Month: August 2017

THREE-FOLD BENEFIT OF INSTRUCTION…


Spiritual Blog - Instruction Manual

Proverbs 6:20-22 – “My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 21 Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.  22 When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you.”  NASU

             The Book of Proverbs says much about wisdom, knowledge, instruction, and obedience and unfortunately, we often make it a “Promise Box Book” in the Bible rather than connecting the dots and gleaning the full message and teaching.  These three verses are part of a much larger message but let me try to glean a beautiful truth from them and later we can step back and view the bigger picture.

It is interesting that the writer would use “the commandment of your father” and “the teaching or statute of your mother” in his counsel.  It appears that the idea presented is that the father’s instruction is like a line drawn in the sand or an arrow shot at a target and the instruction of the mother is like that of a schoolmaster.  One is black and white and the other deals with precepts and principles.  This, in my view, is a recognition of the difference in the methodology of men and women and the need for both for the instruction to become embedded in the heart to the point that it becomes a part of the thinking and nature of the student.  We need both the “do this and this” as well as “this is why we do this and this” for the message to resonate to the point of changing the heart and the mind.

He then says, “bind them continually on your heart; and tie them around your neck.”  That is a visual of keeping those teachings in constant view.  The heart of hearts is where our change comes and if we take those lessons, precepts, and principles taught us and keep them “in or on” our hearts they will guide our thinking as well as our emotions.  If we tie them around our necks, we keep them before us so that we cannot ignore them but be forced to step over them if we disobey.

Next, he gives the benefits derived from the first two portions of the counsel.  If you observe the commandments given and walk in obedience to the teachings received binding them to your heart and keeping them before your eyes they do something positive and powerful.

  • When You Walk About (Daily Life) They Will GUIDE YOU.

I don’t know about you but many times in life I have found myself faced with a choice and unless I had the sound teachings of the Bible and the moral moorings that came from my parents I would have erred.  Oh, there are times I erred anyway but not without kicking against the pricks and ultimate come back to that place of my roots.  The Word is my Guide and enables me to make right choices when the choice is not clear.

  • When You Sleep, They Will WATCH OVER YOU.

Imagine have a divine guard 24/7/365.  Remember the 91st Psalm’s promise that the Angels of God would watch over us and keep us in all our ways.  We are told that they will guide us.  Remember the words of Jesus that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth.  Remember the Promise of Scripture that the Word is both a Light and a Lamp illuminating our pathway so that we can walk in the right direction.  Godly instruction will provide an anchor and a spiritual GPS so that we can find the right way and walk in it.  It is a spiritual security system that alerts us to danger and pitfalls.

  • When You Awake, The Will TALK TO YOU.

They will speak to your conscience and your inner man.  I like that thought that the godly instructions rooted in the Word of God will TALK TO ME.  God’s Word, we are told is ALIVE and we read in Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  THAT IS POWERFUL and when we have that Promise we can go through our daily lives in peace and find rest in the night as we sleep in the sweet slumber that His Peace affords.

Never despise godly instruction.  You may not like it at the time but if it is rooted in the Word of God and can be applied to daily life it can and will become invaluable in times of decision.  It will provide us with spiritual GPS to guide our steps, a spiritual security system to enable us to rest without fear of danger or intrusion, and will be our counselor giving us solid advice each day.  THAT IS POWERFUL!

God, bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day that God has provided.

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LIVE WHILE YOU ARE LIVING…


SPIRITUAL BLOG - Live While Alive

Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”  NASU

             There have been movies and television productions about the “Living Dead” but what I’m talking about is the “Dead Living.”  The writer of Ecclesiastes in his nuggets of wisdom gives some incredibly good advice in this verse.  He tells us that if we opt to engage in an activity we should be totally committed to the objective.  Jesus addressed that in Revelation as He spoke to one of the churches and said, “I would that you were hot or cold but because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth.”  We often quote the first portion of the verse listed above but fail to include the latter portion.

We are challenged to be fully committed to whatever we engage in and that is good but I ask that you read the rest of the verse and notice the “for” that is there.  For or because should get or attention and it tells us a reason to be fully committed in everything.  If we embark on a project, activity, or ministry we are to be totally committed BECAUSE it is only as we are ALIVE that we can complete the task.  Once life has ended in the natural there is no more activity (on earth), no more planning, no more earthly knowledge or wisdom.  This is our only shot at doing that which is before us whether it is accepting Christ as our Savior or completing an assignment.  We are to Live while we are Living! 

