Spiritual

HEARING FROM GOD IS ONLY PART OF THE PROCESS…


Spiritual Blog - Vision

Habakkuk 2:2-3 – “Then the LORD answered me and said:

 “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.  3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;  but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”  NKJV

 

I shared with a particular congregation concerning the importance of vision in the local assembly.  We discussed the value of individual and personal vision and then about connecting our visions to THE VISION of the assembly and that vision into the VISION OF THE KINGDOM.  I had someone ask, “How do we know the vision of the church?”  I was not truly surprised that he did not know the vision for I had encountered the same situation at other times.  It is a problem when the congregation does not know the vision of the assembly.  Too many times, there is no defined vision and people are wandering around going through the motions seeing times of increase and decrease without real direction and purpose.

Whose responsibility is it to define the vision of the assembly?  First and foremost, from a human standpoint, it is the pastor.  However, that does not mean that the pastor alone sets the vision or even publicizes the vision but he/she is charged with leading the local flock and therefore MUST have the vision inscribed on their heart and able to write it down and communicate it.  That is the directive from the LORD to Habakkuk. Yes, I know this was writing down a prophetic vision but is not the vision of the assembly a prophetic vision?  Do we know what God wants to do in our communities?  Do we know how God wants us to pursue His purposes in our local assemblies?  Do we just meet for regular services, have a few extraneous activities and call that the vision?  Can those who are participants in that congregation read the vision and then carry it out or “run with it?”

Most of us want to know the will and purpose of God for our lives but how many of us pray for a revealing of the VISION of the local assembly?  Some people are gifted as scribes and able to write the vision with clarity.  I believe it is incredibly important for the local assembly to hear the vision, understand the vision and align with it.  It is no surprise that God would speak in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint…”  The KJV translates it “perish” and the Amplified, “Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained…”  A church with no clear vision causes people to pursue their individual visions with no concept or idea how to plug those visions into the VISION OF THE WHOLE and often those visions, although good individually, are counterproductive when one tugs against the other with no order or guidance.

A Vision of a Church is like a rudder on a ship it helps steer the church and keep it on the God-charted course.  One of the reasons churches have no defined vision is there is no prophetic voice.  When people ask, “Where do you go to church?”  I often respond, “I don’t go to church, I am the church.”  I don’t mean that I am anything special but the Church is not a building that is the ‘sheep-shed’.  The church is not an organization it is an organism made up of “living stones” or “human cells” making up the Body of Christ.  Can you imagine the human body trying to function if there was no link between the brain and all the other parts via nerve paths?  It would be utter chaos and would be unable to survive.  The human body follows a vision and the church needs one as well to keep it moving in the right direction, maintain health, and be productive.

If you have not established a personal vision there is no time like the present.  If your local assembly does not have a defined, clear and written down vision, pray that God will bring one to the body.

God bless you as you go through this day pursuing His purposes in your life.

 

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THE MILITARY ASPECT OF FAITH…


Spiritual Blog - Faith

Matthew 8:5-13 – “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”                   7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!  11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”  NKJV

 

I have heard and preached many sermons on “faith” and many definitions through the years but seldom do I hear anyone address the aspect of the dimension of faith as is revealed in this passage.  In my view, it simplifies faith wonderfully and is often overlooked by the majority of Christ’s followers.  The story is not an uncommon one in the Life and Ministry of our LORD.  Here is a military commander with a sick person in his life who was dear to him.  He turned to Jesus for help in his time of need and desperation.

Sadly, too often we do not consult the LORD until it is desperation time.  In desperation, often, faith is nowhere present because “fear” and “anxiety” override our confidence and faith are relegated to “wishful hope” rather than “confident expectation.”  It is clear, to me, this military commander believed, otherwise, he would not have come to Jesus.  He also understood something about authority and obedience that too often we miss or overlook. Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”  That would have caused incredible excitement in most hearts but this commander revealed something that is amazing.

The commander addressed his view of his own unworthiness and Jesus’ worthiness.  He did not view Jesus as His vending machine to provide whatever he wanted or needed but as someone worthy of great respect and reverence.  He saw Jesus as LORD.  He then said something that most of us believe in our minds but often fail to incorporate in our lives.  One Word from Jesus is enough.  We say we believe, “when Jesus says it is enough it will be enough” but we live as though more is required than His word.  We have His word in the Bible but either relegate much of it to another dispensation or time or we do not truly believe it or that it applies to us.

