ANOINTED TO DO…


spiritual-blog-anointing

Exodus 31:1-7 – “Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3 “I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, 5 and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. 6 “And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:” NASU

 

The Anointing is not just for preaching it is for everything.  In 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 we read, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, 22 who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  Remember John’s words in 1 John 2:20, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One…”  Each of us has a gift, calling, talent or gifts callings and talents that God has GIVEN or ANOINTED us with.  That was the case in Exodus where God said, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship…”  I would remind everyone, of the words of the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “…What do you have that you did not receive?”

If we were working in a team and one of us had the anointing for organization, it would be incredibly beneficial to defer to that person and allow his/her gift and anointing to flow.  If a person with another gift attempted to take care of the organizational issues it would like result in chaos but at worst, it would simply not be the best.  I have observed pastors who found it impossible to release various gifts to function for they felt it was their job to take the lead in everything.  If your gift, talent, ability, and/or anointing is in an area that I know I am weak I will gladly defer to you and follow your lead. When we reach the point that my gift, talent, skill, ability, or anointing is required I will step forward and ask you to move from the point and allow that gift to flow.  We are The Body of Christ and a human or spiritual body is made up of differing parts.  If the hand tried to do the job of the heart, we would die.  If the ears tried to do the job of the lungs we would suffocate.  If the feet tried to assume the role of the eyes we would stumble around having the ability to move around but without vision.  If the eyes see, the ears hear, the lungs breathe, and the heart pumps blood while the brain coordinates all the parts we will function in a much better fashion.  Each part is needed and each part has a specific anointing. 

Some have an anointing for service and should serve.  Some have an anointing for decoration and should decorate.  If it is culinary then find the kitchen.  If business and creating wealth, then turn your attention to it.  If it is preaching, then preach anywhere and everywhere.  What are you good at?  What tugs at your heart?  What has God uniquely gifted you to do?  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your all.  Rejoice in His gift and call and know that no matter what your gift is, that gift is valuable to the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God.  Just don’t be like a person said once, “My gift is irritating people.”  I’m not sure that is an anointing from God but if we are pursuing His purposes we will irritate some but it is never with malice.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

QUESTION OF DOUBT or QUESTION OF FAITH?


spiritual-blog-willing

Matthew 8:1-4 – “When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, ” See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”  NASU

 

This is most interesting and is in the same category as the question Jesus asked the man at the Pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to get well?”  In a way, it reminds me of the question Moses asked Pharaoh about the frogs, “When shall I remove them?”  The man at the pool began to explain why he had not gotten his healing rather than answer the question and Pharaoh delayed until the next day to get relief.  Here the leper, who I am certain was hopeful but uncertain said to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing…”  It was a statement of question and in my mind, the issue was whether this was wrapped in doubt or faith.  It appears to be laced with the human idea of deserving?

The leper who was an outcast, speaks to our Lord with both confidence and question. He is confident that God Can.  Multitudes in the Body of Christ are in the same boat.  They believe God can but they are uncertain if He will or if He still performs miracles today.  I cannot imagine teaching a Gospel that relegates the Miracles of Jesus to a bygone era and limits God in what He can, will, and wants to do.  If I relegate the Miracles of Jesus to a bygone era it lessens my responsibility to believe and receive.  I would then not feel the pressure to exercise faith for someone else as they faced a dire need, such as a miracle of healing.  This leper’s statement revealed his uncertainty as to the willingness of Jesus to do anything for him.  It could have been due to the way the Jews viewed leprosy.  They considered it a sign of God’s displeasure and this man, a leper, would have felt condemned and outside the scope of God’s willingness.  It could be because he did not feel he was worthy of Jesus doing this for.

The response of Jesus is encouraging and the matter of fact way that Jesus responded indicated it disappointed him that there would even be the question of willingness.  At the same time, our Lord gladly used this as a ‘teaching moment’ for the Pharisees and all who observed.  The Pharisees were appalled that anyone would touch a leper for that was taboo but Jesus demonstrated His power of disease once again, and ‘touched him’ bringing healing to the leper.  Jesus followed the Law in His instructions to the Leper for only the priest could pronounce someone clean.  Jesus knew that once this man went to the priest and the pronouncement of cleanness was given, the testimony of the leper would be spread like wildfire.

