Month: July 2016

IS DIVINE GUIDANCE POSSIBLE?


Spiritual Blog - Guidance

Isaiah 35:8 – “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.  Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.”  NKJV

 

I want to embark on the consideration of a subject that, I believe, will better enable many to discover how to discern or know what we are supposed to do in our lives.  I have had so many inquiries about this matter that I find that no matter where I preach and teach this is a topic many want to consider because so many are struggling in this area.

I have discovered two extremes in the Christian world in which we live.  One says, “God told me” concerning everything and the other says “God doesn’t speak today.”  Both, in my view, are extremes and have proven to be detrimental to the cause of the Kingdom of God.  Both have contributed to the discarding, by many, the wonderful truth of DIVINE GUIDANCE and resulted in throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

The text passage of Isaiah is a wonderful promise and a cause for hope.  What a picture, a highway in the wilderness that is so clear, level and straight the even the simple can follow it.  God wants to GUIDE US today!  Jesus said in John 16:13, “When He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will GUIDE you into ALL TRUTH…”  This GUIDE of John 16 is clearly the Holy Spirit and He is a Person in the sense that He has personality, mind, will, and emotion.  He cannot be reduced to a METHOD, but He does work according to some clearly revealed principles in Scripture.

Therefore, our objective is to “distinguish” God’s Guidance from the confusion of our own desires, prejudices, preconceived notions, and impulses as well as identify the devil’s counterfeit leading and impressions.  Nobody gets lost on a straight road!  Everybody is interested in finding a “surefire” way to KNOW what direction to take or course of action to follow.  We want to be on target and not miss the mark in life.  In fact, even the world, avidly seeks out many forms of guidance and some of it has seeped into the Church world such as psychic prognosticators, astrologers, market analyst, etc.  You can find hundreds of experts, yet there are incredible disagreement and confusion among seekers of truth.  WHY?  A very simplistic answer is they believe that all wisdom comes from the same source.  FALSE!  The Bible identifies two sources of wisdom.  There is Wisdom from Above – GOD and there is Wisdom from Below – Satan.  Both are supernatural.  Both can be sought.  Both can be found.  The Wisdom from Above is TRUTH, the other is FALSE.  One causes us to HIT THE MARK the other causes us to ERR and MISS THE MARK.  Now that I have caused some consternation in hearts let me state that God wants us to KNOW clearly His Will and Word.

GOD’S PROVISIONS FOR GUIDANCE…

  • The Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him, we have Salvation and have been reestablished in right relationship and are exposed to and have access to Light and Life in and of God.

  • The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2:38 we read, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  In John 16:13 we find, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  Luke 11:13 declares, “If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”  God wants to give us the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to be OUR GUIDE.

  • The Holy Scriptures.

The Bible is the written revelation of the will and purpose of God and is, in my view, infallible.   James 8:31-32, “Jesus therefore, was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, if you ABIDE in My Word, THEN you are truly disciples of Mine; and you SHALL KNOW the truth and the truth shall MAKE YOU FREE.”

Everybody lives by or under some authority, whether Pluto or Plato, the God of all creation or the god of this world.  But blessed is the person who makes God’s Word his/her authority.  Jesus said that if we do, we will never be put to shame!  So it is clear from even a casual reading of scripture we cannot avoid the idea that God wants to give us guidance.

I want to say more but will pause here until next time and pray that God will grant you His perfect peace to walk in His way and will.  Blessings abundantly are my prayer!

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE – – Continued…


Spiritual Blog - Hearing God

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

In considering the SPEAKING GOD and our ability to HEAR GOD today I want to introduce you to some familiar passages for your consideration and assurance.  In John 16:7, Jesus informed His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER shall not come to you; but if I go I will send Him to you.”  Then in Romans 8:14, the apostle Paul taught that it was the Christian norm to walk in the Spirit, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God.”  Also, in 1 John 2:27, the apostle John declares, “You abide in Jesus, the anointing you received from Him (Holy Spirit) abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, you abide in Him.”  That, to me, is powerful.