This commander unveiled a military aspect of faith that we would do well to not only understand but incorporate into our lives.  He said, “I am not worthy for you to come to my house but if you simply SAY THE WORD it will be done.”  If that was all we had it would be commendable but not revelatory. He then said, “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me.”  Catch what he said, “under authority, having soldiers under me.”  He understood AUTHORITY.  Jesus responded saying, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”  Remember that Jesus said, “All authority is given to me.”  He also said that He gave us “Authority over the Power of the devil.”  This man understood the power of authority and that if Jesus issued the command it was done.  He said, “if I say to this one, ‘Go’, he goes; and to another ‘Come’, he comes and to my servant “Do This’, he does it.”  He understood FAITH was a path of obedience and understood the power of authority.  If Jesus is who He said He was and the Bible declares Him to be, and He is, THEN we need to view faith from this military perspective and see the power of authority and the flow of the chain of command.  Who has power over all the power of the devil?  Jesus and since we are in Christ and Christ is in us, “We are more than conquerors through Him that loves us.” 

Reach out in Faith confident that HIS WORD is Enough!  God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him.

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COUNTING THE COST…


Spiritual Blog - Count the Cost

Luke 14:25-33 – “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.  27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it —   29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’  31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?  32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.  33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”  NKJV

 

There is a “cost” in following Jesus.  There is a “cost” in virtually everything we do in life and we must be prepared to “pay the price” for our choices and “face the consequences” of our decisions and actions.   When Jesus presented this scenario of “counting the cost” of the man building the tower He was specifically addressing DISCIPLESHIP but we could apply that truth to every aspect of life.  It should, without question, be a clear warning and admonition for us to avoid “running” before we know where we are running or why and to never go off ‘half-cocked’ but to make a reasoned decision in our actions.

I had a person tell me once that God commanded him to “hate” his family in order to be a good Christian and Disciple.  He said, “That is my cross.”  He used the words of our Lord in this passage to justify his belief and estrangement from family.  The word “hate” here does not mean hate in the sense we normally use it but hate in the sense of “love, less”.  The argument that the Bible teaches Socialism should be quickly dispelled in this passage as our Lord makes it incredibly clear here and elsewhere that He offers no “welfare program” or “easy believism”.  The idea or truth of “counting the cost” means recognizing and agreeing to the terms and conditions.  Following Christ may cost us much and in some cases, everything in the natural but the prize is worth the cost.

Anyone seeking to follow Jesus for what they can get materially, socially, or politically will not stick around long because they soon find that it is not all “what’s in it for me?”  In verse 33 Jesus makes an incredibly arresting declaration saying, “whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”  This can easily be understood as more than physically letting it go but emotionally releasing it.  God does not ask that you commit to a “vow of poverty” in order to follow Him and that you can never possess any of this world’s good but that they cannot possess you.  We cannot serve God and mammon and if you recall the dilemma of the rich young ruler who turned back because “he had many possessions” you get the picture.  It is one thing to possess something and quite another for it to possess you.

The conflict can be illustrated as I heard another describe.  Suppose you received word that you had been given a lavish property in Hawaii.  There was the provision of airfare, ground transportation, and all expenses were to be paid out of the trust and it would cost you nothing out of pocket.  You have options as to how to address this gift.  You could puff out your chest and brag about what you owned.  You could begin to daydream about the property and even make plans about how you will enjoy and use it someday.  BUT, until you board the plane and leave where you are you will NEVER actually possess it.  You cannot live where you are and there at the same time.  You have to take affirmative and definitive action.  That is the way some approach Christianity and Discipleship. They love the idea of eternal life, avoiding hell, and having Jesus at their beck and call, but they are not willing to leave the life they now live.  Their desires, lifestyles and sinful habits are too precious to them.  Oh, they often have a token change and even join the church and attend with some regularity but want to retain ownership of everything else.  Jesus said, “NO!” 

Salvation is not and cannot be earned only received.  It is the Gift of God and not something we earn, purchase or deserve.  It does not matter how philanthropic we may be, or how many good deeds we do it is BY GRACE through FAITH and the GIFT OF GOD in Christ Jesus.  If we are going to be Disciples of Christ we must first, “count the cost” and determine that no cost is too great to follow Him.

            God bless you as you go through this beautiful day!

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WHO IS RESPONSIBLE IN TIMES OF DANGER???


