Spiritual

CAN I MEDDLE A LITTLE? – – Part 2


James 3:3-12 – “Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.”  NASB

Let’s continue in a discussion of “Taming of the Tongue”.  The tongue is the last organ to be brought under subjection and when this is achieved, we have a beautiful evidence of the person being totally subject to Christ.  It is an evidence that the thoughts are in captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:34, where He informed them that what fills the heart fills the mouth. 

Proverbs 4:23 encourages saying, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”  In Proverbs 10:11 we discover, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”  Then, in Psalms 14:1 the incredible declaration, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

There are several Types of Tongues that need to be considered.

There is the Lying Tongue and of all the evils of speech, falsehood is central and incredibly dangerous and damaging.  There is the Reviling Tongue which is scandalous and abusive.  There is the Foul Tongue (Foul-Mouthed) which is a channel through which many impurities of the heart find expression.  It is indecent speech.  There is the Passionate Tongue which in quick anger, hate, and vitriol. 

The Poet Horace said, “Anger is brief madness or insanity.”  There is the Sarcastic Tongue.  There is the Scolding Tongue.  It is filled with constant reproofs and criticisms.  Reproofs must be uttered from time to time, but sometimes they are issued too harshly and with too little patience and love. 

There is the Flattering Tongue.  This is one of the most objectionable to me because it is devoid of honest praise but is designed to gain and advantage or personal benefit.  It is not sincere it is fraudulent and deceptive.  Honest and hearty praise is valuable, but a flattery is never honest.  It is false praise or praise directed not at the quality of our work but in an effort to please and gain brownie points.

There is the Chattering Tongue or one that talks too much.  There is no forethought, no real purpose, no substance, just noise and therefore no benefit.  The Psalmist prayed in Psalms 141:3, “Set a watch O God before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”  This type of person has no door only a doorway.  Then there is the Slandering Tongue and it spews forth evil continuously.

The Bible makes it clear that no man or woman can tame their tongue through willpower.  It requires Divine Help.  Proverbs 13:3 informs us, “The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”  In Proverbs 21:23 we discover, “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”  Then the powerful statement of James 1:26, “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” 

A sanctified tongue is a means to health, peace, and blessing from the LORD.  I hesitate to not continue the discussion of the Tongue of the Righteous but will end this consideration with a question.  “Do you need God’s help to tame and control your tongue?”  God can and will bring full deliverance!  It may seem cute and even funny but an ‘untamed tongue’ will open the fires of hell and rob you of spiritual victory.  God wants to Tame our Tongues.

God bless you as you embark on this new venture in your Christian walk.  Have a Great Day!

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CAN I MEDDLE A LITTLE?


James 3:3-12 – “Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.”  NASB

Meddle?  Yes, I want to talk about “Taming the Tongue” and anytime that topic comes up some consider it meddling.  The tongue is a unique little instrument within the human body.  It is the vehicle through which we express our feelings, desires, thoughts, and say the things we desire to be expressed.  Tragically, many engage the tongue before they engage the brain.  Some are extremely quiet, saying little and others are overly talkative never being quiet.

I have always found it interesting the way that James leads into his teaching on the tongue.  He suggests that we are to ‘bridle’ the entire body if we are to exhibit true Christlikeness.  He then alludes to small things which control much larger and more powerful things.  Then, he introduces the Power of the Tongue.  He uses the analogy of a ‘small fire’ doing incredible harm.

Through the years, I have had some proudly declare, “I say what I think!”  Sometimes that is a very bad idea.  I had a person tell me, “Pastor, you never have to wonder where you stand with me, ‘cause I tell it like it is.”  I thought, “No you tell like you think it is or how you want it to be but sometimes you are wrong.” 

Tragically, just blurting out whatever comes to mind does not consider the feelings of others.  That practice not only damages relationships but our own lives producing a negative and self-centered view, frequently. 

Words Are Expressions of Thought.  Max Muller, the German-born Philologist said, “The words is the thought incarnate.”  Every word that we speak has its own history.  It was conditioned out of some event or series of events in our lives.