I have been around, known, and worked with people who I’d call “Dead Living” because they were never committed and simply drifted from one crisis to the next.  They were lifeless and listless in their hearts and no one could depend on them.  They went from fractured relationship to fractured relationship.  They went from one job to another.  They went from one dilemma to the next and from one uncompleted project to another.  Their lives were in constant drama and disarray.  They never found the Abundance of Life that Jesus said He came to bring.  The existed but could not be described as Living.  They had life in the natural but were not truly ALIVE!

Job said that “man that is born of woman is of few days and full of troubles.”  The Psalmist tells us that, “Many are the affliction of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.”  None of us are exempt from difficulties but all of us have an open invitation to enter into LIFE in Abundance in Jesus.  I like the saying, “You only go around once in life: Go for all the gusto you can.”  Someone changed that and said, “You only go around once in life, but if you do it right once is enough.”  That’s true in Jesus!  He has promised to go with us into every situation both good and bad.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us and has invited us to enter into His rest and draw from His strength.  He has given us authority and power over all the power of darkness.  He brings us ABUNDANT LIFE and in that life, we can Live while we are living on this earth.

Make life a joyous journey, not a drudgery.  Never succumb to the temptation to just drift along but rather “whatever you hand finds to do, do it with all your might…”  Learn to Live and in the process of living savor, every moment for you do not know what tomorrow holds.  Life is a vapor that appears for a little time and then it is gone in the natural.  We are not those who only live while on earth we are those who live for eternity.

God, bless you richly is my desire and prayer!

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TOUCHING AND TOUCHED…


Spiritual Blog - Touching Jesus

Matthew 14:35-36 – “And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; 36 and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.”  NASU

 

There were some interesting things said and questions asked of Jesus during His time on Earth including, “If you are willing, heal me.”  Jesus’ response was, “IF I AM WILLING???”  His response was an indication of how deeply that question troubled Him based on what He had done and taught, as well as the many passages of the Old Testament about His purpose and ministry.  We read repeatedly that He went about doing good and healing ALL that were sick and oppressed of the devil.  Healing is part of His ministry and offering to mankind, spiritual, emotional, and physical healing.  No, it has not been done away with because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

But this passage in Matthew brings us face to face with a truth that we sometimes miss.  There are two things that come to mind as I read this.  The first is the power and importance of “Touching Jesus” and the second being “Touched by Jesus.”  If you recall the account in Luke 8 where the woman pressed in and touched His garment you get a glimpse of the power of “touching Jesus” in our lives.  Jesus was in a crowd where people were pressed against each other and many were touching Him but this woman TOUCHED HIM in a way that drew out from Him the Energeia or Power and He knew it and felt it when it happened.  He immediately stopped and asked, “Who touched Me?”  The disciples were flabbergasted because of the crowd and expressed the same to Jesus.  But the Lord said, “NO, somebody TOUCHED ME and in touching Me was TOUCHED by Me.”  There is a difference!  This touch was in the flesh for her and a physical action but for you and me today it is in the realm of the Spirit and often through prayer or in worship that we TOUCH Him in a way that elicits Him TOUCHING us.

In this passage, we are told that “as many” as touched His garment were cured.  Their touch was driven by faith and hope. Their touch was motivated by a belief that He could and that He had within Himself the power and authority to heal.  They believed Him to be the Christ of God and as the Christ He was God and God could do all things, therefore He could do all things and they were driven to TOUCH Him and be TOUCHED by Him as a result.  We used to use a phrase that I do not hear much anymore, “Praying Through.”  What do we mean by “Praying Through”, praying through what and to what?  In the light of this passage, it is praying through until we TOUCH Him and praying through until He TOUCHES us.

When I was a fledgling preacher I heard, a seasoned minister respond to the question, “Why are so many prayed for but not healed?”  He said with total sincerity, “Everybody expects to be prayed for but not everybody expects to be healed.”  He was not attempting to place blame on those not healed but to reveal that many go to the altar and in prayer in a religious ritual but without expectation of TOUCHING JESUS.  I have personally experienced TOUCHING JESUS and receiving direction in a time of difficulty.  I have TOUCHED HIM and known His healing power in the physical.  I have experienced the FLOOD OF PEACE that comes when, in prayer or worship, you TOUCH HIM.  In those times, nothing could shake me from my confidence that not only had I TOUCHED HIM but that He had TOUCHED ME and that what I was asking was DONE.