The caution or concern that I have for us today is that we sometimes tag all our prayers with “If it be your will” when the Word of God has declared His willingness to do many, if not most, of those things we are asking.  I love the clarity of John in 1 John 5:14-15, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, HE HEARS US.  And if we KNOW that He hears us in whatever we ask, we KNOW that we have the request which we have asked from Him.”  [Emphasis mine].  Do you grasp that truth?  If we ASK according to His will, He HEARS us and if He HEARS us He GRANTS the petition.  The key is determining the will and then ask.  If the Word declares it is His will then we can come boldly before the throne and ask what we will.  If we are unclear then our prayer should be to determine what the will is and then offer the petition with complete confidence that we asked according to His will and He guaranteed, He would Hear us and Grant our petition. That is incredible and wonderful.

God, bless you richly as you embark on today’s leg of your life’s journey!

 

0 CommentsLeave a comment

THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE…


spiritual-blog-obedience

Exodus 16:13-21 – “So it came about at evening that the quails came up and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, fine as the frost on the ground. 15 When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, ” What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, ” It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 “This is what the LORD has commanded, ‘Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.'” 17 The sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. 18 When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat. 19 Moses said to them, ” Let no man leave any of it until morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them. 21 They gathered it morning by morning, every man as much as he should eat; but when the sun grew hot, it would melt.”  NASU

 

It is amazing to me that the children of Israel, having been eyewitnesses to the Miracle Working Power of God in their deliverance, would quickly revert to their confidence in the flesh.  That is not unique to them, it is a condition that has been a problem for mankind since the Garden of Eden.  Paul even addressed the Galatians and questioned how soon they had turned back from that which they had received to trusting the flesh.  Mankind has a propensity to trust what we can see rather than trusting the unseen even though it is God’s Promise.  It is almost, “What have you done for me lately?” 

Here, Israel complained about having food and God provided for them supernaturally.  In the manna, God not only provided food but also created a situation that would Test the Obedience of the people.  This food was unique in that if someone gathered much there was no excess and if they gathered little there was no lack.  The directive was that NOTHING was to be left until the morning or the next day.  Simply, you could not horde up a supply for future days.  I see several reasons for that.  The fact that it could not be carried over until the next day was to ensure their continued dependence on God and His supply.  Another is that it required their explicit obedience.  It required them to get out early, before the heat of the day and gather that which they needed for that day.  It required DEPENDENCE, OBEDIENCE, and DILIGENCE.

God is our true source.  That does not mean that we do not walk out what we are praying for and depending on God for.  We depend on Him for the anointing to carry out the objective.  We are dependent on God for His supply of our need.  God is the source, but if we sit idle in slothfulness and laziness He will not provide.  We reap WHAT we sow, we do not reap blessing if we DO NOT SOW.  Dependence is a necessary ingredient in our pursuit of His purposes and promises.

We must also be OBEDIENT for without obedience we find ourselves in rebellion and that moves us outside the protective hand of God.  Obedience is better than sacrifice.  obedience opens the door for God’s incredible blessings.  Obedience leads us in the paths of righteousness.  Disobedience separates us from God and blocks His flow of supply and anointing and robs from the Body of Christ and the Kingdom of God.  We must also be DILIGENT and actively pursue the Purposes of God in Dependence and Obedience.  It is as we pass the test of Obedience we move from Glory to Glory and Victory to Victory.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

AARON – What A Crock, You Sound Like a Politician…


spiritual-blog-idols

Exodus 32:19-24 – “It came about, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. 20 He took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. 21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?” 22 Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 “For they said to me, ‘Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 “I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So, they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”  NASU

 

Picture the situation, Moses was on the Mount receiving detailed instructions from God in a Face to Face meeting, and he took a little longer in God’s Presence than Aaron and the people are comfortable with.  They decided that Moses might be dead and they quickly reverted to the ways many had followed in Egypt, ‘like a dog returning to its vomit and a pig to wallowing in the mire.’  They wanted a security blanket of some kind and Aaron instructed them to bring their golden earrings, etc. and he purposed to make an image for them to worship.  They had seen the miracle-working power of God.  Aaron has been the spokesman before Pharaoh for Moses and HE KNEW BETTER but the flesh took over.  Aaron’s justification and excuse are quite a Crock!  He partially admitted his guilt in his excuse but then he began to spin the spin.  He explained the nervousness of the people and the concern for Moses’ delay. He then said, “I said to them, ‘whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’  So, they gave it to me, and I threw it in the fire, and out came this calf.”  Yeah, Aaron, and I have some Ocean Front Property in East Texas I’ll sell cheap too.

