Month: June 2016

OBSTACLES and OPPORTUNITIES…


Spiritual Blog - Obstacles

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

 

I would encourage you to read the entirety of Psalm 46.  Psalms 46, 47, and 48 were written at the same time by the same person.  After you read this Psalm I suggest you go to 2 Kings 18-19.  In these two chapters, we have one of the great records of faith in the Bible.  It is in those passages we discover the “Ways of Faith” and I believe so vital that we should examine the account with some detail.  It is quite possible we will discover some things about FAITH we have never before seen.

In this account, we see one of the “Mad Dictators” of the Middle East of that era.  This type of ruler has always been a problem in that region and amazingly they always seem to originate by the River Euphrates and most move against Israel at some time or other.  That Despot is named Sennacherib, King of Assyria and he self-identified himself as, “The Great King, King of all the Earth.”  What a display of humility, right?  His goal was to take over and rule the entire Earth as he knows it.  He has already subdued the ten (10) Northern Tribes [Israel] which leaves only Judah to conquer.  Here, twenty years later he has returned and is on his way to Egypt and travels through Jerusalem where he encounters the King of Judah, Hezekiah.

Hezekiah is a “man of faith.”  He hears the terrible news that Sennacherib is coming with plans to obliterate everything and everyone in his path that resists.  Finally, Hezekiah says, ENOUGH!  In a seeming olive branch, Sennacherib demands that Hezekiah must pay an exorbitant tax to him.  Sennacherib passes by and continues toward Egypt with Judah’s gold in his treasury.  However, as he passes by he realizes that passing by is a mistake for Hezekiah is not the kind of man to quietly go into hiding and submission, so he turns back.  He sends his choice generals to Jerusalem and they gather outside the city walls.  Their presence draws a very large crowd of people.  Everyone is watching and waiting!  The Generals tell Hezekiah that Sennacherib has changed his mind and Judah must submit to an unconditional surrender.

This is an incredible conversation.  The generals say, “Hezekiah don’t give us this foolishness that you are going to trust in the Lord your God.  We know your history and you’re subject to saying something like that.  Well, let us give you a little history lesson about where the Great King of Assyria has been and then you will see the futility of your decision and actions.  Every city we came to said, ‘We will trust in our gods, but where are they today?  Their gods have been burned with fire and they are in captivity.  What good were their gods?  Hezekiah, Hezekiah, if your God says He will look after you, believe us, there is no God anywhere that can match the Great King of Assyria.  He is the GREAT KING OF ALL THE EARTH!”  The people of Judah hear this and then the generals begin to speak in the common language that all could understand and said, “Don’t listen to Hezekiah.  Don’t listen to his plan that your God is going to work on your behalf.  Face reality!  Save your own hides!  Come out in surrender and we promise that you’ll have live in abundance with us!”  

The generals then wait for the expected answer.  Hezekiah goes back into the Temple of the Lord. He is distressed and distraught. There is a massive storm brewing just outside the gates and turmoil inside his own heart.  He is in a major crisis and he begins to survey his situation.  He talks to himself and God saying, “It is obvious if we do not surrender, Sennacherib who is just down the road in the Sinai will return after he has defeated Egypt and will be furious.  At that point, it will be over for us.  This is the Apocalypse!”   This is an incredibly serious situation.  The beautiful dream of the world that Hezekiah seeking for the Israelites is over. This is pressure with a capital “P”. What is he to do?

THEN, he remembers the speech of the generals wasn’t about Hezekiah at all.  Virtually everything they said was about GOD.  They said, “Who do you think your God is?  He is no match for the Great King of Assyria.”  They have insulted and blasphemed God Himself.  But, why doesn’t God do something?  Where is He?  Is He listening?  They have openly challenged God, His power, integrity, and authority.  They have cursed His name, so why doesn’t He do something?   This is serious and his faith is terribly shaken.