Words Are Revelations of Character.  James sees and expresses what each of us needs to observe and acknowledge regarding human behavior.  “Religion that does not rule the speech is a failure and a fraud.”  Through the fire of the tongue, the fire of strife is ignited, and the soul is thereby poisoned by the input of an unruly tongue.

James refers to the tongue as being like a wild beast that needs taming.  It is often fierce, and uncontrollable.  That is a picture of us without the influence of the Holy Spirit and the Grace and Love of God.  Many of the evils and the ravages of life find the beginning in an ‘uncontrolled tongue.’

I know that I’m dangerously close to meddling and will discuss this more in the next devotional but for today, I will pause.  In the next devotional we will consider types of tongues that need to be tamed and hopefully find a pathway to victory.

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

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PURE RELIGION – Part 2…


James 1:21-27 – “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  NASB

Today let us consider some of the characteristics of Pure Religion as we seek to demonstrate that quality in our own lives. 

Pure Religion Hears and Obeys God.  The action of their lives comes from the condition of their heart.  Their response to what is happening around them is rooted in Christ living within their hearts rather than what someone thinks about them.  Their lives are marked by obedience rather than sacrifice or demonstration for personal benefit or acclaim.

Pure Religion Rejoices in Jesus.  That person attributes to God, the true prominence and status of being the Almighty and Living God.  They recognize Him as the One True God.  They realize that without Him there is no hope, no life, no victory, no eternal life.  This person rejoices in the reality that they are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus.  They rejoice because of God’s Covenant and Faithfulness.  They desire to be like Jesus in all things and at all times. 

Pure Religion comes only through the New Birth.  It cannot be learned or earned it is a Gift of God, through the Grace of God.  It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind.  The words of Jesus in John 3:3 resonate, “Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”   They are dead to sin and alive unto God through the Blood of Jesus and the Grace of God.  They are being transformed not conformed.

Those living a sham and are phony reveal that some professing Christianity may achieve a certain sense of satisfaction out of fooling many or most people.  That cannot be easy because they are acting as they do for appearance, not because of the true desire of their heart.  I have learned that those living in pretense will eventually reveal their true character and nature.  They fail to keep themselves untarnished by the world and eventually will find it impossible to resist temptation.

A person may pretend all their earthly life and be accepted by most as a genuine Christian. They may be highly esteemed and deemed as one who exhibits Pure Religion, but no matter how many are deceived, God will never be deceived.  God is not mocked!

Heaven is for the pure in heart.  The question for you and me is which of the characters of this parable most truly represent who we are at this time?  Is our religion pure or does it give place to some of the other characteristics?  If we read Matthew 25:31-46, where will we find ourselves in this picture?  Is our religion pure or impure?  Only you and I can answer that question for ourselves.  God knows and we know or if we will honestly examine our hearts and lives, we will see clearly. 

If we are not manifesting Pure Religion, I urge each of us to run to the Cross and cry out for God’s mercy and submit ourselves to Him and His will, today. 

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

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PURE RELIGION…


James 1:21-27 – “Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”  NASB

It is not difficult to discern that the world is a religious world.  It really is but not necessarily in a good way.  The word ‘Religion’ carries a warehouse full of meanings, some negative and some positive depending on the person and their experiences in this life.  It has different meanings to virtually everyone, but the Bible tells us there are ‘two kinds’ of religion.  There is Pure Religion and Impure Religion.  The only question is which do we follow?

Throughout the Word of God, we are given a clear picture of what Pure Religion is and how it functions.  We are also given a clear indication of what Impure Religion is and how it functions.  There is example after example of both, revealed in the lives and actions of biblical characters.

There are those who make no pretense about their religion and openly embrace worship and live in a manner as to demonstrate they do not serve the Living God of All Creation.  Then there are those who live with masks on and their life is a sham or a pretense.  They are living a lie and trying to deceive everyone, including God and themselves.  Finally, there is Pure Religion, the Pure in Heart.  These are those who worship and serve God with a whole heart.  They worship and serve Him in spirit and truth. They are consistent and the same no matter the circumstance or situation.  They don’t have to be pumped, primed, and pampered to look or act in a certain way, it is who they are. 

