Author: rbeaird

ACCORDING TO HIS WILL…


Spiritual Blog - His Will

1 John 5:13-15 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  NASU

There have been many times in my life and in ministry that I have prayed for something that did not happen.  I wish I could say, there have been a few times, but many is a far more honest and factual statement.  I cannot explain how God works in all things, but the bedrock conviction of my heart is that “God is Good and Good All the Time!”  It is also my conviction that God’s Promises are absolute and His desire to bless His children is immeasurable.  His Love is Unconditional and Everlasting!  He is not willing that any should perish but that all would come to eternal life.  However, I cannot ignore the fact that there are those who perish and do not enter into eternal life through Salvation.

That brings me to the point of this devotional, “according to His will…”  This passage is a promise and a directive for believers in our prayer lives and in our expectation.  One of the stated objectives is to give us confidence before Him.  It also expresses that we are not to come before Him with doubt, fear, trepidation, and simply human hope that maybe, just maybe He will do what we desire.  It is designed to give us confidence and, if you will, a boldness.  The writer of Hebrews addressed this in 4:16, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.”  The KJV translated the word “boldly.” 

Grace to help in the time of need is not simply offering us comfort so we can manage our difficulty and cope with the problem.  Grace, as used in most places in Scripture, is not just favor and that unmerited, but ‘divine enablement’ to do.  Isaiah 61:1 informs us that the Spirit of the Lord God is upon Jesus (us too because we are one with Him and in Him) BECAUSE of the anointing.  The Anointing was for a purpose, not a feeling or even to endorse the person but for purpose or ministry.  God has purposed for us and given us both authority (exousia) and power (dunamis) over all the power, authority, and ability of the devil.

When Jesus sent out the twelve one of the commands He gave them was in Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.”  He did not say, “Go pray for them but heal them.”  In our text passage, John reminds us of the Promises of God and the extent of those promises.  John 14:13-14 are powerful planks in our belief platform for it is there that we find the words of our Lord, “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask ANYTHING in My name, I will do it.”  (emphasis mine).

How do we know the will of God?  The first and foremost source of discovery is the Word of God. What did He say?  What did He promise?  What did He do while on earth?  What did He direct His followers to do?  Those will give exposure to His Purposes and His Will.  If we construct all our prayers with “if it be thy will” we will open the door to defeat, doubt, and disappointment.  Of course, we want His will to be done, but if His word indicates something is His will to pray that is to cast doubt on His Goodness, Faithfulness, Truthfulness, and Power.  I am not suggesting presumptuousness but simple Confidence in His Promises and His Pattern.

When we pray according to the will of God, this promises says that no matter what we request, we know that we know that we know the prayer is heard.  If the prayer is heard, this promise is that the request is granted.  There is no maybe there!  There is no attempt to be humble and pious, there is simple confidence that is expressed in Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”  This is anchored in Isaiah 55:11, “So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

Virtually all Christians believe God can.  Unfortunately, too many believe that He has stopped doing some things.   Some believe that God could if He wanted to but for some reason, He does not want to do what He promised and fulfill His covenant.  If Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, and He is.  Then, I would contend that if He identified something in His word, His work, His walk as being His will why would we not expect Him to do the same today?

If the Promises of Jesus in Luke 12:22-32 are true, and if verse 32 can be deemed valid then it is God’s desire and pleasure to “Give us the kingdom.”  That makes me want to shout and I say AMEN!  So be it, LORD!  Let it happen.  Connect that to the Prayer of Matthew 6, the Lord’s Prayer where He instructs us to pray, “Thy Kingdom Come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and your expectation level should rise and thereby your faith level and your confidence in Him and His Promises soar to new heights!

I am hungry for God!  I have served Him for 50 years and have seen His hand move powerfully in many situations including my own life in miracles and yet today, I cry “More, Lord!  More of You!”  Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.  Get Hungry my friends, get hungry!

