POSSESSING THE PROMISE(s) OF GOD…


Spiritual Blog - Promises

Numbers 13:1-3; 17-33

I believe that the Spirit of the Lord would have me take a Historic Life Experience from the pages of the Old Testament and communicate a Spiritual Principle from the New Testament.  Hopefully, we can accomplish this with clarity and brevity.  In Romans 15:4 we read, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction…”  Then in 1 Corinthians 10:6,11 we find, “These things happened to them as an example for us, and they were written for our instruction…”  In a very real sense, they were stamped as a model or a scar permanently in them and God used them to transform the minds and helped them keep those things written in the forefronts of their minds as a testimony and encouragement.  I am confident that the Holy Spirit will communicate this to us so we will be enlightened and thereby drawn into that which the Spirit of God is SAYING and DOING in this very hour.

As we examine the record we find that in fulfilling His Covenant to Abraham God made some incredible promises.  In Genesis 12:7 He said, “to your descendants (seed) I will give this land.”  In Galatians 3:7 we discover, “They which are of faith, they are the children of Abraham.”  In verse 16 of that same chapter we read, “To Abraham and his seed were the promises made.”  Seed, not seeds which point to Christ Jesus our Lord.  Then in verses 17-18, we are told, “The Covenant, that was confirmed before the Law, which was 430 years after cannot disannul, that it should make the Promise of none effect.  For if the inheritance [be] of the Law, [it is] no more promise; but God gave it to Abraham by Promise.”  Then in verses 27-29, we find, “For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you [be] Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the Promise.”  That is incredible and in this, we discover God’s instructions to Moses for Possessing the Land or the Place of Promise.  In Numbers 13:1-2, God instructed Moses – “Go Get Information.”

I shared that once and had a person say, “That’s foolish and unnecessary because God already knows.”  But, we discover that the order God used has been used by military strategist for generations.  In simplicity it is, KNOW THE ENEMY.  It is important that we Discern the Gates of the City in order to take the City.  Then in verse 3, we see Moses obeying the directive of God and sent out chosen men to spy out the land.  In verses, 17-20 Moses gave some specific and detailed instructions and there were four keys in his charge:  The Land, the People, the Cities, and the Fruit or Produce of the land.  I have learned in my years of service that God NEVER sends out an uninformed army.  He ALWAYS equips and prepares for battle and we must never forget that His ways are not man’s ways.

Moses sent them out and instructed them to bring back a SINGLE REPORT (v. 25) with regard to the goodness and fruitfulness of the land.  However, as the record indicates they came back with two minds, not one.  One group (10) could only see the NATURAL, whereas the other group (2) could see into the UNSEEN.  They all agreed the Land (fruit) was good but the ten saw the inhabitants as impossible obstacles and the cities too fortified.  They were defeated in their minds and would have been defeated in battle.  The Bible continually teaches that this is exactly where the battle is waged and won or lost.  If we see with God’s eyes we overcome but if we see with the eyes of flesh we are overcome.

I remind you of the account in 2 Kings 6 where Elisha (the double portion prophet) thwarts the efforts of the entire Syrian Army by his ability to SEE and HEAR in the UNSEEN REALM. The Syrian Army came to Dothan to take Elisha captive.  His servant woke up and saw the massive army and ran fearfully to the man of God crying, “WHAT DO WE DO?”  This was more than a question it was a plea of desperation and defeat.  He came to the prophet in despair.  Elisha then prayed a powerful prayer that should be revealing to each of us.  He prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”  But, Elisha he could see the Syrian Army.  No, No, No, Elisha is praying that God open his eyes that he could see into the realm of the UNSEEN.  The servant wasn’t blind in the natural but he could not see into the realm of the Supernatural.  Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-18, “that you have the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and the eyes of your understanding enlightened.” 

It is critical if we are going to Possess the Promise(s) that we develop Eyes to see into the Unseen and Ears to hear beyond the natural.  I want to deal with this more deeply but will pause for now and pick up here next time.