The Pure in Heart demonstrate a character and nature that flows out of their relationship and oneness with Jesus.  In order to illustrate the contrast, I would like for us to consider the parable of Luke 10:30-35 – The Good Samaritan.  It is a fascinating illustration of the contrast between Pure Religion and Impure Religion. 

  • The Thieves represent the world and make no pretense about their religion.  They are thieves and living for themselves.
  • The Priest and the Levite represent those who are living a sham and a pretense.  They pretend to be something they are not. 
  • The Samaritan represents the true Body of Christ or Pure Religion.  He does what he does not out of show or convenience but because of a condition of the heart.  It is who he is.  He does not live for show but reaches out from a heart of compassion and love.

The only question is which example is a reflection of who we are.  I want to discuss this a bit more so we will pause here and pick this up tomorrow and talk about the characteristics of Pure Religion.

God bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus.

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A SERIOUS THREAT – – Doublemindedness…


James 1:8b – “…a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NASB

The proper interpretation or translation of that passage is, “one with two souls.”  It is also, “the one who is wavering or inconsistent.”  It refers to that person who has no settled principles guiding their life.  That person who is controlled by passion and emotion.  That one who is influenced by popular sentiment.  This person is unstable in ALL their ways, not some of their ways.  They are completely unreliable.

This is the person who acts as if they have two wills.  Their affections are spiritual or carnal depending on the mood.  This person is serious or sensual with no middle ground.  They are heavenly minded or worldly-minded.  They are constantly swayed by one or the other, but ungrounded and uncommitted to either.  They are Unstable in ALL their ways.

This person is inconsistent and easily influenced.  This person has a mind to serve God and be saved but at the same time a mind to satisfy the lusts of the flesh.  This person wants to be eternally happy in the next world but will not give up their sensual pleasures. This person is godly in spurts and intervals but not consistently.  The religion he/she follows has its ebbs and flows.  It rises and falls, grows and decays repeatedly.  They are Unstable in ALL their ways.

They are Unstable – Spiritually, Emotionally, Professionally, and Socially.  This person is the picture of the one Jesus was referring to in Luke 6:13 when He spoke of the impossibility of serving two masters.  It is impossible to love God with the whole heart, mind, body, and soul and the world equally.  It is impossible to be submissive to two masters at the same time.  There must be a choice and when there is inconsistency there is Instability.  This person is Unstable in ALL their ways.

In I John 2:15 we were given the admonition, “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  In 1 Corinthians 10:21 we read the powerful declaration of our LORD, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”  It is impossible to achieve any depth in the things of God while clinging to the things of this world.  This person is Unstable in ALL their ways.

Jesus makes a powerful observation in Matthew 6:22, “The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.”  He had just informed them that where a person’s treasure was, their hearts would be there as well.  He was calling for and we must achieve – Singleness of Devotion and Singleness of Purpose.  Matthew 6:33 cries out, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”  We must allow the Holy Spirit to deliver us from doublemindedness.

Let me offer some Characteristics of Doublemindedness:

  • Easily Tempted.
  • Easily Swayed.
  • Easily Provoked.
  • Not Faithful with any Regularity.
  • Unsatisfied.

The Cure is found in James 4:8, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”  This is a total surrender of the total self to God.  This is seeking His Will and submitting to it fully.  We must determine what or who is number one in our lives and why.  We must come to a clear understanding of what is at stake. 

God is more important than anything.  My prayer is simple, “LORD, please deliver us from Doublemindedness.” 

God bless you and go with you as you embark on today’s leg of life’s journey. 

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ARE YOU MEEK?


Matthew 5:5 – “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”  NKJV

I had a person tell me that to be meek was to be weak therefore they would never be meek because they would never be weak.  No amount of persuasion could convince them that meekness and weakness did not have to be synonymous.  That individual was critical of anyone who demonstrated any meekness through humility and believed those people were doormats and would always be trampled on.  He was frequently confrontative and combative in his interactions with people.  That is not what the word ‘meek’ used here in this passage means.

The word in the Greek is ‘praus’ with is a primary word that means ‘mild’ and by implication ‘humble.’  Immediately the words of Matthew 11:29 comes to mind where our LORD said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly at heart: and you shall find rest for your souls.”  Wow!  Jesus was ‘meek’ and if we are to be like Him, that is how we should be.

