Month: April 2019

YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Man

Psalm 8:3-4 – “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?”  NASU

I never cease to be amazed at the Love God has for man and in the Book of Psalms, we encounter so many revelations of incredible truths regarding God’s care and keeping of man.  There are truths that leap off the page and excite the heart exploding in a new sense of spiritual power as we meditate on the Psalms.  I recommend them daily!  When we invest our time in the Psalms we come away with a new awareness of the Majesty of the Almighty and the incomprehensible Love He has for His creation.

Here in Psalm 8, David gives us an infusion of Hope and a sense of Security as Children of God.  In verse one he cries out, “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth…”  He recognizes the sovereignty, power, and longsuffering of God.  In verse one through three he draws our attention to God in His Glory, God’s Incredible Work, and God’s Infinite Power.

In verse four he draws a contrast between God and man.  In comparison to God, man seems so small and insignificant.  Man appears utterly helpless, frail, and almost useless.  In contrast to God’s Glory, Majesty, Power, and Perfection, man seems completely and hopelessly imperfect.  In contrast to God’s creation, he asks, “What is Man?”  Why would the Creator God even care about such a puny creature as man?

It is extremely easy for any of us to feel the unworthiness of humanity.  If we allow that to thrive and expand it will cause us to develop a morbid sense of our unimportance, worthlessness, and hopelessness.  But, and that is the key.  But, in God’s eyes, you are important and far more important than you think, and the devil tries to convince you.

One thing that every person needs to know in the face of trial, tribulation, temptation, or persecution is – “We Are Important to God!”  We are important enough for Him to care for us and provide for our wellbeing.  I ask that you join me in considering the Worth of man to God.

  • Man is More Valuable Than All the Creatures of the Earth.

In Genesis 1:26, man was given dominion over creation, none of God’s created beings other than man have souls, and the animals and plants become sources of food, service, and use for man.  You are more valuable than the sparrows that God cares for or the lilies of the field.

  • Man is Created in the Image and Likeness of God.

We are the reflection of God and included in our earthly assignment is to manifest Him.

  • The Soul of Man Is Worth More Than the Earth Itself.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:26 bring understanding.  He said, “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”  Our Creator has ascribed unparalleled worth to man’s soul.  God, who created us knows every detail of our lives, character, makeup, and being.  He values man as His highest creation and created us for fellowship with Him.

  • Man Is Important Enough for God to be Willing to See Christ’s Blood Shed.

Need I point to any other passage but John 3:16 and Romans 5:8?  God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us.  He has commended His love toward us, while we were yet in sin, allowing Jesus to die for us.  He has provided Redemption for man if we will only receive it.  He made that incredible sacrifice to purchase us back from the powers of darkness.

  • Man Is Important Enough for Jesus to Return for Us.

John 14 should calm all our fears and concerns.  Jesus is coming back for those who wait for, walk after, and watch for Him.  I urge you to consider the provisions of God.  You may feel inferior, unimportant, insignificant, worthless, hopeless, and helpless, but GOD Values You Highly!  You are Worth the Blood of Jesus, to Him!

We have nothing to fear because God is for us.  We have no reason to worry because God is our Provider.  We need to remember that according to the Word of God we are Royalty.  We are God’s Children!  According to Matthew 10:28-31 we are more valuable than anything God created.  We can cast all our care on Him because He cares for us.  We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus.  Settle it in your heart – You Are Important to God!

Never again, look at yourself as being without value, that is an insult to the Father and to trample on the Blood of Jesus.  He died that we might live!

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

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WANTED – A Liar – (Part Two) …


Spiritual Blog - Lies

1 Kings 22:8 – “The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”  NASU

 Let’s continue with our consideration of embracing the Liar and the Lie.  I suggest that although Ahab preferred to hear the lies of his chosen prophets, he knew that in order to have the needed support of Jehoshaphat he had to consent to his request.