Spiritual Blog - Danger

Ezekiel 33:1-6 – “Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.'”  NKJV

 

In today’s world of heightened danger from terrorism, there is the encouragement for the public, “See somethings say something.”  That is practiced in Israel and other parts of the world and has proven to be instrumental and valuable in protecting against an attack.  Yet, I have been told many times from a spiritual standpoint, “Well, it is none of my business” or “I don’t want to meddle.”  But, how valid are those arguments when it comes to DANGER?  Would you consider it meddling to warn a parent or a child if the child was in danger of running into a busy street?  Would you consider it none of your business or meddling to warn residents if their house was on fire?  Would you consider it meddling to inform your neighbor if you saw someone break into their house and cart off their goods?   I suggest that we are quite selective in what we deem “meddling” or “none of our business” and tragically consider it good citizenship to sound a warning in the natural on many fronts but unacceptable in spiritual matters.

This passage suggests multiple responsibilities in times of danger.  If we see “danger” or the “sword” coming and sound the alarm of warning and it is heeded, people are saved or better prepared to deal with the present danger.  However, if we sound the alarm and it is ignored then their blood is on their heads, not our hands.  It is a grave matter, biblically, to ‘see danger’ and not ‘sound the alarm’.  That would be knowingly and deliberately allowing harm to come to others when we could have, at least, warned them of the impending danger.  God does not take that lightly nor should we. 

Although we often declare that our system or code of laws have their roots in the Bible we might not realize just how clear that is.  In Deuteronomy 22:8, if someone falls from your roof, and you failed to install a safety fence around the edge, you would be held liable for the death of that individual.  It may have been gross negligence on their part but you had an obligation to ‘warn’ or take steps to prevent the danger.  In Exodus 21:29-31, if a man owns an ox that is prone to harming people, the owner is held liable if he fails to ‘confine’ the ox and it harms or kills someone.  If the ox ‘harms’ someone the owner is fined, but if it ‘kills’ someone, the negligent owner was to be put to death.  You might say, “That is awfully severe” and I agree it is but it speaks to the seriousness God has regarding “warning of danger” whether that danger is “eternal hell” or “physical danger”.  God holds us accountable for SOUNDING THE ALARM. 

I believe that one of the assignments I have from God is to be a “Watchman on the Wall” and to sound the alarm of impending danger that I see.  Therefore, if I remain silent when I see danger I have violated a commandment of God and could never justify or argue that I was not guilty of “he that knows to do good and does it not to him it is sin.”  If I SEE IT and do not SAY IT in sounding the alarm I become accountable before God for the harm that comes.  However, if I do sound the alarm, then the responsibility shifts from me to those being warned.  In keeping with this reality, we must also understand that the messenger, as well as the message, may be rejected and we should always seek God for ways to make the message palatable so it is understood, received, and heeded.

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

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GOD DID NOT BRING YOU THIS FAR TO ABANDON YOU…


Spiritual Blog - Abandonment

Hebrews 13:5-6 – “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”   6 So we may boldly say:

 “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”   NKJV

 

If this were the only place we found the Promise that God would NEVER leave or forsake us it would be enough but it is not an isolated promise, but repeated numerous times in Scripture.  It goes to the heart of God’s desire and purpose for our lives.  God did not inspire us to get in this race and begin this walk only to abandon us in the process.  Heaven forbid for that would be a picture of God totally foreign to the biblical view of His person, nature, and character.

In Deuteronomy 31:6, God spoke to Joshua as he was charged with leading the nation of Israel into the Promised Land, “be strong and very courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave your nor forsake you.”  NEVER!  Take it to the bank, God will not abandon you.  People may but God will NEVER do so.  God repeats the promise in verse 8 and we read it again in Joshua 1:5.  We find the same promise that God will never abandon us in 1 Kings 8:57, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 37:28, Psalm 94:14, Isaiah 41:17, Isaiah 42:16 and here in Hebrews.  We are instructed that out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let everything is established and we have more than two or three occasions in which God has promised to NEVER LEAVE nor FORSAKE us.

I do not know what situation you are now facing or might face in the days to come.  I do not know what might be around the next corner of life.  I do not know the future but I do know the one who controls the future and am 100% satisfied and confident that He is a Promise Keeper and if He said He WILL NOT leave or forsake us He WILL NOT leave or forsake us.  Therefore, take heart and comfort no matter what you face God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and HE WILL NOT FAIL.

