Month: July 2018

JUDGING and THE CHRISTIAN…


Spiritual Blog - Judge

Matthew 7:1-6 – “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.  2 “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.  3 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  4 ” Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?  5 “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.  6 ” Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”  NASU

 

I’ve heard many sermons on Judging and many of those sermons were Judgmental and sometimes bordered on Self-Righteousness or were advancing a Christianity that the preacher could not demonstrate.  Before you assume that I am challenging this directive of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am not and hope to offer something that might be beneficial in your walk and help you avoid the unnecessary and unwarranted condemnation of both the devil and other Christians.

The directive is quite clear – “Do Not Judge So That You Will Not Be Judged.”  However, I have to ask, “Is God going to Judge Us?”  Yes, He is.  A second question I feel drawn to is, “Are there times when we are to Judge?”  Before you argue that this passage totally prevents us from exercising Judgment, “what does the Bible have to say about Judgment?”  Also, “Can you think of situations in life where it is imperative that you Judge?”  We will get to those but let me suggest that is passage is not simply a blanket command to NEVER JUDGE anyone it is a directive of our LORD against “being judgmental” or “pharisaical.”  You may still disagree so let’s proceed.

Allow me to refer you to John 7:24 and the words of our LORD, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”  WAIT, I thought we were not to Judge?  Simply, that suggests that we are never to judge when in areas we are unqualified to do so.  We are not to Judge according to appearance.  If we judge based on what we see which will be filtered through the grid of preference or experience we will be in danger of wrong judgment.  The Bible is clear that if we condemn someone for things that we are guilty we bring on ourselves condemnation.

We should always refrain from judging matters of opinion, as directed in Romans 14:1-4 and Romans 14:10-13.  We can NEVER assume the place of God in Judgment but remember the directive of Scripture to “mark” which means to judge or determine their motives certain people both those that cause division and those that pursue righteousness.  In Leviticus 19:15 we are warned, “You shall do no injustice in judgment.  You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. But in righteousness, you shall judge your neighbor.”  WHAT?  If I am told to NEVER Judge how can I follow those directives?  Paul even said that Christians were in error taking each other to court for other believers were to Judge those matters (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).  I dare not omit, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 where we are told to withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.  Is that not exercising judgment?  In verses 14,15 of that chapter, we are told to not count the one who walks disorderly as an enemy but to admonish him/her.  In Romans 16:17-18 we are instructed to make note or mark those that cause division.

Might I also suggest that in the course of human events and human relationships, business, social, political, and spiritual the exercise of discernment is necessary and in that usage, we will Judge?  We are never to make unqualified judgments and many matters we must leave in the hands of the Almighty.  However, in our interpersonal dealings, we must make judgments.  The problem is that we often fail to remember the Law of Harvest and that what we reap we sow.  In this directive of our LORD, we are warned against making unqualified and unrighteous judgments of condemnation usually based on personal preference or beliefs, not Scripture matters we have qualified information or knowledge.

Another passage I feel I should insert is found in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted.”  We are told to bear one another’s burdens.  Any judgment must be righteous and have the ultimate motive of restoration.

Rather than accept the idea that you can exercise no judgment and thereby determine associations and activities in life reject that condemnation.  On the other hand, resist becoming a self-appointed ‘fruit inspector’ for the LORD, He does not give you that authority nor does He need that help.   He knows the hearts whereas we only see the exterior, hear the words, and see the actions.  Be one who forgives and seeks to restore but never fears making a righteous judgment for proper associations requires it.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day He has made!

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THE COMMON DENOMINATOR…


SPIRITUAL BLOG - Hearing

Revelation 3:20-22 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.  21′ He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.  22′ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'”  NASU

Notice the words “He that has an ear, let him hear…”  If you are familiar with Chapters 2 & 3 you will quickly realize that this expression is the ‘Common Denominator’!  All the churches are addressed in the same fashion – “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches…”  This suggests that the ‘Common Denominator’ of these churches was Danger!  A danger that they would ‘forget’ or become ‘too busy’ to HEAR what the Spirit said or was saying!  They all had the same root problem and today is really no different.

The apostle John through the revelation of the Spirit was saying:  “All of you CAN hear.”  You can hear IF your heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God.  You can hear IF you have a spiritual ear.  Jesus said: “This is the characteristic of My sheep – they HEAR My Voice!”  Therefore, the warning came because they were in grave danger of NOT HEARING!