I pray that we return to the process of “praying through” and refuse to give up or give in until we have TOUCHED JESUS and when we do I know for certain that He will TOUCH US.  That is when the reality of 1 John 5:14-15 becomes a present reality in our lives.  Let’s never be satisfied to go through the motions and determine that when we go to our Prayer Closets we will not be satisfied until we TOUCH JESUS and then are TOUCHED by JESUS.

            God, bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

 

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POSSESSING THE PROMISE OF GOD – [Part II]


Spiritual Blog - Promises

Numbers 13:1-3; 17-33

            The Promise of God was – “The Land Is Yours.”  The Problem was – “There Were Occupants on the Land.”  Those inhabitants had controlled it for a very long time and did not honor God or His decree and had no intention of giving up the land they occupied.  THAT IS A PROBLEM.  God said, “It is yours” but the inhabitants said, “Over our dead bodies.”

Israel had to strategize and learn to fight enabling them to move into the Place of Promise and attain the Promised Victory. God had given the Promise. The inhabitants refused to honor the Promise and Covenant of God. It was up to Israel to transition into Spiritual Warfare which would be walked out in the natural and Possess the Land. They had to possess it spiritually before they could possess it naturally.  They had to BELIEVE the Promises of God and no matter what their natural eyes saw they had to be willing to act on the Promise as though it were an accomplished reality in the natural.

The Land of Canaan is a specific place but this Promise is far beyond a plot of ground in the Middle East.  That is not to diminish its importance but the Promise is THE WORLD as Romans 4:13 reveals.  This is far beyond land in the Middle East it is the opening to the Promises of God through Christ Jesus and our full victory in this walk of faith.  What took place in the Natural is to instruct us in the Spiritual.  God wants us to Possess the Land or Place of Promise.

It is important that we rehearse some things in Scripture as foundational principles and facts for us to build on. 

  • God gave Adam RULE over the Earth. (Genesis 1:26,28).
  • God repeated that Promise to Noah. (Genesis 9:1-2).
  • God gave man RULE over the Earth. (Psalm 8:6).
  • God’s Kingdom is everlasting and His Dominion endures to all generations. (Psalm 145:3).
  • God Promises to subdue people and nations under our feet. (Psalm 47:3).
  • God has given Authority (Dominion) over all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19).

          Those are FACTS!  They are the Promises of God but the devil does not want to honor God’s decree, therefore we have the responsibility to reclaim the land and appropriate the promises enforcing the Victory of Jesus at the Cross.  Therefore, in a very real sense Canaan is, in addition to being a specific place, the Place of Promise, Abundance, and Victory that has to be taken by force.  It is through Spiritual Warfare!!!  The question immediately comes to mind, “How Do We Do That?”  In simplistic terms, we follow the biblical pattern and revelation found in Numbers 13 as our beginning.  God has an order that He operates in.  That does not mean that one thing is more important than another, it simply means order, which keeps focus and eliminates confusion.

GOD’S STRATEGY FOR TAKING OUR PLACE OF PROMISE…

Why is it necessary to have a strategy?  If God decreed it can’t we just go and do whatever we feel needs to be done?  Why should we be concerned with the unseen realm, after all, we live in the natural don’t we?  Let me use a natural illustration that I believe will help.  How do you get rid of thistle bushes or crab grass?  Do you clip it off at the ground or do you go after the roots?  One way you get to repeat the process over and over in a never-ending struggle, the other way you achieve victory.  Which is more effective and efficient?

Likewise, Satan cannot operate unless he has legal ground or unless we are ignorant of our Provisions and Promises in the Lord.  So, we need a strategy that allows us to investigate and find out if there is “legal ground”.  If there is we must tear out the root of that authority.  We need to discover the history and see how the fruit and roots came into being and how they operate.  We need to renounce any wrong covenants we may have made and in repentance return to the Lord receiving the Blood Covering.