Some of the excuses we make to each other and to God as to why we fail to OBEY would be laughable if there were not so tragic.  In this case, it cost the lives of about 3,000 men.  Sin is never without a price tag.  Sin never harms just the one committing the sin.  We are not islands and what we do in life impacts others as well as ourselves.  I’ve people tell me, “Well, I’m not hurting anyone to justify their actions.”  YES, YOU ARE!  There are eyes watching you and what you do and say impacts them either positively or negatively.  The old saying, I have used for years applies, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read, therefore, what is the gospel according to you?”  We are epistles, known and read among, men Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 3:2.

Moses was receiving the very tablets that contained the command to HAVE NO OTHER GODS but Aaron led the people in creating a false god or an idol.  They were no different than those of Paul’s day or ours.  Remember the indictment of Paul to the Galatians that they had begun in the spirit and had quickly become seduced into departing from that to trusting the flesh again?  It is by WALKING IN THE SPIRIT that we keep the flesh under control and are able to resist the temptations it brings.  It is by MAINTAINING OUR FOCUS on God that we are able to live as overcomers.  We MUST keep our eyes on Him shunning the very appearance of evil.  We keep Him and His Promises in the forefront of our minds.  We are transformed by the renewing of our minds and we bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.  We cannot walk this walk if we allow the flesh and its fears to rule over us.

Aaron participated in the delusion and then attempted to mitigate his involvement with his STORY.  I’m sure he was singing, “That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.”  But, Moses nor God was buying what he was selling.

NEVER justify sin but REPENT of it quickly and determinedly.  God’s Grace is greater than all our sin and His Mercy is from everlasting to everlasting but His wrath will wax hot if we attempt to deceive Him or ourselves.   God, bless you richly as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

TESTING WITH PROMISE…


spiritual-blog-testing

Exodus 15:25-26 – “There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. 26 And He said, ” If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”  NASU

 

Israel had experienced the Supernatural Deliverance from Egyptian Bondage and had repeatedly seen the hand of God move mightily on their behalf, yet, they were often not content and complained.  How like many today?  God, throughout the Bible, offers conditional promises to His people.  He places something before them that is incredible and wonderful and then says, “IF”.  It is not an “IF” as in maybe but an “IF” as in a guarantee.  The Promise is as solid and sure as God Himself.  Israel had come upon water that was not potable for the waters of Marah were bitter.  The water was undrinkable and they complained, for without potable water they would die of thirst in the wilderness. Their concern was legitimate, their propensity to complain, murmur, and grumble was not.  God showed Moses a tree and he threw the tree into the water and the waters became sweet or drinkable.  That is a marvelous miracle but God was not satisfied with simply being their convenience store and provider, He wanted something from the nation that would bring forth the SEED of Salvation.

In the statute and regulation that God gave Moses we read, “IF you give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I WILL put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”  The Promise is majestic and nothing short of Awesome!  However, getting to the Promise required navigating some territory that they were not accustomed and had not demonstrated the willingness or ability to do.  This was God’s way of allowing them to SEE THEIR FLAWS and RECOGNIZE their need of Him in all things and at all times.

Consider the requirements for receiving this Promise.

  • Give Ernest Heed to God.

That is far more than mental assent or simple declaration, “We believe.”  It means to carefully examine and follow explicitly listen to WHAT God is saying WHEN He is saying it and being OBEDIENT.  It is not hearing only but it is hearing.

  • Do What Is Right in His Sight.

This is important for it not doing what we think doctrinally right or what is right in our own eyes but GOD’s.  It is earnestly listening to His Word and Will and then DOING it.  It is walking out what they heard in Obedience. 

  • Give Ear to His Commandments.

It is difficult to imagine anyone being obedient in ignorance.  How can I do what is right in God’s sight if I do not know what God is saying or desiring?  They were required to KNOW the commandments, hearing them in detail and understanding their literal meaning and grasping their spiritual impact.  We need to know not only God’s acts but His ways.

  • Keep ALL His Statutes.