Hezekiah’s response was to send a message to Isaiah the prophet, who was also a man of the court, possibly a Royal Prince himself.  He is the man of God of the court so Hezekiah says, “Man of God, what do you say?”  Isaiah did not hesitate and spoke definitively, “This is what God says:  I will put a spirit in Sennacherib so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land.  Relax, he’s not coming here!”  Really?  I can imagine the confliction in Hezekiah’s heart and mind but Hezekiah is ready to grasp at any straw he can find and he speaks to the generals advising them HE WILL NOT SURRENDER!  They are totally caught off guard and shocked and when they inform Sennacherib HE IS FURIOUS.  He writes a letter to Hezekiah relating what the generals have said in 2 Kings 19:10-12.  It is a simple letter in which he says, “Hezekiah, I’ve had enough of you!  I’m fed up with your stupid religious talk.  Your God cannot help you now.  You’ve had it, chum!”   The letter arrives and Hezekiah read it and then took it into the Temple and spread it out on the table.  He assumes God can read the letter and then he prays…   In this prayer that we find the incredible power of faith.

Hopefully, I have whetted your appetite but time and space prohibit me continuing in this devotional so next time we will pick up and move into the prayer of faith of Hezekiah and the beautiful truth found there for us.

God bless you as you enjoy this day the Lord has made and be glad in it!

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THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALS THAT WE ARE OF “One Another”…


Spiritual Blog - One Another

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  NKJV

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  NKJV

 

            Even a cursory reading of the New Testament reveals the emphasis Jesus placed on LOVE.  John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”   I would suggest that, in truth, all of the actions that we are enjoined to take toward “one another” are simply LOVE IN ACTION.  Philippians 1:9, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in the knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”

I am 100% convinced when there is a sufficient flow of AGAPE LOVE in a life and a church, divisiveness will shrink into nothingness because LOVE drives out darkness and disarms the devil like nothing else.  Love brings a light that darkness cannot endure.  Love covers differences in nonessentials and enables “oneness” to become reality.  I, therefore, believe that one of if not the greatest need of the church and the individual is AGAPE LOVE!

When it comes to relationships in churches or believers we would do well to remember and determine that WE ARE FAMILY.  We are “members of one another.”  That is a foreign concept to some but interesting nonetheless.  I wonder how many would deliberately do damage or hurt another part of their own human body?  Would you deliberately cut off a toe because it bumped into the bed post during the night?  Yet, we do that very thing in the Body of Christ.  AMAZING isn’t it?

One of the clear messages of the New Testament is that we are “members of one another.”  Every New Testament writer confirmed and echoed that truth, but the apostle Paul made it crystal clear by using the analogy of the Human Body in 1 Corinthians 12:14-26.  There is no way that even the most carnal and immature believer could miss Paul’s message.  He wraps up powerfully in 1 Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the Body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.”  I wonder if many or possibly most believers missed Paul’s emphasis here.  We have been told to search for and attempt to discover our spiritual gifts in order to function in the Body of Christ.  We have been told that because in these passages the apostle makes extensive reference to spiritual gifts.  However, if you examine the passage more closely you will find that idea nowhere in any exhortation that the individual Christian is to look for or try to discover their spiritual gift.  I suggest you cannot find that in the Bible.  BUT, before I lose you, if I have not already, let me address what I believe Paul is emphasizing.

  • No Individual Christian can function effectively alone.

Question:  Have you ever gotten a speck of dust or something in your eye?  When you do the natural instinct is to take your finger and rub it, right?  It took more than the eye to resolve the problem.  That is the natural response but in the spiritual we seem to think we can be islands needing no other member of the Body of Christ.  WRONG!

  • No Member of the Body of Christ should ever feel he is more or less important than any other member.

No individual believer has exclusive rights to God’s grace.  We are all equal at the foot of the Cross.  Romans 12:3, 5, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt with each one a measure of faith… 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”   Ephesians 4:2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” 

  • Christians should work hard at creating UNITY in the Body of Christ.