Ahab dispatched a servant to Micaiah and was desperate to keep the prophet out of trouble.  He said, “The King’s prophets speak good with one voice.  You do the same; there is no use antagonizing him.  He is going to do as he pleases anyway.  All you will do by speaking the truth is get yourself in deep trouble.”  

Micaiah’s response is, just as timely today as it was then.  His answer gave the whole duty of the prophet in any age.  He was not there to abuse, bemean, or to say unkind things.  My purpose is not to abuse anyone.  It is not my desire to entertain anyone in my speaking the truth of God.  It is not my intent or purpose to force anyone to accept my message.  I am just the messenger the response is totally up to the hearer.

What is the Business or Responsibility of the Messenger?  Micaiah’s response was, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord speaks to me, that will I speak.”  He was defining his purpose.  It was not to declare that which was popular or pleasing to the natural ego but the truth for the purpose of redemption.  It is one thing to simply speak the truth and another to speak the truth with a heart of compassion and with redemption in mind.

Here is where the difficulty came into focus.  When the Truth meets the Lie, conflict is inevitable.  Micaiah informed Ahab that the enterprise would end in disaster.  He informed Him that God would not back his play and that the path he had chosen was the wrong path.  That is a powerful word and Micaiah was taking his life in his own hands in telling the truth.

Ahab responded as would be expected.  He became angry and had the prophet put in prison.  The foolishness of that response is clear.  If Micaiah’s prophecy was accurate, putting him in prison would not change it.

Let me illustrate it this way.  When Galileo startled the world by saying that the earth moved around the sun instead of the converse, his saying that did not make the earth move nor did it stop when he recanted.  Columbus’ declaration that the earth was round did not make it round.  Newton’s discovery of the Law of Gravity did not put that law in motion.  They were saying what was not causing it to happen.  Ahab’s course of action was utter foolishness.  He appeared to think that he could change the truth into a lie by ignoring the truth.

If we follow Ahab’s philosophy and our car engine begins to pound, the oil gauge reading no oil pressure, then we would simply smash the gauges or lights or put tape over them and all would be will.  You cannot cure a fever by throwing the thermometer in the trash.  You cannot reduce your weight by smashing the scales. If something is true it will remain true regardless of your reaction to it.  Your benefit or difficulty depends on your reaction to the truth.

Remember Naaman being sent to see Elisha?  The prophet told him how to be cured of his leprosy.  Naaman had his own preconceived ideas about what should happen, and his inflated self-worth made him angry at Elisha’s nonchalance toward him.  He had decided that the prophet would come out with pomp and ceremony and lay his hands on him or wave his hands over the leprosy and cure it.  Elisha told him to go dip seven times in the Jordan river.  Naaman got angry and begin to drive off in a huff.  His anger did not cure him.  Only when he obeyed the truth and followed the directive of God’s prophet did he find healing.

If a preacher tells you the truth it will remain true whether you accept it or not.  It remains true whether you go away rejoicing or rejecting.  Ahab went on his way disregarding the words of the prophet who told him the truth. He chose to do what he wanted to do and placed his confidence in the lies.  However, it is clear that he did not totally trust them because he disguised himself going into battle and took an action that left Jehoshaphat out to dry and placed him in danger.  Disguised as a common soldier he was hit at random by an arrow and died.

This lover of lies met his doom.  I urge everyone to seek Truth even if it is hard to receive and cuts to the foundation of our being.  When we confess our sins, God is just and faithful to forgive.  If we hide our sins, we bring about our own destruction.  Remember, the Truth is what makes us Free!

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

 

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WANTED – A Liar…


Spiritual Blog - Liars

1 Kings 22:8 – “The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” But Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”  NASU 

I find this story both amusing and powerful.  It is a uniquely human story.  Here, Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah was paying a visit of state to Ahab, the King of Israel.  Ahab saw the visit as an excellent opportunity for him to acquire the services of Jehoshaphat in his quest to capture Ramoth-Gilead.  Jehoshaphat was not against this action but because he was a religious man he desired to know the will of God in the matter.  A truly committed person wants to hear from God.