But, how was He ‘meek’?  Was he ‘weak’?  Of course not, so we need to immediately reject that idea and stereotype that being ‘meek’ is being ‘weak’.  Meekness is demonstrated powerfully in our response to injuries and difficulties in life.  Meekness carries the idea of Patience and that causes me to remember the words of Jesus in Luke 21:19 that we are to ‘possess our souls through meekness.’  That passage makes ‘meekness’ virtually synonymous with ‘endurance’ and ‘patience.’  It conveys the idea of Standing Firm in the face of life’s difficulties because we are ‘in Him.’

Jesus taught that if someone offends or injures us, we are to ‘turn the other cheek’.  If that is viewed as cowardice or weakness we will not find the humility, compassion, or love to forgive but will seek to retaliate?  The person who exhibits true ‘meekness’ is one who can endure hardship and injury with grace because that person believes that God is our vindicator. 

I have seen it demonstrated and tasted of the truth that meekness produces an inner peace that can come through no other action or reaction.  I had a situation where an individual informed me that they were going to destroy me and remove me from the church if I did not comply with their demands.  That individual attempted to impede progress and rather than fight back I calmly presented facts and reality to the people.  The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “Do not speak evil to or about her, just be silent and watch Me.”  In about two weeks the hold that individual had held over the church for decades was shattered and I never said a word to her.  I had a peace that God would vindicate so I trusted.

The amazing promise for those who are Meek is they will ‘inherit the earth.’  I had a person say to me, “Who wants it?”  It could have been translated land and if it was it could be viewed as the nation of Israel viewed Canaan.  They viewed the land as their ‘anakali’ or Place of Promise.  Therefore, if we view the promise to inherit the earth as receiving the Promise of God we should rejoice greatly.  He never fails to fulfill His promises or keep His word. 

Meekness, therefore, produces a sense of peace through confidence in God’s Promise of Protection and Provision.  Remember when Israel was being pursued by the Egyptian army and were petrified?  They were willing to return to slavery because of that fear.  They were willing to demonstrate ‘weakness’ and may have thought it was ‘meekness’ but it was cowardice and confusion.  They were not staying focused on Who God Was and Is.

Moses attempted to calm them in Exodus 14:13 saying, “Do not fear!  Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you have seen today, you will never see them again.”  Hallelujah!  If we Trust, Obey, Stand Firm, wait in Patience and thereby exhibit God’s Meekness we will see God’s deliverance.  Love and Grace are always more powerful than Hate and Vengeance. 

My prayer is “Lord, help me to be meek without being weak and to trust You completely in all things and at all times.”  If I do that, I am completely confident that I will inherit the land or the promise and having done all to stand I can stand and keep on standing.  He will never fail.  Let us seek to be meek without being weak!

May the Lord bless you richly as you proceed on your journey this day!

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COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO MOURN…


Matthew 5:4 – “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”  NASB

When you read the beatitudes, if you are like me, you sometimes are perplexed.  Some of them make perfect sense in the natural and seem to have no spiritual application.  Some make sense only in the spiritual and seem to have no natural application.  This, like most of the beatitudes, can and likely does have a dual meaning that touches both the natural and the spiritual. 

However, I am fully convinced that Jesus did not offer this declaration simply to console those who have lost someone or something in this life.  I do believe that is part of His intent but not the full meaning, He intended. 

This like each of the beatitudes identifies a condition and offers a hope or a promise for those in that condition.  If we connect this beatitude to the previous one and follow through the progression, we must consider it far more than the natural.  If being ‘poor in spirit’ can be applied to being empty of self and focused on and dependent on God, then mourning must have a spiritual application as well.  Also, it must be considered in light of our attitude toward ourselves and our condition.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘The Comforter’ in John 14:26 as an identifier of one aspect of the ministry of the Spirit of God.  That identification followed His promise in verse 18 that He would not leave us comfortless.  In 2 Corinthians 7:10, we discover that “godly sorry produces repentance” and that repentance brings bout the peace of God through His grace. 