We cannot function effectively alone, we need each other as the natural body needs all its members for the most efficient functionality.  None of us is more important or less important than anyone else in the Body of Christ even though some have a more prominent role or position.  We are to be clothed with humility, remembering that even the one who has the greatest responsibility is also to be the greatest servant.  Therefore, all of us should strive for UNITY and PEACE because WE LOVE THE LORD and WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 

Did you follow the emphasis?  The emphasis was not on the gifts but preserving the BOND OF PEACE and creating UNITY in the Body of Christ.  The gifts will become visible as the need presents itself and we utilize them, but PEACE and UNITY are things we must work toward and seek diligently.  I truly believe that AGAPE LOVE is one of, if not the most powerful weapon, the Body of Christ and individual has in combating the forces of hell.  AGAPE LOVE is our ultimate weapon against darkness.  There is no difficulty that enough Agape Love will not conquer.  There is no wound that Agape Love will not heal.  There is no door that Agape Love will not open.  There is no division that Agape Love will not bridge.  There is no wall that Agape Love will not scale or pull down.  There is no sin that Agape Love will not cover and redeem.

So, make it your goal to WALK IN LOVE at all times and in all things!  God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him.

 

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FOUR GREEK WORDS FOR LOVE…


Spiritual Blog - Love

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  NKJV

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  NKJV

 

The most prolific word used for love in the New Testament is Agape which describes “love at its ultimate.”  However, there are three other Greek words for love and of the four only three are used in the New Testament.

  • ERAN (Eros) – A word that describes the passion and the impulses that go along with it.  It focuses on the physical and sensual and it might be surprising to note that this word is not used in the New Testament.  This can be sinful as in lust but is also the natural type of love that occurs between a man and a woman within the confines of marriage.
  • STERGEIN – I would venture to say that many have never heard of this type of love but it refers to “natural affection” and is used to describe the love of parents for children or children for parents. It is found in the New Testament twice with the prefix “a”, denoting the lack of natural affection.  [Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3]. 
  • PHILEIN (Phileo) – The word means ‘fondness, affection, or liking.’ It is used to describe the love between friends and is NEVER used to describe the love we are to have for God.  It is used 45 times in the New Testament.  It is not a passionate love like that between a husband and wife.  When Jesus asked whether Peter loved Him was “agapao” but Peter, possibly being caught off guard said, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” [John 21:15].  The word Peter used was “phileo” or brother love.  At that point, Peter apparently didn’t get it. 
  • AGAPAN (Agape) – This is ultimate love or love. It is not based on emotion but a conscious decision to act for the welfare of the object of that love.  It is used 320 times in one form or another in the New Testament.  It is not human in origin and is received then given back and is always associated with the love of God. 

Love, the song says, “Is a many a splendored thing” and without it, there is always DISUNITY in lives, homes, and churches.  I believe that the “love problem” or problem from the lack of love we identify as DISUNITY is one of the greatest threats to churches in today’s world.  Conversely, UNITY is one of the most needed qualities any person, family, or church can have and I am convinced that UNITY can only be achieved through LOVE, but I am not talking about EROS.

Paul tells his listeners in Ephesians 4:15-16, we are to “Speak the truth in love.”  He makes it clear that as that transpires, “they will, in all things, grow up into Him who is the head, Jesus.”  He identifies that in that relationship and condition, “the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes the growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”  If you dissect and digest that you will find enough meat to feast on for years and it will change your life.

Over and over the New Testament writers exhorted believers to engage in specific activities that would enable the Body of Christ to function effectively and grow spiritually.  Often, we find a unique word to describe this mutual and reciprocal process – ALLELON, “one another”.  It is used 58 times in the New Testament including the Gospels and the apostle Paul uses it 40 times.  Although some of the concepts are repeated from letter to letter, but when all of the ONE ANOTHER exhortations are studied and grouped according to their specific meanings they can be reduced to approximately twelve significant actions that Christians are to take toward “one another” to help build the Body of Christ.