We commit ourselves fully and completely to the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us.  We take God’s Promises to heart and see them as realities in the natural as well as in the Spiritual Realm.  We then determine that we will not be deterred from the Place of Promise and learn to use the weapons of warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling down strongholds.  We HEAR the Promise.  We then SEE the Promise.  Then we POSSESS the Promise.

God, bless you as you move onto your Place of Promise in God!

 

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POSSESSING THE PROMISE(s) OF GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Promises

Numbers 13:1-3; 17-33

I believe that the Spirit of the Lord would have me take a Historic Life Experience from the pages of the Old Testament and communicate a Spiritual Principle from the New Testament.  Hopefully, we can accomplish this with clarity and brevity.  In Romans 15:4 we read, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction…”  Then in 1 Corinthians 10:6,11 we find, “These things happened to them as an example for us, and they were written for our instruction…”  In a very real sense, they were stamped as a model or a scar permanently in them and God used them to transform the minds and helped them keep those things written in the forefronts of their minds as a testimony and encouragement.  I am confident that the Holy Spirit will communicate this to us so we will be enlightened and thereby drawn into that which the Spirit of God is SAYING and DOING in this very hour.

As we examine the record we find that in fulfilling His Covenant to Abraham God made some incredible promises.  In Genesis 12:7 He said, “to your descendants (seed) I will give this land.”  In Galatians 3:7 we discover, “They which are of faith, they are the children of Abraham.”  In verse 16 of that same chapter we read, “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made.”  Seed, not seeds which point to Christ Jesus our Lord.  Then in verses 17-18, we are told, “The Covenant, that was confirmed before the Law, which was 430 years after cannot disannul, that it should make the Promise of none effect.  For if the inheritance [be] of the Law, [it is] no more promise; but God gave it to Abraham by Promise.”  Then in verses 27-29, we find, “For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you [be] Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the Promise.”  That is incredible and in this, we discover God’s instructions to Moses for Possessing the Land or the Place of Promise.  In Numbers 13:1-2, God instructed Moses – “Go Get Information.”

I shared that once and had a person say, “That’s foolish and unnecessary because God already knows.”  But, we discover that the order God used has been used by military strategist for generations.  In simplicity it is, KNOW THE ENEMY.  It is important that we Discern the Gates of the City in order to take the City.  Then in verse 3, we see Moses obeying the directive of God and sent out chosen men to spy out the land.  In verses, 17-20 Moses gave some specific and detailed instructions and there were four keys in his charge:  The Land, the People, the Cities, and the Fruit or Produce of the land.  I have learned in my years of service that God NEVER sends out an uninformed army.  He ALWAYS equips and prepares for battle and we must never forget that His ways are not man’s ways.

Moses sent them out and instructed them to bring back a SINGLE REPORT (v. 25) with regard to the goodness and fruitfulness of the land.  However, as the record indicates they came back with two minds, not one.  One group (10) could only see the NATURAL, whereas the other group (2) could see into the UNSEEN.  They all agreed the Land (fruit) was good but the ten saw the inhabitants as impossible obstacles and the cities too fortified.  They were defeated in their minds and would have been defeated in battle.  The Bible continually teaches that this is exactly where the battle is waged and won or lost.  If we see with God’s eyes we overcome but if we see with the eyes of flesh we are overcome.

I remind you of the account in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha (the double portion prophet) thwarts the efforts of the entire Syrian Army by his ability to SEE and HEAR in the UNSEEN REALM. The Syrian Army came to Dothan to take Elisha captive.  His servant woke up and saw the massive army and ran fearfully to the man of God crying, “WHAT DO WE DO?”  This was more than a question it was a plea of desperation and defeat.  He came to the prophet in despair.  Elisha then prayed a powerful prayer that should be revealing to each of us.  He prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”  But, Elisha he could see the Syrian Army.  No, No, No, Elisha is praying that God open his eyes that he could see into the realm of the UNSEEN.  The servant wasn’t blind in the natural but he could not see into the realm of the Supernatural.  Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-18, “that you have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and the eyes of your understanding enlightened.” 

It is critical if we are going to Possess the Promise(s) that we develop Eyes to see into the Unseen and Ears to hear beyond the natural.  I want to deal with this more deeply but will pause for now and pick up here next time.