He did not say keep SOME of my statutes but ALL my statutes.  That is impossible without the help of the Spirit of God and the direct involvement of God in our lives.  God was giving them a lesson that would conclude in TOTAL DEPENDENCE if they were earnest and serious in their pursuit of Him.

spiritual-blog-healer

THE PROMISE was – “I WILL put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.”  THAT IS AMAZING!   Imagine living in a world that is filled with disease, death, and destruction and have God’s Promise that you will be exempt from it.  This would be an excellent time to read Psalm 91 and meditate on it.  This would be an excellent time to read Psalm 103:1-5.  This would be an excellent time to remember the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2 as He remembered Isaiah 53 telling them that JESUS was their healer.  However, this promise suggests they would not need a HEALER because He was giving them HEALTH.

There is a Place of Promise in God where we can stand on the proclamation that according to Hebrews, we have a BETTER COVENANT established on BETTER PROMISES than that of the Old Covenant, and promises like the one of this text are incredible.  We should set our hearts to becoming nestled in the center of God’s will and obedient to His every word.

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment

ISAAC – A MAN OF PRAYER…


spiritual-blog-prayer

Genesis 24:63 – “Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening; and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, camels were coming.”  NASU

 

Any designation given to any person is only as powerful and impactful as the reality of that in their lives.  I can call myself anything, but if the fruit and evidence of that claim are not a natural and normal part of my life, my claim falters.  I have met people in ministry that identify themselves as ‘this or that’ and even put it on their business cards, letterhead, and websites.  I am not blasting acknowledging a particular call or gift but a designation must be accompanied by fruit and evidence that supports that.  It must be visible and verifiable not simply proclaimed.

I could claim to be a ‘brain surgeon’, and although illegal to actually attempt to practice medicine without a license, that claim would not make me a surgeon.  I could claim to be an ‘Ace Pilot’ and anyone willing to get on an airplane and fly with me would be foolish without examining the evidence, verifying my credentials and training.  I could claim to be a ‘Financial Expert’ and some would likely allow me to manage their money but without the evidence and fruit of my claim, they would be misguided.  We can claim to be a ‘Christian’ but that claim without the fruit and evidence will not place my name in the Book of Life.  Whether I make the claim or others identify me in a particular way it is meaningless, can be deceptive, and destructive without the fruit and evidence backing up that claim or designation.

Here in Genesis 24, we find an interesting statement regarding Isaac as he was awaiting the return of Eliezer, Abraham’s eldest servant’s return with Isaac’s bride.  It says that Isaac went out to meditate in the field toward evening.  That alone would not be enough to identify him as a ‘Man of Prayer’ so what other evidence can we find that identifies him thusly?  When virtually everyone was leaving for Egypt due to a famine in the land, Isaac prayed and God instructed him to not follow the crowd but stay where he was (Genesis 26).  The Bible tells us that Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year a hundredfold, and the Lord blessed him (Genesis 26:12).  Let me suggest that his secret was prayer and faith.  He would ‘sow’ his seeds in the morning and in the evening, he would go out to pray, to water and anchor what he had done.  Ecclesiastes 11:6 informs us, “In the morning sow thy seeds, and in the evening, withhold not thine hand…”  Simply, there is work to be done in the morning and work to be done in the evening.   Prayer is not a passing infatuation but a lifestyle.  Isaac would dig his wells in the morning and in the evening, go out to pray and by morning the wells would be full of water. When the Philistines took his wells, he didn’t have to fight in the natural he went to prayer and repeated the process and had water.

But, those are not totally sufficient to earn him the label “A Man of Prayer”.  Is there more?  I’m so glad you asked.  In Genesis 25:21, the Bible tells us that Isaac’s wife could not have children and “Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became present.”   Isaac was a man that knew how to get results on his knees.  His life provides evidence and fruit that makes the designation valid.  If we learn to do nothing else in this life, we MUST learn to pray and become men and women of prayer.  It is through Prayer that we are enabled and empowered to engage in Spiritual Warfare.  I would encourage you to remember the words of our LORD in Mark 11:24, “WHATEVER it is that you desire, WHEN YOU PRAY, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”  In a sense, that is a blank check, but a blank check that is rooted in obedience and commitment to God.  The believer has the same secret weapon that Isaac utilized and enjoyed the blessings of God – PRAYER!

            May the LORD bless you richly as you move forward in this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE…


spiritual-blog-life

Matthew 6

Over the past two days, we have addressed some things from this powerful chapter in the Bible and considered some of the warnings and instructions of our LORD for our daily and godly living.  I want to continue that a bit because there are some additional things here that I believe particularly and that hopefully will resonate with your hearts.