I do not have time to detail them in this devotional but will say that the greatest is LOVE!  Paul described this as a more excellent way in 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 13:13.  The exhortation to “love one another” is found in his writings more than all the rest.  Of the 48 references what we are to do to “one another” as fellow believers 11times we are told to “love one another”.  If you incorporate Christ’s direct commands to “love one another” from John’s gospel the number climbs to sixteen.  It is without question, LOVE is the most important issue for the believer in the New Testament.  To love fellow believers is a basic injunction and is an evidence of spiritual life and salvation.  Yet, amazingly believers are often deficient in exhibiting “love to one another” for one reason or another.

We will pause here and pick up next time in considering this matter.  God bless you richly as you walk in His light and love. 

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THE HYPOCRISY OF LEGALISM…


Spiritual Blog - Legalism 2

Matthew 15:1-11 – “Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

 3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’  5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” —   6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.  7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

 8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”

 10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand:  11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  NKJV

 

I have met and been around Christians who rigidly adhere to external restrictions as an evidence of their faith and piousness.  They have their “do’s” and “don’ts” and religiously keep their list and demand that everyone else complies or be branded a heretic and apostate.  They compare themselves with others and so long as their ledger sheet has them keeping more of their religious requirements they feel good about themselves and beat their chests saying, “Thank God I am not like them.”  The stench of that attitude surely ascends to heaven and most assuredly does in the minds and hearts of those who have not yet come to Christ in their communities.

David, in Psalm 39:1 declared, “I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.”  I was a legalist and a very devoted one at one time in my Christian walk.  I became that because of my misunderstanding of the message being taught by ministers and older Christians.  As the LORD opened my eyes and taught me in a fuller understanding of His truth I rejected that mindset and embraced Grace in a way I had never truly known it.  I do not mean I began to wink at sin but I understood the reality of our LORD’s word in verse eleven above.  It is tragic to have a list of rules, regulations, restrictions, prohibitions and outward demonstrations and fail to “guard the tongue”.

James 3 addresses the power and danger of an unbridled tongue.  If we keep all the rules but allow our mouths to issue forth words that destroy, are filled with anger, and profane we fail spiritually.  We are allowing the hypocrisy of legalism to defile and that is truly a tragedy.  It is no wonder that the writer of Proverbs would declare in Chapter 18:21 that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”  No wonder much is said about the tongue in Scripture both in the Old and New Testaments.  It is said that the “eyes are the window to the soul.”  I would like to add that the “tongue is the window to the heart.”

Blessing and cursing cannot proceed out of the same fountain and when we fully grasp that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks we will seek the help of the Holy Spirit to guard our words and mend our minds so that we have the mind of Christ and every thought, word and deed are brought into the obedience of the LORD.

God bless you as you embark on today’s journey.

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TOUCHING JESUS and JESUS TOUCHING US…


Spiritual Blog - Jesus

Matthew 14:34-36 – “When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, 36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.”  NKJV

 

I recall an elderly saint in a congregation I was serving as pastor calling for me to come and pray for her.  She was quite ill and as I arrived she reminded me of James 5 that the instruction for those who were sick in the church to call for the elders who were to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord and that the prayer of faith would make the sick well.  So, as I began to pray I asked the Lord to “touch her” and she stopped me saying, “I don’t want just a touch I want healing.”  I understood her concern that my prayer might be less than a prayer of faith and I could be going through the motions doing my religious duty to come, visit and pray.  She had an expectation that if we followed the biblical directive she would receive the biblical promise.

That and other incidents have caused me to consider what it means to TOUCH JESUS and then have JESUS TOUCH US.  Here in Matthew, we find an event immediately after Jesus had “walked on the water” and allowed Peter to do the same.  As the arrived at Gennesaret people recognized Him and from all over the countryside they began to bring the sick to Him.  They did not just ask that He touch them but that they are allowed to TOUCH HIM and all who TOUCHED HIM were made perfectly well.