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

 

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THE PAIN OF HELPLESSNESS…


Spiritual Blog - Help

2 Corinthians 1:8 – “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”  NKJV

             I have experienced some incredibly traumatic things in my life including the loss of someone dear in tragedy, abandonment to the point I despaired of life and the pronouncement that I had a malignancy.  The experiences like those mentioned were incredibly painful and distressing but I know of no pain more debilitating than the feeling of helplessness. 

I have watched my children face struggles that I could not step in and resolve and for a man who was raised to fend for himself, face difficulties head on and handle whatever came your way HELPLESSNESS is murderous.  You see the problem and know that within yourself you can do nothing.  It is outside your ability, authority or power.  It is not dependent on what you do or do not do and may rest in the hands of others whom you cannot control.

Helplessness is as much a state of mind as anything and it finds its roots in FEAR and TRUST or the lack of trust.  In the state of mind that says, “Nothing I do will make a difference” is not only paralyzing it is destructive.  It can and often does destroy relationships and faith.  It stems from the idea that we, as individuals, must be in control and are the captains of our own ship and masters of our own fate.  It, at its core, denies God although the person in that state of mind may be devout in their belief in God.  It views life through the prism of self and becomes incapable of looking beyond themselves.

Helplessness is a continual spiral downward into the abyss of hopelessness.  If we find ourselves in a state of feeling helpless and hopeless we have choices.  We can continue our focus on self and circumstances and revel in the helplessness and hopelessness of the situation or condition or we can look beyond ourselves.  I would contend that if we can envision another who can rectify our situation we are not in a state of helplessness.  It is when we see no solution from our own ability or any outside source that HELPLESSNESS reigns.  It is from that sense of helplessness that we become hopeless and despair of life.  NO HOPE!   NO HELP!  Total despair rules.

It is when we look beyond ourselves or others and realize that with God NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE that helplessness and hopelessness begin to melt away from our minds.  Our pathway to deliverance and victory may be tiny baby steps but the light at the end of the tunnel gradually transforms from a faint candle flicker to a brilliant flood light.  Hope begins to rise within and that hope dispels the sense of helplessness.

The Serenity Prayer is applicable especially when our confidence is directed to the LORD our God:

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

             Helplessness is a condition where we see ourselves as the final source of a situation.  Hopefulness is where we see God as the final source of a solution.  In a time of helplessness, we can either become hopeless or hopeful depending on where our look is focused.  Psalm 121:1-2 gives the solution, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

I pray that God HELP you to be free of HELPLESSNESS and walk in HOPEFULNESS the remainder of your days!    God bless you as you go through this day!

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THE DIRECTIVE IS CIRCUMSPECT not CIRCUS SPECTACLE…


Spiritual Blog - Circumspect

Ephesians 5:15-16 – “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  NKJV

             Paul gave life counsel to the Ephesians and one particularly noteworthy item was ‘how they were to walk or live.’   He gave a contrast saying ‘walk this way not this way.’  Advice it would benefit each of us to carefully consider in our daily lives.

Some live more as a Circus Spectacle than Circumspect and demonstrate an inherent bent toward foolishness and as a result are generally guilty of being time wasters rather than redeemers of that precious commodity.  Being a Christian carries with it a great responsibility in presentation, before the world a life that is complimentary of our faith, not one that is detrimental to our confession of faith.

Circumspect is defined as ‘watchful and discreet; cautious and prudent.’  A circumspect walk will not be one that is so outrageous that it would be more acceptable in a circus than society.  The flummadiddle that is all too often manifest needs to stop for we have a monumental task before us that is of eternal significance.  Multitudes are perishing without God and unless we learn to live in a manner that reflects our Lord and demonstrates His wisdom we limit our ability to witness to them.  If they see us more as Circus Spectacles than Circumspect we have little impact but if we manifest Him lifting Him up in our lives they will be drawn to Him.

