Author: rbeaird

ARE WE AFRAID OF THE WILL OF GOD? [Continued]…


Spiritual Blog - Will of God

Proverbs 3:5-8 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.  8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”  NKJV

 

When we KNOW the Will of God for our lives and are convinced of that will we can GIVE THANKS in all things!  That is a powerful place spiritually and affords us such peace that people will often wonder about us and possibly seek to know our secret.

In Colossians 1:12-13, the apostle Paul speaks of “giving thanks unto the Father who has… made us FIT [capable] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.”  Paul is not saying MAYBE, he is saying God has ALREADY made us capable or fit, in Jesus, to be partakers of our inheritance.  That is not a promise to be realized after we die and go to heaven IT IS NOW!  In Colossians 4:12, Paul instructed, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand PERFECT and COMPLETE in ALL the Will of God.”  [Emphasis mine].  Paul’s prayer was for them and us to KNOW and DO the Will of God for our lives.  Clearly, it is possible to KNOW the Will of God else why pray such a prayer?

In Romans 12:1-2, an often quoted passage we read, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”   TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds is a powerful image and is the same word used to describe what happened to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.  God remolds our minds from within.

When God TRANSFORMS us in our minds we think differently than we have every thought.  I heard an illustration that fits in illustrating this truth and reality.  Imagine a little boy looking through a knothole in a fence at a parade going by on the street. He can see only a small portion of the parade at any given time.  If he sees a clown he is full of laughter and joy but if he sees a lion he is filled with trepidation and fear.  If there is a space between the band and the acrobats he may think the parade is over.  It would or could be a very frustrating experience attempting to evaluate a parade only on the basis of what he can or cannot see at any given moment.  Then suppose his big brother invites him to the top of the fence where he can see the entire parade, not just small segments, his view would be completely different.  Sadly, too often we are viewing life through a knothole and our elder brother Jesus is inviting us to rise to the top of the fence and see what He sees.  Ephesians 2:6, “And (He) has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” 

Someone said to me, “Keep looking up” and I said, “No, I need to keep looking down because I am sitting with Jesus in heavenly places and am not under the circumstances but looking down on them from God’s perspective.”   Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

             Sometimes we see a promise in Scripture and claim it only to find that those we love and respect do not respond positively.  Then, over time, we lose heart and begin to complain, “Ever since I began to claim God’s Promise, things have gotten worse.”  Well, PRAISE THE LORD!  I had a preacher tell me once, “The man who is angry is nearer to God than the man who is indifferent.”  Romans 12:2 gives a practical outline for mind renewal.  Do not let the world squeeze you into its mold and embrace the changing of your mind by the Spirit of God.  Romans 12:1, tells us exactly how to do that.  We do so by deliberately giving our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, we open the door for God’s transformation to sweep through our entire beings.

We can fear the Will of God or embrace it and in embracing it we will find that it requires a COMPLETE OVERHAUL or TRANSFORMATION of us from the inside out.  God bless you as you embark on the rest of life’s journey beginning with this beautiful day in Jesus!

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ARE WE AFRAID OF THE WILL OF GOD?


Spiritual Blog - Will of God

Proverbs 3:5-8 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.  8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.”  NKJV

 

Let me make a bold statement and hopefully not lose anyone before we begin.  Most Christians major in minors.  We pray: “Lord, help me make this payment, find a new job, get a new car, etc.”  Those should be minor concerns but often are at the top of our lists.  Before you reject my statement and challenge me I suggest we consider how the apostle Paul viewed and approached daily life.  I find this revealed in a powerful way in his prayer for the new church at Colossae in Colossians 1:9, “…we…do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”  [Emphasis mine].

I believe that the basic underlying premise for all Divine Guidance is that it is possible to KNOW the will of God.  If it is possible to KNOW God’s will then that knowing should be at the top of our list of prayer list.  Remember the prayer when Jesus responded to the disciple’s request, “Lord teach us to pray.”  Do the words, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” resonate in your spirit.  THY WILL BE DONE…  We are not likely to do the will of God unless we know the will of God, therefore the pursuit of knowing should be a top priority.

Man was made to have communion and fellowship with God.  God created man with the ability to KNOW God and in KNOWING God man would also know the WILL OF GOD.  Rebellion broke the lines of communication in the Garden but through the Last Adam, Jesus, those lines have been restored affording us the intimacy of fellowship with God.  If we are to KNOW the Will of God we must learn to walk in intimate fellowship with Him.  Matthew 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”  The FIRST must be God, His kingdom, and righteousness in which we find the will of God and then those things we put at the top of our prayer lists become secondary items because they fall within the “AND SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.”

The apostle Paul understood what transpired in a person’s life when that individual came to KNOW the Will of God.  In Colossians 1:10-12 he lists seven (7) expected results and I will highlight them in the passage for your consideration.

Colossians 1:10-12 – “That you might WALK WORTHY of the Lord UNTO ALL PLEASING, being FRUITFUL in every good work, and INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE of God; STRENGTHENED with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all PATIENCE and LONGSUFFERING with JOYFULNESS; giving thanks unto the Father, who has made us FIT TO BE PARTAKERS of the inheritance of the saints in light…”  [Emphasis mine].

If we are to WALK WORTHY of the Lord we must KNOW what He wants from us, right?  Jesus walked UNTO ALL PLEASING.  He was a FATHER PLEASER!  That should be our daily prayer, “Father, I want to be a son/daughter who pleases you.”  However, many people are SELF-PLEASERS, others are MAN-PLEASERS but until we mature and come to the place that the overwhelming drive and desire in our heart are to be GOD-PLEASERS we will NEVER fully understand the will of God in our lives.  Let me insert, it is only by DOING the will of God that our lives truly become FRUITFUL.  Imagine an apple tree praying, “Lord, please bring forth apples from my life.”  NO!  An apple tree would not pray to bear apples because bearing apples what it was made for and what it does.  It has to bring forth the LIFE that is in it, that is what it was created for.  It does not have to strain or struggle to bear apples, fruit should come naturally as a result of the life that is in the apple tree.  The same is true of our lives!

As we KNOW the Will of God we increase in the knowledge of God and are strengthened with all might according to His glorious power.  That is the real strength!  Too often we focus on our weaknesses rather than God’s strength and I have had people on numerous occasions ask me to pray that they would have more strength, joy, victory, etc.  That is not necessarily bad or wrong but I would suggest that as we seek to know the Will of God for our lives we should remember that one of Paul’s requests was that they are strengthened with all might according to God’s glorious power UNTO all patience and longsuffering with joy.  What does that tell you?  It should convey the understanding that in the Will of God and our walk therein we will face times where those are needed. That means it will not always be smooth sailing and instant answers.  The biblical promise is that when we KNOW we are in the Will of God we can withstand any hardship and do so with a quiet confidence and joy!  It is when we do not know for certain that confusion comes through the front door and patience heads out the back door.  Patience (hupomone) means to remain standing when everyone else has collapsed.  It is when you know that you know that you know you can give THANKS IN ALL THINGS!

I cannot simply end here for there is another thought or two that I feel needs to be inserted so I will pause and pray that God grant you KNOWLEDGE of His will in all things and at all times in your journey.  God bless you richly is my prayer!

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THE “IS”-NESS OF GOD…


Spiritual Blog - God Is

Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God…”  NKJV

In taking only a portion of a verse I am always concerned with missing the context but in this case, I believe it appropriate to do so.  Read the verse with me and notice it speaks of the “beginning” or the starting point or origination and then it offers the most captivating thought one could encounter, GOD.  In the beginning God.  That leaps off the page when I read it for it speaks of the “IS”-NESS” of God.  God IS not simply WAS or WILL BE but HE IS.

Have you considered how many times the Bible says, “God IS” and then conveys a truth that is life changing?  I will not attempt to exhaust the references but they are numerous but could we consider some of them in hopes of building your faith and confidence in Him.

GOD IS TRUTH…

He is present truth not simply past truth or future truth but PRESENT TRUTH.  Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life…”  Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent (change His mind).  Has He not said, and will He not do?  Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”  He is TRUTH and we know from John 8:32 that TRUTH liberates and makes free.  That freedom is Salvation and the New Birth.  The “IS”-NESS” of God inspires our hearts and gives us a complete contrast to the devil whom Jesus said in John 8:44, is a liar, the father of lies, and the truth is not in him.  It is in the “IS”-NESS of GOD that we find the freedom and revelation of TRUTH.

GOD IS LOVE…

He is NOW LOVE not simply God has love but He IS love.  That is the “IS”-NESS” of God coming to light again.  In 1 John 4, there are numerous references to this truth as John declares GOD is LOVE.  The apostle Paul highlighted a truth that should encourage our hearts in Hebrews 13:8 declaring that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Taking from that revelation we can anchor in our hearts the reality that God was love in the past, will be love in the future and is love in the present.  Then when we view the extent of that love in John 3:16 we should be brought to our knees in humble adoration, appreciation, and awe.  God loved us enough that Jesus would die on the Cross for our sin.  God’s Love is found in His “IS”-NESS.

GOD IS LIGHT…

When darkness covered the world God spoke and called forth light for that is what He is and light dispels darkness.  1 John 1:5 tells us that, “…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”  He is completely devoid of darkness and light is more than truth it is a revelation and affords guidance.  The Psalmist declared in 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Jesus, the Bible declares in John 1:1-5, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”

God is the truth, love, light, life and the whole of the IS-NESS of GOD can be found in God’s declaration to Moses at the burning bush when Moses insisted on knowing God’s name.  God declared in Exodus 3:14, “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.'”   I “AM” not simply was or will be but I AM.  The “IS”-NESS of God declares to us the NOW REALITY of Who God is, what God does, and what God has for His children.

He is love.  He is power.  He is truth.  He is light.  He is life.  He is a consuming fire.  He is mercy.  He is longsuffering.  He is THE LIVING GOD.  Some want to declare in the thinking of the German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche that “God is dead” but I’m here to declare that GOD’S NOT DEAD.  No, No, No HE IS so rejoice in the “IS”-NESS of GOD.  I encourage you to grasp the “IS”-NESS of God and as you discover the powerful revelations of His word and experience the awesomeness of His person you will find a new boldness and confidence in the face of the world’s darkness.

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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IS DIVINE GUIDANCE POSSIBLE? – – [Continued]


Spiritual Blog - Guidance

Isaiah 35:8 – “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.  Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.”  NKJV

 

Once you have received Jesus as your personal Savior, received the Holy Spirit, and have committed yourself to reading and studying the Bible more, accepting it as truth, do those facts mean that you have become exempted from the “wisdom from below”?  Does it mean that we have automatically become attuned to the “Wisdom from Above”?  Does that mean you will automatically HEAR GOD and receive DIVINE GUIDANCE?  You already know the answer is NO!

One of the problems is we do not always realize that we are constantly being exposed to the counterfeit wisdom birthed and belched out of hell.  We have a clear promise in Scripture that we can KNOW the mind and will of God in any matter, there is also a warning to “beware the false guidance and false sources.”  I have, over the years, realize and been disturbed by the reality that some well-meaning believers have turned to dangerous sources and methods of guidance that are anti-biblical.  I am specifically referring to “Familiar Spirits.”

Deuteronomy 18:10-13 – “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.”  NKJV 

Let me list some sources that are contrary to Truth and Light and should be avoided:

Divination – – Fortune Tellers.   Observers of the Times – – Astrologers.   Enchanters – – Genuine Magicians.  Witches – – Sorcerers.   Charmers – – Hypnotist.   Consulters of Familiar Spirits – – Mediums with a spirit guide.   Wizards – – Clairvoyant, psychics.   Necromancer – – One who consults with the dead. 

             I realize that some will question some of those but if you examine the record of God’s Word you will find that they are sources that are not conducive to truth and light.  They are supernatural, but not the Spirit of God.  They may sound good and even be accurate on points and because they are supernatural some accept them as being from God.  I caution you to remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “…for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

Another real problem in receiving Divine Guidance is the trickery of our mixed-up human emotions, impure motives, prejudices, habits, and patterns of thought and action.  I have been made aware that because of some well-known failures in this area, entire churches have turned their backs on Divine Guidance declaring:  “We have the Bible, that’s all we need.  God no longer speaks to people today other than in His written word.”  Others take almost an opposite approach declaring, “I hear God, so I don’t need the Bible.”  BOTH ARE WRONG!  We need to HEAR GOD and we need GOD’S WORD, the Bible.  How else can we evaluate the “word” we heard if not by the Bible?

I believe that if we desire to honestly be led by the Spirit of God we need to learn four basic principles.

  • Divine Guidance Does Not Come Automatically – – [You cannot push a button, flip a switch, open a Bible randomly, or listen for voices and be safe in HEARING GOD.]
  • Receiving Divine Guidance is a Skill to be Learned – – [Often we learn through trial and error and often this journey will require some spiritual adventure and exercise of faith on our parts.]
  • Receiving Divine Guidance is Not Relegate to a Formula or a Set of Methods – – But it is obedience to a Set of Principles.]
  • Divine Guidance is Intensely Personal – – [It comes through Relationship with God.]

Additionally, God’s Divine Guidance requires a CLEAN BREAK from all other forms of guidance.

James 3:15 – “This [superficial] wisdom is not such as come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, even devilish or demonic.”

James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first of all Pure (undefiled); then it is Peace Loving, Courteous (considerate, gentle).  (It is willing to) Yield to Reason, full of Compassion and Good Fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned.”  It is FREE FROM DOUBT, WAVERING, and INSINCERITY.

If any so-called revelation does not agree with God’s Word as revealed in the Bible and pass the test of James 3, then our source of wisdom is not from above and must be rejected.  Romans 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” 

We need to commit ourselves to being disciplined and trained by the leading of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and when we do so we are demonstrating spiritual maturity and open our hearts to purity which will lead to DIVINE GUIDANCE.

            God bless you as you embark on your day’s journey and find the path for your life. 

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IS DIVINE GUIDANCE POSSIBLE?


Spiritual Blog - Guidance

Isaiah 35:8 – “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.  The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others.  Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray.”  NKJV

 

I want to embark on the consideration of a subject that, I believe, will better enable many to discover how to discern or know what we are supposed to do in our lives.  I have had so many inquiries about this matter that I find that no matter where I preach and teach this is a topic many want to consider because so many are struggling in this area.

I have discovered two extremes in the Christian world in which we live.  One says, “God told me” concerning everything and the other says “God doesn’t speak today.”  Both, in my view, are extremes and have proven to be detrimental to the cause of the Kingdom of God.  Both have contributed to the discarding, by many, the wonderful truth of DIVINE GUIDANCE and resulted in throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

The text passage of Isaiah is a wonderful promise and a cause for hope.  What a picture, a highway in the wilderness that is so clear, level and straight the even the simple can follow it.  God wants to GUIDE US today!  Jesus said in John 16:13, “When He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will GUIDE you into ALL TRUTH…”  This GUIDE of John 16 is clearly the Holy Spirit and He is a Person in the sense that He has personality, mind, will, and emotion.  He cannot be reduced to a METHOD, but He does work according to some clearly revealed principles in Scripture.

Therefore, our objective is to “distinguish” God’s Guidance from the confusion of our own desires, prejudices, preconceived notions, and impulses as well as identify the devil’s counterfeit leading and impressions.  Nobody gets lost on a straight road!  Everybody is interested in finding a “surefire” way to KNOW what direction to take or course of action to follow.  We want to be on target and not miss the mark in life.  In fact, even the world, avidly seeks out many forms of guidance and some of it has seeped into the Church world such as psychic prognosticators, astrologers, market analyst, etc.  You can find hundreds of experts, yet there are incredible disagreement and confusion among seekers of truth.  WHY?  A very simplistic answer is they believe that all wisdom comes from the same source.  FALSE!  The Bible identifies two sources of wisdom.  There is Wisdom from Above – GOD and there is Wisdom from Below – Satan.  Both are supernatural.  Both can be sought.  Both can be found.  The Wisdom from Above is TRUTH, the other is FALSE.  One causes us to HIT THE MARK the other causes us to ERR and MISS THE MARK.  Now that I have caused some consternation in hearts let me state that God wants us to KNOW clearly His Will and Word.

GOD’S PROVISIONS FOR GUIDANCE…

  • The Lord Jesus Christ.

In Him, we have Salvation and have been reestablished in right relationship and are exposed to and have access to Light and Life in and of God.

  • The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2:38 we read, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  In John 16:13 we find, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  Luke 11:13 declares, “If you then, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”  God wants to give us the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to be OUR GUIDE.

  • The Holy Scriptures.

The Bible is the written revelation of the will and purpose of God and is, in my view, infallible.   James 8:31-32, “Jesus therefore, was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, if you ABIDE in My Word, THEN you are truly disciples of Mine; and you SHALL KNOW the truth and the truth shall MAKE YOU FREE.”

Everybody lives by or under some authority, whether Pluto or Plato, the God of all creation or the god of this world.  But blessed is the person who makes God’s Word his/her authority.  Jesus said that if we do, we will never be put to shame!  So it is clear from even a casual reading of scripture we cannot avoid the idea that God wants to give us guidance.

I want to say more but will pause here until next time and pray that God will grant you His perfect peace to walk in His way and will.  Blessings abundantly are my prayer!

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE – – Continued…


Spiritual Blog - Hearing God

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

In considering the SPEAKING GOD and our ability to HEAR GOD today I want to introduce you to some familiar passages for your consideration and assurance.  In John 16:7, Jesus informed His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, THE HELPER shall not come to you; but if I go I will send Him to you.”  Then in Romans 8:14, the apostle Paul taught that it was the Christian norm to walk in the Spirit, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God.”  Also, in 1 John 2:27, the apostle John declares, “You abide in Jesus, the anointing you received from Him (Holy Spirit) abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, you abide in Him.”  That, to me, is powerful.

 

It is vital for us to HEAR GOD so that we may walk in the reality of FELLOWSHIP, enjoy the fullness of His Protection, Provision, Guidance, and Grace.  HEARING GOD is vital and never optional.  I am reminded of a story I heard that helps to illustrate the necessity of HEARING GOD.

I do not ski so I have to rely on what others tell me but I’m told that, in Colorado, from time to time one can see a skier wearing a red vest and a sign. The sign reads: “BLIND SKIER.”  It is difficult enough for a sighted person to ski but the blind skiers manage quite well.  HOW or WHY?  Because that blind skier has to TOTALLY TRUST his guide’s voice.  The guide is behind or in front of the blind skier continually giving instructions.  (Simple but specific.)  They use two forms of communication:  Tapping the ski poles to let the Blind Skier know they are there and all is well and speech or oral commands.  The ONLY RESPONSIBILITY the Blind Skier has is to exhibit COMPLETE TRUST and IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE to the instructions.  Can you see that in our spiritual walk?  Our responsibility is to LISTEN and OBEY but before we can OBEY we have to LISTEN and to LISTEN we have to KNOW the voice of our guide.

That brings us to another often asked question, “How Can I know God’s Voice?” or “How Can I know it’s not the devil deceiving me?”  Please do not expect an exhaustive or exhausting answer, but let me suggest a few things that might be of benefit.

LISTENING IS A LEARNED QUALITY.

God is a Father and He is interested in being our Father.  Some are probably like I was, my concept of God was that he was “Boss, Judge, Etc.”  I did not really see Him as the Loving, Caring Father.  Failure to see Him as a Loving and Caring Father hinders fellowship and hinders hearing.  We learn to HEAR.  Remember Jesus said 15 times, “He that has ears to hear, LET HIM HEAR.”  That suggests two facts:  We have ears with which to hear and we can choose to use those ears for hearing or not use them.  A baby, normally, is born with the inherent physical ability to hear but does not know what he hears.  Understanding or comprehension must be learned.  LISTENING is the communication skill we practice most often but usually we do not do it right.  We LISTEN but we do not HEAR.  Do you realize that most of us spend 80% of our awake time communicating but LISTENING is the one communication skill we are not taught?  Remember, if the capacity is there the ability must be developed for it to be effective.

Hearing God must become vital to us and perceived as an absolute necessity in our life if we are going to LEARN TO LISTEN for His voice.  Until HEARING GOD is vital to us we will not likely to HEAR GOD quickly, correctly or regularly.  Jesus emphasized our need to HEAR GOD saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  [Matthew 4:4].  Jeremiah 29:11-12 speaks a powerful word to our lives, “I know what I have planned for you.  I have good plans for you.  I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you a good future.  Then you will call My name, you will come to me and pray to me and I will LISTEN TO YOU.”  Can you follow that the extension of that would be that not only will God LISTEN to us but He will SPEAK to us?

To develop a HEARING EAR there has to be a deliberate effort to set our minds on God.  We must make a deliberate choice to exercise our minds by focusing on God regularly and consistently.  We must carry that exercise of setting our minds on God to all aspects of our lives.  I saw a sign in a Health Club Gym that describes what I’m speaking of.

F – Frequency                                                                                                                                                                    I – Intensity                                                                                                                                                                       T – Time

             The ability to HEAR GOD is one that we must develop and it is something the Holy Spirit is very interested in helping us develop.

            God bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Christ.

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE – – Continued…


Spiritual Blog - God Speaks

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

Back to the subject of HEARING GOD TODAY, I feel compelled to raise a few issues with you to enhance our forward progress in this discussion.  Let me ask a few pertinent questions:

  • Which would you Determine to be More Important – – The Author or the Book?
  • Who would be the Best Possible Source to Interpret a Book – – The Author or Another?
  • Which are we to Worship – – The Book or the God of the Book?
  • How can we discover and know the Will of God for Most Things in Life Unless He reveals or tells them to us?
  • Why has there been so much Division caused by the Bible or in Bible Interpretation? The Bible encourages and even commands us to be unified.
  • How did Christians from earlier centuries make it? Especially those before Guttenberg invented the Printing Press because the masses never owned a Bible.

 

I realize we could get into all kinds of arguments and discussions as a result of those questions but can we not conclude that the Holy Spirit must be, somehow, communicating the Will of God to the hearts and minds of people?

In John 16:13 we are told that the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Truth” whose job is to guide us into all truth, SPEAKS.   Therefore, we can be confident that God is STILL SPEAKING since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We can conclude that God’s children can HEAR HIS VOICE for Jesus said, “My sheep shall hear my voice and know Me.”  We should expect God to communicate with us as we seek His will in our lives on a daily basis.  God has a Will and wants us to Know it!

One of the most repeated phrases of Jesus (15 times) He said, “He that has an ear let him hear…” The last seven (7) of those were in the Book of Revelation and He added, “What the Spirit is saying…”  Jesus, speaking from heaven by the Holy Spirit to the heart and mind of man on earth.  In John 10 our Lord declared that His followers are those who HEAR HIS VOICE and He knows us and we follow Him.  In Luke 8:21 Jesus said that His family was, “…those who hear the Word of God and do it.”  Additionally, our Lord taught that we (believers) are to live as He lived and minister as He ministered.  He then told us how He lived and ministered.  John 12:49, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but The Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say and what to speak.”  In Luke 10:41-42, Jesus said to Martha (the busy one) that only one thing was necessary and that was what Mary was doing, LISTENING TO HIS WORDS.

The New Testament Picture reveals that the Holy Spirit lives IN the believer NOW and is to the believer ALL THAT JESUS WAS to His disciples.  Remember John 14:16, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter), that He may be with you forever.”  Then, our Lord explained more fully that this Helper “is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold or know Him, but you know Him BECAUSE He abides with you and will be in you.  I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AS ORPHANS.”  [John 14:17-18a].

I want to say more on the matter of HEARING GOD and the SPEAKING GOD for today but time is short and your endurance may be limited so I will pause and approach this more fully in the next presentation.  God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him. 

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A VITAL ESSENTIAL OF CHRISTIANITY and LIFE…


Spiritual Blog - Ears

Mark 4:21-25 – “Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?  22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.  23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”   24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.  25 For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”  NKJV

 

My primary focus will be on vv.23-24 but all of it is germane as is all of the Scripture.  Throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments there is an emphasis on the importance of HEARING GOD.  In biblical history, we find numerous records where earthly kings would not move without first “hearing” a word from God through the prophets and seers.  In the New Testament, we are repeatedly reminded directly, by implication and suggestion that HEARING GOD is vital for work, walk, and warfare in the life of the believer.  YET, the overwhelming majority of believers in our generation do not hear, do not know how to hear and often do not know or believe you can hear God now!  I am convinced the devil loves this and laughs at the failure of the church to emphasize HEARING GOD.

            In 1 John 1:3, the apostle writes, “What we (apostles) have SEEN and HEARD we proclaim to you… THAT you… May have fellowship (koinonia = community) with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  [Emphasis mine].

A very simple but important question must be, “How can you have FELLOWSHIP with someone who does not communicate?”  That is a virtual impossibility.  The concept of Fellowship between God and man is woven intricately throughout the pages of the New Testament and is a vital part of the message of grace.  In Revelation 3:20 we find Jesus standing at the door and knocking wanting to come in and have fellowship with us.  In John 14:23 we read that Jesus desires to come to us and make His home with us.

The Father’s heart both natural and spiritual cries out for FELLOWSHIP with His children.  He (God) wants to commune with us and communicate with us in a true fellowship of love and for us to enjoy each other.  Hebrews 11:6 declares that “without faith (abiding trust) we cannot please (gratify completely) God.”  That is Fellowship.  In Revelation 4:11 we find God’s declaration that, “You created all things (including man), and for Your pleasure they were created.”  Romans 10:17 declares, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  That is communication and communing which means FELLOWSHIP.  We know that faith which is an essential element in pleasing God comes by HEARING GOD SPEAK.  Therefore, if I cannot or do not HEAR GOD I cannot have faith developed in my heart to that level and therefore cannot please God.  If I do not please God that would assuredly diminish the prospects of fellowship with Him.  In fact, we read in 1 Corinthians 1:9, “God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.”  Therefore, if we cannot HEAR GOD, we cannot fulfill, fully, our call from God.  That is a condition and situation that leaves us empty, unfulfilled, and often frustrated producing the absence of peace and victory.

            THE VITAL QUESTION:  “Does God Still Talk To Man Today?”  There are those who contend that God has said all He is going to say through the Scriptures.  Hear me carefully, please.  God will not write a new Bible but He is a SPEAKING GOD and COMMUNICATES with us even today.  I am not suggesting that we all throw away our Bibles and run around with a “Thus saith the Lord.”  NO!  I believe that anything God communicates to us today will fit squarely and perfectly in harmony with what HE HAS SAID in the Bible.  Also, every word must be tested.  1 Corinthians 14:29 gives a guide that prophetic utterances are to be judged by the other prophets and by consent the Word of God.  Likewise Matthew 18:16 with is a reference of Deuteronomy 19:15 teaches that it takes “two or three witnesses” to establish a word.

            HEARING GOD is vital but as in most things caution must be exercised because of the deadliness of presumption. There must be order and a willingness to test and have our words tested through the Bible, God’s elders and prophets.  I believe that we can HEAR GOD TODAY and that God is STILL SPEAKING to His people in 2016 or wants to speak to us!

I must pause here and pick up next time as we continue to consider this Vital Essential of HEARING GOD in today’s world.  God bless you as you embark on today’s beautiful and fruitful journey in Him!

 

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READING THE RED – – Second Serving…


SPIRITUAL BLOG - Jesus

Matt 7:7-12 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  NKJV

  

Matthew Chapter 7 is a most interesting chapter in the Bible offering some powerful instructions from our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In the first six verses He deals with our relationship with others and then shifts gears, so it seems, to God’s invitation for us to bring our petitions before Him with the assurance that He hears and He responds to our requests.

Let me ask, “Are the first six verses connected to these of our text?”  Obviously, the context is important and it is also important to note that no scripture is of private interpretation nor stands alone, so yes they are connected in principle if not directly linked.  So, when the directive or invitation to PRAYER or PETITION is given with the promise of God’s answer can we conclude that being hypocritical and failing in the realm of the first six verses disqualifies our hope in the next six?  Let me ask it this way, “Is our hope of God hearing and answering our prayers conditional on our obedience to His word, precepts, and principles in relations to other people?”  The broad answer I would give is, yes and while you chew on that and even formulate your disagreement and argument let’s consider the offering from our Lord in these verses.  The directive is:

  • Request and God Hears and Provides.

ASK is certainly petition and tells us that if we ask, He will give us that for which we ask.  But does God indiscriminately grant every request in the fashion and for the purpose we asked?  We know from the rest of the Bible especially the New Testament the answer is no.  That gives weight to my previous suggestions about the connections.  In 1 John 5:14-15 we find a very interesting and powerful statement or promise.  We read, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked.” If we ask according to His will, He hears and if he hears or accepts the prayer He grants the petition.  Again, remember the directive in the first six verses and our following the precepts and principles of God and the condition of our hearts.

SEEK goes beyond simple petition but moves toward intercession and then full blown intercession in KNOCK which is a persistent and insistent petition and intercession.  This is a determined prayer that is so focused on the situation that nothing short of the answer will deter the heart.

  • Then Notice, the Contrast or Comparison of Charity or Love of Man for His Children and the Heart of God. 

God opens our understanding to know that He wants to grant our petition.  He wants to bestow on us His good gifts.  Remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:32, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  The heart of God is to grant our petitions but the heart of God is also holy and the condition of our hearts always comes into focus.

Before you misunderstand, if one person receives what they ask and another does not it is not a definitive indication that one is righteous and the other is not.  For truly, God sends the rain on the just and unjust alike.  What I am saying is simply, if we want to have confidence that our petitions are being heard of God then we need to focus on not just doing right but being right with him and with our fellowman.  There are times in the providence of God that our petitions are not granted in a positive manner or according to the desires of our hearts.  If we walk in right relationship with Him we can be confident that He hears us and will do that which is in our best interest and that of the kingdom.

God bless you as you continue on the journey of this wonderful day!

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READING THE RED…


Spiritual Blog - Read the Red

Matthew 6:8-15 – “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.  9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

 ‘Our Father 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 forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’

 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  NKJV

 

The prayer we identify as the Lord’s Prayer could be called the Model Prayer, the Disciple’s Prayer or the Christian’s Prayer.  It conveys far more than one devotional could possibly hope to examine but let’s “read the red” and glean some truths, I believe, valuable for our daily lives and relationships here on planet Earth.

Jesus reminds those listening and all who read through the ages that would follow of God’s Omniscience.  HE KNOWS!  That lends an interesting twist to prayer and when I have presented this idea challenges come with fury.  The idea is that prayer is not about “getting God to do something” it is about “getting us right” so that we can hear what He is saying and then act accordingly.  I acknowledge that sometimes God does not act on our behalf if we fail to ask or pray but prayer is not our litigating our case before the tribunal of heaven and winning the argument thereby causing Him to respond.  No, it is about us, our hearts and our condition.  Let me declare, I believe in prayer and believe that it is vital for the believer.

Jesus instructed them to pray after the manner of the prayer He presented.  Therefore, rather than something we recite from memory it is a presentation of pattern we should embrace in our petitions before the Throne of Heaven.  I ask that you briefly notice several things:

  • The Focus is GOD.

Most of our prayers are focused on us and our needs but Jesus instructed them to begin their process of prayer and petition with a recognition of God and worship of His name and His person.  If we remember Psalm 100:4 instructs that our entrance before God was to be with THANKSGIVING and saturated with PRAISE.  That is not possible if the focus is SELF rather than HIM. 

  • The Desire is God’s Kingdom, Will and Purpose Realized on Earth.

Again, it is not about self or our need it is about God and the Kingdom of God.  The focus and desire are that God’s Kingdom reign in our hearts and our world just as it does in heaven.

  • The Third Step is Our Needs.

Our need of provision in life and that covers the entire gamut if human need including daily provisions, health, etc.

  • Then Comes Recognition of Sin – By Us and Against Us.

The first sin we must focus on is that against God, then against others, and their sin against us.  Forgiveness is a core element in Christianity and the message of the Bible.

  • Next, Guidance and Protection.

The enemy of our souls would lead us astray and into error, thus perverting the purpose of the Kingdom of God and the Will of God.  If we focus first on God, seek His Kingdom, Purpose, and Will, then receiving the answer for our need, walk in repentance and forgiveness it is at that point we should ask for guidance, deliverance, and protection.  Those would not be possible if at least items 1, 2 and 4 are not realized.

To emphasize the importance of this, Jesus gave His powerful statement in verse 14, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  So, as you enter into prayer never rush in with “gimme, gimme, gimme” follow the pattern Jesus gave in this beautiful prayer.   This, to me, emphasizes another reason to “Read the Red.”

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day on your journey through life.

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