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

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

ARE YOU HUNGRY, THIRSTY & DISSATISFIED?


Spiritual Blog - Hungry

Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”  NASU

In my prayer time and musing on God, the things of God, and His word throughout the day recently, I developed a sense of deep dissatisfaction and intense hunger.  My dissatisfaction was not that I was displeased with my home, family, friends, etc.  My dissatisfaction was that I was dissatisfied in the condition of complacency or status quo spiritually.  I did not think I was complacent or had embraced the mindset of status quo but as that dissatisfaction has grown I realized that is exactly where I was.

I believe that God can do anything, but I am not seeming Him do many things.  I believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but have a sense that, there are times when my life suggests that He has ceased the miraculous.  I have grown tired of going to hospitals and into homes and praying for people to get better and for God to guide the physicians and surgeons and wanted to see the manifestation of God’s Power and Glory in this present hour.  Some believe that is for bygone eras but if Jesus is the same and His word is the same and His commandments and covenants are true, I cannot relegate His miraculous to another time.  I believe it is for today!

 I have experienced divine healing in my own body.  I saw the X-rays of a broken radial head in my right arm completely normal after ten days.  I saw the two X-rays compared side by side and on the first, the bone was broken and depressed enough that normally surgery would have resulted and the second there was no break and no separation of bone.  I had parathyroid cancer and underwent surgery.  The doctors told me that they were not sure they got it all and since the parathyroid hormone levels did not drop as expected, remaining high, it was likely they did not.  We scheduled a second surgery and began to pray.  I would sit in my vehicle every day at lunch and pray, quoting God’s promises, meditating on His Promised, and rejoicing in His goodness and about ten days before the surgery I felt a warmth flow through me.  I believed I was healed and the blood tests, a day or two later, required before surgery revealed that the PTH levels had dropped to the low side of normal. The doctor said, “This does not happen.  God did this!”  I have been cancer free now for 14 years and rejoice in His healing.

I have witnessed healings of different conditions, situations, and relationships both physical, spiritual, emotional, and financial.  My experience does not determine my doctrine but when my experience and the Bible align, I develop a conviction that is unshakable.  My conviction is that Jesus still does what He did and still wants to today.  Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming LORD revealed that in His work of atonement He also bore the stripes for our healing and that, I believe, covers far more than the spiritual.  He did not need stripes for our spiritual healing He shed His blood.

Jesus told the disciples to pray, “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed by Your Name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”  Notice several things, please.  Notice the periods in the verse. We sometimes quote it with little thought as to the import and impact of the passage.  Oh, Father, You Name is Hallowed!  We worship God the Father who is in heaven.  Your Kingdom come!  We are to ask for the Kingdom of God, the Presence of God, the Rule and Reign of God to be manifest on Earth.  Father, Your will be done… There is no period there but a comma because the punctuation reveals where and if you will when we are to expect both His Kingdom to be manifest and His will to be done.  Where is On Earth ‘just as’ or ‘as it is’ done in Heaven.  When, I would contend is Now!  We do not need to pray for the Kingdom of God to come when we get to Heaven, IT IS!  We do not need to pray for the will of God to be done in Heaven, IT IS!

Jesus said, in Matthew 28 that ALL Authority has been given to Him both in heaven and on earth.  He operates in both dimensions or worlds.  His commission was to those there and us now to “Go, therefore…”  Go and do what and with what authority and with what power?  We are to not only take the Gospel witness to the world but once we reach them we are to disciple them.  That is far more than simply catching the fish or planting the harvest it is development, preparation, and requires a huge investment of ourselves in their lives.  We are to baptize them and Teach them.  Teach them what?  To observe ALL things, I have commanded you.

The word translated “observe” is ‘tereo’ which means to guard, protect, keep an eye upon and to keep unmarred.  Remember Jesus’ words in John 14:12?  What did He say?  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do will he do also; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father.”  There is no greater work than Salvation so if His statement conveyed the idea beyond or other than Salvation how do we relegate His miraculous to the past?  Notice verses 15-18, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”   That is nothing short of amazing!