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

 

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THE PAIN OF HELPLESSNESS…


Spiritual Blog - Help

2 Corinthians 1:8 – “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”  NKJV

             I have experienced some incredibly traumatic things in my life including the loss of someone dear in tragedy, abandonment to the point I despaired of life and the pronouncement that I had a malignancy.  The experiences like those mentioned were incredibly painful and distressing but I know of no pain more debilitating than the feeling of helplessness. 

I have watched my children face struggles that I could not step in and resolve and for a man who was raised to fend for himself, face difficulties head on and handle whatever came your way HELPLESSNESS is murderous.  You see the problem and know that within yourself you can do nothing.  It is outside your ability, authority or power.  It is not dependent on what you do or do not do and may rest in the hands of others whom you cannot control.

Helplessness is as much a state of mind as anything and it finds its roots in FEAR and TRUST or the lack of trust.  In the state of mind that says, “Nothing I do will make a difference” is not only paralyzing it is destructive.  It can and often does destroy relationships and faith.  It stems from the idea that we, as individuals, must be in control and are the captains of our own ship and masters of our own fate.  It, at its core, denies God although the person in that state of mind may be devout in their belief in God.  It views life through the prism of self and becomes incapable of looking beyond themselves.

Helplessness is a continual spiral downward into the abyss of hopelessness.  If we find ourselves in a state of feeling helpless and hopeless we have choices.  We can continue our focus on self and circumstances and revel in the helplessness and hopelessness of the situation or condition or we can look beyond ourselves.  I would contend that if we can envision another who can rectify our situation we are not in a state of helplessness.  It is when we see no solution from our own ability or any outside source that HELPLESSNESS reigns.  It is from that sense of helplessness that we become hopeless and despair of life.  NO HOPE!   NO HELP!  Total despair rules.

It is when we look beyond ourselves or others and realize that with God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE that helplessness and hopelessness begin to melt away from our minds.  Our pathway to deliverance and victory may be tiny baby steps but the light at the end of the tunnel gradually transforms from a faint candle flicker to a brilliant flood light.  Hope begins to rise within and that hope dispels the sense of helplessness.

The Serenity Prayer is applicable especially when our confidence is directed to the LORD our God:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

             Helplessness is a condition where we see ourselves as the final source of a situation.  Hopefulness is where we see God as the final source of a solution.  In a time of helplessness, we can either become hopeless or hopeful depending on where our look is focused.  Psalm 121:1-2 gives the solution, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

I pray that God HELP you to be free of HELPLESSNESS and walk in HOPEFULNESS the remainder of your days!    God bless you as you go through this day!

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THE DIRECTIVE IS CIRCUMSPECT not CIRCUS SPECTACLE…


Spiritual Blog - Circumspect

Ephesians 5:15-16 – “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  NKJV

             Paul gave life counsel to the Ephesians and one particularly noteworthy item was ‘how they were to walk or live.’   He gave a contrast saying ‘walk this way not this way.’  Advice it would benefit each of us to carefully consider in our daily lives.

Some live more as a Circus Spectacle than Circumspect and demonstrate an inherent bent toward foolishness and as a result are generally guilty of being time wasters rather than redeemers of that precious commodity.  Being a Christian carries with it a great responsibility in presentation, before the world a life that is complimentary of our faith, not one that is detrimental to our confession of faith.

Circumspect is defined as ‘watchful and discreet; cautious and prudent.’  A circumspect walk will not be one that is so outrageous that it would be more acceptable in a circus than society.  The flummadiddle that is all too often manifest needs to stop for we have a monumental task before us that is of eternal significance.  Multitudes are perishing without God and unless we learn to live in a manner that reflects our Lord and demonstrates His wisdom we limit our ability to witness to them.  If they see us more as Circus Spectacles than Circumspect we have little impact but if we manifest Him lifting Him up in our lives they will be drawn to Him.

That by no means suggests that we are to be so solemn and serious all the time that we are viewed as fuddy-duddies.  God wants us to be overflowing with the Joy of the Lord and be anointed with the oil of gladness.  I have found that people who cannot or do now laugh or even know how are often miserable and breed miserableness.  I recall once having a person, whom everyone in town knew as the hardest man around, come to me and say, “Preacher, I want what you’ve got.”  He went on to tell me that because I was frequently laughing, would tell a joke, and even when things were difficult could find a lighter side he was interested.  He also told me that he had witnessed me shifting gears from humor to serious and knew that while I like to laugh I was deadly serious about life and he saw something in me he did not see in most.  I did not take that to mean that I was better, more spiritual or special than other dedicated believers in my community.  I took it to mean that God had used me to demonstrate a manner of life that caught this man’s attention positively.  Some in the same town did not like my way of approaching life and thought as a preacher I should be sour-faced and solemn all the time.