That has been the ‘danger’ and ‘fault’ of every generation of Christians since the beginning of the church.  In fact, if you examine church history you will discover something that is quite disconcerting.  You will discover that church history teaches us that church history teaches us nothing because we continually repeat the same mistakes!

An incredible fact is that if you examine history you will find that each revival had a lifespan of approximately forty years.  By the time forty years transpired, those who were IN the revival had gotten old and their children were taking over, but the children had only ‘heard about it’ from their parents rather than experienced it.  Then by the time eighty years transpire the revival becomes a monument.  Everybody has forgotten why it was there, to begin with, but it is still there!  That is why all through church history we have the Great Mausoleums! 

Simply, we are left with denominations that celebrate a revival that everybody has forgotten what happened when it did happen but we still have the name and revel in the past!  That raises the question – “Why is it that they continually missed it?”  For almost 2,000 years we see revivals come and go and last about forty years and then it is gone.  Why?  Because, in virtually every case, the revival began when people HEARD GOD and God’s words became alive in their hearts!  It became the LIVING WORD and they responded to it making the revival one to one relationship with God.  God has spoken and they knew it!  Then, gradually it became a ‘philosophy’.  What had been a ‘Living Dynamic’ with God speaking and interacting with the people was now a form and ceremony.  God had been put in a box and reduced to a set of rules, regulations, formulas, patterns of action, and ritual.  The idea became that IF you’ve been in the revival you don’t do this/that/the other.  Forgotten was the truth that the reason we did not do this/that/the other was because of LIFE springing up within not manmade regulation.

God help us to return to the altar of life and drink from the fountain of God’s Life again!  God help us to move from the manmade to the God-breathed!  God bring us revival again!

Blessings as you go through your day!

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LET’S TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT PRAISE…


Spiritual Blog - Praise

Psalm 103:1-5 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.  2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your  iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”  NASU

 

It is my desire to delve a little deeper into the subject of Praise and its immense value and importance to our Christian walk on an everyday basis.  Another dimension of Praise is that it opens a channel for God to speak to our hearts and be heart in our inner being.  To me, that is awesome!  Not only does praise bring pleasure to the heart of God it opens the door to change your situation in a positive and powerful way.

Psalm 29:1-2 “Ascribe to the Lord… Glory and Strength.  The Glory due to His Name: Worship the Lord in Holy Array. (The Beauty of Holiness).”  Then in verses 7-9, we read of “The voice of the Lord.”  It opens a channel for God to speak to our hearts and be heard.

Tragically, sometimes in prayer, we are unable to HEAR GOD because we have locked the ‘talk button’ in the on position and are in a continuous ‘transmit mode’ rather than having an open channel of reception.  But in Praise the reverse is true in True Praise we become like a ‘radio receiver’ and there is an open channel for God to speak and we become so focused on Him without we can hear Him rather than simply making our endless petitions!

Proverbs 27:21 – “As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man for praise.”

It is quite normal, in times of Praise, when our spirits become so heated spiritually and so touched and moved by the Spirit of God and the Presence of the Lord of Hosts that hidden thoughts, motives, and desires rise to the surface.  As we become broken in His presence those foreign impure elements are separated from the precious metal of our lives and THEN we can take them to the Cross and be cleansed, washed, purified, and delivered!

God wants to skim away all that defiles where He can see His face in the molten metal of our hearts!  Praise opens the door to purification within!

In Psalm 29:4-9 we see a beautiful truth:

  1. – The Voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty.
  2. — The Voice of the Lord breaks the cedars (royal trees).
  3. – The Voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. (Fiery darts).
  4. – The Voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness. (Place of testing).
  5. – The Voice of the Lord makes hinds to calve. (fruitfulness).
  6. – The Voice of the Lord discovers the forests. (people). It is in God’s temple that everyone speaks of His Glory.

Isaiah 33 informs us that the Voice of the Lord defeats the enemies.  Isaiah 66 declares that it is the Voice of the Lord that brings recompense to the enemies of God.  Joel 2 tells us that God utters His voice before His army and Psalm 46:6 tells us that the Voice of the Lord causes Kingdoms to be moved!  Praise is one of the most powerful endeavors we can engage in and provides unlimited benefit spiritually and even physically to our lives.

Therefore, I encourage you to make Praise a daily portion in your life!  Blessings as you go through your day!