Was His instruction to go into all the world and preach that included ‘signs and wonders’ following the preaching not one of His Commandments?  My friends, I am dissatisfied with feeling impotent when faced with the need of the miraculous and with the assaults of the devil against the lives of people who are hurting in this world.  I am hungry for More of God and the words of John the Baptist ring in my ears, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  Also, the cry of the Psalmist in 42:1-2, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You O God.  My soul thirst for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?”  Read the remainder of that chapter for encouragement and get a sense of his dissatisfaction, desperation, and hunger.

I leave you with the words of Jesus which is an incredible promise and should be an inspiration to motivate us to press into His presence.  Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks, finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Is that the current condition of our lives and our prayers?  Are we receiving, finding, and seeing His doors opened including the miraculous?  Get thirsty and stay thirsty, my friends.  Until we become dissatisfied enough to create a longing and hunger in our hearts for more of God will we remain in the status quo.  That is unacceptable or should be!

May God bless you and may you develop an insatiable hunger for God and His presence!

 

 

           

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

KINGDOM CULTURE and ATMOSPHERE OF HEAVEN…


Spiritual Blog - Kingdom

Matthew 6:5-15 – “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.  6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.  8 “So do not be like them; for your, Father knows what you need before you ask Him.  

9 ” Pray, then, in this way: 

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

14 ” For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”  NASU

The more I read and study what we call the “Lord’s Prayer” I realize that was not a prayer for Him, but it could rightly be called the “Disciple’s Prayer” because it is a guide for us in this present world.  It touches on vital aspects of life and is a guiding light for us to follow as we pursue Him and His purposes here on Earth.

I don’t want to get into sectarian or cliquish phraseology and identifications, so I must walk softly in this presentation.  Why?  Because I want to talk about Kingdom Culture and the Atmosphere of Heaven here and now on Earth.  I feed the need to ask a question that may lose readers at the outset, but it is pertinent.  If Jesus told us to pray to the Father for the Kingdom to come and His will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and that is not for now, when is it for?  A follower up question must be, “What is God’s Kingdom that we are praying will come?”

I will state adamantly that it is not some sectarian or cliquish grouping of people as was found in the Corinthian church when some were identifying themselves as Paul-ites or Apollos-ites or Jesus people.  It is, in my humble opinion and belief, the embracing of God in His fullness, His sovereignty, and rule completely.  It is allowing the culture of His Kingdom and the atmosphere of Heaven to be manifest in our lives and in our present world.  What does that mean?  It is not some cliché it is demonstrated through the manifestation of the Power of God.

It is Expectation not, Resignation.  The expectation that God’s promises, all of them, will be realized, received and embraced in our lives.  It is not a theoretical but an experiential relationship with Him.  It is not being satisfied or resigned to whatever will be will be but taking the Promises of God and the Directives of God in the Bible as Present Promises and Current Assignments and pursuing them.  Too often we justify our failures in prayer and the fact that we ask and do not receive some things.  We say, “the will of God be done.”  Amen!  But if that is more an expression of lack of confidence that we can have what He has said and justifying it with, “it must have been the will of God.” 

I remember the words spoken to Daniel when he had been praying and fasting for three weeks and then he had a vision, which answered his prayers.  The angel said, “Daniel, the first day you prayed your prayer came before God, and I have come in response to that prayer.  However, for 21 days the prince of the kingdom of Persia has withstood me.  Michael, came to help me break through and here is the answer.”  Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.”  Persistence, not resignation to offering a prayer, genuine and sincere, and saying, “The Lord’s will be done.”  We all want the Will of God to be done and to be submissive to that will but too often that statement becomes our escape hatch for not receiving what we were praying for even when what we have asked is identifiable as being in the promises of God.