So if we live a life that is circumspect allowing God’s wisdom to flow through us as we redeem the time taking advantage of the opportunities set before us we will touch others positively and powerfully.  My prayer is:  “Lord help me to walk circumspectly and never let me be viewed as a circus spectacle.”

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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UNDERSTANDING GRACE…


Spiritual Blog - Grace

Ephesians 4:29-5:2 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  NKJV

 

             I never cease to be amazed at how many followers of our LORD view and understand Grace.  Some even seem to feel that since God has been ‘gracious’ to them in extending his pardon and mercy resulting in the New Birth they are now free to sin.  I find that utter foolishness.  Religion has The Law and The Law says, as long as you behave or keep the rules I’m satisfied.

The Law deals with my behavior.  I may hate my behavior but I continue to do it so we strive to LOOK like good Christians and adjust our masks so that other Christians think we are good Christians.  That is performance orientation and is like lipstick on a pig altering the appearance does not change the truth.

Grace, on the other hand, does not make its focus behavior it focuses on The Heart.  It deals with your “want to.”  It addresses where you want to be who you are and begins the process of change.  THEN, when you are changed, your behavior changes!  No masks simply an expression of who you really are!  You BECOME!

That is what the apostle is addressing when he says, “The Grace of God has come to you.”  It has invaded you.  It is on the inside of you.  Now, let it have its perfect work and begin to transform you so that you can BE who you ARE in Christ.  The Grace of God that brings salvation has reached down to the pit we were in, lifted us up and transformed us.  In that sense, Salvation is happening every day for we are becoming as He is.

Salvation means wholeness and implies perfect health.  So this salvation that is brought to us by the Grace of God makes us HEALTHY.  Of course, I speak of more than any physical healing but spiritual.  I have learned that physical maladies are often less problematic than our spiritually mental sickness.  I am not talking about the classic mental illness we hear much about but a spiritual condition in which we are sick in our thinking and feeling.

Paul says we are to PUT AWAY malice, bitterness, anger, wrath, and all evil speaking.  He is speaking as a physician would when identifying the need for radical surgery.  If we are to be healthy it must begin on the inside.  It is then we are able to radiate the health of Christ spiritually in our outward actions and appearance.  We will radiate God’s Life!

He tells us to PUT AWAY and there is an emphasis that this is something we are to be deeply involved in.  I have had some tell me that they are praying God will deliver them from those things and I always address the need for them to PUT AWAY not attempt to PRAY AWAY those things.  I emphasize that the process begins on the inside and it is a heart problem, not action problem.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO PUT AWAY?

The Number One this is BITTERNESS!  Putting away bitterness is not just addressing it once and it is done.  Bitterness is a way of being!  It is a kind of spiritual cancer that has gotten so deep inside our person that our spirit is infected.  It is a state of being and is constant although we are not always conscious of it.  It affects how we see people and things.  ALL people, ALL things ALL the time!  The root of bitterness did not happen overnight and it is something that we may have dragged in from the old life.  It does not matter what it was it MUST GO!  It is a poison that courses through your being and defiles.  Bitterness doesn’t get in your heart and mind it manages to get into your tongue as well.

Additionally, there is WRATH!  This is where we fly off the handle and it is clearly rage.  It is like an explosion and it burns deep within from BITTERNESS.  Then there is ANGER and while it is akin to Bitterness the person tries to hide or denies it.  You can see by their facial expressions and body language they are angry but they’re nice people.  They keep it bottled up inside.  Then CLAMOR which is uncontrolled shouting where there is no control over the tongue.  Then EVIL SPEAKING where one deliberately seeks to hurt another.  In the Greek it means blasphemy.  (You blaspheme God when you talk about someone made in His image with the design and desire to do them harm).  Also, we come to MALICE which is a settled determination to hurt others or get even.  Paul says through the Holy Spirit PUT IT AWAY!

May God convict us and help us to BECOME who we are in Him.   God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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