I suggest that the mourners focused on here are those who recognize their sinfulness and realize their spiritual poverty without God and mourn over that condition.  It is recognizing that we have been rebels and participants in the cosmic rebellion that began in the Garden of Eden through disobedience and rejection of God’s rule and reign in our lives.  It is mourning over the fact that through our committing sin we have become servants of sin and disobedient to God.  It is a recognition that we have broken God’s heart.

Losing a loved one, a relationship or some prized possession produces deep pain, anguish, and remorse.  It can be debilitating and bring about such depression that the person becomes incapable of functioning.  It is a genuine and real problem and I am not diminishing the truth that God ‘comforts the broken-hearted.’  All the broken hearted!  What I am attempting to focus on is when we come to a full awareness of our sinfulness and poverty without Him, we mourn, and His promise is not only that we will be comforted but that He won’t reject us or fail us.

He promised to not leave us comfortless.  He promised that if we take His yoke upon us, He will relieve our burden.  He has promised that if we come to Him, He will not turn us aside.  He has promised to never leave or forsake us.  Remember the words of promise in Psalm 51:17 that “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”  Thus, we can be assured that not only will God comfort us in our natural sorrows and losses, but He will give us spiritual comfort when we come to Him out of brokenness for our sinful condition. 

1 John 1:9 is an anchor upon which I depend, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  If you are in mourning either in the natural or over your spiritual condition, know that He is our Comfort and our Comforter never fails to keep His promises.

God bless you as you run this leg of your life’s journey.  Walk in the comfort of the LORD on this beautiful day.

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POOR IN SPIRIT…


Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  NASB

This is a very interesting, sometimes perplexing, and complex passage.  I have heard arguments from all sides regarding what it means to be ‘poor in spirit’ and most of those arguments leave me wanting.  What was Jesus teaching?  Was He teaching that being poor makes one happy?  What is a ‘poor spirit’? 

The word “blessed” in the Greek text means “happy”.  That focuses on the source of that blessedness or the quarter from which that happiness comes.  Here the statement is “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”  Jesus, what are you talking about? 

As I examine this beautiful yet troubling beatitude, I bring my mind to bear on the word “Blessed” or “Happy” and proceed from there.  If something is a blessing and brings happiness which is the result of a stimulus that is a good place to begin our consideration.  The stimuli that produce that state of Blessedness is being poor in spirit.  The benefit or reward for that condition is ‘the Kingdom of Heaven.’  That is nothing short of incredible.  Who would not want the Kingdom of Heaven to be a current and daily reality in their lives?  What believer would not want God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth in the same manner and to the same degree it is done in heaven?

How is the abundance of God’s riches to be squared with poverty?  It cannot be. But poverty is not the topic but being ‘poor in spirit.’  If I am poor in the natural, I have no goods.  If I am poor in relationships, I am alone.  If I am poor in health, I am sick.  So, what does it mean to be ‘poor in spirit’?

Let me suggest a possibility and you decide if you consider it a valid consideration or explanation.  I suggest that being ‘poor in spirit’ is to be ‘empty of self.’  Remember the words of John the Baptist in John 3:30?  He said, concerning Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”  I suggest that He cannot increase to us, until and unless we decrease to ourselves.  The apostle Paul warned not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think in Romans 12:3. 

I suggest that being ‘poor in spirit’ is a condition in which we totally rely on and trust in God.  We recognize our own mortality and finiteness and focus on his immortality and infiniteness.  Our hearts and minds are focused upward and outward rather than inward.  If I am ‘rich’ toward who I think I am and the top priority is given to me, my needs, my wants, my ambitions, I am number one.  There can only be one number one in our lives.  Remember the declaration of Jesus in Matthew 6:24 that it is impossible to serve two masters at the same time. 

If I am ‘poor in spirit’ I recognize my frailty, failure, sin, and unfitness.  It is in that condition that I shift my focus to Him and as I look to Him, I have the immeasurable promises of the Bible to strengthen me.  He has promised in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect when we recognize and acknowledge our weakness.  He is the Almighty God and we are finite mortal created beings.  He is the giver and sustainer of life we are recipients of that life not the creators of it.  The ‘poor in spirit’ recognize Him and turn to Him.