 

It is vital for us to HEAR GOD so that we may walk in the reality of FELLOWSHIP, enjoy the fullness of His Protection, Provision, Guidance, and Grace.  HEARING GOD is vital and never optional.  I am reminded of a story I heard that helps to illustrate the necessity of HEARING GOD.

I do not ski so I have to rely on what others tell me but I’m told that, in Colorado, from time to time one can see a skier wearing a red vest and a sign. The sign reads: “BLIND SKIER.”  It is difficult enough for a sighted person to ski but the blind skiers manage quite well.  HOW or WHY?  Because that blind skier has to TOTALLY TRUST his guide’s voice.  The guide is behind or in front of the blind skier continually giving instructions.  (Simple but specific.)  They use two forms of communication:  Tapping the ski poles to let the Blind Skier know they are there and all is well and speech or oral commands.  The ONLY RESPONSIBILITY the Blind Skier has is to exhibit COMPLETE TRUST and IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE to the instructions.  Can you see that in our spiritual walk?  Our responsibility is to LISTEN and OBEY but before we can OBEY we have to LISTEN and to LISTEN we have to KNOW the voice of our guide.

That brings us to another often asked question, “How Can I know God’s Voice?” or “How Can I know it’s not the devil deceiving me?”  Please do not expect an exhaustive or exhausting answer, but let me suggest a few things that might be of benefit.

LISTENING IS A LEARNED QUALITY.

God is a Father and He is interested in being our Father.  Some are probably like I was, my concept of God was that he was “Boss, Judge, Etc.”  I did not really see Him as the Loving, Caring Father.  Failure to see Him as a Loving and Caring Father hinders fellowship and hinders hearing.  We learn to HEAR.  Remember Jesus said 15 times, “He that has ears to hear, LET HIM HEAR.”  That suggests two facts:  We have ears with which to hear and we can choose to use those ears for hearing or not use them.  A baby, normally, is born with the inherent physical ability to hear but does not know what he hears.  Understanding or comprehension must be learned.  LISTENING is the communication skill we practice most often but usually we do not do it right.  We LISTEN but we do not HEAR.  Do you realize that most of us spend 80% of our awake time communicating but LISTENING is the one communication skill we are not taught?  Remember, if the capacity is there the ability must be developed for it to be effective.

Hearing God must become vital to us and perceived as an absolute necessity in our life if we are going to LEARN TO LISTEN for His voice.  Until HEARING GOD is vital to us we will not likely to HEAR GOD quickly, correctly or regularly.  Jesus emphasized our need to HEAR GOD saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  [Matthew 4:4].  Jeremiah 29:11-12 speaks a powerful word to our lives, “I know what I have planned for you.  I have good plans for you.  I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you a good future.  Then you will call My name, you will come to me and pray to me and I will LISTEN TO YOU.”  Can you follow that the extension of that would be that not only will God LISTEN to us but He will SPEAK to us?

To develop a HEARING EAR there has to be a deliberate effort to set our minds on God.  We must make a deliberate choice to exercise our minds by focusing on God regularly and consistently.  We must carry that exercise of setting our minds on God to all aspects of our lives.  I saw a sign in a Health Club Gym that describes what I’m speaking of.

F – Frequency                                                                                                                                                                    I – Intensity                                                                                                                                                                       T – Time

             The ability to HEAR GOD is one that we must develop and it is something the Holy Spirit is very interested in helping us develop.

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

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE – – Continued…


Spiritual Blog - God Speaks

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

Back to the subject of HEARING GOD TODAY, I feel compelled to raise a few issues with you to enhance our forward progress in this discussion.  Let me ask a few pertinent questions:

  • Which would you Determine to be More Important – – The Author or the Book?
  • Who would be the Best Possible Source to Interpret a Book – – The Author or Another?
  • Which are we to Worship – – The Book or the God of the Book?
  • How can we discover and know the Will of God for Most Things in Life Unless He reveals or tells them to us?
  • Why has there been so much Division caused by the Bible or in Bible Interpretation? The Bible encourages and even commands us to be unified.
  • How did Christians from earlier centuries make it? Especially those before Guttenberg invented the Printing Press because the masses never owned a Bible.