In Heaven, there is no defeat!  In Heaven, there is no sickness.   In Heaven, there is no poverty.  In Heaven, there is no uncertainty.  If we are truly asking God to send His Kingdom to our present world then we are asking for the Culture of the Kingdom and the Atmosphere of Heaven to come in the here and now.  The Bible says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is a convenient escape hatch to relegate some things to then and not now because if we live in His Kingdom and the atmosphere of Heaven now we are not satisfied unless we see the manifestation of His Glory and the fulfillment of His Purposes.   Mark 16:15-18 becomes real and realized in our lives.

I am not suggesting that I have fully attained that place.  The battles I am facing are evidence I have not, but I am pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God and want to Live in the Atmosphere of Heaven in the here and now.  To do that, I know that I must change my Perspective, Perception, and Expectation.  I must make Him my objective and pursuit.  His Promise is that if we seek Him first and foremost the other things of life will come with that pursuit.  It is a Place that is Desired in my heart, not just for me but so that I could be a vessel He can and does use to bring in the harvest of souls and break the lingering hold of the evil one in our present world.

God bless you as you allow Him to take full control of your lives and enjoy this wonderful day He has made!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

PEACE AND STRENGTH THROUGH TRIAL…


Spiritual Blog - Hang On

Romans 5:1-5 – “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  NASU

I love the beginning of this chapter.  Paul highlights the foundational truth that we are Justified by Faith.  He then reminds us that because of that reality we have Peace with God through Jesus Christ.  His work of Grace ushers us into the presence of the Father and in that relationship, we have a Peace that the world is unable to supply and incapable of taking from us.  It is the Peace of God and Isaiah referred to it as Perfect Peace.

Paul reminds us that we were introduced into the Grace of God, through faith and the finished work of Jesus Christ.  In that condition and position, we rise to a place of exultation in which we experience extreme joy and happiness.  This is sheer ecstasy in the realm of the Spirit. It is jubilation that is as the Bible describes it, “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”  It could be described as walking on air, jumping for joy, or being on cloud nine.

Then he adds, “And not this only…”  As if that was not enough we discover there is more but, in this condition, state, relationship, and peace we can ‘exult in our tribulations.’  Doesn’t that sound a little like what James said in his writings?  He tells us to ‘count it all joy when we fall into different kinds of temptation.’  That makes no sense to the natural man, but the Spiritual man recognizes that in every trial there is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His Incredible Agape Love and Grace.

Paul gives us an insight into trials that most reject or do not wish to discuss.  He did not advance a doctrine that we are to seek for, look for, or hope for difficulties, but that when they come, and they will, we can ‘exult’ in them.  Why?  Because we know that through the tribulation or trial we learn perseverance.  We learn to ‘having done all to stand and keep on standing’.  We learn to ‘never quit.’  He then reminds us the perseverance produces proven character.  I have said for a long time that I do not want to go to war with anyone without a limp.  I want them to be proven and tested.  I want to know they will stand with me to the end.  God wants that from us and for us.  When we know that we will stand and resolve to stand, the anointing of the Holy Spirit becomes even more powerful in our lives.

He continues that proven character produces Hope!  What is biblical hope?  It, I would argue, is elevated faith.  Remember Hebrews reminds us that Abraham held on to his hope and “in hope against hope believed.”  Hoping to the patriarchs in the Bible was not wishful thinking it was rock solid.  It was assurance and confidence in the unshakable and infallible promises and character of God.  They lived in the Hope of the Resurrection and in the Hope of the promises of Covenant.

Paul reminds us that this kind of Hope does not disappoint.  Why?  Because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  That is one of the ministries of the Comforter.  He brings us into the presence of the Father and pours the love of God in our hearts so that we are filled with His fullness.