I challenge you to consider Psalm 91 and Matthew 6:33 and reflect on the incredible promises of God for the one that makes Him first in their lives.  That person that empties themselves of self and refuses put anything before Him is rich in Him while being poor in their own spirit.  Being ‘poor in spirit’ is to recognize that it is in Him and only in Him that we live and move and have being. 

If you are rich in yourself (we are not talking about possessions but attitude) you are a pauper in Him.  On the other hand if you empty yourself of self and cast all your care on Him trusting Him for your everything you become possessors of His Promises and in those promises are the words of Jesus in Luke 12:32, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” 

My desire is “LORD, help me to focus less on me and more on You.  Help me to empty myself of self and open my heart to You.  Help me to become ‘poor in spirit’ and rich in You so that I can truly be an instrument for good in this world and bring joy to Your heart.”

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

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THE ABIDING ISSUE – Part Three


John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”  NASB

Abiding in Him and having His Words abide in us is a significant challenge.  It cannot and will not be achieved with superficial Christianity.  I am not suggesting that we become eerily spiritual in our lives but that we completely commit our entire selves to God.  He becomes the first thought of our day and the last thought as we retire in the evening.  He is our Hope, our Source, our Strength, and the reason we do everything we do.  It is in Him and through Him that we live and exist.  We are conscious of Him all the time.  I did not say we felt something all the time but that we are conscious of Him, His Word, His Purpose, and His Precepts.  Our lives are becoming one with Him completely.

He promises that “IF” we abide in Him and His words abide in us whatever we wish or ask will be done for us.  I love 1 John 5:14-15 – “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”  That is nothing short of incredible! 

The Psalmist declared in Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  The next verse is equally powerfully declaring, “Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.”  Also, if we consider the promises of Psalm 91, we are blown away. 

The man or woman who dwells in God, in His secret place, which is the picture John 15 paints of ‘abiding’ in Him and His words ‘abiding’ in us.  The promises are that we receive deliverance and protection from the snares of life and pestilence.  We discover that we are fearless because fear is banished.  We have the promise that although there are calamity and disaster all around us it won’t touch us.  The angels of God are commissioned to watch over us and protect us.  There is even the promise of long life and the promise that God will answer our prayers.  That is amazing! 

Joshua 1:8 is incredibly powerful and holds a great reward.  It says, “The Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success.” 

How about Psalms 1 and the picture of the blessed man.  He is the one that is ‘abiding’ in God and God’s words are ‘abiding’ in him.  The passage God used to bring me to salvation was Proverbs 3:5-6 – “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.” 

I have to ask, “If God promised a place that we could have answers to all our prayers, why are we not living there?”  I would also ask, “When did God stop being God?” If Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever as the Bible declares and He did things once, ‘Why Not Now?’” 

I do not believe that God makes any statement in the Bible that includes a Promise or Provision that is somehow unavailable to those of us who believe.  In Isaiah 55:11 the declaration of God was that His word would not return to Him without fulfilling His decree.  In Numbers 23:19, God challenged Israel with the question, “have I not said it, and will I not do it?”  What is it that God says that He either cannot or will not do? 

I want to dwell in His Presence in the here and now.  I pray the prayer He instructed in Matthew 6 and believe that God would never have instructed us to pray that way if it were not possible.  He would never have said the words of John 15:7 if they were not possible.  If I were to adopt the mentality that some of God is Word is for me now and some are not, I would be terrified that Salvation is also no longer available.  God is a Covenant Making and Covenant Keeping God and He Tells the Truth.

Therefore, if I am not getting the answer to all my prayers the problem is not with Him.  I am tired of making excuses for God when something does not happen that I am praying for.  He doesn’t need my excuses and they do me no good.  If I ask according to His will, He says that I have what I have asked.  In our scripture, we are considering He says that if I abide in Him and His words abide in me, I get what I ask. 

Therefore, rather than finding excuses as to why we don’t have that a reality in our lives why not seek to find out why not and commit ourselves to press into His presence? It is my hope that each of us will become more like Him and lives more fully manifest Him and His word.

God bless you as you enjoy this beautiful day in Jesus!