If the vision He placed in your heart still seems to be light years away from fulfillment it is not a sign that He has abandoned you.  It might be you have not launched out into the deep as you should.  It might mean that the time is not yet.  It could mean any number of things including the possibility that the devil is hindering and you need to defeat him in prayer to allow the breakthrough to come.  IT DOES NOT MEAN that God has abandoned you.  If He put it in your heart, He will provide that which is needed to achieve the purpose and vision He gave.  Therefore, be patient, be faithful, and be confident – HE IS STILL GOD!  If He said it He will bring it to pass, that you can bank on.  Remember the account of Daniel 10 when angel of the Lord appeared to Daniel in his time of prayer and said, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia…”  There was a spiritual demonic hindrance and if you realize that God will do whatever it takes to fulfill His promise to NEVER LEAVE or FORSAKE you your heart will endure the trial and rise to victory.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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FALLING INTO TEMPTATION…


Spiritual Blog - Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  NKJV

 

I had a person tell me, “It just happened and there was nothing I could do about it” in reference to a failure in their life.  If that statement is true then the passage above is a lie and the Word of God is not a lie.  We do get “caught” in faults, situations, and circumstances but they DO NOT just happen.  I would suggest that usually we have opened the door and failed to look for and receive the “way of escape” God has provided.  It really doesn’t matter what the temptation is, there is a way out if we will stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not allow the devil to inundate us with justifications that seek to excuse our behavior.

Will we tell God that it “just happened” and we were totally caught off guard without a way out?  I don’t think we’d dare attempt that justification or excuse because we know better. If we fail to heed the warning signs of the Spirit and the flesh we open ourselves to failure on any and every front in our lives.  I had a woman tell me once about her infidelity, “He said such good things and cared about me unlike my husband and it just happened.”  NO IT DID NOT.  You opened the door.  You entertained the flattery and began to enjoy the attention and allowed your guard to be lowered.  I have no doubt that God was continually giving you warning signs and offering you ways out but you were enjoying the attention too much and the flesh was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.

We do not just “FALL INTO TEMPTATION” we walk into it.  If we allow the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, or the pride of life override the pricks of the Holy Spirit we become subject to succumbing to temptation.  When we “fall” it was not totally unexpected but we kept moving nearer and nearer to the edge and finally could no longer maintain our spiritual balance and over the edge we went.  But, never doubt there was a way out, a path of escape because that is God’s promise and God never lies.

I cannot emphasize the importance of the biblical directive of Paul in the next verse, “…flee idolatry” and the other biblical warnings to “resist the devil” and to “shun the very appearance of evil.”  We talk ourselves into failure because of circumstances, situations, disappointments, and sometimes simply through flattery.  I have had preachers tell me, “Well, there is no harm in harmless flirting.”  Seriously?  Harmless flirting?  What is that?  Remember it is the “little foxes that spoil the vine”.  If you continue to sow seeds to the flesh and ego, one day you will find the harvest comes in and you won’t like the result.  It is one thing to be friendly it is quite another to flirt which often subconsciously entertains something beyond the harmless.  I have witnessed very bad situations develop as a result of “harmless flirting” that in a moment of weakness, disappointment, and even anger over a situation.  If that door had not been opened the opportunity would not have presented itself and the fall into temptation would not have been a possibility.

God is faithful and He expects faithfulness from us.  The good news is, “if we sin we have an advocate with the Father.”  Never, justify a failure or indirectly blame God for not warning you of the danger because He has promised to provide “a way of escape.” 

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

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COMPARTMENTALIZATION PROBLEM IN CHRISTIANITY…


sPIRITUAL bLOG - COMPARTMENTALIZATON

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”  NKJV

 

Compartmentalization, in life, is defined as “an unconscious psychological mechanism used to avoid cognitive dissonance, or the mental discomfort and anxiety caused by a person’s having conflicting values, cognitions, emotions, beliefs, etc. within themselves.”  In Christianity, it gives rise and attempts to justify holding the view of one’s having a “spiritual life, church life, family life, business life, etc.”  I had a very well respected man, a pillar of the church and community, tell me that his business life, family life, and spiritual life were all separated and that allowed him to function more perfectly in this present world.  I cannot accept that as biblically valid for we are what we believe and out of our belief system our lives are reflected in our various life engagements.  If we compartmentalize our lives so that one does not overlap the other we could be devious in business, disloyal in our relationships and yet maintain the appearance of godliness in the church.  That dog won’t hunt, in my opinion.  We read in Proverbs 23:7 (Amp), “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior – one who manipulates]…”  Jesus informed us in Luke 12 that a person’s life DOES NOT consist in possessions.  His existence may consist in possessions but not his LIFE.  Life is the sum total of all we are in all areas of our existence. 

