Genesis 3:4 – “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”  ESV

I often call Genesis the “Seed Book of the Bible” because in the first twelve chapters you find the foundation for virtually everything taught in the remainder of the Bible.  If one were to get a good handle on those chapters I am confident that much of the deception that has and does take place would be thwarted and we would see vast new doors of understanding opened to the Body of Christ.

But DECEPTION did not begin in the Garden of Eden it began before that when Lucifer convinced one-third of the angelic hosts to rebel against God.  It was through deception that this transpired.  His work in the Garden is just a continuation of his very nature and character and sadly, Adam & Eve bought what he was selling and were deceived.  Their deception not only cost them but the human race and had God not been willing to allow Jesus to come to earth and go to the Cross we’d still be in the clutches of the devil.  There is a consequence to deception because it results in actions that as Paul equates in Galatians as sowing which produces a harvest that has to be reaped whether we want to or not.

Deception comes when we fail to keep our hearts open to the Word and the Spirit of God.  It comes when we neglect our study of God’s Word and our prayer life.  It comes when we allow the flesh to rule over the spirit.  It comes when we allow the lust or carnal desires to override the spiritual directives of the Spirit and Word of God.  It comes when we become self-centered and dethrone God while elevating ourselves to the Center of our Universe as Adam & Eve did. 

In a sense Adam & Eve voted God out and voted themselves in as the supreme in their universe. As one of my friends often describes it, “They were born again backward.”  They opted to believe THE LIE rather than GOD who is TRUTH.  They opted to follow their own carnal desires and wisdom (so-called) rather than be obedient.  The fruit could have been a bridge over a stream that God said “Do not cross!”  It didn’t matter it was a matter of obedience and they disobeyed because they were deceived.

I doubt that there has been a week pass in my Christian experience that I haven’t meet and talked to someone who is in some kind of deception in some area.  That is probably applicable to me as well and as the Holy Spirit reveals to me any area of deception in my life I Immediately repent and begin diligent study to correct the error and become rightly aligned with the Word of God.  Do I have all truth?  NO!  Do I have all my doctrine right? Since I do not believe any human does, I would say NO!  

I would like to think I have it all right, but from time to time I find that something I have believed is not completely accurate. When that becomes a reality I must allow my doctrine to be modified to accommodate what God says not what I want God to say.  I do not want to be like a preacher I heard once say, “I’ve been in the ministry for 30 years and I have not changed my doctrine or my message.”  I thought I have!  

Religious rigidity to the point of being stubborn and believing you have everything totally perfect is dangerous. A person in that condition could and probably would rapidly become a Pharisee. I was one once and never want to return to that place of legalism.  I want to be like a piece of clay in the hands of the potter to be molded and shaped into whatever He desires for my life.  That has been an ongoing process and what and where I am today has evolved dramatically in some areas and remained pretty consistent in others.  I know in part and have a limited perspective but God sees everything from the beginning to the end whereas we see things from the end to the beginning.  There is a big difference!  One is foresight the other is hindsight.

So as you go through the day allow the Holy Spirit to guide your footsteps and keep your heart and mind open to and expansion of truth in your life that God chooses to bring to you.  

Blessings as you go through your day!

2 Peter 3:8-9 – “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” NKJV

When I first began in the ministry there was an urgency and expectancy that the LORD was about to come.  We thought it so imminent that some foolishly sold all they had and went into hibernation waiting for the LORD’s return.  Others, however, felt the urgency and expectancy as a compulsion to Spread the Gospel to everyone and anyone who would listen fully believing that there might, not and likely would not be a tomorrow.  As time has passed I have seen a loss of that urgency and expectancy because as Peter described in the preceding verses people lose the urgency because they kept hearing it but nothing happened and time just kept rolling along.

Today some are beginning to feel a resurgence of the “urgency” and there is a growing “anticipation” that something is about to happen in the spiritual realm.  Our world has evolved to a place where more and more things are in place for the fulfillment of biblical prophecy concerning the “end times.”  There is legitimate cause to be concerned about things in our own government as well as in the world overall regarding the opening of the door for the “Anti-Christ” to come on the scene.

            For some time I have been sensing an urgency from the LORD and a reminder that just because it has not happened doesn’t mean that it is not going to or that it is necessarily sometime in the far distant future.  I don’t know when the LORD will return and neither does any other human on planet earth.  Yet, what I want to say here is less about the delay or the imminent return of the LORD, but more about the last part of verse nine. 