I find it somewhat surprising that Ahab offered no resistance.  It appears that he anticipated Jehoshaphat’s request and had prepared for it in advance.  He called for 400 of his prophets and put the question to them, “Shall I go up to Ramoth-Gilead to battle or shall I forbear?”  Not surprisingly, his prophets or puppets as it would seem in unison said, “Go up; for the Lord will shall deliver it into the hands of the King!”

On the surface that would be impressive.  After, all 400 prophets all agreeing and giving the green light for the military action.  However, Jehoshaphat was not fully satisfied.  I believe that he sensed something amiss.  These prophets were Ahab’s own and they were far more interested in pleasing the king that God.  They were far more eager to speak the positive and popular thing to the king rather than the truth.

Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we may inquire of him?”  One would have suspected Ahab to be offended at the request but evidently not.  He said, “There is yet one-man Micaiah, the son of Imlah, but I hate him; for he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” 

That is an amazing statement and I believe it is a clear confession of Ahab of at least three things that I would like to open for your consideration.

  • It Is a Confession That He Does Not Believe His Own Prophets.

He wanted to but something inside knew that his ‘yes’ men were not being fully forthcoming and were being self-serving. 

  • It Is a Confession of His Faith in Micaiah.

He hated him because he told the truth and the truth did not often favor Ahab, but he knew that Micaiah spoke only what he heard from God.

  • By His Statement, He is Acknowledging That He Prefers Those Who are Flatters to One Who Speaks Truth.

The apparent requirement to be in Ahab’s favor was to speak what the king wanted to hear, even if it was a lie.

That brings me to the thought that I want to present, and it may be somewhat painful if we are honest and open in our consideration.  Ahab is not the only person that likes to be lied to. Most of us have argued that we hate to be lied to, but is that the truth?  I believe that Ahab’s condition is one that is not uncommon to many people and maybe most people.  We want to hear what is pleasing and favorable to us.  A Lie, in certain situations, has its appeal.  The Lie of Genesis that brought about the downfall of man in sin has been embraced from generation to generation.

One Reason the Liar Has a Measure of Popularity is That He Uses Flattery.

Before you protest too much, have you ever enjoyed hearing flattery?  All of us like compliments and I suggest that we like them even if we know they are not the truth. We prefer that the compliments be sincere and given wisely and tastefully but we like them!  Often, people like them so much they fail to scrutinize them too closely.

Let me give an illustration that highlights what I am contending.  There was a man who declared that he did not like being complimented.  He made his boast that he lived above the possibility of being flattered.  One day a young book salesman who was aware of this man’s aversion to flattery came into the man’s office.  He told the man that the characteristic that he admired about him above all else was the fact that he could not be flattered.  The outcome of the interview was the man became so puffed up with his delight over the salesman’s compliments that he bought the book.

The Liar Appeals to Us by Strengthening Us in Our Decisions to Do as We Please.

Ahab had already made up his mind and the liars were appealing to his predetermined decision to go into battle.  It is always flattering to hear from others that our decision is the right one, even if it is wrong.

The Liar Helps Us Become Comfortable While We Are Doing as We Please.

It is very difficult to be completely comfortable while we are doing what we know is or may be wrong.  The Bible says, “There is no peace for the wicked.”  We like to be made comfortable and the liar helps us achieve that sense of security and comfort.

I have more to say on this and hopefully, it is touching a redemptive cord in your hearts as it is in mine.  We will pause here and pick this up in the next devotional.

God bless you as you enjoy His blessings on this beautiful day He has made.

 

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FOUR NECESSITIES FOR SERVICE – Part Two.


Spiritual Blog - Service

Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  NASU

 

As we resume on consideration of the Four Necessities for Service I want you to recall that we consider the Necessity of Love and the Necessity of Faith.  Both are indispensable in our Spiritual Walk and both are powerful weapons in God’s hands in our lives. Now I want us to move on to the third necessity.

