1 Peter 2:1-3 – “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” NASU

What do I mean?  Certainly not that literally we become babies nor emotionally.  What I am speaking of is found here in these verses and should be carefully read, examined, evaluated, and adopted.  Let’s consider what Peter tells us regarding spirituality.

1. Things to PUT ASIDE.

All malice. All deceit. All hypocrisy. All envy. All slander.

Wow! What a list and one that even the most stalwart soldier of the Cross and seasoned veteran of spiritual things could use this refresher from time to time.  Do we ever fall prey to the ugly demon of malice?  What about deceit does it every raise its ugly head?  Then there is hypocrisy, of course we are never guilty there or are we?  Envy is one of the most dangerous and likely suspects in the kinks in our armor and then there is that diabolical little devil called slander does it ever surface even a little bit?  If any of these are evidenced in any measure in our lives then my title and text are applicable.

• What We Should Do or PURSUE.

We should like newborn babes the sincere or pure milk of the word so that we may grow in our salvation and relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ and the kindness of the LORD!  Our pursuit and hunger should be for the simple clear unabridged Word of God.  We should long for it without the hindrance and obfuscation of the aforementioned vices or sins and character flaws. 

It is drinking the pure milk of God’s Word that brings light and life to us.  It is God’s Word that enables us to see clearly the path we are to walk.  It is God’s Word that introduces us and exposes us to the life of holiness, purity, moral rightness, and eternal life.  It is God’s word that gives us hope in a hopeless world and during hopeless times.

Therefore, we have two actions to take if we are to grow in Him and become men and women able to have the meat of the Word of God active in our lives. We must lay or put aside those things listed.  We must pursue and desire the pure milk of God’s word and grow healthy and strong in our salvation and experience the kindness and love of our Eternal God and Father.

Blessings as you go through your day!

John 8:31-33 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”  NASU

You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free!  That is a powerful statement standing alone but it is not standing alone and it is vital that we consider the rest of the passage and look at the mindset of those to whom our LORD was speaking. 

He told them that IF they continued in His word then, they were His disciple and the result of that would be that they would Know the truth, and that truth would Make them free.  I hear people constantly quote that as ‘set you free’ but it says ‘make you free’.  There is a dramatic difference, in my mind, between being ‘set free’ and ‘made free’. One identifies a condition and makes a declaration that ‘You Are Free” the other is an action that ‘Creates Freedom in the Heart.’  You may say I’m splitting hairs and I may be but to me, there is a difference.

As we study and drink the Word of God into our hearts, minds, and spirits we find that that Word does a work of transformation in our lives. Our way of thinking changes from self-centeredness to others-centeredness.  Our worldview changes from our little sphere to the Kingdom of God.  Our position changes from a ‘seeker’ to one that has ‘received’ and is now an “heir’ and a ‘joint heir’ with Jesus where we move from being one fed to one feeding others spiritually. 

The doctrine of Jesus, (The Word of God) will make us free from the ravages of Sin, bring into check our passions, transform our corrupt propensities to godly tendencies, and enable us to ‘bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.’  We will be FREE!  For the Jews, “No man was free, but the man who exercised himself in the mediation of the law.”  Truthfully, “No man is truly free, but he in whose heart the power of sin is destroyed, has received the Spirit of adoption, and through the new birth is able to cry Abba! Father!”  The bondage of sin is the most grievous bondage than any human can endure and to be free from its guilt, shame, and influence is the greatest of freedoms!

These Jews in self-centered arrogance declared, “We were never in bondage to any man.”  Really, maybe you should examine history because your history was one of enslavement and outside the forgiveness of God you are still enslaved.  Too many become boastful and proud of their church status, community status, business status and forget that ‘except by the Grace of God’ we are all men most miserable, lost and undone with God or His Son.  It is by Grace that we are saved and that through faith.  It is not our works, our money, our genealogy but our response in faith to His work on the Cross. TRUTH liberates and how we need to be liberated!  

God bless you as you go through your day!