Verse nine bring to mind the reality that the LORD is longsuffering or patient with us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  That is the heart of God our Redemption. That is why Jesus came the first time, lived as He did, and went to the Cross.  We have been God’s focus from the beginning and sadly we have, at times, lost a sense of that and the urgency of God’s heart regarding the lost.

I pray to God that I never become so calloused regarding the Gift of Salvation. I pray that I never lose the sense of urgency that comes with it.  If somehow tomorrow a vast fortune came into my hands and I could do with it whatever I choose I would instantly seek to bless those I love and care about.  Following that I would seek to help as many ministries as I could to further the cause of the Kingdom of God.  We have been given this Great Treasure of salvation and often seem to take it for granted and appear calloused with regard to those who have not received this gift and do not know our LORD.

Early in my Christian experience I heard an account of a man in WWII who did not believe in God. He went to the chaplain and said, “Sir you do not believe in hell.”  The chaplain was astounded and protested but the unbeliever said, “If I believed in hell, though this land were covered in broken glass I would crawl on my hands and knees, if necessary to warn people to flee it.  You sir, are not telling anyone so I must conclude you do not really believe it exists.”  That should give all of us a reality check! 

If we see real danger we do not hesitate to warn people about the danger, yet how many times are we as guilty as the chaplain in this regard?  I’m not trying to turn everyone into an Evangelist but we do have a commission from our Lord to share what we have received and to take this message to the ends of the earth.  It is not your job or responsibility to win the world but it is your responsibility to share your gift within your sphere of influence and where the Holy Spirit affords you opportunity.  If salvation is as great as we Know it is then how can we not speak of it to others?

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

[Thanks to my dear friend Tim Malone for causing this to rise up with a renewed freshness in my heart.]

3 John 2-4 – “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  NKJV

In our world today and the recent past we have faced difficult economic times, uncertainty with regard to so many things in this country and the world this is a powerful reminder of God’s desire for us.  As John says in verse four “I have no greater joy than to hear that God’s children walk in truth.”  John says his children but I did a Roy paraphrase to bring it into the perspective from which I speak today.

John’s prayer is a reflection of the heart and desire of God for all His children.  He wants us to PROSPER in everything not just an occasional victory.  He also wants us to be in HEALTH and walk in WELLNESS and WHOLENESS.  John makes the connection to our spiritual condition in both of these things because our spiritual condition will determine what we do with what we have.  It will determine if we consume it upon our own lust or selfish desires or if we utilize it for the Kingdom of God.

I’ve been blessed of God to have experienced the miracle of healing in my physical body more than once.  I have documentation to prove some of those miracles and the testimony of medical doctors, x-ray technicians, and other people who witnessed the occurrence.  I am a cancer survivor solely because of God’s healing power and as my surgeon said, “This never happens medically so someone higher than you and I had a hand in this.” 

Additionally, the radial head in my right arm was broken and depressed enough to cause the doctors to consider surgery and through the prayers of God’s people 10 days after the first x-ray a 2^nd x-ray was taken and read by a doctor who knew nothing of the situation and he declared my arm to be a normal arm with no evidence of any fractures or previous fractures. 

Also, I know what it is to have someone walk up to you and place a sum of money in your hand that met a financial need although they knew nothing of the situation.  I know what it is to have job interviews changed so that the interviewer would be a person that would be favorable impressed with me and offer me the job.  I know that because I was told later that the original interviewer had already decided that I was not the right candidate but God intervened and gave me someone else and they sold my value to the committee selecting the candidate for the job. 

I know what it is like to experience God’s favor with man and it was directly connected to my spiritual condition and mind-set.  Please understand I’m not saying that because I am or was super-spiritual I received God’s blessings and those that did not were not super-spiritual.  NO! NO! NO!   It was all Grace not Merit! 

My prayer for each of you is that you prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.  I want you to enjoy a close relationship with the Lord because I know the benefit of that relationship.  I want you to enjoy the fellowship of the Holy Spirit that comes out of that relationship.  I want you to walk in the grace, peace, power, and provision of the Lord in all things and at all times.  I desire you to walk in His truth!

So as you go through this day may you go through it with the Power of the Spirit of God manifest in a noticeable way in your life! 

God be with you is my prayer!

1 Peter 4:7-8 – “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”  NKJV

I do not mean to make light of that phrase and the answer is Yes and No.  We could all get along but we won’t all get along because we are not all believers. We do not all have the love of God shed abroad in our hearts.  Even when we are we don’t always get along as is evidenced in the many different denominations, sectarian schisms, and divisions in the Body of Christ and within local churches not to mention those outside the church.