INVOLVEMENT IS NECESSARY. 

In James 1:22 we read, “But be ye doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”  That is a powerful statement and expresses the desire of God for involvement and action in our lives.  I’ve had people tell me that they don’t have time to work for God and because of their many obligations they do not want to be involved in the work of God.  I suggest that you are already involved.  The question is not your involvement but your level of involvement.

I contend that because of the experience of the New Birth or Salvation you are a member of the Body of Christ and that involves you.  You have a mandate from heaven to be involved.  You have received and are to share what you have received.  God has no silent partners or secret service followers.  He has members of the Body of Christ and as a member of that Body, you have a function, a role, and an assignment.  Jesus said in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  That was not optional! It is not an accessory you can add to your experience or omit.  It is a clear directive!  Because of your relationship with Him, you are a target of hell, so you might as well get involved and learn to use the weapons of warfare afforded to you.

DETERMINATION IS NECESSARY. 

I am reminded of the account in Genesis 32:24-26, “Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, ” I will not let you go unless you bless me.”  What a revelation of the requirement and need for determination.  Jacob could have given up and missed the incredible blessing of God, the change of nature and name.

Love may motivate us and place a desire in our hearts to do something, but unless we have determined to do it we will never achieve the desired objective.  We are in this race and it is not a sprint it is a marathon.  The beginning is without value if we fail to finish.  It means nothing if we run in a marathon and drop out of the race at any point in the race.

Paul finished his course.  Jesus cried, “It is Finished!”  Jacob refused to let go.  Elisha would accept nothing less than a double portion.  What is your level of determination?  How much of God do you desire!  Love will motivate us to trust and become engaged in the service of the Lord.  The knowledge of what God can do and His love for man will enable us to develop a determination that will make it impossible for us to be satisfied with less than God’s Perfect Will in our lives.  We are “more than conquerors through Christ.”  

It is my hope and prayer that you are motivated to allow the Love of God to be shed abroad in your heart so dramatically that it overflows!  I pray that you are motivated to seek Him through His word and invest your trust completely in Him and allow Faith to grow in your heart and be manifest in your life powerfully.  I pray that your desire to be Involved will grow exponentially and you will become Determined that you will run this race to the finish and never give up.

Remember the promise of Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”  You are on the winning team so jump into the battle and become all that God has desired and designed you to be.

May the rich and bountiful blessings of our Lord be upon you this wonderful day!

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FOUR NECESSITIES FOR SERVICE…


Spiritual Blog - SErvice

Matthew 16:24-27 – “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.”  NASU

 

Jesus is addressing service or spiritual serving.  If we understand the meaning of service as implied and taught in the Bible we realize it is total commitment, full surrender, and making Him Lord of all in our lives.  It is to completely give ourselves to Him.  That is a lofty objective and one that many tend to draw back from. Why?  Some have no desire to get involved, relinquish control of their lives, nor upset the status quo or rock the boat.  There are churches that truly have a form of godliness but are totally devoid of power.

I am convinced that we sometimes do not have what we need to achieve our dream, vision, and purpose in this life is because we are lacking in one or more of the Four Necessities for Service.  I believe that to Serve God Fully we need four things:  Love, Faith, Involvement, and Determination.  You can or could add more, I’m sure, but those are the four that are on my heart today.

LOVE IS NECESSARY. 

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40 – “…’ YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’  38 “This is the great and foremost commandment.  39 “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’  40 ” On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  That is arresting or should be.

There are two kinds of love that I want to call your attention to.  There is human or brotherly love.  It is a paternal, maternal, human love.  Then there is heavenly love.  It is the love of, for, and to God.  It is the Agape Love of God shed abroad in the human heart by the Holy Spirit.  It is imperative that we develop an Unselfish Love, a love for God that points us toward man with compassion that moves us to action.  We need to have manifested love.  Love is truly an action word, not just an emotion.