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PRAISE IS A NATURAL PART OF LIFE…


Spiritual Blog - Praise

Psalm 103:1-5 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.  2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;  3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;  4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” NASU

 

Often when I am around other believers the topic will turn to PRAISE and how important and valuable it is, yet too often we make it an option rather than an essential in our walk.  For some, it is a part of the Sunday morning ritual rather than a cornerstone of the daily life.  It is relegated to a brief time during the Sunday service rather than a fixture in life.  That strips it of much of its power and benefit and robs the individual of an endeavor that God has offered to lift us into His presence in a more pronounced and powerful manner.

Praise is a natural and normal part of life!  In fact, it is only considered ‘abnormal’ or in need of ‘restriction’ when it is associated with Religious Gatherings.  Manufacturers praise their products.  Parents praise their children.  Men praise their automobiles.  Women praise their hairdressers or wardrobes.  Children praise, sportswriters and coaches praise.  Politicians praise, preachers praise.  If you think about it, life is filled with praise of one kind or another.  It is normal and natural.  It is ingrained into our nature to ‘spontaneously’ give praise to whatever or whomever we value.  Therefore, if God is among the things we value it is normal and natural to release our inner being in praise to Him!

It is not because God needs our praise but because we need to offer Him praise.  We need to hear our selves praise Him. There is a ‘release’ in our spirits that is incredibly powerful as we do.  Something happens inside of our innermost being in the activity of praise!

Let me give you an example in the natural.  The crowd at a football game would virtually go crazy if they were not allowed to express themselves when their team scores a touchdown.  The team did not need the praise to score they scored ‘before’ the crowd began praising.  It was the spectators who benefited by clapping, yelling, standing, waving their hands, hats, and/or banners.  Yet, when it comes to religious gatherings that is often forbidden and frowned upon as being inappropriate!  Did you ever question how a touchdown is more deserving of an outward demonstration of appreciation than God?

I’ve noticed that it is the humblest of souls, the most balanced and open-minded that praise the most and the cranky, malcontented praise the least.  Praise seems to be ‘inner health’ made ‘audible.’  The very word ‘Hallelujah’ demands an outward demonstration of praise.  Hallel – praise.  Oou – Our.  Jah – God.  Praise is an expression of ‘inner health’, but it wasn’t ‘inner health’ that caused the crowd to praise at the ballgame.  There was an outward stimulus!  The praise was in direct proportion to the stimuli.  That is another reason why the more we talk about Jesus, focus on Him, His person and work the easier it is to Praise Him!

Praise, for most people much of the time, does not flow easily.  It is something that has to be pressed into because most people begin in the ‘outer court’.  The temporal has become so large in our thinking and living that Praise and entering into the ‘inner court’ requires an act of our will.  It is when we instruct our flesh to come to attention and determine that we will praise the Lord!  We make the choice to rejoice and enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  We have to allow the Holy Spirit to help us bridge the gap between the heavenly and the earthly realms and this is accomplished through Praise!

If we could grasp the truth that Praise brings pleasure to the heart of God it would dramatically affect how we view it.  We read in Psalm 149:41 – “For the Lord takes pleasure in His people.”  We read in Psalm 104:1 – “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”  In Revelation 4:11 – “Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive Glory and Honor, and Power: For thou hast created all things, and for Thy Pleasure they are and were created.”  Then in Ephesians 1:12 we read that we are to be the Praise of God’s Glory!  So understand that God literally derives pleasure, gratification, and enjoyment out of our praise.  Imagine that, we can do something that brings pleasure to God not to mention what it produces within our inner being.

Therefore, I urge everyone to allow Praise to become a normal natural part of your daily relationship with God!  Blessings as you go through your day!

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WISE WORDS WORTHY OF NOTE…


Spiritual Blog - Proverbs

Proverbs 12:25-28 – “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. 26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray. 27 The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, But diligence is man’s precious possession. 28 In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.” NKJV

Proverbs provides a plethora of wisdom and too often we read for quantity rather than quality and skim over some incredibly powerful words of wisdom.  I have been guilty and I’m reasonably sure that most of you have as well.  The Spirit of the Lord has been challenging me more and more to cease doing that and carefully muse upon each word, sentence, and paragraph as I read and study the scripture.  It has proven to be a dynamic endeavor and I’ve gleaned more from passages that I formerly only gave a cursory reading.

The words of wisdom, found in these four verses, are an example of the wealth of pearls to be found in the Book of Proverbs.  Each could be examined solitarily but I will highlight them and allow you to do further study and examination to find that which the Lord would speak to your heart from these treasures.

  • Anxiety in the heart produces depression contrasted to a good word bringing a vivacious spirit.