On that eventful night at my sister’s house in Palestine, Texas on a Saturday night when after reading Proverbs 3:5-6 I cried out in repentance.  It was then that JESUS TOUCHED ME and as the weight of sin was lifted from my being and the new birth became a reality I TOUCHED HIM.  I have learned that I TOUCH HIM with my commitment.  I TOUCH HIM with my faithfulness.  I TOUCH HIM as I reach out to others.  I TOUCH HIM as I allow the Holy Spirit to guide my footsteps.  Every time I reach out to TOUCH HIM, He TOUCHES ME and as His touch comes my burdens roll away.  No, they are not necessarily gone and no longer exist but as I TOUCH HIM and He TOUCHES ME they are rolled onto Him and I am able to take His yoke upon me and He enables me to carry them without being weighed down by them but knowing that I am not alone!        Many times, in my life, I have realized that I do not need to figure it out I need to TOUCH HIM. 

May the Lord be with you and enable you to have both the desire and determination to TOUCH HIM as you proceed through this day and as you REACH OUT TO TOUCH HIM, He will REACH OUT AND TOUCH YOU.  It is in His touch as is detailed in the gospel song, “Touching Jesus.”   The chorus:  “Touching Jesus is all that really matters, then your life will never be the same.  There is only one way to touch Him, just believe when you call on His name.”  

            God bless you!

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THE SPIRIT OF OUR DAY – (Conclusion)


Spiritual Blog - ME.jpg

Ephesians 2:1-10 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  NKJV

 

Back to another issue beyond the “Spirit of Humanism” and “Spirit of Alienation” and hopefully offer something that will benefit you in your spiritual development and walk.

  • SPIRIT OF CAIN.

That may sound strange to you but consider it with me and I believe you will see the connection and benefit in examining this spirit or attitude.  I have found, in life and ministry, that battling “selfishness” is a continual issue with many.  We find something interesting in Genesis 4:9-10, “But afterwards the LORD asked Cain, ‘Where is your brother? Where is Abel?’  ‘How should I know? Cain retorted, ‘Am I supposed to keep track of him wherever he goes?'”   AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?  The word “keeper”, to the shepherd means to “tend, look upon with pleasure, to hedge about so as to guard and protect.”  So, Cain, yes in a very real sense we are our brother’s keeper as we should be watching out for each other as members of the BODY OF CHRIST.

Satan will always promote humanism and alienation and therefore the spirit of Cain is a logical next step seeking to instill in our hearts and minds an attitude of isolationism and independence to the point we care for no one other than SELF.  The Cross brought about a new attitude in which we are “caring, accountable, and have a sense of community and togetherness.”  In a very real sense in the Body of Christ, we are to be a Covenant Community.  In a Covenant Community, we find some interesting characteristics and qualities.  Covenant Community exists when:

  1. People are more concerned with the whole than simply about themselves. Spiritually they view the Church and Body of Christ more important than their individual lives.
  2. Individuals are knitted, built, framed, and joined together in close lasting relationships.
  3. When the spirit of self-sacrifice becomes the prevailing attitude in which the community meets the needs of all.
  4. People want to spend time together in spiritual and natural activities.
  5. The Family is in biblical order.
  6. Humanism, selfishness, independence, and isolation are treated as intruding viruses. They are overcome and destroyed by applying the Word of God so that Covenant Community can become a reality.

So how do we combat those antagonistic spirits?  Romans 14:1-15:7 gives a powerful detailing of seven vital attitudes needed for successful covenant community life.

Romans 14:1-6          Attitude of Acceptance and Understanding.

Romans 14:7             Attitude of Accountability.

Romans 14:13           Attitude of Responsibility Concerning Each Other.

Romans 14:15, 17     Attitude of Sensitivity to Our Brother and Sister’s Weakness.

Romans 14:19           Attitude of Edification that produces a Bond of Peace.

Romans 15:1-3          Attitude of Not Being a Self-Pleaser.

Romans 15:4-7          Attitude of Identification with One Another’s Problems.

 Let me conclude by saying suggesting that we must learn to develop Covenant Community for the benefit of the local church, the Kingdom of God, and our personal individual lives.  To achieve this we must address our personal spiritual development, detect and detest the spirit of today and allow the Holy Spirit to develop an attitude of Covenant Community in our hearts.