 

I realize we could get into all kinds of arguments and discussions as a result of those questions but can we not conclude that the Holy Spirit must be, somehow, communicating the Will of God to the hearts and minds of people?

In John 16:13 we are told that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth” whose job is to guide us into all truth, SPEAKS.   Therefore, we can be confident that God is STILL SPEAKING since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We can conclude that God’s children can HEAR HIS VOICE for Jesus said, “My sheep shall hear my voice and know Me.”  We should expect God to communicate with us as we seek His will in our lives on a daily basis.  God has a Will and wants us to Know it!

One of the most repeated phrases of Jesus (15 times) He said, “He that has an ear let him hear…” The last seven (7) of those were in the Book of Revelation and He added, “What the Spirit is saying…”  Jesus, speaking from heaven by the Holy Spirit to the heart and mind of man on earth.  In John 10 our Lord declared that His followers are those who HEAR HIS VOICE and He knows us and we follow Him.  In Luke 8:21 Jesus said that His family was, “…those who hear the Word of God and do it.”  Additionally, our Lord taught that we (believers) are to live as He lived and minister as He ministered.  He then told us how He lived and ministered.  John 12:49, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but The Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say and what to speak.”  In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus said to Martha (the busy one) that only one thing was necessary and that was what Mary was doing, LISTENING TO HIS WORDS.

The New Testament Picture reveals that the Holy Spirit lives IN the believer NOW and is to the believer ALL THAT JESUS WAS to His disciples.  Remember John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter), that He may be with you forever.”  Then, our Lord explained more fully that this Helper “is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold or know Him, but you know Him BECAUSE He abides with you and will be in you.  I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS.”  [John 14:17-18a].

I want to say more on the matter of HEARING GOD and the SPEAKING GOD for today but time is short and your endurance may be limited so I will pause and approach this more fully in the next presentation.  God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him. 

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE…


Spiritual Blog - Ears

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”   24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

My primary focus will be on vv.23-24 but all of it is germane as is all of the Scripture.  Throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments there is an emphasis on the importance of HEARING GOD.  In biblical history, we find numerous records where earthly kings would not move without first “hearing” a word from God through the prophets and seers.  In the New Testament, we are repeatedly reminded directly, by implication and suggestion that HEARING GOD is vital for work, walk, and warfare in the life of the believer.  YET, the overwhelming majority of believers in our generation do not hear, do not know how to hear and often do not know or believe you can hear God now!  I am convinced the devil loves this and laughs at the failure of the church to emphasize HEARING GOD.

            In 1 John 1:3, the apostle writes, “What we (apostles) have SEEN and HEARD we proclaim to you… THAT you… May have fellowship (koinonia = community) with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  [Emphasis mine].

A very simple but important question must be, “How can you have FELLOWSHIP with someone who does not communicate?”  That is a virtual impossibility.  The concept of Fellowship between God and man is woven intricately throughout the pages of the New Testament and is a vital part of the message of grace.  In Revelation 3:20 we find Jesus standing at the door and knocking wanting to come in and have fellowship with us.  In John 14:23 we read that Jesus desires to come to us and make His home with us.

The Father’s heart both natural and spiritual cries out for FELLOWSHIP with His children.  He (God) wants to commune with us and communicate with us in a true fellowship of love and for us to enjoy each other.  Hebrews 11:6 declares that “without faith (abiding trust) we cannot please (gratify completely) God.”  That is Fellowship.  In Revelation 4:11 we find God’s declaration that, “You created all things (including man), and for Your pleasure they were created.”  Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  That is communication and communing which means FELLOWSHIP.  We know that faith which is an essential element in pleasing God comes by HEARING GOD SPEAK.  Therefore, if I cannot or do not HEAR GOD I cannot have faith developed in my heart to that level and therefore cannot please God.  If I do not please God that would assuredly diminish the prospects of fellowship with Him.  In fact, we read in 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.”  Therefore, if we cannot HEAR GOD, we cannot fulfill, fully, our call from God.  That is a condition and situation that leaves us empty, unfulfilled, and often frustrated producing the absence of peace and victory.