When we allow anxiety, fear, or worry to take a dominant place in our thinking the result will be depression but if we give or receive a ‘good word’ from God’s word we will find that our spirits soar and become alive with excitement and anticipation.  Depression arises from an ‘inward focus’ or a ‘focus on self’ but the spirit soars when the focus is on God.

  • Careful selection of friends or those you come into an alliance with is critical because those of ill repute and walk in wickedness will bring you down.

The old saying ‘birds of a feather flock together, and a little leaven leavens the entire lump’ is surely applicable and factual.  I’ve known many a young person who had become so infatuated with a member of the opposite sex that they wanted to enter into marriage thinking and declaring that they could and would effect a change in the other person only to find that the reverse was true and endured a miserable relationship.  It is important to surround yourself with people who demonstrate a positive faith and character. 

  • The contrast between laziness and diligence.

The translation of this word to ‘roast’ is a most interesting one.  The Hebrew word is ‘charak’ and comes from the primitive root – ‘to braid, entangle, snare, or catch in a net.’  Some translations render it as ‘the slothful man will not secure (keep in his net) what he takes in hunting”.  He will let whatever he gains slip from his hands through a lack of effort and attention.  Laziness produces lack and diligence produces abundance or adequate provision at the minimum. 

  • Righteousness leads to life whereas unrighteousness leads to death.

No wonder Jesus said, ‘Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few will find it.’  The path of least resistance is almost never the best way to go.  The pathway to destruction is broad and wide with few visible obstacles but the pathway to life is filled with obstructions placed there by the evil one in an attempt to discourage and shipwreck our journey.

I am quite sure that as you read these and give them thought the Holy Spirit will highlight some particular areas for you to delve deeper into and embark on a journey to implement them into your life. 

So as you imbed yourself in God’s truth I bid you a good day and pray God’s blessings upon you!

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AFRAID TO LET PEOPLE KNOW YOU ARE A FOLLOWER OF JESUS?


Spiritual Blog - Secret

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  NASU

I hope that what I say is understood in the spirit and intent and not viewed as me being judgmental.  I would never want to judge another for I am far too aware of my own flaws.  I had a person tell me once, they didn’t let their co-workers know they were Christians because they feared discrimination in the workplace as a result.  I’ve known a number of people in my Christian walk who are what I call ‘Secret Christians’ because they don’t want the people they work with or do business with to know about their faith.  The problem I have with that is it falls dangerously close to what Jesus said in Matthew 10:33 regarding denying Him before men.  While those individuals I allude to did not actually deny Jesus they demonstrated a certain shame and fear of others knowing about their belief in Him.  That puts them in the position and condition that prevents them from fulfilling the Lord’s Commission to “Go into all the world…”  It frees them from the watchful eye of those observing their behavior and words and they could easily lapse into activity or conversation that would not be becoming for a believer without those around them questioning their relationship or Christianity.  Some have even told me that by doing this they escaped the possibility of becoming a stumbling block to others.  My response was, “Really?”  I am not saying that they fall into the category that Jesus described in Mark 8:38 where He said that if we are ashamed of him in this wicked generation, He will be ashamed of us in the Day of Judgment, but are closer than I want to be.  I understand how some might adopt that approach because of those they have observed who continually talk about their faith but do not walk the walk.  However, I believe that we have every reason to proclaim our faith without fear because of God’s Promise to NEVER LEAVE US!

If I am ashamed of Jesus and hide my faith that causes me to wonder about the health of my faith!  I am not trying to be the judge of another and will leave that to God but can anyone be comfortable being a ‘Secret Christian’?  Jesus told us not to fear those who could destroy the body and in that destroy our livelihood on earth but to fear Him that could destroy the soul.  He also asked pointedly, “What would a man give in exchange for his soul? What would be the profit of gaining the whole world and losing the soul?”  Obviously, there would only be earthly and temporary gain but eternal loss.

I am not suggesting that you must be out on the streets, knocking on every door you see and giving a specific witness verbally to everyone you meet. That might not be God’s desire, but you can and should always give a ‘silent visual witness’ by your life, words, and deeds.  Then be ready always to give an answer to every man for the reason of the reason for the hope that is within you.  You do not have to and should not wear your Christianity on your sleeve to the point of being obnoxious.  Witnessings is part of the Great Commission and the leadership of the Holy Spirit is vital.  Some, you meed, are not ready, will not receive, and your actions will only push them further away not bring them near.  Listen to the voice inside and follow your heart but ALWAYS manifest the Life of Christ and the Character of Jesus in your life.  You will be surprised how many people ask about what it is that makes you different.  Some will ridicule but many will come inquiringly and hungrily wanting more than what they have and have seen in others and even churches.  You are letters known and read of men!