That by no means suggests that we are to be so solemn and serious all the time that we are viewed as fuddy-duddies.  God wants us to be overflowing with the Joy of the Lord and be anointed with the oil of gladness.  I have found that people who cannot or do now laugh or even know how are often miserable and breed miserableness.  I recall once having a person, whom everyone in town knew as the hardest man around, come to me and say, “Preacher, I want what you’ve got.”  He went on to tell me that because I was frequently laughing, would tell a joke, and even when things were difficult could find a lighter side he was interested.  He also told me that he had witnessed me shifting gears from humor to serious and knew that while I like to laugh I was deadly serious about life and he saw something in me he did not see in most.  I did not take that to mean that I was better, more spiritual or special than other dedicated believers in my community.  I took it to mean that God had used me to demonstrate a manner of life that caught this man’s attention positively.  Some in the same town did not like my way of approaching life and thought as a preacher I should be sour-faced and solemn all the time.

So if we live a life that is circumspect allowing God’s wisdom to flow through us as we redeem the time taking advantage of the opportunities set before us we will touch others positively and powerfully.  My prayer is:  “Lord help me to walk circumspectly and never let me be viewed as a circus spectacle.”

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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UNDERSTANDING GRACE…


Spiritual Blog - Grace

Ephesians 4:29-5:2 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  NKJV

 

             I never cease to be amazed at how many followers of our LORD view and understand Grace.  Some even seem to feel that since God has been ‘gracious’ to them in extending his pardon and mercy resulting in the New Birth they are now free to sin.  I find that utter foolishness.  Religion has The Law and The Law says, as long as you behave or keep the rules I’m satisfied.

The Law deals with my behavior.  I may hate my behavior but I continue to do it so we strive to LOOK like good Christians and adjust our masks so that other Christians think we are good Christians.  That is performance orientation and is like lipstick on a pig altering the appearance does not change the truth.

Grace, on the other hand, does not make its focus behavior it focuses on The Heart.  It deals with your “want to.”  It addresses where you want to be who you are and begins the process of change.  THEN, when you are changed, your behavior changes!  No masks simply an expression of who you really are!  You BECOME!

That is what the apostle is addressing when he says, “The Grace of God has come to you.”  It has invaded you.  It is on the inside of you.  Now, let it have its perfect work and begin to transform you so that you can BE who you ARE in Christ.  The Grace of God that brings salvation has reached down to the pit we were in, lifted us up and transformed us.  In that sense, Salvation is happening every day for we are becoming as He is.

Salvation means wholeness and implies perfect health.  So this salvation that is brought to us by the Grace of God makes us HEALTHY.  Of course, I speak of more than any physical healing but spiritual.  I have learned that physical maladies are often less problematic than our spiritually mental sickness.  I am not talking about the classic mental illness we hear much about but a spiritual condition in which we are sick in our thinking and feeling.

Paul says we are to PUT AWAY malice, bitterness, anger, wrath, and all evil speaking.  He is speaking as a physician would when identifying the need for radical surgery.  If we are to be healthy it must begin on the inside.  It is then we are able to radiate the health of Christ spiritually in our outward actions and appearance.  We will radiate God’s Life!

He tells us to PUT AWAY and there is an emphasis that this is something we are to be deeply involved in.  I have had some tell me that they are praying God will deliver them from those things and I always address the need for them to PUT AWAY not attempt to PRAY AWAY those things.  I emphasize that the process begins on the inside and it is a heart problem, not action problem.

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO PUT AWAY?

The Number One this is BITTERNESS!  Putting away bitterness is not just addressing it once and it is done.  Bitterness is a way of being!  It is a kind of spiritual cancer that has gotten so deep inside our person that our spirit is infected.  It is a state of being and is constant although we are not always conscious of it.  It affects how we see people and things.  ALL people, ALL things ALL the time!  The root of bitterness did not happen overnight and it is something that we may have dragged in from the old life.  It does not matter what it was it MUST GO!  It is a poison that courses through your being and defiles.  Bitterness doesn’t get in your heart and mind it manages to get into your tongue as well.