Something that is talked about little and practiced even less in the 21st-century church is Fasting.  In studying the Bible I am amazed at how many times the light will come on and I realize that a particular passage is directly linked to another passage that seems completely void of connection. That is the case in Matthew 6:15-24 and I will try to connect the dots as the Holy Spirit enables me.  If it resonates with you I encourage you to act as a good Berean and seek to verify my teaching in its scriptural consistency and validity.  If you find it is in harmony with the overall teaching of God’s Word, then allow it to benefit your life and your walk.

The instruction of the LORD, regarding Fasting was ‘outward show’.  Again, that is consistent with verse one and remains consistent throughout the teaching of our LORD in the New Testament.  Fasting is not for personal recognition but for the purpose of bringing our hearts into alignment with God’s will and purpose.  It is, often, more about our hearts than anything else and is not for public recognition that would be how the Pharisees did it.  Don’t look like death warmed over and have a sour expression of suffering on your face when you fast.  NO, NO, wash your face, put on your smile and do it in secret before God and He will take note of that fast and the desired objective is far more like to be achieved.

I urge you to take note that the next few verses, although seemingly unrelated, are deeply related.  In your prayer, living, giving, and being you are ‘storing up treasures’.  If you do what you do for the purpose of human recognition you are ‘storing up treasures on earth’ but if you do it God’s prescribed way you are ‘storing up treasures in heaven’.  On earth, the moths can eat away at the treasure as public opinion changes and thieves can break in and steal as the enemy brings dissatisfaction or seeks to discredit you. But if your treasures are being stored up in heaven, MAN CANNOT TOUCH THEM and NEITHER CAN THE DEVIL.  Consider the word of our LORD, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  It is a heart matter!

Then, we find that difficult passage about the ‘eyes’ or what we see, how we see, and where we see.  If we are looking for the recognition of men our lives will be lived in the shadows and in darkness dependent on public opinion.  If we live according to God’s prescribed method then we are in the light and our entire being will be filled with light.  We will impact others and the abundance of God’s blessings will flow freely into and through our lives.

Jesus concludes those remarks with a powerful word that should be received as being far more than MONEY.  In verse 24 He says, “No one can serve two masters…”  You cannot serve public opinion and God.  You cannot be controlled by human ego but must be directed by the Holy Spirit and live your life to please God because you love God.  We cannot serve two masters for, as our LORD warned, we will love one and despise the other.  We will be devoted to one or the other.  We cannot serve God and the flesh at the same time.   It would be like trying to mix oil and water.  Of course, this passage is talking about money, possessions, and wealth but it is talking about much much more!

That is why we have verses 25-34 and if we connect them to the teachings of Matthew Six, as a whole, we will find them even more powerful in the impact and importance in our lives. They will give us an even greater sense of peace and purpose in our daily walk.  You have nothing to worry about because your source is not public opinion but GOD.  If we understand how He cares for His creation, then we have incredible peace about His ability and willingness to care for us.  Let’s set our hearts to make Matthew 6:33 a cornerstone in our lives and SEEK HIM FIRST and in so doing we will banish fear from our lives.

God, bless you richly is my prayer!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

GOD’S GUIDE FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING AND FUNCTION…


spiritual-blog-guidance

Matthew 6

Yesterday we talked about verse one of this chapter but the entire chapter is filled with guidance as to how to live, how to think, and deals with our public and private lives.  It is quite an involved and powerful passage and is filled with incredible benefit if we will incorporate the instructions into our lives.

Jesus said in verse one that we are to guard against practicing our righteousness publicly for the purpose of recognition and to elicit personal praise and human flattery.  God, according to our Lord, finds that offensive and turns His back on it.  If you value the opinion of men more than the opinion of God, then fail to heed the warning or instruction.   However, if you value God’s opinion more than anything else, then heed the warning and follow the instruction.  It will not be easy and you will find times you must resist the temptation to ‘toot your own horn’ or get someone to ‘toot it for you’ to bring you recognition.