God is building His Church and it will impact the world powerfully and it is my prayer and desire to be an integral part of that Body and that you rise to the fullest in your spiritual development and enjoy the ABUNDANT LIFE Jesus came to bring.

God bless you as you continue your spiritual journey!

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THE SPIRIT OF OUR DAY – (Continued)


Spiritual Blog -Mind

Ephesians 2:1-10 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  NKJV

  

If you remember, yesterday we discussed the “Spirit of Humanism” and now I would like to consider the other spirits the satanic spirit produces in our world.

  • SPIRIT OF ALIENATION.

This spirit creates an attitude and environment where the individual is far from being a productive member of a local congregation, community, and society.  It is especially true in the realm of the spirit where the individual becomes a loner, isolated from others and uninvolved.

The word “alienation” as used in the New Testament means, “To be estranged; to shut oneself out from the fellowship and intimacy; to withdraw the heart, affections; and to be a non-participant; to live as an outsider.”  Without going any further that should identify how this would hinder growth in a life.

In this state a person may be “Saved, but alienated and withdrawn.”  They may be “Saved, but maintain and independent attitude and lifestyle and fail to provide benefit to others or receive it for themselves.”  They will usually, “not be maturing in their spiritual life, at least to the degree God has designed and desired.”  Another problem is they may find themselves unduly influenced by the “former spirit” which impacted them before coming to Christ.

What contributes to this spirit?  It has been my observation that it is often due to “unresolved offenses” or “unresolved conflicts.”  The Bible speaks of this condition as a “Sign of the Times” in Matthew 24:10, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.”  In this condition, people exhibit great “distrust” and will, at times, pursue one another with bitterness and hatred.

Taking OFFENSE is problematic and the word “Offense” comes from the Greek [Skandalizo and Skandalon].  It means, “To spring forward and back to slam shut.”  The image is a trap being closed where there is no escape.  In trapping, there is a “bait stick” used to lure the prey into the trap and Satan is a master at this tactic.  In human terms and relationships, it could be identified as “An obstacle on the path over which one falls, stumbles or is hindered.”  It is something that causes moral or spiritual ruin and often causes one to suffer injury or feel pain and results in the individual developing a strong attitude and sense of “distrust” and they frequently abandon or desert the one whom they ought to trust and obey and find it virtually impossible to recognize and submit to proper authority.  Unresolved offenses lead to strained relationships, produce distrust and skepticism, and brings about isolationism where roots of bitterness spring up and defile many.  Any of those attitudes left unchecked will have an incredibly negative impact on the individual and local congregation and the result will be deterioration and stagnation.

Once again, time constraints prevent me from going further so we will pause and pick up here in the next devotional.  God bless you richly is my prayer!

 

 

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THE SPIRIT OF OUR DAY…


Spiritual Blog - War

Ephesians 2:1-10 – “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  NKJV

 

In our day, it is quite evident that there are two spirits at work – The Holy Spirit and the satanic spirit.  One of the best means of identifying the counterfeit is to recognize the genuine and the best way to know which spirit is in operation is to know the Holy Spirit as revealed in God’s word.  One significant manifestation of the satanic spirit is “The Spirit of Humanism”.  I am convinced that the satanic spirit produces at least three spirits that affect individuals, churches, communities and nations in a powerfully negative fashion.

  • SPIRIT OF HUMANISM.

Have you ever been a religious corporate gathering where the presence of God was powerful and yet you could sense a current of “doubt” and “skepticism”?  I have and frequently could connect the dots to this spirit of which I speak.  The spirit of humanism has more impact on our lives than most would like to believe.

[Humanism Manifesto 1933] – – “We consider the religious forms and ideas of our fathers no longer adequate.  The quest for the good life is still the central task for mankind.  Man is, at last, becoming aware that he alone is responsible for the realization of the world of his dreams, that he has within himself the power for its achievements.  He must set intelligence and will to the task.”