            THE VITAL QUESTION:  “Does God Still Talk To Man Today?”  There are those who contend that God has said all He is going to say through the Scriptures.  Hear me carefully, please.  God will not write a new Bible but He is a SPEAKING GOD and COMMUNICATES with us even today.  I am not suggesting that we all throw away our Bibles and run around with a “Thus saith the Lord.”  NO!  I believe that anything God communicates to us today will fit squarely and perfectly in harmony with what HE HAS SAID in the Bible.  Also, every word must be tested.  1 Corinthians 14:29 gives a guide that prophetic utterances are to be judged by the other prophets and by consent the Word of God.  Likewise Matthew 18:16 with is a reference of Deuteronomy 19:15 teaches that it takes “two or three witnesses” to establish a word.

            HEARING GOD is vital but as in most things caution must be exercised because of the deadliness of presumption. There must be order and a willingness to test and have our words tested through the Bible, God’s elders and prophets.  I believe that we can HEAR GOD TODAY and that God is STILL SPEAKING to His people in 2016 or wants to speak to us!

I must pause here and pick up next time as we continue to consider this Vital Essential of HEARING GOD in today’s world.  God bless you as you embark on today’s beautiful and fruitful journey in Him!

 

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READING THE RED – – Second Serving…


SPIRITUAL BLOG - Jesus

Matt 7:7-12 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  NKJV

  

Matthew Chapter 7 is a most interesting chapter in the Bible offering some powerful instructions from our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In the first six verses He deals with our relationship with others and then shifts gears, so it seems, to God’s invitation for us to bring our petitions before Him with the assurance that He hears and He responds to our requests.

Let me ask, “Are the first six verses connected to these of our text?”  Obviously, the context is important and it is also important to note that no scripture is of private interpretation nor stands alone, so yes they are connected in principle if not directly linked.  So, when the directive or invitation to PRAYER or PETITION is given with the promise of God’s answer can we conclude that being hypocritical and failing in the realm of the first six verses disqualifies our hope in the next six?  Let me ask it this way, “Is our hope of God hearing and answering our prayers conditional on our obedience to His word, precepts, and principles in relations to other people?”  The broad answer I would give is, yes and while you chew on that and even formulate your disagreement and argument let’s consider the offering from our Lord in these verses.  The directive is:

  • Request and God Hears and Provides.

ASK is certainly petition and tells us that if we ask, He will give us that for which we ask.  But does God indiscriminately grant every request in the fashion and for the purpose we asked?  We know from the rest of the Bible especially the New Testament the answer is no.  That gives weight to my previous suggestions about the connections.  In 1 John 5:14-15 we find a very interesting and powerful statement or promise.  We read, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked.” If we ask according to His will, He hears and if he hears or accepts the prayer He grants the petition.  Again, remember the directive in the first six verses and our following the precepts and principles of God and the condition of our hearts.

SEEK goes beyond simple petition but moves toward intercession and then full blown intercession in KNOCK which is a persistent and insistent petition and intercession.  This is a determined prayer that is so focused on the situation that nothing short of the answer will deter the heart.

  • Then Notice, the Contrast or Comparison of Charity or Love of Man for His Children and the Heart of God. 

God opens our understanding to know that He wants to grant our petition.  He wants to bestow on us His good gifts.  Remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:32, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  The heart of God is to grant our petitions but the heart of God is also holy and the condition of our hearts always comes into focus.

Before you misunderstand, if one person receives what they ask and another does not it is not a definitive indication that one is righteous and the other is not.  For truly, God sends the rain on the just and unjust alike.  What I am saying is simply, if we want to have confidence that our petitions are being heard of God then we need to focus on not just doing right but being right with him and with our fellowman.  There are times in the providence of God that our petitions are not granted in a positive manner or according to the desires of our hearts.  If we walk in right relationship with Him we can be confident that He hears us and will do that which is in our best interest and that of the kingdom.

God bless you as you continue on the journey of this wonderful day!

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READING THE RED…


Spiritual Blog - Read the Red

Matthew 6:8-15 – “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

 ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  NKJV

 

The prayer we identify as the Lord’s Prayer could be called the Model Prayer, the Disciple’s Prayer or the Christian’s Prayer.  It conveys far more than one devotional could possibly hope to examine but let’s “read the red” and glean some truths, I believe, valuable for our daily lives and relationships here on planet Earth.