Additionally, there is WRATH!  This is where we fly off the handle and it is clearly rage.  It is like an explosion and it burns deep within from BITTERNESS.  Then there is ANGER and while it is akin to Bitterness the person tries to hide or denies it.  You can see by their facial expressions and body language they are angry but they’re nice people.  They keep it bottled up inside.  Then CLAMOR which is uncontrolled shouting where there is no control over the tongue.  Then EVIL SPEAKING where one deliberately seeks to hurt another.  In the Greek it means blasphemy.  (You blaspheme God when you talk about someone made in His image with the design and desire to do them harm).  Also, we come to MALICE which is a settled determination to hurt others or get even.  Paul says through the Holy Spirit PUT IT AWAY!

May God convict us and help us to BECOME who we are in Him.   God bless you as you go through this day!

 

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R-E-S-P-E-C-T…


Spiritual Blog - Respect 1

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”  NKJV

 

I believe that respect is earned not demanded.  I hear people say, “Don’t disrespect me” as though they had an inherent right to be respected regardless of their disrespectful attitude or actions.  I believe that everyone’s rights should be respected but not everyone is deserving of respect.  That statement may cause some difficulty but an unruly child that rebels are not deserving of respect.  A parent that berates their children and family and is unfaithful to the marriage and family and fails to provide is not deserving of respect.

When I acknowledged God’s call to the ministry and assumed my first assignment as pastor of a small rural congregation I assumed that everyone would respect me because of the call of God.  Unfortunately, that utopian vision of the ministry was short-lived and I found that the desire for power among people does not include healthy respectfulness.  We are commanded in Scripture to ‘respect’ spiritual leaders because of the WORK.  Most who have served as pastor, have heard, “What do you do all day?  Why do you need a day off?  It must be nice to have a job where you just read the Bible and pray all day.” 

Hebrews 13:17 instructs us to OBEY those who rule over us and be SUBMISSIVE.  Why?  They watch for our souls and God holds them accountable for our condition and development.   I have participated in meetings where the leader would present ideas and on one occasion where the majority did not agree they stated:  “We do not agree but if you believe this is best and is in the best interest of all involved we will support you as the leader.”  They were not being obsequious for some were quite strong-willed individuals but they were deferring to their leader because of their respect for his position and person.

HOW DO YOU EARN GENUINE RESPECT?

  • Show Yourself Worthy.

One minister said, “I cannot stand in the pulpit and command the congregation to respect me.  It is earned by demeanor, by love, and by character.”  I believe that character and integrity are foundational in respect.  That means we have to be attentive to small things and strive to be above reproach at all times and in all things.

  •  Respect Ourselves. 

People truly do take their cues about respecting a leader from the leader him or herself.  My attitude is that in myself I am nothing but I can do all things through God who strengthens me and if God called me He is or has prepared me.  Therefore, my confidence is in God.  Without tooting your own horn it is sometimes necessary to let people know what God has done using you as a vessel of service.  

  • Respect Others.

Respecting others for a pastor means learning what their needs are and work diligently to address them.  Likewise how you handle partiality is a reflection on your respect for others. 

  • Confront Disrespectful Actions.

Remember Paul’s counsel to Titus, “Let no one despise you.”  I have found that if you overlook or ignore disrespect it will be repeated and usually more prolific than before.  I am talking about things that are genuinely disrespectful.  I have experienced someone seeking to demean and disallow my authority and corrupt my responsibility in order to gain power.  I did not let those go without notice and each one was handled differently as the Holy Spirit directed.  I tried to be kind, gentle, loving but firm enough that it would be understood that behavior which had the potential of disrupting the church could not be tolerated.  

I prefer to approach disrespect with a servant heart and the spirit of meekness toward the disrespectful person.  So, I tolerate it for a time and once I have proved their spirit and it continues I can then demonstrate mine and on that strength, I can confront whatever is necessary with God’s authority behind me.

As with having friends, we must be friendly to gain respect, we must be respectful.  RESPECT is earned!    God bless you as you go through your day!