I believe compartmentalization is one of the major reasons so many are avid defenders of the idea of “separation of church and state.”  If we completely divest politics from our spiritual and moral makeup we are able to stand behind and with politicians who are not godly, do not support godly principles, and demonstrate a character unbecoming to the faith.  If we completely divest politics from our spiritual and moral makeup we are able to support legislation that gives us a benefit on one hand while running afoul of the basic principles of God’s word and morality.  I do not want to make this devotional about politics but every area of life is part of our LIFE and important.  What I believe politically, economically, socially, and relationally is directly connected and stems from what I believe spiritually.  If I value the Word of God and consider the Bible my guide for faith and practice, then I cannot and will not separate it from every compartment or area of my life.  WHAT I BELIEVE IS WHO I AM. 

It would cause less angst in our hearts if we could compartmentalize our lives and feel no guilt or remorse for deviousness, often called shrewdness, in business.  However, our conscience will not allow us to have that disconnect UNLESS we allow our conscience to become “seared”.  Compartmentalization allows Christians to become anesthetized to the wickedness and evil in society on various fronts.  I am amazed at how little sin troubles many who profess Christ today.  We are able to be inundated with profanity, lewdness, vileness and do not feel completely soiled, needing a bath.  Our spirits are not grieved when we are bombarded with godlessness and we are able to allow it entrance through our eye or ear gates not realizing that it taints our spirits much more dramatically than we imagine.  I have had some tell me that I am being “holier than thou” or too “Puritan and Prudish” in my views because that’s just the way the world is and we have to be in it.  Yes, but we are not to be OF IT!

You are not a cat and do not have nine lives distinct and separate from the other compartments of your being.  You are the sum total of the various aspects of your life and a reflection of what you believe.  If we truly believe the Bible is the Word of God then I suggest that we need to come before our Lord and ask Him, as David prayed, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”  [Psalm 51:10-11].  In Proverbs 4:23 we find, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  The word “issues” refers to the “outgoings and boundaries”.  Our hearts (what we believe) shapes our lives, who we are and all we do.  How can we believe in an Omniscient God who wants us to seek first and foremost His kingdom and righteousness if we compartmentalize our lives including Him in some and excluding Him in other portions?

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

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FIGHTING IS NOT ALWAYS THE ANSWER…


Spiritual Blog - Prayer

Jeremiah 29:4-14 – “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:

 5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters — that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.

 10 For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”  NKJV

 

Jeremiah was not always well received because he refused to say what people wanted to hear but what he heard from the Spirit of God.  Some called him a traitor when he told Israel not to resist and this letter he wrote to the captives was not well received by everyone but provided an insight and hope for the nation.

Israel was in a dilemma.  They could resist and ultimately be wiped out or so diminished in number that when the day of deliverance came they would be too few to carry out the purposes of God.  Therefore, the prophet instructed them, with a word from God, to live as near normal as possible in the midst of their captivity.  He gave as a chief reason, “…that you may be increased there, and not diminished.”  He warned them not to buy the deception that other prophets were offering and informed that their captivity would be 70 years in duration but afterward, in their strength and numbers God would bring them out.  God’s purpose was not to destroy them but ultimately to lead them to victory.  They were going through difficulties because of their failure to follow His directive but ultimately God’s heart was their victory.  He says in verse 11, “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

Spiritual Blog - Obedience

They, as we have the choice to endure the hardship for a season, keeping our eyes on the ultimate prize and conduct our lives in such a manner as to ensure that we are not weakened beyond repair in times of trouble and trial.  There may come a time, in America, when we are faced with the decision to resist fully or submit for a time.  It will be a most difficult choice for we will see terrible calamity and many who become docile exterminated.  I do not know what the future holds and if God will instruct us to submit to captivity or resist, as did our forefathers in the American Revolution.  There is a time to rise up and a time to remain silent.  A time to resist and a time to submit.  There is a time to live and a time to die.  Immediately taking up arms is not always the right answer, therefore, it is imperative in these coming days for each of us to PRAY and seek the face of God.  It is time that we incorporate the words of 2 Chronicles 7:14 in our daily lives, “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.”  My prayer is LORD give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and courage to do that which You direct.

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

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MY DAILY PRAYER AND PURSUIT – [Part II]…


Spiritual Blog - Walk on Water

Psalm 51:10-13 – “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.”  NKJV

  

Now, back to the prayer of David and my daily prayer, desire and pursuit.  The meat of the matter is found in these verses, not to exclude the verses prior and subsequent but these convey a powerful truth, for me.  Let’s walk through David’s specific request and examine it briefly.

  • CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

He is not asking God to simply “mend” his heart but give him a “brand new heart” and one that has been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.  He is not asking for help to turn over a new leaf but a total transformation of his life.  He wants to be “made new.”  I believe that is echoed by Paul in the New Testament when he says, “Neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation…”  This comes through God’s mercy and grace and is a result of our believing Him, receiving Him, and full confession of our sin.   Oh God, don’t just put a Band-Aid on my sinful condition but GIVE ME A NEW HEART that has been WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. 

I do not suggest that we need to keep coming back to God to SAVE US but we do allow sin to taint us from time to time and we need Him to purge out the dross.  Thus, I pray!

  • RENEW IN ME A STEADFAST OR RIGHT SPIRIT

I want to exhibit constant and be consistent in my work and walk before God and man.  I want a spirit that is not easily moved by the adversities of this life.  I want a spirit that weathers the waves of adversity and is not tossed to and fro by events, circumstances, and conditions encountered.  Renew in me, FAITHFULNESS to the level of my first love so that I am like a rock.

  • DO NOT CAST ME AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE

I know He has promised to NEVER leave us nor forsake us and as Moses prayed, “If your presence does not go with us I do not want to go.”  Lord, help me to be conscious of the shelter of your covering and the power of your presence in my life.  It will not only encourage me in times of trouble but will be an anchor to keep me steady at all times.  I need your presence, at all times, Oh Lord!

  • DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME.

Lord, I know that without the conviction of the Holy Spirit pricking my conscience I could easily drift into error and sin, therefore, I ask that your Holy Spirit is always present and prevalent in my life.  I want you to “convict” and “convince” me of sin.  I want the helper who is to be my teacher and guide to ALWAYS be present in my life.  I want the one who shines light into darkness to be powerfully present in my life, at all times.

  • RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION

Weeping last for the night but joy comes in the morning and Lord, I want the Joy unspeakable and the Glory beyond comprehension in my life to be so prevalent, powerful, and present it spills over to others impacting them positively for good.  Lord, do not let me by like the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2 where you say of me that I have “left my first love.”   Lord, give me the infectious Joy of Salvation!

This is a prayer that I pray and a path I pursue daily in my life and pray it for you as well.  I am not suggesting that you are living in sin but that you enjoy all that God has for you in this present world and in the world to come LIFE EVERLASTING!

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

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MY DAILY PRAYER AND PURSUIT…


Spiritual Blog - Clean Heart

Psalm 51:1-13 – “Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.

 3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.  4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight — That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.

 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.  6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.  9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.

 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.”  NKJV

 

I often quote and focus on verse 10 but to not bring the cries of David prior to that utterance would be a mistake.  David was keenly aware of his flawed humanity and his need for God’s love, mercy, and grace.  He recognized God’s incredible longsuffering and mercy as well as his personal sinfulness.  I am convinced that UNTIL we come to the place we no longer, in any measure, attempt to intentionally or unintentionally “justify” our condition we will not truly seek that which David is seeking.  Too often, we give lip service or acknowledgment to the fact that we are “sinful flesh” but then through our words or deeds imply that we are “comparing ourselves” with others and thereby justifying our condition.  That is a tragic mistake and could be eternally fatal.

David’s open confession, in verse 3, of his sin and his acknowledgment that it was ALWAYS BEFORE HIM is revealing and needed if we are to break the chains of iniquity in our lives.  David realized that his sin was, in fact, rebellion against God and no matter what the wrong it is wrong toward God.  If we could realize that truth and accept our responsibility for our actions I believe we would be more prone to pray the pray and have the desire of David, as reflected in the Psalm.  As I read this prayer I no longer wonder why God would say of David, “He is a man after my own heart.”  David was honest with God, refusing to sugarcoat his actions and displayed a heart easily broken by the Spirit of God and willing to confess and repent.

David acknowledged that he is a member of the flawed human race.  A race tainted by sin since the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam & Eve.  He acknowledges the Omniscience of God in his declaration that God KNOWS ALL.  His declaration is a clear revelation that he understands salvation and I believe that message goes all the way back to the Garden and was handed down from generation to generation.  Man has not been unaware of God’s plan or process and yet continues to walk in rebellion by allowing the flesh to dominate and direct our steps.

Then David comes to the portion of the prayer upon which I wish to focus, vv. 10-13.  “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.  Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.”

There is not the time or space to complete what I hold in my heart about this so I will pause here and pick this up in the another devotional.  God bless you, guard and guide you as you embark on this day’s journey in Christ Jesus!

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