So as you go through life go with pride that you are a follower of Jesus!  Know that as you manifest Him others will see and some will respond favorably to His nudging and tugging of their heartstrings.

Blessings as you go through your day!

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MY ROCK OF COMFORT…


Spiritual Blog - Rock

Matthew 28:20 – “… I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” NASU

In the context of this statement, Jesus was issuing what we call ‘The Great Commission’ to His followers.  He identified that He had ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth.  He commanded them to GO and make disciples of ‘all nations’.  He instructed them to baptize and teach them to ‘observe’ ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS.  It was at the conclusion of that assignment for them and us that He gave this most powerful promise – “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Throughout my Christian walk, I have taken this promise of Jesus as one of my Foundational Rocks upon which I stand and take comfort.  No matter what the assignment, how difficult the task, how large the opposition, or how dangerous the endeavor, I KNOW that HE IS GOING TO BE WITH ME.  If He is ‘with me’ what do I have to fear?  If He is ‘with me’ what can be too difficult?  If He is ‘with me’ there is no reason to shy away from any assignment and the obstacles and opposition are simply possibilities and opportunities for God to demonstrate His incredible power and love.  If I become a casualty in the flesh that is a small thing compared to His eternal purpose.  It would only mean I get promoted earlier than others around me and get to the heavenly party earlier than I would have expected.  That is most assuredly a comfort to me.

He is not with me ‘some of the time’, or for a ‘short time,’ He is with me TO THE END OF THE AGE!  That means as long as I am on this planet HE IS WITH ME.  As long as I occupy this tabernacle of flesh HE IS WITH ME.  As long as I breathe life naturally HE IS WITH ME.  Each step I take, each difficulty I encounter, each victory I experience HE IS THERE!  He is WITH ME!

You are not alone!  All mankind could forsake you and you can still know that HE IS WITH YOU!  So as you go through this day and the rest of your life go in the confidence and comfort that HE IS WITH YOU and will not forsake you.  As long as you are here HE IS WHEREVER YOU ARE!  Hallelujah!

So, as you go through your day go in the grace, peace, power, and comfort of the Lord!  BLESSINGS!

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WHAT IS OUR PART IN SALVATION?


Spiritual Blog - Saved

Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” NASU

 

I am fully cognizant that people have differing views of salvation and my purpose is not to be controversial but to share what I see and believe.  If that resonates with you, wonderful and if you disagree I only ask that you consider what I say and as you pray and study, you decide.    I now share what I feel the Holy Spirit would have me share.

Look at what Jesus said in John’s Revelation:

  1. I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock.

That door is the door to our hearts and Jesus is initiating the call to repentance and salvation.  He, through the Holy Spirit, brings conviction and convincing to the heart that we are ‘lost’ and need a savior.  He, through the Holy Spirit, brings us to an awareness that there is an offer of pardon on the table, that there is a door to the kingdom and family of God open to us.  He has done His part. 

  1. IF anyone hears My voice and opens the door.

The “if’ is important because far too often those He is calling and reaching out to, which includes every person in the world of every generation.  After all, God said, “Whosoever will let Him come,” “Whoever believes in Him would not perish”, and “God is not willing that any should perish but that all come to repentance.”  Therefore, we know it is God’s desire that ALL BE SAVED.  It is not the select of the elect that has access to salvation but anyone born of woman.  But they must OPEN THE DOOR to their hearts.  They must act upon the conviction and convincing of the Holy Spirit.  They must respond to the call of God to salvation.  They must make the choice to receive Him.  We are not excluded from the process but heavily included in that we must CHOOSE to receive what He has offered.  In that choosing, we acknowledge our sin, receive His forgiveness, and make a commitment to FOLLOW HIM. 

  1. I will come in, to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

If we act upon what He has offered and respond to the call of the Spirit of God to come to Jesus and drink of His cleansing waters HE WILL COME TO US.  We will not be rejected.  He will ‘dine’ with us implying that He will break the Heavenly nourishment of Spiritual food with us enabling us to develop and grow in grace and the power of God.  He will walk with us from spiritual infancy through our teenage years, into adulthood and maturity.

 He is ‘knocking at the door’ for many right now and my plea is that you ‘open the door’ of your heart to Him today.  Allow Jesus to come into your heart and transform you from a child of darkness into a child of light.  Allow Him to complete the process of ‘adoption’ into the Family of God.

May God be with you as you go through your day!