 

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REFUGEE OR CITIZEN?


Spiritual Blog - Citizens

Colossians 1:13-14 – “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  NASU

We sing about being the REDEEMED and that we are SOJOURNERS just passing through and that is good.  However, I want to highlight something for consideration regarding our status in this world and the one to come.

The work of Christ in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension affords something wonderful.  The King James Version says He “delivered” us from the devil’s power.  The Amplified refers to it as “delivered” from the devil’s control and the New American Standard identifies that we have been “rescued” from the Domain or Kingdom of Darkness.  All basically say the same thing but let’s take this idea or revelation and examine it briefly.

If we have been delivered or rescued from the devil’s kingdom (where we were citizens) and his power (where he manipulated us) and have been transferred into the Kingdom of God that is worthy of note.  In that single act of our LORD, we have seen our status change from ‘refugee’ to ‘citizen’ of a different realm or kingdom.

In the natural, if our citizenship changes we are under the laws and governance of the new country of which we are citizens.  Theoretically, we have backing us the entire might of our new country and rather than holding refugee status we hold citizenship.  We may be sojourners in this present world but our citizenship is in that Eternal World of the Kingdom of God.  The title ‘god of this world’ the devil held has been rendered, null and void by the Finished Work of Jesus on the Cross and His Resurrection from the Dead.  We are here not as refugees fleeing the tyranny of the devil but as ambassadors of our new country or kingdom.

The authority through which Jesus operates is extended to us as citizens of that new kingdom and through His authority, we have power and authority over all power and authority of the former ‘god of this world’.  Jesus redeemed or ‘bought back’ that which was lost and whether we accept His grace or reject it we no longer belong to the devil but to God.  We may resist and reject what Jesus has done but what He did is complete.  However, unless we accept His grace we will perish and by that act of rejection we ‘give place to the devil’ and in so doing place ourselves within his grasp.

Too many in the Body of Christ tend to live as refugees in this present world trying to escape the devil and longing for the heavenly cavalry to arrive and rescue us.  That places us in a subordinate position rendering us powerless against the power of darkness for we fail to understand or appropriate the position afforded us through Grace.  If we can understand that we have a LEGAL VICTORY in Jesus to exercise dominion and authority in this earth over all the power of the enemy we will find our lives transformed drastically.

We need to learn to enforce the Victory of Calvary and appropriate the Promises of God in this present world.  We are not refugees we are citizens of the King of God.  We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus.  We have been given power over all the power of the enemy and our weapons are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  We are more than conquerors through Jesus so let’s live like citizens, not refugees.

            God bless as you go through this day!

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ONLY BY THE BLOOD…


Spiritual Blog - Blood of Jesus

Exodus 12:12-13 – “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.”  NKJV

 

As God prepared Israel for their deliverance from Egyptian bondage the one thing they had to do to be spared was take the “blood of the sacrificial lamb” and place it on the doorposts of their houses.  When the destroying angel came into the land and saw the BLOOD the inhabitants would be spared otherwise DEATH would be the result.

This was symbolic and pointed to the time when Christ, our sacrificial lamb, would offer up His innocent blood on the Cross for the sin of mankind.  In our reception of His sacrifice and grace, the Holy Spirit applies the Blood of the Lamb to our hearts and we are spared from the plague of sin.  Only by the blood are we spared!  It is not by works, not earned, not deserved it is “by grace, through faith” that we enter into the family and kingdom of God.   NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD!

The old gospel song says it perfectly:

“What can wash away my sin?

              Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

              What can make me whole again?

              Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

 

              Oh! Precious is the flow

              That makes me white as snow;

               No other fount I know,

               Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

The prophet Isaiah penned it perfectly in Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.   If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.”

Some in today’s PC world do not like the mention of THE BLOOD for they consider it too vile for polite society and seek to eliminate it from the religious conversation.  Unfortunately for them, salvation’s door is opened ONLY BY THE BLOOD.  Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission as declared Paul in Hebrews 9:22.  Forgiveness is not possible without the Blood of Christ shed for sin.  He paid the divine penalty and through His sacrifice, we have HOPE and LIFE!