Jesus reminds those listening and all who read through the ages that would follow of God’s Omniscience.  HE KNOWS!  That lends an interesting twist to prayer and when I have presented this idea challenges come with fury.  The idea is that prayer is not about “getting God to do something” it is about “getting us right” so that we can hear what He is saying and then act accordingly.  I acknowledge that sometimes God does not act on our behalf if we fail to ask or pray but prayer is not our litigating our case before the tribunal of heaven and winning the argument thereby causing Him to respond.  No, it is about us, our hearts and our condition.  Let me declare, I believe in prayer and believe that it is vital for the believer.

Jesus instructed them to pray after the manner of the prayer He presented.  Therefore, rather than something we recite from memory it is a presentation of pattern we should embrace in our petitions before the Throne of Heaven.  I ask that you briefly notice several things:

  • The Focus is GOD.

Most of our prayers are focused on us and our needs but Jesus instructed them to begin their process of prayer and petition with a recognition of God and worship of His name and His person.  If we remember Psalm 100:4 instructs that our entrance before God was to be with THANKSGIVING and saturated with PRAISE.  That is not possible if the focus is SELF rather than HIM. 

  • The Desire is God’s Kingdom, Will and Purpose Realized on Earth.

Again, it is not about self or our need it is about God and the Kingdom of God.  The focus and desire are that God’s Kingdom reign in our hearts and our world just as it does in heaven.

  • The Third Step is Our Needs.

Our need of provision in life and that covers the entire gamut if human need including daily provisions, health, etc.

  • Then Comes Recognition of Sin – By Us and Against Us.

The first sin we must focus on is that against God, then against others, and their sin against us.  Forgiveness is a core element in Christianity and the message of the Bible.

  • Next, Guidance and Protection.

The enemy of our souls would lead us astray and into error, thus perverting the purpose of the Kingdom of God and the Will of God.  If we focus first on God, seek His Kingdom, Purpose, and Will, then receiving the answer for our need, walk in repentance and forgiveness it is at that point we should ask for guidance, deliverance, and protection.  Those would not be possible if at least items 1, 2 and 4 are not realized.

To emphasize the importance of this, Jesus gave His powerful statement in verse 14, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  So, as you enter into prayer never rush in with “gimme, gimme, gimme” follow the pattern Jesus gave in this beautiful prayer.   This, to me, emphasizes another reason to “Read the Red.”

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day on your journey through life.

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THE COMMANDMENT FOR PERFECTION…


Spiritual Blog - Perfection

Matthew 5:48 – “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”  NKJV

 

I engaged in an interesting conversation some time past regarding the view that God Commands Holiness and Perfection.  This person was perplexed because they were hearing people argue politically and morally that “You cannot legislate morality.”  Their problem was in the thought that God does demand or command perfection and holiness and if He does then why can men not legislate rightness?  It would be impossible to venture into all the ramifications of that thought process but let’s consider the point of God’s command for Perfection and Holiness.

We know as Peter declared that we are to, “…gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  NKJV [1 Peter 1:13-16]. 

If Sinless Perfection is the objective, and it should be, how can any of us achieve that prize?  In the flesh, we cannot.  I suggest that although we are forgiven we are not completely empty of fleshly thoughts, motives, and actions.  The word, in our text, literally means, “To be finished, complete, pure, and holy.”  It implies completeness where all the parts are functioning properly without defect.  God described Job the first chapter of Job  as “perfect” but clearly, he was not perfect in the same sense as God is perfect.  We know that because fault and flaw were found in him. He exhibited a uniformity in his life through which he manifested the heart of God.  The target is perfection and only as we grow in Grace and empty ourselves more and more as the Holy Spirit sheds abroad in our hearts the love, nature, and character of our LORD do we overcome.  As John, the Baptist declared, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” 

But, back to the issue raised about God legislating perfection and holiness.  God commands us to be Holy and instructs us to be Perfect but He does not issue those directives or commands and then leave us to flounder in our pursuit, going from failure to failure.  Whatever God commands He provides the Grace, Wisdom, Knowledge, Strength, Power, and Provision to accomplish.  In our world of humanity, we might pass a law to legislate a particular moral quality but there would be no empowerment afforded us to become that person.  There would only be the demand of law to follow that path and conduct ourselves as though we were that person.  But, with God, if He says be Holy, then He who is Holy brings to us His Holiness so that we are able to “be holy because He who is holy lives us and through us.”  If God commands us to be “perfect, complete, entire” then He who is perfect, complete, and entire gives us the strength, grace, and wisdom to be that.