Our Lord was compelled by love.  He was ‘moved with compassion’ in His dealing with people.  In order to enable us to love as He loved, God has given us a new heart.  Love seeks to protect and provide for those loved.  The Love of God for man should shine through us in our dealings with others.  It is a mark of our Christianity!  The message of God’s Love is manifested in our lives as we demonstrate the Love of God.

FAITH IS NECESSARY. 

We are reminded in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen.”  I would suggest there are two kinds of faith.  There is Dead Faith.  It is inactive.  It is mental assent rather than transformation.  There is Living Faith.  It is active, alive, and flows out of our relationship with God and rooted deeply in His word.  We need faith to believe God and find that the Word of God produces faith.  Remember the words of Paul in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Jesus taught Increasing faith or a faith that grows and develops.  Faith like muscles in our bodies grows stronger with use.  It is more than just believing that God can it is grabbing hold of the reality that God not only can but does and will.  Living and Growing Faith pleases God.  Intellectual knowledge does not impress God much.  Thrift and business acumen impress Him little, but Faith touches His heart.  God is touched by our Faith, our Trust, our Reliance on Him.

I want to pause here and pick this up at least one more time but until then I ask that you consider your Love Quotient and your Faith’s health.

May the Lord bless you richly as you enjoy this day!

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THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT…


Spiritual Blog - Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:1-7:28

What have we missed in relegating it to small portions rather than looking at the whole and in context?  That is a question that has led to a challenge that the Holy Spirit has presented to me to research and study.  I’ve already seen several things with just a cursory reading of it and realizing that most of the time what has been called the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ is not the entire message of our Lord that day.

It beings in Chapter Five and frequently many stop at verse eleven but Jesus did not stop speaking then and it is an interesting endeavor to do somewhat of an outline of His message that day.

Matthew 5:1-12 – – Jesus identifies the ‘Blessed’ in contrasting and identifying human conditions.  He identifies and tells us the blessing to the Poor in spirit. (v. 3) Those who mourn. (v.4) The gentle. (v.5) Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. (v.6) The merciful. (v.7) The pure in heart. (v.8) The peacemakers. (v.9) The persecuted for righteousness. (v.10) The falsely accused and ridiculed. (v.11)

He then transitions to identifying who we are, as believers and how we should live in Matthew 5:13-20. We are salt which is a preservative as well as a condiment for seasoning or giving flavor to food.  We are light and our light will be seen either for good or bad.  He identifies what our relationship with God’s Law and our personal and individual righteousness or piety is to be

In keeping with that from Matthew 5:21-6:1 Jesus breaks down how His Gospel and the New Covenant will go beyond the Mosaic Law.  He identifies how it will go beyond being a rigid ‘letter of the law’ to one that deals with the condition of the heart.  In Matthew 5:21-26 we find His discourse on the condition of the heart with regard to another human being and God expects and how to resolve conflicts.

In Matthew 5:27-30 we have His treatise on purity.  In Matthew 5:21-32 and that overlaps into verses 33-37, to a degree, which deals with marriage and sexual purity.  In Matthew 33:37 the vows’ are connected to marriage be Jesus expands it to all of life and our relationship with God.  He identifies the importance of ‘oath keeping’ and being people of our word.  In Matthew 5:38-48 we find Jesus destroying the Old Testament judgment that permitted revenge and expands it to a new heart in which we focus on redemption, Christian charity and love, and the forbidding of showing partiality.  In verse one of the next Chapter, we find the continuation that warns of doing what we do for the accolades of man.

In Matthew 6:1-4 we find the message of Jesus regarding the poor, philanthropy, and anonymity in giving or at least doing so without fanfare.  He identifies that if you give to be noticed you have received all the reward you are ever going to get.

In Matthew 6:5-14 we cannot disassociate it from the previous instruction regarding giving because God is saying, “If you give in secret, God will reward you openly.”  He also identifies that if we ‘pray in secret’ without trumpeting our time, frequency, etc. of prayer God will honor that and the reward will be visible for all to see.  Simply you do not need to nor is it God’s desire that you toot your own horn.  The powerful instruction on personal private prayer is so enlightening and liberating that were we to implement it into our lives we would immediately be transformed into a different person altogether.  We are warned in verse 14 that if we refuse to forgive we have blocked forgiveness for ourselves and there are no loopholes in this, it covers everything and every situation.