What can wash away my sin?  NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!   So today, if you have not received Him I urge you to listen to the nudging of the Holy Spirit and allow God to apply the blood of Jesus to the doorposts of your heart.

            God bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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NOT ONE WORD OF GOD FAILS…


Spiritual Blog - Word

Jeremiah 1:12 – “Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” NASU

             I have encountered some that are like those Peter addressed in 2 Peter 3:9 reminding them that God is not slack concerning His promises.  I am fully convinced that I can depend on anything it is God’s Word for I believe that His word cannot be separated from Himself and if He says it He will bring it to pass.

When Israel entered the Promised Land and had finally taken possession of the Land of Promise we read in Joshua 21:43-45 – “So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.”  

ALL OF IT, every promise came to pass.  Every Word that God said God did.  That is true in our lives as well.  Although we live by the calendar and clock and we are serving one who responds to neither.  We are time conscious whereas He is timeless.  We live in the finite but He is infinite.  We have self-imposed deadlines and bind ourselves to them but God is never bound by our limitations.

It doesn’t matter if God promised something to you when you were 10 and now you are 80 if He said it He will bring it to pass.  People will fail but God will not.  Our plans are always flawed but His are perfect.  Our timing is subject to our interpretation of the need and circumstances His are limited only to His limitlessness which means they have no limitations and He is never late (truly).  If we can embrace the words of Paul in Romans 8:28 we can deal with God’s supposed delays knowing that ALL THINGS are WORKING TOGETHER for our ultimate good.  All things are not good but the compilation of them produces the finished product that is.

The question should not be whether or not God will keep His promises but whether we will ‘faint’ before the promise is fulfilled.  If we believe God to be God then we can hold on, no matter what, to His promises knowing that His track record is NOT ONE WORD FAILS.

            May God be with you as you go through your day!

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MONEY AND POWER…


Spiritual Blog - Money

John 12:4-9 – “But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.  7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.  8 For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”   NKJV

 

I recall years ago hearing Billy Graham say that God told him to “Not touch the money”.  He was talking about integrity and how money has corrupted too many men who began right in the pursuit of the purposes of God.  I have observed in my decades on this terrestrial ball that MONEY and POWER are two of the most deadly elements man faces in any area of life.  There are other things that are destructive but those two are in the top tier to be guarded against their negative influence.

Do not understand me to say that MONEY in itself is evil for that is not what Jesus declared but rather THE LOVE OF IT is where the root of evil resides.  POWER is not bad in itself but if allowed to whet the appetite for control over others it becomes deadly spiritually, socially and politically.  The writer of Ecclesiastes declared, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”  (5:10).

The Bible tells us that where the treasure is the heart is there also.  If MONEY and POWER become so valuable to us they become dominant objects we pursue they will become corruptions in our character.  I firmly believe that God wants his servants well taken care of.  I also know that there is a lurking danger of allowing the appetite for the lifestyle of the “Rich and Famous” to override our heart of charity and understanding of the purpose of both MONEY and positions of POWER.

I have been told more than once that as a preacher I should keep only a minimal amount of my money and give the rest to the poor.  I have been attacked when the congregation I was leading spent money on the facilities and told that we were to keep everything minimal and the rest should go to the poor.  Jesus addressed that, in a sense, when Judas displayed disgust over the act of worship and extravagance when Mary took costly oil and wiped the feet and hair of our Lord.  Jesus considered what she had done an act of worship and faith and it is clear from the passage that Judas cared less about the poor than the money.  Jesus said, “…the poor you have with you always…” 

I personally do not believe that our places of worship or our lifestyles should be so extravagant they repulse and demonstrate a lack of awareness and concern for the plight of those around us.  It would be difficult for me to adopt a lifestyle of living in the lap of luxury when I see so many needs presenting themselves daily.  I preached along this line once and was told that I had a ‘spirit of poverty’.  I prayed about that and the Holy Spirit assured me that was not true.  My desire to bless others, have my needs supplied, live comfortably and maintain a tender heart overrides any appeal that lavish wealth affords brings joy to my heart.  I want the Power of the Resurrection in my life to combat the forces of hell and the wealth of the wicked in my hands to advance the purposes of God.