Next, our LORD addresses Benevolence.  This is particularly personal for me both in my own life and experiences I have had in leading congregations through the years.  I have, more than once, had someone come to me and say, “I’m going to buy this or that for the church or give this or that, but I do not want any personal recognition.”  That sounded wonderful, but when I allowed the gift to remain anonymous I soon became aware that what they said and what they wanted were not the same.  They wanted recognition but made the apparent ‘self-effacing’ statement hoping that I would violate their confidence ignoring their request and publicly praise them.  I considered doing so an ethical violation in which I could not participate and it cost me. It has always been my desire to do acts of benevolence anonymously.  What I do in secret God will reward openly, but even if He did not my gift or act was not for personal recognition but because I Love God and want to help those He directs to help.  Each time I have decided to give a gift or engage in an act of benevolence I ask myself, “Why are you doing this?  Is it because God has directed you and in what I am doing out of a pure motive to bring honor and glory to Him?”  I fully understand that the benefit to the person to whom we act in benevolence will be positive even if we are doing it for a wrong motive, but the greater blessing and benefit will be if we do it according to God’s prescribed method.  Is your life about you or about Him?

Then, Jesus addressed the matter of Praying.  This is troubling in some ways because I have found that in order to inspire others to pray, I have sometimes felt the need to be visible in prayer and thereby call attention to my praying.  That can be done discreetly without making a fanfare in the public arena and do as the Pharisees virtually saying, “Look at me and see how pious I am and how much I pray.”  Jesus said, “When you pray…”  Do not do so to be seen and do not use vain repetitions, but find a place to be alone with God and follow the guide of what we call the Lord’s Prayer:

“Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your Name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Yours is the kingdom and power and glory forever. Amen.”

In this prayer, in our closet, we recognize God and His Majesty and then when we are in public we can offer that recognition and praise with a pure heart.  We are to pray for God’s kingdom, purpose, will, and harvest and seek to come into full alignment with His purposes, plan, and will.  We follow the directive to FORGIVE in recognition that our forgiveness is so much greater than any offense we may have endured in our lives.  We know that God does not tempt and the prayer to not be led into temptation can be linked to the revelation that if we face something that is beyond our ability to endure, God provides a door of escape.  We pray that God will build a hedge of protection around us and when the enemy comes in like a flood He will raise up a standard against the enemy.  We are to learn to take on the Whole Armor of God so that we can withstand.  We praise God and we offer thanksgiving to Him.  If we begin our day in that mindset and practice, I am fully confident that He will guide our lives and what we do will not flow from a wrong motive but for the righteous purpose of LIFTING HIM UP!

            God, bless you greatly is my prayer as you fulfill your assignment for this day!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

JESUS’ GUIDANCE FOR GODLY LIVING…


spiritual-blog-seen

Matthew 6:1 – “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”  NASU

 

The whole of Matthew Chapter Six can be viewed as a basic guide for ‘Godly Living.’  It covers a wide gamut of topics and areas of life that there is a tendency and temptation to allow a motive other than godliness to reign.  I begin with verse one because it opens the door and deals with the human ego and reveals how easily we can allow something other than service for service to determine what we do in life.

I’m sure that each of us is aware of people who take great pains to ensure that everyone notices what they do.  Their acts of benevolence are done in such a manner so as to call attention to them.  I’ve witnessed church splits and ministry divisions whose roots were directly connected to ‘human ego’ and ‘jealousy’.  One of the reasons that many local churches do not achieve the prominence and effectiveness that God desires is rooted in this human frailty and flaw.  I have known, men and women who are in the lead position in a congregation who are unable to allow the gifts in others function fully and effectively because it diverted the attention from themselves.  They needed to be noticed and anything or anyone that detracted from that notice became a thorn in the side and, at times, an enemy.  If it is God’s church and He is the builder and owner, then we are managers or stewards of that which is His and if He has placed gifts and talents in the church it is vital that we recognize the benefits of those and utilize them fully without fear of our being diminished.  We need to remind ourselves of the words of John the Baptist, “He must increase but I must decrease.” 

If we are doing what we do for recognition and notice, we are seeking ‘fulfillment’ from a wrong source.  It is not the praise of men that gives us significance it is the HAND OF GOD.  It is Who we are in Him.  It is the fact that we are members of the Body of Christ and He has chosen our position and function and as in the human body all the parts must work in harmony for health and life.  I am reminded of the analogy of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12.  He reminded the Corinthians that the human and spiritual body is not individuals or individual parts but many parts linked together to producing life and health.  The hand is part of the body, not the primary focus.  The ear is part of the body and contributes greatly to the overall function but it is not the primary focus.  The eye is very beneficial in the operation of the body but even the eye is not the primary focus nor does it stand alone.  The head which houses our brain is vital to life but if we understand that We are not the Head, Jesus is we find it much easier to function as a unified body working in harmony and utilizing all the parts and functions.  Your title does not make you important, God’s purpose does.