He transitions or expands His message in Matthew 6:18-34 to cover fasting, money, life, and faith.  He gives us the recipe for the Victorious Abundant Life and it is climaxed in verse 33.  Jesus does not lay out a retirement plan but gives us an eternal plan for our provision in life.  He dispels worry and fear.  He wipes out the fears from a bad economy and a dead-end job that has no benefits.

He destroys the concern of only being able to live from payday to payday and the normal fear that comes with planning for our golden years.  If you, question it verses 25-33 are connected to the previous verses notice how He beings verse 25 – “For this reason….” What reason?  The reason just mentioned regarding serving two masters, laying up earthly treasures, and the need to have a clear mind and heart regarding this world’s goods as is described in verses 22-23.

Then we come to another expansion of all that He has been teaching as Matthew 7 begins.  Judging is more than rendering a verdict as to what you think of someone or their actions it also addresses the previous verses and thoughts.  What is your judgment on giving, forgiving, the poor, laying up earthly treasures, marriage, sexual purity or impurity, and personal relationships?  You cannot make this a standalone passage because the context will not permit it.

From Matthew 7:1-28 we find His finale or conclusion which ties it all together.  He brings to light our own imperfection and the fact that condition must be taken into consideration when we view others in theirs.  He warns about trying to give the holy and pure truth to those hearts are filled with darkness and reject Christ and the things of God.  That is not saying we do not witness to them, but you cannot maintain the same relationship with them as with those of the household of faith.

The clear message is that we are to treat EVERYONE the way we desire to be treated even those who are the aforementioned and walk in total darkness.  Does that guarantee they will treat us with kindness and respect?  No, but it sows seeds before them and in them that will follow them into eternity.  He identifies that this lifestyle is not only difficult but one that few will be able to or willing to follow and practice.  He identifies that in following this lifestyle we will be able to recognize the false and counterfeit.

That is very sketchy but a brief overview of the “Sermon on the Mount” and how I believe it should be studied.  Each new thought or seemingly new thought is tied to the previous and if studied in its connection to the previous we will glean new insight into that new thought.  Remember that chapters and verses were not part of the original text but are a man-made insertion to help us identify and locate passages.  It would do us well to read the Bible without any consciousness of chapters and verses and read paragraphs not just chapters.

I love the way Matthew concludes in Matthew 7:28 – “When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for Hew as teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”  In East Texas vernacular, “His preaching was not all foam and no beer, all hat and no cattle, all hammer and no nail, all shot and no powder, or all sizzle and no steak.”   He spoke with authority and power rather than just reciting the words.  My cry to God is Lord let me be a voice, not an echo.  Let me speak with Heavenly authority having experienced the Word not just reciting the words.  Let me demonstrate the message not just refer to it.

May you enjoy God’s richest and best this day and begin your week with a powerful sense of His Presence.  Blessings!

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ANOTHER LOOK AT SERVICE…


Spiritual Blog - Volunteer

Isaiah 6:8 – “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”  NASU

In this passage, Isaiah begins by informing us that King Uzziah had passed away and that was a troubling event for Isaiah.  It was at that time that the prophet saw a vision that rocked him to his core.  He saw the Lord enthroned on majesty!  He saw the Seraphim having six wings and he used two to cover his face, two to cover his feet, and with two he flew crying “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.”  That caused Isaiah to see his own sinfulness and he lamented, “I am ruined because I’m unclean and the people I dwell among are unclean.”  He understood that Nothing was hidden from the eyes of the Lord.  Then he saw the Seraphim flying toward him with a lump of burning coal he had taken from the altar and he took that coal and touched Isaiah’s mouth declaring, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sins are forgiven.” 

After this, Isaiah heard the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?”  Isaiah had been prepared for service by cleansing and with a renewed heart he cried out, “Here am I. Send me!”  It was at that point the Lord said, “Go, and tell this people…”  God gave him a message and a purpose.  None of that would have any meaning had Isaiah not Volunteered for service.  God will not force us into service but will open the door of opportunity for us to serve.

That is true in our lives overall and true in our church life.  We may see the need, be convicted of our condition, receive the cleansing and preparation of the Lord But until we volunteer it means nothing.  I’ve observed churches through the years that labor feverishly to press people into service that have not volunteered although greatly qualified.  My attitude has always been that I would rather have a person with lesser qualification who really wanted to serve than someone with impeccable credentials who did not.  One will invest the time, the energy, the prayer and God will produce the results, the other will simply go through the motions based on their wealth of knowledge or ability and little will be truly accomplished lastingly for the Kingdom.

I’ve heard preachers and churches lament they do not have workers for a particular program and my response has usually been, “If there is not one to perform the task or carry on the program maybe God doesn’t want the program.”  I believe that God provides for that which He desires whether that is money, people, or opportunity.  Therefore, if the Holy Spirit has touched your heart and quickened you with regard to the need you see – Volunteer!  You may only be the intermediary until the one that God has designed and prepared for the task is ready or arrives but you just might be that one.  You will never know until you respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit.

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

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YOU WILL BE GOVERNED…


Spiritual Blog - Governed

Genesis 2:15-17 – “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”  NASU

 

If you refuse to be self-governed you virtually ask to become a slave.   Robert C. Winthrop (1852) said, “Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.”  I believe it is God’s desire that we follow Biblical Self-Government in all aspects of our lives.  What is Biblical Self-Government you might ask?  Simply it is the desire and ability to willingly submit to God-given authority without being forced, coerced, or constantly reminded to do so.

I believe this is evidenced in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve.  Their refusal to be self-governed by what God said to them resulted in their being expelled from the Garden.  Remember God placed no fence or guard at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but simply gave a prohibition to Adam not to eat from it.  The temptation and deception of Eve and subsequently Adam resulted in their expulsion from the Garden and God placed a guard at the gate with a flaming sword to prevent them from entering again.  Since Adam demonstrated he could not be trusted God set up a means to restrain him.

When Israel came into the Promised Land they had no king, no parliament, no president, and no emperor to rule them only the Law of God.  They had been systematically taught the Law by Moses and those he trained and appointed to teach them.  They understood the principles and rules of how to deal justly with others in personal, private, social, business, and religious dealings.  Yet, later under the Judges they rejected God’s way and wanted the way of the world in seeking to have a king appointed over them.  God gave them a stern warning and appealed to them to return to allowing Him to govern them, through self-government but they refused and we know the heartaches that transpired and the history.

If we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to instill in our hearts the Law of Life from God’s Word we will never be able to live truly free and be governed by God in self-government.  We will find that the tug of the world will override the principles of the Bible and moral rightness.  In that situation, you will be governed but not by God or internally, it will be by external power and force that may or may not follow or recognize God.  As for me and my house, we desire to be ruled by the Word and Law of God and thereby able to live peaceably in a Free Society pursuing the Purposes of God and His Peace!

God bless you as you go through your day!

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WHY ASK THE QUESTION THREE TIMES LORD?


Spiritual Blog - Love

John 21:15-17 – “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”  16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”  17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  NASU

I’ve heard some powerful explanations and etymological explanations of this passage and the words or phrases used and although that is not what I want to focus on here, I do want to address it briefly.  In the first question, the original is a bit ambiguous and could have been referring to inanimate objects.  Jesus could have been asking Peter if he was willing to forsake all those things for Him (Jesus).  But more likely He was asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than the other disciples.  Peter had suffered the shame of his rejection of Jesus would make no pretense of loving more than others.  He rolled it all on the Lord’s Omniscience and said, “Lord You know.”

My focus is not what words Jesus used in either asking the question or in reference to caring for His church but in the heart and mind of Peter.  Peter had abandoned the Lord after making his bold claim that he would never do so and was willing and ready to die for the Lord.  Peter had made the decision to ‘go fishing’ that was not for recreation but to return to his old life as a fisherman.  He felt unworthy and he was.  He felt the shame of his rejection and abandonment of Jesus and he should.  He had been quick to speak his grandiose claim of his bravery, commitment, and faith and it all came crashing down on him.

I can only imagine how Peter felt as he now stood face to face with His Lord.  He needed to be reassured and needed to do some deep personal soul searching and that is what Jesus is doing, at least that is my view.  The Lord wanted to strip from Peter the brashness of making claims that he could not back up and bring him to an awareness of how much he must and should depend upon Jesus for everything.  It is in this place and state of mind that Peter could become the mighty warrior for the kingdom that he became.

If you question what I’m saying about Peter’s mindset go back and read what the angel said in Mark 16 when the women came to the tomb and found it empty – “go tell His disciples and Peter.” Why specifically identify Peter?  Because of what I’ve just said!  Peter was in such a dejected state of mind that he was in danger of being lost to the kingdom and the Lord did not want that and prepared to prevent that.

Peter was being transformed from being brash, rash, and boastful to a committed and calculated disciple of Jesus.  He moved from dejection to a boldness of faith that caused him to stand before the crowd on the Day of Pentecost and proclaim a message that could possibly get him killed.  He was transitioning from self-sufficiency to Christ-sufficiency!  He stood before the Sanhedrin and was unmoved by their threats and he could face the lame man at the Gate Beautiful and with the risk of ridicule and charge of abusing a cripple, he declared his faith and acted upon it.  Peter became what Jesus saw in him when he called him to discipleship.  He saw a Rock and that reed was now becoming a Rock in Jesus!

I want you to grasp the reality that the times of failing and stumbling that you have or may encounter are not evidence that God has rejected you.  Realize that when He comes and turns up the heat and you squirm it is not to bring you pain but to enhance that which He has seen in you and make you what He declared you to be.

God be with you as you go through your day!

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THE FINALE IS APPROACHING RAPIDLY…


Spiritual Blog - Grand Finale

Luke 21:25-28 – “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  27 “Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory.  28 “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” NASU

 

Many of us have heard most of our lives that this is the generation that will see the Lord return.  Well, let me say, I believe that the finale is rapidly approaching and the predictions of the Bible are rapidly coming to pass.  The one thing that stands out in this passage other than the return of Jesus, which is obviously the most important, is that there will be a time when men faint from fear due to what they see coming on the world.

We have had it relatively easy in America compared to some parts of the world.  This is especially true with regard to our faith and freedom.  We have been able to worship as we desire with little hindrance from the government and have lived relatively free lives in comparison to many in other parts of the world.  That, I believe is about to change, and everything that can be shaken will be shaken.  We are nearing a time when fear and dread of what is coming will be the prevailing mindset among multiplied millions.

The encouragement I can give is verse 28 – “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  The finale is coming and coming soon!  Oh, things may get worse and will but we have something upon which we base our confidence and hope that is not of this world.  We have hope and expectation beyond this life.  We have liberty and freedom that is not man given and cannot be taken by man.  They may place us in chains, restrict our physical movement but they cannot take our true freedom that comes from God!

Instead of dreading what might be coming, turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Instead of fearing what might happen, turn your eyes upon Jesus!  Instead of wringing your hands and contemplating throwing in the towel in the concession of defeat, turn your eyes upon Jesus!  He is the author and finisher of our faith and He will NEVER leave us or forsake us.  The finale is not a bad thing if you are in the family of God.  It is a promotion to the next and eternal phase of our lives.  It is simply relocation from this present world to that eternal world where we will spend eternity with the Lord!

As you go through this day go in hope and confidence!  Banish fear Oh Lord, banish fear from our lives! 

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