John 8:31-33, 34-37 – “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.  35 ” The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.  36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  NASU

On this day July 4^th we, in America, celebrate Independence Day and reflect on LIBERTY and what it means.  We are cognizant of oppression and express gratitude to all who served and sacrificed to bring or preserve FREEDOM and LIBERTY!  It is a day of reflection, introspection, honor, thanksgiving, and remembering or should be.  It is both a joyous and solemn day.  It is a time for festivities and a time for deep personal and national introspection.  It is a time to give thanks to God for our Freedom naturally and a time to focus on what Real Freedom really is.

Here in this passage, our Lord identifies True Freedom.  It can only come from God.  It has nothing to do with whether you live under oppression or even if you are in chains it has to do with the heart, the mind, the soul, and the spirit.  Jesus said “IF” and that is an undeniable qualifier.  “IF you continue in My word, THEN you are disciples of Mine; AND you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

The IF, THEN, and AND of the Gospels.  So many times, we encounter truth in Scripture and fail to read it all and apply it rightly to our lives.  There is commitment involved with a continuation on the path of righteousness and as a result, we are recognized as Disciples of Jesus, and as a result, we taste and experience True Freedom!  Without Him, there is no real Freedom because if we are living in sin we are the slaves of sin and outside the family of God.

Jesus identified that “if the Son makes you free, you will be FREE INDEED.”  The words “Free at Last” could be rightly applied to this passage and the condition of our hearts once we have accepted the Gift of Salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ through our repentance.  The Cross is a most beautiful picture of Freedom because it was there that Jesus paid the price for our Freedom.  It was there that He bought us back from the dominion of the devil and opened the door for us to be transferred into the Kingdom of God – FREE AT LAST!

I hope that you know Real Freedom today and as you go through this day you go through it with a consciousness of the Liberty and Freedom that only comes through Jesus Christ. 

Blessings abundantly as you celebrate our Freedom today!

Judges 3:31 – “After him came Shamgar the son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad; and he also saved Israel.” NASU

Some years back I asked a group of young people what they could tell me about Shamgar and not one of them had a clue about him or that he was a person referenced in the Bible.  I read them this passage and then explained to them that an ‘ox goad’ according to what I understand from Middle-Eastern farming is a pointed 7’ long stick used for pushing cattle around.  Pretty impressive that with a ‘cattle prod’ this man slew 600 Philistine Warriors! 

We do not know much about Shamgar and he could possibly be the same person as referenced in the Samuel as being one of the Three, a distinct group of warriors of King David known as ‘Shammah, son of Agee.’  Many Bible scholars believe they are that they are one and the same, but since we do not have clear information on that I won’t make that leap but leave it as a somewhat obscure man who in the strength of the Spirit of God rose up and resisted an enemy invasion.  The last portion of the verse says, “…he also saved Israel.”  That is the important part.  He did what he had to do in the face of overwhelming odds to save his people.

Sometimes, the Bible makes it clear, you just have to ‘get your fight on’ and stand.  Oh, I’m not trying to make this physical because most of the time that would not be appropriate but in the spiritual, we must Do Battle and we need to realize that the weapons of our warfare and Mighty through God able to pull down strongholds of the enemy.

Yet, no weapon is of any value without the individual to use the weapon.  It doesn’t matter how formidable the weaponry is unless there is someone to use it, it is nothing more than just another lifeless and inanimate implement.  It requires a person!  That is what Shamgar provided when God stirred his heart to stand.  He provided the person and God provided the strength and ability.  He took what he had and defended his land and his nation against the enemy.  So in the spiritual, if the enemy comes in like a flood then we need to anticipate that the Spirit of God is going to use us to stand against him.  He will take what we have and make us able to use it effectively. 

When the enemy attacks remember that the Whole Armor of God has no ‘backplate’ to cover the rear when running away.  All the armament is for the front as we are advancing toward the enemy not running in a frightened retreat.  Of course, the enemy can be frightening, after all, he is a supernatural being but we are Mighty Through God!  We are More Than Conquerors through Jesus! We do not have to cower in fear we are victors in Christ!

So, as you face the enemies and obstacles of this day go in the strength and power of the Spirit of God.  If all you have is your ‘ox goad’ take it and Stand!  God will give you the strength to overcome!

Blessings as you go through your day!

Hebrews 12:25-29 – “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.” NASU

God has been stirring my heart for some time that a Shaking is coming!  I don’t mean a little discomfort or things being a little out of place I mean Shaking as in ‘earthquake levels’ in the world, lives, churches, businesses, and government.  It is coming because men have turned away from following and honoring God.  I am not saying I think it is coming I am saying It Is Coming! It is Coming! As to when,  I don’t know but I sense that it is soon!

In this Shaking it will touch ‘everything’ that can be touched.  Everything that is not ‘rock-solid’ in God will be shaken out of place. Every thought that is not anchored in God and His word will be shaken.  Every philosophy that is not rooted in the principles of God’s Word will be shaken. 

Every government, business, church, nation, or life that is not founded solidly upon God’s word and honoring him Will Be Shaken! It is coming!  This is not going to be man-made it is going to be God-made.  In that sense, nothing will escape because God ‘knows all’ and ‘sees all’.  You won’t be able to run and hide.  You can’t play games.  You can’t make alliances that will give you a free pass.  THE SHAKING IS COMING!

What are we to do?  Immediately make 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Matthew 6:33 cornerstones in your life.  It is time to do deep and careful evaluation and allow the Holy Spirit to place us under Heaven’s microscope and weigh us in the balance and if we are found wanting to deal with whatever it is in our lives that needs to be brought into alignment with God’s word, will, and way. 

Don’t delay and feel that when the Shaking begin you will then turn to God because it may well be too late. I know I sound like an alarmist but I sense that this shaking will be of such epic proportions that your teeth are going to rattle with the shaking that is coming.  I do believe that God will protect His children who are following Him. Those who have made 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Matthew 6:33 cornerstones in their lives. Those who are walking Holy before Him.  I don’t mean some definition of Holy as concocted by man but as defined by the Spirit of God and the Word of God. I mean total commitment to Him!

I’m sounding the alarm and hope that you are hearing the call.  It is coming!  May God bless you as you go through your day!

1 Timothy 1:5 – “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”  NASU

I had someone ask me in a preacher’s conference what the goal of my preaching was.  I thought about that carefully before answering and this passage came to mind.  If I use this text as my foundation and target it is threefold.  I believe encapsulated in those three targets or objects enables us to move into a deeper place with God and set us free from the powers of darkness in a wonderful way.

LOVE FROM A PURE HEART.

In the Psalms, the Psalmist asked, “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place?”  The answer was, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”   The cry of his heart in Psalm 19:14 was, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight…”  In Psalm 51:10 he cries out, “Create in me a clean heart, O God…” 

Peter reveals to us the desire of God and the purpose of the believer in 1 Peter 1:22-23, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…” 

Augustine said, “Love is the only sign that distinguishes the children of God from the children of the devil.”  Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

If I can present Jesus to you so that He becomes real, Love will naturally flow into you and from you.  It is in that state of forgiveness and grace that your heart is purified and out of the purity of your heart you can and will demonstrate God’s Love.

LOVE FROM A GOOD CONSCIENCE.

In 1 John 3:21 we discover that a heart at peace with God free of condemnation gives confidence.  We are able to stand before God, not because we deserve or have earned favor but because of the Blood of Jesus.  His Grace in frees our conscience to walk in righteousness.  Not self-righteousness but His righteousness. 

Freedom from guilt enables the heart to receive the goodness of God.  If our hearts are filled with guilt and shame, we tend to withdraw and build walls to protect and hide our flaws.  We are not able to give or receive love and build up each other in love, joining our gift to the gifts of others in the Body. 

If I can present Jesus and His Grace to you in a way that helps you to have perfect peace knowing that your sins have been forgiven you are able to give forgiveness and love as He loved.

LOVE FROM A SINCERE FAITH…

Notice that each of the legs of that triangle of life includes Love.  We will never truly express, demonstrate, receive, or give love without trust.  My friend, Garry Smith says, “You cannot love a God you do not know, and you cannot serve a God you do not love.”

It is in my confidence in His veracity and truth that I become a candidate for the impartation of His love and goodness.  So, the objective of my preaching is LOVE!  Love from a Pure Heart, Good Conscience, and Sincere Faith.  It is to inspire the hearer to allow the Holy Spirit to bathe the heart in Grace, free the conscience of guilt, and inspire confidence and trust in God.

He has never and will never fail.  He has never and will never forsake.  He has never and will never fail to keep His promises.  He is trustworthy and able to keep that which we have committed to Him for all eternity. 

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!