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THE GOSPEL OF JESUS IS NOT EASY…


Spiritual Blog - Easy Believism

Matthew 5:43-48 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR  and hate your enemy.’  44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  47 “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” NASU

Discipleship has a price.  I’m sure you have noticed that many of the instructions of Jesus regarding relationships with others are very challenging.  Our Lord did not bring an “Easy Button” into the equation when He spoke about interpersonal relationships.  His Gospel is not one of “Easy Believism” but one that is often almost incomprehensible in its difficult for flawed human beings such as we are.  This is one of those examples.

The Jews, most of that era, and most today believe that we should love our neighbor or those like us but hate our enemies or those that differ with or oppose us.  Jesus said that instead of that philosophy or rule of life the ‘Rule of Life’ from God was “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”  That, if you have not encountered it, is almost impossible!  We want ‘justice’ or ‘revenge’ and want them ‘to pay,’ so loving them is virtually out of the question and praying for them is almost impossible.  Yet, the Lord declared that IF we are to be “sons of our heavenly Father” it must be the Rule of Life for us.  He went on to inform those hearing that if they were to be ‘perfect’ or ‘complete’ in God or as God this must be the ‘Rule of Life’ for us.

Consider the matter of LOVING our Enemies.  How do you do that?  It is IMPOSSIBLE unless we ‘forgive’.  I cannot hate and love a person at the same time.  To love someone I must ‘value them’ and to ‘value them’ I must not harbor a grievance or resentment toward them.  I must see them as God sees them and realize that God ‘values them’ as His creation and desires that they be saved as we.  Therefore, if God made them, and desires them to be forgiven I must learn to forgive.  I must swallow my pride, put to rest my resentment and thirst for retaliation and vengeance and FORGIVE THEM.  I dare say this will take more than one attempt to accomplish.  I have found that although I weep with tears streaming down my cheeks and broken-heartedly crying out ‘I FORGIVE’ something will happen in a few minutes, hours, days, or weeks that rekindles the old feelings and I realize I HAVE NOT FORGIVEN fully and must go through the process again.  I must continue it UNTIL the matter is settled in the heart and I have fully released them from my prison of hatred or hurt.  At that point, I no longer allow what they did to be used in any judgment or action toward them.  At that point, I can Love them with the Love of God, having forgiven them and then I can pray for them effectually and honestly.

I do not suggest that you pray for them to continue on the path they have trod hurting others and serving self but pray for their souls genuinely desiring them to come to Jesus and receive His mercy and pardon.  That would mean that you do not rejoice in their destruction but rejoice in the redemption.  This is a battle that I wage almost daily and certainly frequently.  It is something that I strive to achieve in my life and know that only as I FORGIVE am I truly FREE!  I want to please God in my life and relationships and although I do not believe I can earn His favor I do believe that He honors our persistent obedience to His commandments.  That opens our hearts to receive more and more of His nature and character into our lives and the more we receive of Him we ‘decrease’ and He ‘increases’. 

So, as you go through your day and for the rest of your life make it your objective to be a person who Loves their enemies and prays for those who persecute you.  Be a FORGIVER! 

God bless you as you go through your day!

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SOUNDS LIKE A NEWSPAPER HEADLINE…


Spiritual Blog - Breaking News

2 Timothy 3:1-9 – “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.” NKJV

 

The Bible is replete with warnings about the condition of events and people in the LAST DAYS, a time I believe we have entered into.  When you review this list of conditions and characteristics of people in this time period it almost sounds like a ‘newspaper headline’ for today.  Consider the description:

 Men will be lovers of themselves, money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, and having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Does that describe the condition of much of the world today or what?

We are urged or instructed to ‘turn away’ from this sort of individual or individuals and told that they will infiltrate families, churches, organizations, etc. and deceive people not just women but the gullible. These are ‘ever learning’ but never coming to the knowledge of truth and captivate and capture those of the same ilk.  Those of corrupt mind will be participants in the affairs of this type of individual.

The LAST DAYS will bring trouble and if we are to come through this time of peril we must reject and resist the temptation to participate in the schemes of ‘evil people.’  We must turn our hearts and minds to the LORD JESUS Himself and ‘seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.’  We must ‘shun the very appearance of evil’ at all times and in all things.  We must seek to have the ‘love of God’ spread throughout our entire being, our heart, mind, soul, and spirit.  If we do not want to become entrapped by the devices of the devil in THESE LAST DAYS we must recognize and reject this type of mentality and person.  Try to win them but never participate in their devices.

God be with you as you go through your day!

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