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THE ISSUE OF ABIDING – Part Two…


John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you.”  NASB

Part one of the equation and the fulfillment of the Promise requires us to ‘Abide’ in Him.  That ‘abiding’ must be done 24/7/365 and be a total commitment not compartmentalization of aspects of our lives and being.  It is ‘abiding’ In Him with our whole being. I wish I could tell you that this passage is a daily and constant reality in my life, but I can’t.  Yes, I love God and am committed to Him, but I cannot say that whatever I wish or ask for I get all the time.  Now let’s consider part two of the equation.

AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU…

It is one thing to ‘abide’ in Him, in Jesus but what about His words ‘abiding’ in us.  Consider this in the same manner as you considered the 1st part of the equation, ‘abiding in Him.’  Is the Word of God one with us, all the time, in all situations, and in all places?  Do we ever find ourselves operating in the flesh and trusting our own wisdom, thoughts, words, and ability?  Of course, most of us do.  Before you say, “But we are human so what else can we expect, I ask you to look at the verse again.” 

The “if” is inescapable and it not only implies that there is something expected and required of us but that fulfilling that requirement is possible.  If ‘abiding’ in Him requires 24/7/365 commitment and focus, then having His words ‘abide’ in us does as well.  Paul instructed the Thessalonian Christians to “pray without ceasing.”  How can that be possible?  How can one function in life if you are engaged in prayer every waking moment and even in your sleep invested in the process? 

It is through ‘abiding’ in Him and having His words ‘abide’ in us that we can pray without ceasing and stay focused on Him fully.  It is as we become one with Him through Grace and one with His Word that we discover the possibility of praying without ceasing, rejoicing always, and discover the ability to manifest Him as well as represent Him in this present world.  I call your attention to 1 John 4:17 where the apostle John brings our attention to God’s desired reality that “as Jesus is, so are we in this world.”  He was not talking about what we would be when we get to heaven, here in the present. 

How is He?  Is He not one with the Father?  He said He was.  Is He not always making intercession for us?  He said He was.  In fact, if you examine the total of scripture you discover in the word of Jesus to Pilate that the Word of God is Truth and then in John 14:6 Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”  So, the Word of God is Truth and Jesus is the Truth, is that a conflict?  Hardly for in John 1:1 we read the incredible declaration that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  So, if the Word of God is Truth and Jesus is Truth and the Word created all things, then we know that the Word is Jesus. 

If we are to have His Words abide in us, we must have Jesus abiding in us and we must become one with His Word.  I acknowledge the distinction between words and word.  He is the Word, but His Words are those truths and principles He taught.  I urge you to recall His promise that when the Holy Spirit comes, He brings light to the truth of God and guides us into All Truth which is the Word, which is Jesus.  He leads us into the fullness of Jesus, and we are able to become one with the Word of Christ!

The Word of God transforms us.  One of the ways it transforms us in through our thoughts or the ‘renewing of our minds.’  It is as we become one with the word that we learn to both abide in Him and have His words abide in us.  In short, we become the physical manifestation of God’s Word.  The Power of God flows to and through us.  We are able to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus.  We are able to demonstrate the Word of God in our lives. 

Imagine living in a manner and being so completely united with Him and His Words that doubt vanishes completely! The disciples were channels of extraordinary miracles. That, I believe was only possible because they were ‘abiding’ in Him and His words were ‘abiding’ in them. 

I am reminded of the account in Acts 19 where it speaks of the seven sons of Sceva who had observed the miracles performed by Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit.  They decided to cast out a demon and thought it was a formula, so they declared, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches come out.”  The demon was not impressed.  The spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I am familiar with, but who are you?” The results of that encounter would be hilarious were it not so serious and so true of too many today.

When we become one with the Word and the Words of Jesus abide in us as we abide in Him, we unleash the Power of Heaven and this becomes a very real fulfillment of the prayer Jesus taught in Matthew 6:10 – “Thy kingdom come…”  It opens the door for God to be God in our lives and in our world.  How can I doubt, if Jesus is living His life through me?  How can I doubt, if I become one with the Word of God?  How can I doubt, if ‘as He is, I am in this present world’?

We are half-way through our examination of this Promise, Problem, and Possibility.  I hope you will join me for more consideration of this as we seek to see this passage become a daily reality in our lives.

God bless you as you run today’s leg of your life’s journey. 

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