The admonition of Peter here is that “the end is near” so we are to be serious or sober or sound in mind and judgment and watchful or aware so that we know how to pray and pray fervently.  Intercession is a vital part of the life of a Christian of any age but in these last days it is even more important.  He then gives us another directive that sadly is overlooked or excused by much of the Body of Christ – “have fervent love for one another.” 

That is love that is “burning and constant.” It is a never fading love and one that “covers a multitude of sins.”  It doesn’t excuse sin or justify sin but love covers it in that it takes the sinner or brother/sister in Christ and reaches past the flaw to bring them to restoration.  Restoration to Christ if that is the need or restoration in our relationship if there is offense.  If we practiced this passage of Scripture we would see a unification of the church in such a way that it would send shock waves through the world and produce a revival and harvest like we have never seen.

I’ve heard people brag about “running their preacher off” as though that were a good thing.  I’ve heard people brag about “starving their preacher out” as though that were a good thing.  I’ve heard people, Christians say, “I don’t get mad I get even” as though that were a good thing.  When people tell me “I can forgive but I can’t forget” I always tell them God doesn’t expect you to develop Divine Amnesia he expects you to make a conscious decision to not allow that event to be a factor in future decisions and actions on your part. 

He expects you to love with UNCONDITIONAL LOVE or AGAPE LOVE and that is only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.  I cannot love you unconditionally without divine help.  My humanity would step in and although I do not have a large overbearing ego I do have one as do you.  I am not prideful but I do have pride and have to deal with it from time to time as do you.  Our humanity hinders our ability to fervently love each other and should identify to us the need for diligent fervent prayer for the help of God to allow Him to LOVE THROUGH US! 

There was a time in my life that if someone disagreed with me I considered them an enemy or an adversary.  If someone did something to me I would retaliate and give them back double what they gave me.  Then when I  was rescued from myself by the Lord I realized that my actions and attitude were producing a harvest that I did not want to continue in my life and have diligently sought Him to help me LOVE.  My greatest concern is the condition of my heart toward fellow believers and my fellow man.  If God gets me right I can impact the lives of others in a positive and powerful way and even if they do not turn to Him I will have manifested Him and His love to them.

We need to realize that not everyone will agree with us, like us, or even love us but we can LOVE like Jesus!  So as you go through this day ask the Holy Spirit to help you in that regard! 

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

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  NKJV

Years ago I had an individual tell me that there were 365 “fear not’s” in the Bible, one for every day of the year.  Imagine that, if it were true but after doing some diligent research I was unable to find 365 and in many versions not even 100.  However, that is not a problem because ONE – “fear not” from Jesus is enough right!  Although this is some almost worthless information the following has been found:

            KJV – 74 “fear not”; 29 – “be not afraid”

            NASB – 4 – “fear not”; 57 – “do not fear”; 46 – “do not be afraid”

The word “fear” in all of its forms is only listed 314 times in the original languages, which also includes words translated as terrible, dreadful, reverence, and terrible acts.  As per www.blueletterbible.com, we find the following:

NKJV – 129, NIV – 66, NASB – 127, ASV – 148, DBY – 155, HNV – 44, NLT – 38, ESV – 137, RSV – 139, YNG – 115, WEB – 144.

The truth is that if it was in the Bible just ONE TIME that would be enough because as we find in Genesis God only had to say, “Let there be light” one time for it to happen.  It didn’t take 365 to cover every day of the year.  God said it and that was enough to bring it into existence.  What we need to do is “believe” what He says about this and everything else. 

As Christians, we DO NOT FEAR or do not have to fear!  We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus and transferred from the kingdom or domain of darkness into the Kingdom of God’s Light and Love!  We are more than, conquerors through Him who loved and loves us!  He has overcome the World and He lives in our hearts so we are overcomers!  We have nothing to fear because God is with us! 

I am concerned about the condition of our nation spiritually but not fearful.  I am concerned about many things but not fearful.  I refuse to allow fear to have dominion in my life because I know that God has promised to “never leave me nor forsake me.” 

Fear would be an expression of doubt in the promises of God and I choose to believe His promises!  When “fear” raises its ugly head and tries to gain a foothold in my thinking I run to the Cross and look at the finished work of Jesus and fear dissipates. 

Worry is a by-product of fear so I choose not to allow worry to have any place in my thinking.  I do not try to justify worry or fear by saying “I’m just concerned.”  I am concerned about many things but confident that no matter how they turn out God is still God and will be with me through it all and in it all.   That brings peace to my heart and gives me the confidence and strength to face each day and all the struggles that that day might contain.

So as you go through this day go with the confidence that God is with you!  Walk in freedom, not fear! 

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