Therefore, when you face trials rather than lamenting and complaining realize that in this difficulty there is Hope and, in our Perseverance, we grow stronger and more confident in God.  In that confidence, we can pull down strongholds and withstand the fiery darts of the wicked one.  We are able, as David, to “serve the purposes of God in our generation.”  That should be the inscription on each of our headstones when we depart this life.

I want you to take courage and know that you are not forsaken, and God has not unleashed the devil to torment you, but if trials come, in your hope and confidence you can develop perseverance, proven character, and hope as you bask in His love, grace, peace, and power.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

A BETTER PLACE IN OUR TOMORROW…


spiritualblog-better

John 14:1-6 – “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.  2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  4 “And you know the way where I am going.”  5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  NASU

 

In troubled times like these, we need something to inspire and comfort our hearts.  Many are facing situations and problems to a degree they have never experienced.  Some are living in fear of what is coming or about to come on the earth.  Many are troubled by the direction of the nation over the past few decades.  They are troubled by the direction of the organized religious community, and our society as a whole.  Things do not look good on so many fronts that it would be easy to become discouraged, despondent, depressed, and draw into a shell and try to pull the covers in over our heads to hide.  That is not possible so we need something that gives us reason to get up in the morning and face the new day with a smile rather than trepidation.  That is found in this passage for me.

The one thing I know for certain is that there is a better place in our tomorrow because Jesus said so.  I trust Him and His affirmation that if it were not true He would have been honest with us.  You may prefer the word “mansion” or “room” to the words in this version “dwelling places” and that is fine but the fact that I want you to focus on is that There is a Place in the presence of God in Heaven for us in our tomorrow.  Jesus departed this earth to prepare that place for us and has promised to come again and receive us unto Himself so that where He is there we may also be.  Access to this place is through Him and there is no other access.

So if you are facing difficulties today that are almost beyond your ability to bear, look toward the future (eternity) in which there will be a better tomorrow!  We have the absolute assurance of our precious LORD that there is a place and He is coming for us to take us to that place.  It is a place that the world did not provide, the government did not create, and the devil cannot prevent.  It is our Eternal Home!  So as you go through each day go through it with the confidence that no matter how bad or bleak things may appear here there is a “Better Place in Our Tomorrow.” 

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

LIGHT SHINING IN DARKNESS…


spiritual blog - light

John 12:44-50 – “And Jesus cried out and said, ” He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me.  45 ” He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.  46 ” I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.  47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  48 ” He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.  49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.  50 “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”  NASU

 

 I realize that there are at least ten devotionals I could give from this passage but I want to pull out one particular statement and focus on it.  Jesus said:  “I have come as the LIGHT of the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”  What a powerful and comforting statement!

In this world of darkness, corruption, wickedness, evil, and depravity there is a Light shining as a beacon and that Light is Jesus!  If we come to Him, we come to that Light and darkness is dispelled and we are able to walk in the Light seeing clearly not only the dangers and pitfalls but the beauty of what God has wrought.  We are able to live in the Light and be free of the torment of darkness.  We are able to live Forgiven free of the pain of hidden sin and separation from God.

If you have ever been in a storm and the darkness was so black that you could almost touch it and feel it then the clouds rolled back and the sun began to peak through you know the feeling of calm that comes when darkness is driven out.  That is what Jesus offers spiritually.  His Light in the midst of darkness and when He comes into the room the situation or life’s darkness flees.  We see with new eyes and new hearts and the sweetness of life becomes fresh and new.  Fear is banished and peace floods the soul bringing a calm and confidence that cannot be experienced anywhere else or in any other way.

If you do not know Jesus the Light of the World I encourage you to call upon Him today and allow Him to become Light in your darkened world.  If you do know Jesus then refuse to allow the darkness to invade your light, resist the devil and he will flee.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

INSEPARABLE LOVE…


spiritual blog - love

Romans 8:37-39 – “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  NASU

 

Sometimes we read something in the Bible that so resonates in our spirit that we can’t keep from thinking about it for days.  This is one such passage for me.  It seems that each time I come to it I spend the next few days thinking of little else beyond the Incredible Unconditional Love of God and the mind-boggling patience and sacrifice He was willing to extend to mankind so that we could be restored to a relationship with Him and escape the torments of the kingdom of darkness.