Too often, rather than seeking to BE PERFECT we justify our falling short declaring, “I’m only human.”  Yes, but we are humans who have been redeemed by the Blood of Jesus, and He lives in us making real the truth that, “…in Him we live and move and have our being.”  The life that we now live in the flesh we live by the faith of and faith in the Son of God.  It is by Grace not Will-Power or any human ability it is by HIM that we can be that which He calls us to be.

My desire is that each of us makes God’s Call and Command not only a dream but our objective and pursuit.  I pray that we make the goal of our Christian walk to be epistles known and read of men who manifest the nature, character, love, grace, mercy, peace, power, and person of Jesus Christ.  Holiness is not an archaic word to be relegated to bygone eras but will be the revealed characteristic of Heaven and if we are to be at home in Heaven we need to get some Heaven in us now.  God help us to seek perfection and desire holiness.

            God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!

 

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LONGING FOR GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Prayer

Psalm 63:1-11 – “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.  4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.  6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.  7 Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.  8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.  9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. 10 They shall fall by the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. 11 But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone who swears by Him shall glory; but the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.”  NKJV

 

I used the entire Psalm because, in my view, our thought topic cannot be considered without considering the entire message presented.  Now, I ask a pertinent question, “Have you every longed for God and could not sense His presence?”  That is a desolate place which is most miserable.  What do you do if you long for Him and cannot sense His presence?  I believe this Psalm gives us a small glimpse which can prove invaluable if we will utilize and practice it in our lives.

The Psalmist proclaims what our hearts should and do exclaim, “O God, You are my God…”  You are God and when Jesus asked the disciples if they too would forsake Him, Simon Peter’s answer was, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the word of eternal life.  Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  [John 6:68-69].  The first confession is “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” is the basis of our Christianity.  Until we recognize that He is God we will find no motivation to repent but when we realize WHO HE IS our hearts break not because in our sinful condition we are hell bound but because we have broken His heart we run to the Cross in genuine remorse.

Next, he declares, “Early will I seek You…”  God, You will be the first thought on my mind and my first response in the new day will be to meet with you in fellowship and for instruction and strength.  Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…”  He is to be the first thought and last thought on our minds as we begin and end our day.

Why does the Psalmist seek Him early?  Because He is God and because the Psalmist understands and senses the longing and thirst in his spirit for God.  He compares his thirst for God’s presence to that of a man in the wilderness without water.  Without God, his soul is parched and will wither into nothingness.  Without God, there is no strength for the battle.  Without God, there is no refreshing.  He cries out in desperation, “I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.”  He wants more than simply the demonstration of divine power but the fellowship of the divine presence of God.

Why?  Because the lovingkindness of God is better than life, in fact, without God’s lovingkindness there is no real life.  So, even in the condition of being thirsty and feeling as though he is in a parched dry land where there is no water or presence he declares, “My lips shall praise You.  Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.”

What do you do when you thirst or long for God and cannot sense His presence?  You determine that He is God, recognize your need for Him, and continue to offer praise and worship to Him who is the God of all living.  The Psalmist declares that even on his bed he meditates on God and expresses confidence that even though he might not feel God, he knows that God’s protection, power, and person are near and he rejoices in that confidence committing himself to God completely.  He rests in his knowledge and confidence that even if He cannot sense God’s presence God is there and keeps Him.

Therefore, my encouragement is that even if you feel you are in a dry land spiritually DO NOT GIVE UP and NEVER stop seeking, acknowledging, and praising God.  God bless you as you embark on today’s wonderful journey in Jesus!

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