Now consider the word of our text in verse two:  “Where in times past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience…” 

Before we gave our hearts to Christ and became Christians, we walked after the spirit of this world.  We were heavily influenced by the prince of the power of the air (Satan), whose fallen spirit seeks to mold the people of our day into his own image.  The Bible makes it clear that the devil’s major problem was SELF?   If you examine Isaiah 14:12-15 you will discover the “five” I will’s of the devil and easily realize how they fit in the expressed attitude of today.  There is the “Spirit of Self Will” where people have a desire and drive to live for self.  “What’s in it for me?”  Then there is the “Spirit of Independence” where people seek to be their own masters and accountable to no one.  Then we see the problem that is the product of this spirit “Ego” and “Self”.  Many want no roots, no commitment, and in many ways live isolated and detached lives.

Time prevents me from addressing the other spirits I wish to unveil so I will hit the pause button and open back up in the next devotional with more information for your consideration and examination.  Until then, God bless you and may you walk in the fullness of His blessings, power, and love!

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MEETING OR BEING ASSEMBLED???


Spiritual Blog - Builder

Hebrews 10:23-25 – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  NKJV

 

I had someone ask, “Do you believe a person can be a Christian and not attend a local church?”  The short answer is, yes.  The follow-up question is why would you not want to attend?  In the answer to the second question we possibly find more revelation as to the root than in the first question.  Some would answer NO to the first and may become agitated with me because I am willing to leave the determination to the LORD rather than allowing my own preference to rule.  I have had some say, “Well, the local churches offer nothing of substance, the people are hypocrites, so why attend?”  I understand the attitude but disagree with the conclusion.

            What is the purpose of the corporate gathering or church service?  If it is simply a religious exercise then I could agree that attending might have little benefit.  If it is something deeper and with a greater purpose I cannot.  Our text suggests something that I have contended for years and been told that I am completely wrong.  The writer says that we are to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.  Is that simply meeting for a service or does the word ASSEMBLE carry a deeper meaning?  The word is understood as “gathering” but when we read the entire text could it suggest something more especially when linked to 1 Corinthians 3:10-17.  Paul speaks of the “Wise Master Builder” and then we read of the explanation of the purpose of the gift ministries in Ephesians 4:11-16 how can, we not see one of the purposes of the local congregational gathering as BUILDING A HOUSE, which we are individual members of.  Then in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 we understand that we are all individual cells in the Body of Christ and although we function independently we are connected by the Blood collective and each part contributes to the whole.  Therefore, if one of the functions and values of the corporate gathering is ASSEMBLING the parts into a building and body it carries incredible benefit both for the individual, the congregation and the kingdom.

            Another benefit of the corporate gathering is contending with or warding off DEGENERATION.  What, in nature, does not degenerate over time if left alone and unattended?  If a house is not painted and occupied it degenerates.  If an automobile is not serviced regularly the engine and other parts will degenerate.  If relationships are not maintained they degenerate.  I believe that also applies to the local church and to the individual believer.  We provide our natural bodies with proper diet, exercise and care to keep it functioning properly and yet too often neglect our spirits.

I considered the spiritual health of the people over whom I gave oversight one of if not my most important responsibility.  In Acts 20:28, Paul exhorted the overseers or pastors to care for ALL THE FLOCK.  One of the daily questions every spiritual leader should be asking is, “What is the spiritual health of the flock?”  There are many LAWS in the natural and spiritual and one of those is “The Law of Degeneration”, which Jeremiah addresses.  Jeremiah 2:21, “Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a seed of highest quality.  How then have you turned before Me into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?”  Everything in the natural and spiritual goes through stages of growth.  In the natural plants require care, fertilization, moisture, sunlight, and, at times, pruning to grow, mature, and produce.  The same is true in the spiritual. We need to have the “good seed” of the Word planted in our spirits and through ministry, guidance, teaching, preaching, and example our spirits are nurtured so that we can grow, develop and produce spiritual fruit.  That is a purpose of the corporate gathering and something that makes it valuable.  One of the problems is that we come to gatherings with wrong expectations.  We should come to receive and give and allow the Spirit of God and God’s appointed leadership and gifts to mold us and assemble us into a whole functioning body and house.

One thing I have found in the natural and spiritual is that DEGENERATION is never “sudden” but is always “gradual.”  Tragically, by the time, some realize it has begun it has progressed to the point the spirit man is in deep distress and disrepair.  God did not bring us into the kingdom to see us degenerate into a non-productive plant or cell in the Body of Christ.  He wants us to have, be, and enjoy ABUNDANT LIFE manifesting as well as representing Him.

My hope is this will move the needle in your attitude toward the corporate gathering and as you allow yourself to become ASSEMBLED with the other members of the local congregation you will become stronger and thereby strengthen the body as a whole.

           God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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DO YOU FIND IT HARD TO WAIT??? – – Continued


Spiritual Blog - Waiting

Psalm 62:1-8 – “Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. 

3 How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah 

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  7 In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. 

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”  NKJV

            We discussed the need to “Wait for God to direct our Steps”, and to “Trust God for our Needs” in the process of developing patience in our relationship, walk, and warfare spiritually.  I have found that WHEN we wait for God to direct our steps, HE DOES.  I have found it to be true that WHEN we trust Him to meet our needs, HE DOES.  It may not be in the timing or along the pathway we would have chosen but HE DIRECTS and PROVIDES.  Now we come to another KEY in Learning to WAIT, spiritually.

  • WE MUST LEARN TO WAIT, IN STILLNESS… 

Notice in he says, “My soul waits in silence…” (v.1) and “My soul, wait in silence…” (v.5)  The songwriter said:  “Speak, Lord, in the stillness, while I wait on Thee; hushed my heart to listen, in expectancy.”

            I have found some of my best and most powerful times of prayer are times when I wait in silence for hours.  I have discovered, those times, when I stop speaking, simply focus that word that I’m reading or have been hearing and allow it to soak in deeply in my spirit.  I listen deeply.  I listen for guidance and reproof. I listen for HIM!  It is in that moment that the Holy Spirit takes over and directs our hearts pointing us to God.  It is there that the Holy Spirit gives directions.

It would be well for each of us to reread Revelation 2:1-7.  The letter of our Lord to the Church at Ephesus.  On the surface, everything seemed fine but something was amiss, they had left their first love.  They were incredibly orthodox and predictable.  They were solid to the core doctrinally and stood for truth, but, they lost the fire and fervency of their FIRST LOVE.  Someone said, “They fell out of love with Jesus or they began to take Him for granted.”  Oh, they still honored him as LORD and believed He was the Christ but the depth of the love has been crowded out by something.  The LORD tells them, UNLESS they return, He would remove their lampstand from its place and take the light away.  They would be nothing more than an empty shell going through the motions with a sign on the door or a marquee identifying they were a church.

Isaiah 40:31, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”  In that verse, the word WAIT means “to twist or to stretch in order to become strong.”  In the noun form it means, “a line” or “a rope.”  It is the idea of stretching and twisting strands of hemp so that, in the process, far greater strength comes to the whole.  This is where we trade our weakness for His strength.  This is where we take our little stand and wrap it around the steel cable of His strength.  This is done in the waiting process and then my strand is as strong as His character.  I exchange my weakness for His strength and His strength never fails!

In WAITING ON THE LORD there are three particular things we should always remember, found in the words of the prophet regarding those who WAIT on the LORD.

  • They will mount up with wings like the eagles.
  • They will run and not get tired.
  • They will walk and not become weary.

             The Hebrew indicates a place in God where we can soar above the problems and cares of life and run the race set before us without the sense of carrying a piano on our shoulders as we run, and we can walk through the normal and routine cares of life without it tiring us out.

Why?  Because we are WAITING.  We are not going in our own strength we are going in His and God never gets tired.  If we remember that He is our ONLY deliverer, our ONLY security, our ONLY hope, and our ONLY true refuge we can relax, trust Him and wait.  To wait we must TRUST. To wait we must PRAY.  To wait we must REST in Him.  One thing we dare not omit is PERSEVERANCE.  The one thing I leave you with is that we MUST NEVER QUIT.

            God bless you as you go through this beautiful day in Him!

 

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