I love Paul’s definitive optimism that No Matter What – “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.”  Then he proceeds to make the foundation granite and sure pounding this truth into the bedrock of our hearts saying, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  HALLELUJAH!  What a promise and declaration!  What a truth!  What an anchor to ground our lives!  We have the promise of GOD’S INSEPARABLE LOVE!

There is no devil in hell, no situation, no person, no government, no economic crisis, no health crisis, no relational crisis – – Nothing, absolutely Nothing can come between us and God’s Love!   We may turn on that love and walk from it but God Will Go On Loving Us Without Fail!   Nothing can change that!  In that reality I live my life and find solace when things are dark.  In that, I live my life and find comfort when the storm winds blow.  In that, I live my life and find the strength to “repent” and “return” anytime I find myself straying from the path He has chosen.  I know that I am accepted in the beloved and that His Love is Without End!

Never allow yourself to think that you are worthless, without value, or unloved because you are loved by Love Himself!  You are loved by the Love that breaks all barriers, shreds all bonds and chains, and brings hope, comfort, and joy to the soul.  We have God’s Inseparable and Unconditional Love!

May God’s love cover you like a glove as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE WORDS OF CHRIST…


spiritual blog - word

Colossians 3:16-17 – “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” NASU

In speaking to the Church at Colossae the apostle Paul gives them a discourse on love, humility, compassion, gentleness, and forgiveness.  His message is so powerful that each time I read it I tremble realizing, my own deficiency and short-comings.  It brings me to a place of repentance each time and I am thankful that it continues to have that effect on my heart.  I never want a calloused heart that can read the Word of God without being touched by it through the Holy Spirit.  Then he comes to the text that I have chosen for this devotional and it is equally powerful.

His admonition is for each of us to Let or Allow, which is an act of our will or choice on our part, something to transpire or be birthed in our hearts.  It requires our involvement in the process and is not something done to us but done in us as we cooperate with the Spirit of God.  He says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you….”  Wow!  Imagine the Word of Christ living “inside us.”  Not just floating around in our brains but Living inside of us and producing the life that it brings.

That LIVING WORD produces:

  • ALL WISDOM – – Enabling us to be taught and teach each other.
  • THE TOOLS – – Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. (It would serve you well to carefully examine the difference in each of those and their significance)
  • THE OBJECTIVE – – A life of Thanksgiving so that whatever we do in Word or Deed we do in the Name of the Lord.

We find ourselves not just representatives of Christ but manifestations of Him to the world who is longing for something real and relevant in their troubled lives.  Too many churches and Christians are trying to be modern without really being relevant or without dealing with the Root Causes of the Problems that people face.  I am not interested in just having a crowd I am interested in seeing people Freed From Bondage.  If that means I minister to a House Full or a Hand Full it is perfectly fine with me.  The objective is bringing people to an encounter and place in God where “The Word of Christ can richly dwell in them…..”  It is in that state that I know from experience and the Word of God that there will bring Liberation from the Bondage of the devil and a New Found Freedom that will create an attitude and atmosphere of Thanksgiving and Praise which is infectious to those seeking Liberty!

May the Lord be with you as you go through your day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR?


spiritual blog - mirror

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 – “Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  NASU

 

What a powerful presentation of the Gospel by the apostle Paul.  He identifies that if we only have the “Letter of the Law” we are living with a veil over our hearts but if we have the “Spirit of Christ” we have the veil removed.  In that condition, we find Liberty because where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Liberty.

I love his description in verses 17and 18.  It identifies the liberation of the heart by the presence of the Holy Spirit.  It is also the liberation of the mind or mindset.  He then goes on to identify that as believers in Christ it is as though we have the veil or change the prism of how we see things.  As we, in this condition, look upon the Lord and His Glory we are then Transformed into His Image from Glory to Glory.  The Bible teaches and I believe and have proven that we become like that which we Worship.

If we worship money we become like mammon.  If we worship power we become brutal and ruthless, unfeeling, and often uncaring.  If we worship natural beauty we allow our hearts and minds to be filled with carnal delights and pleasures and become vain, egotistical, conceited and driven for physical perfection.  But if we worship GOD we go through a Transformation or a Metamorphosis into His Image.  The reflection that others see is HIM rather than our imperfections because in the transformation He transforms our heart and our hearts issue forth HIM.

I do not want to be a representative only of Jesus I want to be a manifestation of Him to the world.  I do not want to just speak about Jesus I want to speak for Him to this world.  I do not want to be an example of a good man I want to be a reflection of HIM.  It is because I know that in my own power, or positive character qualities I cannot transform a life but He Can!  I know that it is Only as we behold Him with unveiled face and heart that we are Transformed from darkness into His marvelous light.  So my cry is “God remove the veil and let me BEHOLD YOUR GLORY so that I can Become more and more like you!”

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

LEARNING TO WAIT…


spiritual blog - waiting

Psalm 33:18-22 – “Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness, 19 To deliver their soul from death And to keep them alive in famine.  20 Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.   21 For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.  22 Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You.”  NASU

 

I find this a particularly interesting and challenging passage.  It is encouraging, filled with promise, laced with guidance and direction, and carries a condition that most miss.  When I read passages from the Bible sometimes there are certain things that leap off the page to me and grab my attention which results in going back to look in more detail at what has been said.  That is what happened with the conditional portion of this passage.

As I gave this passage a cursory reading I was blessed but when I came to verse twenty-two I was arrested by the Holy Spirit and went back to look over the passage in more detail and with a different heart.  Let’s consider it from verse eighteen and see where it leads us:

  1. We have a Revelation which also has a condition attached.

The Eye of the Lord is on those who Fear Him and on those who Hope for His Lovingkindness.  They are hoping, trusting, or believing for God to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. There is both protection and provision in this revelation of “God’s Watching Over Us.”  I find repeatedly in Scripture the solidification of this and take great comfort in knowing that God not only Sees but Can and Will do something about my situation. 

  1. There is the Instruction.

The Soul that is waiting upon the Lord knowing that He is our Help and our Shield, that’s the picture.  Wow!  In my “waiting” on the Lord, I am entering into not only His provision but His protection.  That is not only instructional but tremendously encouraging. 

  1. There Is an Encouragement and a Nudging.

To allow the heart to Rejoice in Him, and that is possible because we Trust Him.  It is out of my faith that I am able to “Rejoice in All Things” and “Give Thanks in All Things.”  It is as I trust His Name, His Person, and His Grace that I am Free to Rejoice! 

  1. There is the Request and the Condition.

The Request is – – “Let your Lovingkindness be upon us.”

The Condition is – – “According as we have hoped in You.”

That reminds me of the passage in 3 John 2 – “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” NASU The promise and desired result are clear but the condition is unmistakable if we are haphazard in our relationship with the Lord we become as James described “double-minded” and that instability renders us, poor candidates, to receive.  Why?  We are not in a spiritual mindset or condition to utilize it properly and in all likelihood would as James declared “consume it upon our own lusts rather than to move us closer to God and advance the Kingdom.”  I am not saying that God will not bless anyone who is not Totally Dedicated to Him.  No! No!  If that were the case few of us would have ever received anything from Him.  What I am saying is that if we want to live in the midst of God’s Care, Keeping, and Blessing we need to train our souls to WAIT UPON THE LORD and SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS!  It is in that condition of heart that we humbly receive His blessings and as a result, many others are also blessed.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment