED – – MERRY CHRISTMAS…


Spiritual Blog - Christmas

Today many are celebrating with family in the warmth of their homes opening presents and preparing to partake of the holiday feast prepared or being prepared.  Sadly, there are others alone, cold, penniless and destitute.  Some of them have lost all hope.  I ask that you remember them in your thoughts and prayers and if you have not already, plan to help someone in need, if not today soon.  Christmas is about Love, Caring and Giving and how better to manifest the Spirit of Christmas than reaching out to someone in need?

I share the poem below which I wrote 10 years ago during a time I was encountering parathyroid cancer and when I experienced a work of God the surgeon called a miracle.  As I sat in my truck at lunch praying and reading scripture I felt a warmth cover my body and knew in my heart that God had totally removed the remnant of the cancer.  I had gone through surgery but the reports indicated that it had not been fully removed.  A second surgery was planned and about 2 weeks before the surgery this experience took place and when the PTH and calcium levels were checked they had gone from well above normal to the low side of the normal.  The doctor said, “This does not happen medically.”  He then said, “I think we know who did this.”  We proceeded with the second surgery to repair some things and check everything and from that day to this all has been normal.  Each Christmas I remember the rich blessing of life that God has given me and I give Him all the praise.

I offer this poem as my gift and pray that God grant you a most joyous Christmas.  As I bid you adieu for the day I depart shouting – – – M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S ! ! !

 

 

Twilight and Midnight Christmas

 

When we are young and life is like a flowering tree

We think only of the moment, what’s in it for me?

Christmas is a time of anticipation

Youthful joy and full of expectation.

What will we get? What can we do?

It’s all about me and little about you.

 

Then in our teens, those rebellious years

We bring to our parents exquisite joy and rivers of tears.

Christmas is a time of anticipation

Youthful joy and full of expectation.

Why can’t I go off with my friends and see

What this world can offer me?

 

Then as young adults with children of our own

We are now parents and the worry to us belongs.

Christmas is a time of our children’s anticipation

Waiting to see if we fulfilled their every expectation.

If you fail, this will you hear, “But I wanted the latest and hottest fad

I didn’t get it now I am mad.”

 

Then come the twilight years

You are alone to face all your fears.

Children and grandchildren grown with families of their own.

It’s Christmas and you are alone,

Forgotten it seems with no one to share

Life’s little joys for no one does care.

 

Remember this in your Christmas of twilight

As you near your journey’s end which some call darkness and night.

It’s not the specific day that make is so dear

It’s not even the time of the year.

It’s that you have set one day aside

To celebrate Christmas and in Him abide.

© Roy Beaird – 2005

 

May your celebration be joyous!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE…


Christmas Eve

Luke 2:4-7 – “Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  NKJV 

 

Although I try to avoid last minute shopping at any time, I especially avoid it during the Christmas season.  I absolutely abhor the commercialization that has largely stolen the true meaning of Christmas from hearts.  I love seeing children with their eyes gleaming and encountering people who have a heart and spirit of love and generosity.  The contrast that weighs heavily on my heart are those who are focused on self, enduring the season out of obligation and the Scrooge mentality that goes around “Bah Humbug.”

As I often do, I reflect back on my childhood and that of my children to draw my precious memories about Christmas.  We grew up poor but virtually everyone around us was in the same condition so we did not notice and were not truly aware of any lack.  We had loving parents and grandparents whose love and care overshadowed any sense of lack.  We would usually get one present for Christmas and were grateful for and appreciative of that item whether a toy pistol, a truck or whatever it was.  The cost of the item might have been $5-10 but brought a million dollars of joy to our hearts.  We had love and that made Christmas special.

I wrote the simple verse below out of my heart’s cry for a return to celebrating the Reason for the Season and what I pray for.  May God bless you on this Christmas Eve and may your celebrations be filled with love, peace, joy and gratitude.  May you remember who it is that we are truly celebrating and what His birth, life and death brought to mankind!

           MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

When Christmas Lives In The Human Heart

 

Each year when autumn recedes into winters fold

 With some hearts merry and some hard and cold,

There is a season that December brings

Children, toys, and glistening things.

Cynical commercialism got its start

When Christmas was banished from the human heart.

When men remember the meaning of this celebration

Moving past the politically correct deliberation,

We find that relations between classes of men

Bring peace and freedom again and again.

Love and Joy are given a new start

When Christmas lives in the human heart.

Decorations, festivities, gifts, food, and caroling

Can make the heart of man rise up and sing.

When there is caring and charity within

Christmas begins to truly live again.

Men are united rather than torn apart

When Christmas lives in the human heart.

© Roy Beaird – December 2013

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

COME TO THE LIGHT…


Spiritual Blog - God is Light

1 John 1:5 – “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  NKJV

 

             I believe in creation and believe that God has always been and will always be.  I also believe that there was a time, in God, before time.  God’s creation of the universe added nothing to His person or power it was a revelation of Who He Is!  He created all things for His Glory which allows us to catch a glimpse of His fullness.  When we glorify God we add nothing to His dimension but we expand our horizons.  When we magnify God we do not make Him greater than He is or larger but greater and larger to us or in our understanding and appreciation.

Revelation travels down three paths or roads.  I would like to briefly hit some high-points in this concept.

  • Revelation through Nature.

Psalm 19:1-3 declare to us that the very heavens declare the glory of God.  In Romans 1:18-20 we read, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

It will be futile to say to God on the Day of Judgment, “No one told me…” Yes, we need to spread the Good News but the Bible reveals that Nature itself reveals God and this is the simplest revelation of Him.

  • Revelation through the Word of God – The Bible.

The Bible, I believe, is a progression in revelation.  We couple God’s Word with what is clearly revealed in nature and the two combine to give an expanded revelation of God.  In the Bible we quickly realize that God is a God of Love, Grace, Mercy, Justice and Truth.  In the Bible we have a revelation of God’s Plan of Salvation and the lost-ness of man without Christ.

  • Revelation through the Person of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:15-17 we find, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”   Then in verse 19 we read, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.”  This is reemphasized in Colossians 2:19 and by the words of Jesus as recorded in Hebrews 1:1-3 that IF we have seen Him (Christ) we have seen the father.

We know that in the “solar spectrum” there are “seven visible colors” which compose the spectrum seen in the rainbow, in the flashing colors of a well-cut diamond or in beveled glass.  At the upper end of the spectrum we find violet and at the lower end red.  Someone used this to illustrate that these seven basic colors represent or reveal the perfection in the Godhead.  The number “seven” has long been associated with God and Perfection.  The writer declared a short listing as follows:

  • Red Speaks of God’s Sacrifice.
  • Blue His Heavenly Character.
  • Purple His Royal Personality or Personage.

I won’t take the time to rehearse all seven but you see the pattern and progression.  We also know that the rays of the sun can be “deadly” to all living organisms and are “indispensable” and “essential” to all living organisms.   Thus we can see that, in God we have His rays of “Justice” which demand full payment for sin and we find His rays of “Love” which reach out to offer salvation, joy, peace and mercy to all who will receive.  Jesus is our shield against the demands of Justice and our cloak of God’s Love.

May the LORD walk with you opening the right doors and closing the wrong ones this beautiful day.  Blessings!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

A NEW REVELATION…


Spiritual Blog - Revelation

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  NKJV

 

Most of the time I understand what someone is saying when they say, “I have a new revelation from God.”  Rarely are they declaring they have received or uncovered something extra-biblical or even something not heretofore revealed.  After all the writer of Ecclesiastes declared that there is nothing new under the sun.  (1:9).  There is no additional Bible beyond what we have and God has not and will not change. 

However, if we understand “revelation” in the biblical sense as “God’s disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures and/or His communication of truth to the human heart” it becomes much more commonplace or should.  I sometimes see something I have never before seen or heard discussed and, to me, that is a “new revelation”.   It is not new in the sense that it was not always in the word and open for others or even that no one else has seen it but it is “new to me.”  It could be explained as in a person buy a car.  The new car, although used and not technically new, is new to them.

Psalms 19:1 reveals, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  Romans 1:18-25 declare that God reveals Himself through nature and therefore all are without excuse.  That does not mean that God will not or does not open our understanding to something completely new to us and enable us to teach and bring others to that knowledge with is revelatory.  God is still speaking today but there is caution to be exercised.

Relying on a “new revelation” that is extra-biblical is what produced and produces many of the false religions and sects practiced today with tenets that are contradictory to the written Word of God, the Bible.  We are told in Deuteronomy 4:2, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it…”  In 23:32 we read, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.”  In Psalm 30:6, “Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.”  Then the clincher in Revelation 22:18-19, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Therefore, I believe that God is still speaking to human hearts revealing Himself more fully and teaching us His ways more clearly but whatever “new revelation” we receive will be consistent to the teachings of the Bible and verifiable in the Bible.  It is disturbing, to me, that some are running here and there seeking a “new revelation” rather than allowing the Holy Spirit to plant them where they can grow, develop and produce fruit.

If I see something I have never seen before it is “new to me” and I become excited and want to share it with everyone.  Some have declared at my presentation of this “new” it was a “new revelation” and people would flock to hear the “new revelation.”  Too often I have witnessed in today’s church that unless the minister is declaring they have a “new revelation” people become bored and look elsewhere for someone who could claims a “new revelation.”  In that sense the terminology has harmed the Body of Christ.  However, the fact that we go decades in too many churches without seeing something new or beyond what we had seen before also speaks of death not life.  We should strive to be open to the Holy Spirit that He can guide us into ALL TRUTH and never be satisfied or become complacent where we are.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment