Author: rbeaird

WHY WOULD A CHRISTIAN WANT JESUS TO DELAY HIS COMING?


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Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”  NKJV

 

That passage clearly speaks to the ministry and purpose of the Church and Christians in this present world.  A companion passage is found in Mark 16:14-18 – “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.  17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”   We have a commission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations, all peoples, all ethnicities, and all religions.  We are not only commissioned to tell them of Jesus but to ‘make disciples’ which involves and included ‘teaching’ them the commandments of our Lord.

In Matthew 24:14 we read, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  On the Day of Pentecost, after Jesus’ resurrection the LORD met with His followers and Promised Power to accomplish their purpose.  He said in Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and to the end of the earth.”  Therefore we have the COMMISSION to take God’s Word and the Hope of Salvation to the entire world and we know that Jesus will delay His coming UNTIL that message has gone forth to all the world.  We have a PROMISE of provision and power to fulfill this COMMISSION.  Whether we are doing this or not isn’t the focus of my message today.

This causes me to ask, “Would it be wrong for a Christian to desire Jesus delay His coming?”  Before you react let give me a moment to address that.  Of course we, like Paul and those who have fought the good fight before us, desire His return and our eternal occupation of heaven.  But, what could be reasons for wanting the Lord to delay?  I fully understand that the longer Jesus tarries His return the more difficulty and trouble will come to multitudes. However, I also comprehend that once Jesus returns and we are caught up together with Him in the clouds all hell is going to break lose and the world will be plunged into darkness.  But back to the question.

What could be reasons to want a Delay in the Coming of the Lord?  Let me offer just a couple of thoughts on this matter.

  1. There Are Those Who Have Not HEARD.

We have no cause for concern over this other than to admonish us to spread the word for the clear declaration of scripture is He will delay UNTIL the Gospel has gone to the world.

  1. There Are Those Who Have HEARD but not HEEDED.

That is not a biblical requirement for God to delay but it could be a reason we would desire that He delay for a time.  You could argue that it will make no difference but I ask, did you immediately respond the moment you first heard the Gospel?  I did not and I am incredibly thankful that there were those who continued to pray for me and present a godly example to me.  I am thankful that once I heard the end did not come.

  1. There Are Those Who Have HEARD and HEEDED but Are Lacking in COMMITMENT.Again, not a biblical requirement or justification for the delay but will affect their eternity in a significant manner.  They many not lose or have lost their salvation but they may stand ‘red faced’ before God on that day.

Abraham prayed for God to spare Sodom for ten righteous people’s sake.  In Revelation 3 we find Jesus’ chastisement to the Laodicean Church, “…because you are lukewarm, and neither hot or cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” (v.16).  There was hope for this church but were the Lord to have come immediately their condition would have been disastrous for them and detrimental to the purpose and mission of the Kingdom of God.  If they repented and returned and renewed their zest and quest for God and His Purposes multitudes could be impacted for God.

Do not understand me to say that we want God to delay UNTIL everyone is right with God, that hour will never come.  And while we are perfectly content to leave the day and hour to God’s judgment we weep for those in the three categories I listed.  What then should we do?  Rather than pray for the delay of His return we should invest ourselves in the fulfilling of His Great Commission and GO YE THEREFORE.  Go to our Jerusalem, our Judea, our Samaria, and to the World.  We cannot all go to the world but we can invest ourselves in our spheres of influence and we can contribute to ministries that are going.  But, above all, we can PRAY and become INTERCESSORS!

God bless you richly is my prayer!

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FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS…


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Esther 4:13-14 – “And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  NKJV

 

The story of Esther, Mordecai, Haman, King Ahasuerus, and the Jews is a gripping one of evil, corruption, intercession, and willingness to accept one’s responsibility.  The plight of the Jews was dire and while Esther had the favor of the King she was placing her life on the line in answering the challenge of Mordecai to intercede for her people.  The question of Mordecai is gripping and multitudes of sermons have been preached using it as the catalyst to speak for dedication, commitment, and recognizing the call of God.  He said, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

I have witnessed and experienced the detail with which God ordains events, orchestrates situations, and moves people into position for His purposes.  He had elevated Esther to the palace and given her favor with the king to save her people in their darkest hour.  God has divine appointments for us if we can recognize them and if we will walk in willing obedience to the nudging of the Holy Spirit.

You may view your life as meaningless or of lesser importance than some prominent figure spiritually or politically and that is a mistake.  You may never see your name in lights and multitudes may never know your name but that does not mean your place in the purposes of God is unimportant.  I heard Evangelist James Robison founder of LIFE Outreach International tell his story and it is inspirational.  He was born in the charity ward of a Houston hospital, the product of a forced sexual encounter.  His 41-year-old mother originally sought to have an abortion, but the doctor would not comply.  She gave birth to this child, put an ad in the newspaper and gave him up for adoption to Reverend and Mrs. H.D. Hale, pastors in Pasadena, Texas.  His mother reclaimed him as a teenager and he returned to her home in Austin, Texas, where they lived in extreme poverty.  His biological father came back into their lives and after some volatile times, James almost shot his father, an alcoholic and ill-tempered.  He returned to his adoptive parents in Houston and Mrs. Hale led him to Christ during a revival service.  The ministry of James and Betty Robison has touched untold thousands if not millions around the world for God.  Who was that obscure doctor who refused to perform an abortion?  I do not know and few probably do but the reality is that his obedience to conscience and conviction allowed James to be born and he now is a powerful voice for God internationally.

Who knows if that next person you touch in kindness or through a word of witness will become the next Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, W.J. Seymour, Charles Finney, or James Robison?  Who knows if that life you touch becomes a mighty person in the world of finance and through their prosperity impact the Kingdom of God mightily?  Who knows if that person you impact for God and good might become the next mighty statesman for America and the world saving America from destruction?  You are not insignificant for you were significant enough for Jesus to go to the Cross for you.  You could have been brought into the kingdom for such a time as this when you speak to that isolated and lonely soul who becomes a might person for God and good. But let’s take a giant step forward and declare that who can say you were not brought into the kingdom to be the next voice to the world or statesman to bring reconciliation to nations.

Listen to the Holy Spirit and never consider your worth, value, and importance insignificant.  Who knows you might have come into the kingdom for this very time and purpose!  God bless richly is my prayer!

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DOORWAY TO HEAVEN…


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John 3:3, 18-21 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”  NKJV

 

I fully believe that God wants everyone to go to heaven but I also realize that everyone will not.  There are teachings that suggest everyone will go to heaven without meeting the requirements for salvation enumerated in the Bible, going through the God’s door of being “born again.”  Jesus made it clear here and in other places in Scripture that being Born Again was a requirement for Salvation and Citizenship in Heaven.

When He uttered those words to Nicodemus which was beyond the ability of Pharisee to comprehend.  Nicodemus’ focus was the natural and physical questioning how this could become a reality.  How could a man be reborn?  In the natural, he cannot so our Lord answered his questions beginning in (v.18).  If we back up a few verses, we find the Gift of God’s Love in Salvation.  In John 3:14-17 – “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” 

In 2 Peter 3:9 we find an incredibly powerful and comforting word regarding the attitude of God toward humanity.  He is “not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  Does that mean everyone is saved?  NO!  Sadly, man does not always do what God wants and this is no exception.  God wants everyone to become members of the Family of God and Citizens of Heaven but there will come a day when they stand before the Great White Throne and hear the words, “Depart from Me for I never knew you.”  That is more than tragic!  Clearly, God wants everyone to have their sins forgiven and receive the Abundant Life Jesus lived, died, and arose for.

A pressing question today must be, “Are you Born Again?”  If you are not, I plead with you to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and “confess your sins, repent, and believe that He is the Christ the Son of the Living God.”  Jesus said, “If any man comes to Me I will not cast out.”  (John 6:36).  He promises that IF we confess our sins He will forgive us of our sins and cleanse us of all our iniquities.  If you know Him, rejoice and if you do not know Him listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and call upon His name.

            God bless you richly is my prayer!

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COMMITMENT IS A HEART THING…


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Nehemiah 4:6 – “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”  NKJV

 

The phrase “mind to work” is emphatic in the Hebrew and indicates the people had “the heart to work” and indicates that their hearts were fully committed to and involved in the project.  I have long contended that what we have a heart for we will find a joy, not a drudgery.  Unless the heart is convinced our efforts will falter in the face of difficulty but if the heart is firmly fixed on the objective difficulty will only be a bump in the road, not defeat.  Have you ever heard the term ‘half-hearted’?   I have always determined in the churches I led, I would rather have a person who is committed and their heart is in the ministry or project, even if they were of lesser qualifications than a person with an impressive resume who was half-hearted.  I wanted those propelled by their passion for the project rather than one doing it for position or acclaim.

In this situation, building the walls of Jerusalem they experienced fierce opposition from Sanballat and his cohorts and had they been faint of heart they would have scurried into the shadows to avoid conflict.  They were mocked, ridiculed, and those in opposition decried their ability and questioned at what pace they could complete their work.  Nehemiah said, the wall was joined and was erected to half the planned height in the face of severe opposition and difficulty.  WHY?  His simple explanation did not exclude the Hand of God but focused on the COMMITMENT and DEDICATION of the workers. 

I believe there is a lack of COMMITMENT in too much of today’s modern Church and Christians.  We live in a world of ease and instant everything or as I like to call it a “microwave world” where we just press a button and presto the finished product is there.  I grew up on a small family farm in rural East Texas and few things came easy and virtually nothing came quickly.  We faced obstacles and they often seemed daunting but we knew the task set before us and my parents’ hearts were committed to the viability of that farm and in providing for us kids a life that provided food, shelter, and clothing.  Of course, the greatest thing they gave us was not material.  They gave us love and taught us perseverance and for that, I will be eternally grateful.

I have often wondered why there is a lack of COMMITMENT in much of today’s church and have concluded that, at least in part, it is because there is no COMMON VISION.  The Bible teaches us “where there is no vision the people perish” and one translation says, “the people run wild.”  I have often wondered if the lack of COMMITMENT because people truly do not want to take that step or because they do not have the knowledge needed to see the VISION. 

I do not believe there can be a genuine commitment to anything which people do not have a clear understanding.  That element of knowledge or knowing and understanding must comprise several factors.  We will not commit to what we do not understand or when we do not know what we are committing to.  I may love you dearly and trust you greatly but if you ask me to commit to a project and I do not understand or know what that project is and even its purpose I will find it difficult to do so.  Likewise, I believe we have to grasp the value of that to which we are being asked to commit.  Why are we doing it?  Why is it necessary?  What impact will it have on me, others, and the kingdom?  Then, we need to understand what the benefits are of the completion of the project and in that the benefits of our commitment to the task.

When we make a COMMITMENT, such as in marriage it is not strictly an emotional commitment but one that is reasoned.  Both the emotions and intellect or reason are involved.  We count the costs and weigh the benefits and impact on our lives.  When one makes a COMMITMENT they are making a COVENANT and binding themselves to their word to see it through to the end.  We live in a world that operates from a ‘contract’ rather than a ‘covenant’ mentality.  In business, professional sports, and even relationships we do not view our commitment as binding but binding so long as it benefits us in the way we desire.  A COMMITMENT that is a personal pledge to do whatever it takes, within reason, to get the job done.   COMMITMENT is not CONVENIENCE and may cost us something if not much.  Jesus made the COMMITMENT to come and die for mankind and He refused to allow anything to deter His fulfillment of the commitment.

If we will COMMIT ourselves fully and completely to the LORD and to that which is set before us we will begin to see dramatic changes in the labors and success of the Church in this present world.  COMMITMENT drives a person to reach that objective and obtaining that prize and is epitomized in PERSISTENCE.  A person that is COMMITTED will not and cannot quit!  Remember the words of Paul in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap IF we do not lose heart.”  You can’t win if you quit!

            God bless you is my desire and prayer!

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THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME…


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Luke 4:18-19 – “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”  NKJV

 

Every time I read this one-word leaps off the page and is highlighted powerfully in this passage.  What is that word?  “TO”.  That’s right the two letter word TO.  Let’s examine it briefly if we might.

Jesus made a powerful declaration that the Spirit of the LORD was on Him.  That, in my view, was an understatement and so obvious that even the blind could see it.  But, Jesus was declaring to those listening to His purpose and identity through the Prophet Isaiah.  He didn’t just say that the Spirit of the Lord was on Him but identified the PURPOSE of that anointing and thereby identifies the purpose of the anointing for us.  He said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me.”  Then He gives the purpose of His ministry.

Anointed TO preach the gospel to the poor.  If we make that only monetary we fail to understand the ministry of Jesus.  Anointed TO heal the broken hearted.  Anointed TO proclaim liberty, freedom, and deliverance to the captives.  Anointed TO recovery the sight of the blind.  Again, if we only make this physical we miss the larger message and ministry.  Anointed TO set at liberty those who are oppressed.  John 8:36 declares beautifully, “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  And in Matthew 11:28 we find the plea of our Lord, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” 

The powerful words of Galatians 5:1 should resonate in our hearts, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Jesus came to earth for the purpose of REDEMPTION and in that redemption are all the things that Isaiah identified the Messiah would bring.  The Gospel proclaimed to the world is realized in our Lord’s directive to “Go ye therefore into all the world and preach…”  The healing of the brokenhearted, liberty to captives, sight for the blind, and liberty for the oppressed are realized in His Gift of Salvation.  We are transferred from the kingdom or domain of darkness and taken from the control of the evil one and transferred into the Kingdom of God through the Blood of Jesus.  In that condition and position, we find Isaiah’s prophecy a reality in our lives.  WE ARE FREE!  Spiritually Free to become emotionally free and physically free. 

I am sometimes troubled by the words of our LORD in John 14 when He spoke of His followers doing GREATER WORKS.  Obviously, there can be no greater work than Salvation but my problem is that, too often, the Body of Christ is failing to do the works He said were part and parcel of our redemption and call.  He said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”  I’ve cried to the LORD, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”  Many times I wept before the LORD for the lack of spiritual power and authority in my own life and when I witness the anemic state of the Church, at times I am troubled.  We live in a world this is dying and needs our Savior.  There is a harvest that is ripe and ready and we need both laborers and spiritual power and authority to pluck them from the very jaws of hell.

Oh God, help us to seek You and Your Anointing in and upon our lives so that we might walk daily in Your presence and manifest You to the world.  May we LIFT YOU UP and when we do, You will draw people to You.  May we find permanent residence in Your Presence and pull down strongholds through Your name and power.

            God bless you richly is my desire and prayer!

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THE WILLINGNESS OF JESUS…


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Mark 1:40-41 – “Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  NKJV

 

I fully understand praying, “Lord, if it is your will.”  That should be our first prayer when the will of God is in doubt but should not be our constant prayer once we know the willingness of the Lord on a particular matter.  That is not ‘coming boldly before the throne’ that is prayer with an exit strategy in case it does not come to pass.  It is not a demonstration of confidence in the Promises of God it is a reflection of our timidity and doubt.  Please do not think me mean or heartless in saying that, for I know the trauma of asking and not receiving.  I know what it is to have doubt, be questioning, and skeptical as to the result.  I know what it is to know the Promise and still wonder if I could really expect it in my life.  I’ve been there!  I do not say that proudly but honestly.  So, I am not trying to speak to you as one who is super-spiritual or one who always manifests faith and sees the desired result.  I speak from an honest heart desiring to learn and convey to others the WILLINGNESS OF JESUS and encourage hearts to appropriate the promises and stand on God’s Word.

The leper came to Jesus with an honest desire and question.  He knew in his heart Jesus could and possibly because of the view of illness by many of his day , he was not certain that his malady wasn’t his own doing and personal sin.  Therefore, He acknowledged his belief that Jesus COULD, his question was if Jesus WOULD.  Most of us have been there and know the mental, emotional, and spiritual battle that is.  Jesus’ response was most powerful and demonstrates a truth the Scripture repeats time and again, GOD IS WILLING. 

In this matter, physical healing was the issue but it could have been anything.  In this matter, this man knew from the Prophet Isaiah that Jesus COULD.  Isaiah 53 makes it clear that “by the stripes of Jesus healing was possible.”  He could know the history of Israel in the wilderness and many of the prophets of old that “healing was possible.”  In the biblical historic record, there was case after case where healing flowed supernaturally.  This man could know from the reports of the miracles performed by the hand of our Lord that He COULD.  So COULD was not the question.  The question was WOULD Jesus do it.

There is a passage in 1 John that has long resonated with me and provided hope and confidence.  It reads, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  (5:14-15)  Did you catch that?  The CONFIDENCE is provided.  The assurance finds its foundation in the revelation given.  Remember Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not see.”  This CONFIDENCE or ASSURANCE comes in asking or prayer, anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL.   It is not just asking according to His will but in so asking we have the Promise HE HEARS US.  That’s fantastic but does not give a surge of faith and confidence that we will receive.  So, He hears me but WILL HE DO IT?  Read the next verse.  In KNOWING that He HEARS prayers prayed according to His will we have ASSURANCE that whatever we ask is granted.  Simply, HE IS WILLING and HE WILL. 

Remember Jesus’ words to those struggling in Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  How many times did Jesus promise something encapsulated in His promise that we can ask and expect to receive, seek and expect to find, and knock expecting the door to open?.  God is not a sadistic overlord but a loving Father wanting to meet all our need according to His riches in Glory.  So I encourage you to search the Scriptures for God’s Promises and then take your need to prayer based on the Promise that applies and if God Promised it and we come with a humble and repentant heart we will experience THE WILLINGNESS OF JESUS. 

            God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Jesus victoriously!

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GODLY LEADERSHIP…


 

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1 Chronicles 18:14 – “So David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people.”  NKJV

The exact same words are used to describe the Davidic Administration in 2 Samuel 8:15. When Saul reigned, he began well and ended in disaster.  His administration was anything but righteous or godly and in 1 Samuel we find his disobedience that resulted in God decreeing that “his kingdom would not continue.” (13:14).  In the latter portion of that verse we read, “…The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”  Remember the words of Daniel 2:21 – “And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”  In Psalm 75:6-7 – “For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another.”  I challenge and encourage everyone to keep in mind that God is still GOD regardless of what is happening in this world.  And when the godly are in as we read in  Proverbs 29:2 – “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”

God sought for a man ‘after His own heart’ or a righteous man to rule.  We read Acts 13:22 – “After removing Saul, He made David their king.  God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to.”  What a commendation, HE WILL DO EVERYTHING I WANT HIM TO.  Did that mean David would not make mistakes?  NO!  It meant David would maintain a prayerful and open heart to the Holy Spirit and the desires of God.  It meant that his heart would be for the people.  It meant that when he made mistakes and found himself coming short of the glory of God, he would immediately repent and return to the LORD.  It placed a human covering over the nation that facilitated and enhanced the continual flow of God’s blessings.  That meant that righteousness was in authority for they had a man who fit the description of the urging of Jesus in Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  When leaders are godly and lead by godly principles and precepts the nation has the promise of God to provide their need, keep them safe, and guide them.  The people have reason to rejoice! 

When you contrast the reigns of Saul and David you see the difference in national rejoicing and national sorrowing.  In our present world, leaders, for the most part, are anything but righteous.  Many are extremely self-serving and driven by an agenda diametrically opposite of God’s and the result is lack, trouble, and national strife.  In America, we are at a time and place where we, as a nation, need to heed the call of 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  We need healing socially, morally, economically, relationally, and spiritually as individuals and as a nation.  We have an election that is historic in its importance and sadly, the major players are deficient in the godliness category.  Yet, we do not have to despair for God truly does raise up and take down rulers.  God’s Promises are sure and to be relied on and He says to us that IF we will return to Him He will return to us.  (Malachi 3:7). 

I don’t know what you are facing personally but I do know what we are facing nationally and if we have ever prayed for godly leadership we should do so now.  If we have ever desired national healing, we should desire it now.  We can return to being a nation that could be described in our text where there is the administration of “judgment and justice”.  Where godly wisdom will guide us in the pathway of our nation.  I pray for you as an individual and ask God to provide what you need in every way.  I ask that He guard and guide you as you pursue His purposes and I ask that He heal our land and help us to return to Him!

            God bless you richly is my prayer!

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DOUBLE PORTION ANOINTING…


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2 Kings 2:9-15 – “And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”  Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”  10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.  12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.  

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”  NKJV 

 

Through the years I have heard various ministers declare that the mantle of some previous giant of the faith had fallen on them.  Maybe it did and maybe it didn’t.  Was it the declaration of God or the desire of the individual to assume that position and rise to that acclaim?  If it was the declaration of God, the Elisha principle should be applied and if it was the latter then it will become exposed for what it is, FLESH. 

I am convinced that Elisha’s heart in desiring a ‘double portion’ of the anointing on Elijah had nothing to do with personal ambition but a desire to serve God and defeat the forces of hell as powerfully as possible.  In his life and ours, in receiving an anointing from God you can count on the reality that that anointing will bring with it difficulties, tests, and trials.  The anointing can take you where you do not want to go and cause you to go against personal preferences and even find you isolated or rejected by many you had formerly depended on or associated with.  God’s anointing should be desired, as in Elisha, more than anything else in the world.  Again, it is NEVER for personal gain or ambition but for service!

Elisha had served Elijah in an apprenticeship and although he had a prophetic call on his life he understood servanthood and service.  Elijah’s decree is most interesting.  He said, “…IF you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”  That brings to light an important factor in God’s anointing, VISION, and FOCUS.  Elijah instructed Elisha that UNLESS he maintained focus and was persistent in his determination and pursuit of the prize it would not come.  Remember the words of our Lord, “Seek ye fist the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”?  Paul declared in Philippians 3:14, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  FOCUS is an absolute requirement and to remain focused there must be VISION and to have vision there must be COMMITMENT.  That singular commitment and desire to have God’s anointing was present in Elisha and he never wavered from it.  Our pursuit must be God not position, recognition, or title.

God will not share His glory with flesh and if you are seeking His anointing for self, even if you received it that anointing would destroy you.  He was willing to lay down his “own mantle” to receive the “Double Portion Mantle of God.”  He exemplified the expression of John the Baptist when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  If we are to have God’s anointing we also must have the Heart of our Lord and as Paul said, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.”   

            God bless you as you enjoy His richness and presence this wonderful day!

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BEWARE THE FLESH…


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1 Kings 11:1-8 – “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites —  2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.”  NKJV

 

In today’s political world much is being said about sexual impropriety and lasciviousness and that is a problem.  Solomon, a man who began right and because of his desire to do good and serve received the blessing of the Lord in incredible wealth, power, position, and wisdom.  However, in all his getting he forgot to heed the Word and Warnings of the Lord and allowed his flesh to rule his life.  He made bad alliances in taking to himself many foreign wives who neither knew Jehovah God nor honored him.  The Bible says that Solomon had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines and his wives turned away his heart.  This had to be about more than physical attraction and sexual gratification it revealed a root problem in his heart that was far beyond simply fleshly desires.  It was about allowing the FLESH to dominate and, in my view, he allowed himself to become the ‘center of his universe.’   That is what Adam and Eve did in the Garden when they fired God as Lord of their lives and became gods to themselves.  Power corrupts.

God warned about bad associations.  That truth was repeated in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.’”  Paul also addressed this in Galatians 5:9 and 1 Corinthians 5:6 telling us that “a little leaven leavens the entire lump.”  In 1 Corinthians 5:9, Paul warned to ‘not associate with immoral people.’  In 2 Corinthians 6:14 there is the clear warning about wrong relationships, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?”  And we dare not forget the words of Psalm 1:1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers!”

Solomon knew well the directive in Leviticus 20:23, “Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.”  Likewise, he knew the words of Numbers 16:26, “Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.”  Solomon allowed the prize of his eyes and the cravings of his flesh to overrule his spiritual reason and became corrupted by the influence of unbelievers.  The warnings of God through Moses in Deuteronomy 12:30 should have been heeded, “…beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’”  Solomon’s wives followed other gods and his love and devotion to them tugged at his heart and opened the door for his spiritual downfall.  It was his choice and demonstrated the power of the flesh if we do not maintain our focus on God.

Never, never, allow the flesh to rule you rather heed the cry of Paul in Galatians 5:16-26, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  

Make a decision of heart and conscience as Joshua declared, “…as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”    God bless you as you faithfully follow the Lord!

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DIVIDED HEARTS…


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Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  NKJV

 

Almost every time I’ve heard a sermon from this text it was about money.  It is talking about money, wealth, and/or possessions but it is about much more.  It is addressing “divided hearts” or “divided allegiance.”  That is one of the central messages of the Gospel, in my view.  The verbiage of this passage is quite interesting to me.  Let’s examine it if we might.

Notice, Jesus said, that we could not serve Two Masters.  Think about that for a moment, He called possessions, wealth, money or whatever divides our hearts and allegiance a MASTER.  That would imply that we are ‘slaves’ to whatever that is.  Some are enslaved by their sexual addiction, some by drugs or alcohol, some by the quest for power, some by fame, some by public opinion, and many other things.  If we allow anything to become a Master or Lord in our lives and divide our hearts and allegiance, we become the person of James 1:8 “double-minded” and thereby UNSTABLE in ALL our ways.  He did not say some of our ways but ALL of our ways and an unstable man cannot be depended on.  Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.”  Paul told the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Why do I use Proverbs 25 in addressing the person with a divided heart and divided allegiance?  Read the next words of our Lord about the person attempting to serve Two Masters, “he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”  That which keeps us from what we want or reminds us of our primary duty when we want to split our love and loyalty is almost always despised.  God will not share His Glory with anyone or anything. 

1 Samuel 12:21 declares, “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or deliver, because they are futile.”  That speaks of a divided heart and results in a lack of productivity.  The writer of Hebrews declared in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  John warned in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”  A divided heart results in robbing one of the Joy of the Lord.

God is not pleased with a Divided Heart as we can see in Hosea 10:1-2 – “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images. 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.”  Some seem to think they can live with a divided heart and God or others not notice but God sees and knows.  I suggest you read these passages: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart… Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins… Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart… The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good… Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts… If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works… I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings… For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things… And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (I Samuel 16:7, Psalms 7:9, Psalms 44:21,Proverbs 15:3, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 24:11-12, Jeremiah 17:10, I John 3:20, and Revelation 2:23).

             God is a jealous God in the sense that He has given us UNCONDITIONAL LOVE through Jesus on the Cross and seeks to bring us into the NEW BIRTH and translate us from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of Light.  He wants to include us in His Body which requires exclusivity of commitment.  Come out from among them and be separate is the plea. If we ‘seek first’ God and His kingdom we have the benefits and promises of God if divide our heart, love, and loyalty we separate ourselves from God and find nothing but futility.

            God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

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