I do not call myself anything but a Child of God because I have never wanted people to notice me and extend flattery to me.  I am a human being and battle human ego the same as others so I guard my life desiring what I do to call attention to God, not me.  Paul dealt with the Corinthians in another place as they divided into sects and cliques saying, “I’m of Paul, I’m of Apollos, I’m of Cephas, or I’m of Christ” which only called attention to themselves not the Kingdom of God.  The identifier “Christian” is the only identifier we need.  If you see me functioning in a gift, know that God chose to use me in that gift for that time and for that purpose.  I have instructed congregations that I have led, “Do not look at me, look at Jesus.  If you find what I’m teaching and preaching is consistent with God’s word embrace it, if not bring it to me and let’s come to a clearer understanding together.”  When I have left churches, I have pleaded with people, “Do not refer to Roy Beaird in the future, as some benchmark or guide. Refer to the Word of God and work with the new leadership to fulfill the purposes of God in this community.”  I have said and mean it with my whole heart, “I do not care if people remember who I am if they will remember the truth that I presented and allow that to transform and guide their lives.”  I am not the focus, God is.

Any sense of significance we gain from the recognition of others is fleeting but the fulfillment in serving God from a pure heart produces a contentment that is beyond human understanding.  So, whatever we do we need to guard against doing what we do for recognition of others.  My prayer is, “Lord make the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart pleasing in your site.  Guard and guide my steps and help me to decrease that you might increase in my life.”  

God, bless you as you empty yourself of yourself and allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with His fullness.   Walk in abundant blessings today!

0 CommentsLeave a comment

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT???


spiritual-blog-dogs

Philippians 3:2-6 – “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3 for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4 although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”  NASU

  

Most of you have either heard the song or heard of the song, “Who Let the Dogs Out?”  It was performed by a Bahamian group called “Baha Men” and released as a single on July 26, 2000.  It was not about dogs but men who women would consider dogs and in a great sense the idea here in Philippians is not about the canine creature but about human beings who are like scavenging dogs seeking destruction.

We have all seen the warning signs on fences, “BEWARE OF DOG” or “BEWARE THE DOG.”  We understood the warning to be valid and that should we dare to venture into the space inhabited by the dog of which we were being warned.  It could be hazardous to our health.  We might be attacked by a creature bent on our destruction.  I find interesting that Paul would begin his address with a warning about dogs and connected it to evil workers, and those who were false in their faith.  He was lumping them all into one basket and virtually every society understands the danger of a dog not tamed or one that is trained to guard or destroy.

A particularly unpleasant verse is Proverbs 26:11 where we are reminded that one of the natural tendencies of a dog that is quite disgusting.  He uses this illustration to compare that to a life that is not rooted and grounded in God.  I don’t know if you recall the passage in Psalm 59 where the Psalmist is addressing God’s punishment and judgment and the prayer for God to not show any graciousness to the treacherous.  The next sentence is, “They return at evening, they howl like a dog…”  In a pack of dogs if one decides to attack the others will follow and they will turn on each other following the strongest dog in the pack.  In Psalm 22:20 the dog is once again mentioned in a negative light, “Deliver my soul from the sword, my only life from the power of the dog.”  Dogs are often used in the Bible to represent agents of destruction and we need to BEWARE of the lurking destruction the enemy plans for us.

I recall years ago, I was working an Insurance Debit and had to collect payments as well as sell insurance.  I stopped at one house and saw a dog pen away from the house and a dog was obviously angry and seeking to be freed.  After conducting my business I was walking back to my car and a hound dog came to meet me.  She was acting timid and I patted her head, then she rolled over on her back and I rubbed her tummy, not thinking anything was wrong.  I took about three steps toward my car and she nailed me behind the knee.  That dog was not what she appeared and fooled me, which is a rarity for me regarding animals.  The bite was bad but the sneakiness of the dog was more infuriating than the bite.  I should have been more alert and remembered the pen away from the house but I was deceived.

Agents of Destruction use deception as their primary weapon. We must always be on the alert and BEWARE of DOGS!  There are dogs in religious circles who are false and working evil behind the scenes.  They will appear as that timid cute dog that wants you to pat, its head or rub its tummy but once you turn your back they will seek to destroy you.  We are ignorant of the devices and schemes of the devil and this is another reason to put on the Whole Armor of God and Pray Always!

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

0 CommentsLeave a comment