            God bless you as you go through this day!

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BECOMING A VICTIM…


Spiritual Blog - Victim

Ephesians 4:29-5:2 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. 

5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”  NKJV

I believe that one of the key sources or roots causing a person to develop a Victim Mentality is BITTERNESS.  Many harbor resentment so deeply that it dominates their lives.  The question is why do we replay the hurt over and over in our minds reliving the old wounds?  It is because we go back to The Lie, “you shall be as God.”

What does God do?  He is in control.  Therefore, if we believe that we are like God then we envision ourselves as being in control.  If we are in control then we are in charge of the punishment to be meted out to the ones who hurt us.  They can never be set free because we are determined to eventually make them hurt like they hurt us or maybe even more.

We lock the door to our lives and attempt to influence as many others to lock the offender out as well.  In fact, it can escalate to the point that we want them eradicated from the human race declaring them that despicable.  WHY?  We have become the Victim.  If you had not said or done what you did I would not be an addict, alcoholic, abandoned, economically or socially deficient.  It was your fault!  Because of you, I have been living in Hell and now I’m going to send you there as well.  The pain is real and incredible for the Victim.

If I could somehow get everyone to realize that no human being can make you do anything you are free.  It is a choice.  He or she makes me so mad!  No, you choose to become angry.  But, you are a Victim because you were injured.  They did it to you so do not ask me to forgive them THEY ARE WRONG!  The victim chooses to remember and by holding on to it he/she believes they can guarantee it will never happen again.  The wall is erected and the list of offenders denied access grows almost daily.

Some never forgive because they do not understand forgiveness.  They think if they forgive the offender they will be hurt again and become a doormat.  But what is forgiveness?  It is not calling a truce, admitting defeat, letting evil win or saying let’s just forget it.  Have you ever had someone who hurt you come and apologize and you say, “Oh, it was nothing”?  That is not the truth and you know it!  IT HURT and was far more than nothing!  Some have the mistaken idea that if they do not admit it hurt it doesn’t exist but if you will not or cannot admit the pain you cannot forgive.

Forgiveness is never condoning.  We are often told we must forgive but rarely are we told how to forgive.  We are told the why behind forgiveness but not the how.  We hear that we must forgive because Christ has forgiven us and if we do not forgive we will not be forgiven.  True, but how do we forgive?

What does God do?  He takes the initiative and comes to us.  The one that we sinned against comes and takes our place.  He chooses to bear all our guilt, grief and sorrow.  He pays our debt with His own blood.  Then He rises from the dead and extends a full pardon to us.  We are Free!  Remember the workers hired at different times of the day?  As the owner of the vineyard begins to hand out the pay he begins with those who worked least and paid them but as he worked through to those who had worked all day he paid the same wage and they were irate.  Not fair was the cry!  Exactly, life is not fair and we should be glad God is not fair for if He were we would have something quite other than salvation and pardon.

What do we do?  We REPENT!  We surrender and receive His grace.  There is no discussion of the past.  The key is that we are to forgive “just as” God has forgiven us.  We must BE that which He has made us.  Be kind.  Be tender-hearted. Be forgiving.  Be someone who dishes out grace.  It changes the entire attitude and moves us from being victims to victors.  Therefore, you take BITTERNESS and get rid of it.  You banish it from your life.  You hold it up to the light of God’s Grace and begin learning a lifestyle of forgiveness.  You will repeat it over and over again for a long time, most likely.  It will become who you are and then your actions and attitude will reflect His Forgiveness and become Forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not divine amnesia and we forgive by faith!  We choose to not lay their sin to their charge and release them.   May the Lord be with you guarding and guiding you through this day!

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