"6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."
1 Peter 5:6-9
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you."
James 4:7-8a
Are you being tested, going through trials, being shaken?
You are probably on the right track then!
The devil, our enemy, is on the prowl, and on the other end, we are being shaken to get us free of junk that may be hanging on and dragging us down, impeding our walk.
How can we battle our ancient and vicious adversary?
The Bible says submit ourselves to God, and as to the devil - to resist him, and he will flee.
To submit ourselves to the Lord is to totally trust him, cast all our cares and anxiety on Him. Being alert and of sober mind is spiritual situational awareness- as soldiers armed with the weapons of spiritual warfare- an active prayer life, where we are communing with the Lord, listening to the Spirit, and feeding ourselves on the Word.
So don't fret or worry, you are not alone, PUSH ( Pray Until Something Happens), do not be double minded, resist the enemy.
Compared to our God, he can't touch us...our victory is assured!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
But (Taking God At His Word)
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”[c]
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
“O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”Mark 9:19-24
Have you ever been in a desperate situation, whether it be issues of health, safety, finances, job situation, etc., and the circumstances seem so grave in the natural view of things that your faith and belief in what God is able to do becomes weak, and almost non-existent? This is what the children of Israel,the father of the possessed boy in Mark 9, and so many others have dealt with.
Our Father is a God of miracles! He often allows conditions to develop, the "deck being stacked against us" that would be deemed "impossible" and "hopeless" except for a very important detail. Nothing is impossible for Him! We find ourselves in the place where we can do nothing except stand still and see His deliverance.
We must recognize...affirm...and BELIEVE (because it is absolutely true) that God is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, and He loves us! He will do what He chooses, when He chooses, for His Glory! His timing is 11:59:59...stretching our faith, as we see His hand at work.
"Impossibilities" are simply an opportunity, so as difficult situations arise get excited, beloved!
Amazing things are about to happen!
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”[c]
16 Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? 19 So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.
“O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy's father, “How long has he been like this?”
“From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”Mark 9:19-24
Have you ever been in a desperate situation, whether it be issues of health, safety, finances, job situation, etc., and the circumstances seem so grave in the natural view of things that your faith and belief in what God is able to do becomes weak, and almost non-existent? This is what the children of Israel,the father of the possessed boy in Mark 9, and so many others have dealt with.
Our Father is a God of miracles! He often allows conditions to develop, the "deck being stacked against us" that would be deemed "impossible" and "hopeless" except for a very important detail. Nothing is impossible for Him! We find ourselves in the place where we can do nothing except stand still and see His deliverance.
We must recognize...affirm...and BELIEVE (because it is absolutely true) that God is sovereign, omniscient, omnipotent, and He loves us! He will do what He chooses, when He chooses, for His Glory! His timing is 11:59:59...stretching our faith, as we see His hand at work.
"Impossibilities" are simply an opportunity, so as difficult situations arise get excited, beloved!
Amazing things are about to happen!
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Why (Part 2)
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death–
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
Colossians 1:15-19
I was talking to my 7 year old about my favorite person/topic/subject, Jesus, the other evening, recounting a few things about Him. I was struck (again) with the dichotomy between His Advent, how He chose to come in the world, in a manger, a seemingly lowly inconsequential birth, with few taking notice, vs. the reality of His being God, His making and maintaining all things, in Him dwells all fullness, power, glory, supremacy, just to name a few of His infinite attributes, and last but not least, how He loves us.
My little daughter asked me once, "why does Jesus love us?". My answer to her, for lack of a better one, was, "because He chose to... and in so saying to her what I know, believe, and live for hit me again, the deep calling unto deep, and my spirit was overcome as the revelation of Jesus washed over me...
He simply chose to. It makes no sense in the natural. The Word says that we can love because He loved us first. (1Jn.4:19) Everything that He did was with us in mind, because of His amazing love for us.
He simply chose to...
In the song "How He Love Us", the lyrics read:
"He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me"
He loves like a hurricane...furiously, sweeping away everything else, it's His incredible undeserved love that has apprehended me. His love draws us, calls us to repentance, makes all things new, brings us joy, faith, and hope, heals our brokenness, completes us.
Everything else is a distant second.
He loves us so!
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death–
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
Colossians 1:15-19
I was talking to my 7 year old about my favorite person/topic/subject, Jesus, the other evening, recounting a few things about Him. I was struck (again) with the dichotomy between His Advent, how He chose to come in the world, in a manger, a seemingly lowly inconsequential birth, with few taking notice, vs. the reality of His being God, His making and maintaining all things, in Him dwells all fullness, power, glory, supremacy, just to name a few of His infinite attributes, and last but not least, how He loves us.
My little daughter asked me once, "why does Jesus love us?". My answer to her, for lack of a better one, was, "because He chose to... and in so saying to her what I know, believe, and live for hit me again, the deep calling unto deep, and my spirit was overcome as the revelation of Jesus washed over me...
He simply chose to. It makes no sense in the natural. The Word says that we can love because He loved us first. (1Jn.4:19) Everything that He did was with us in mind, because of His amazing love for us.
He simply chose to...
In the song "How He Love Us", the lyrics read:
"He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me"
He loves like a hurricane...furiously, sweeping away everything else, it's His incredible undeserved love that has apprehended me. His love draws us, calls us to repentance, makes all things new, brings us joy, faith, and hope, heals our brokenness, completes us.
Everything else is a distant second.
He loves us so!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Fearlessly(Work to Do)
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth,
words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Ephesians 6:18-20
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” "
Matthew 28:18-20
"And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
1Cor.11:1
Paul had good reason to ask for these kinds of prayers, and plenty of reasons in the natural to be afraid! He was in prison, chained up, and for the sake of the gospel he had endured beatings, threats, stonings, angry mobs, riotous insurrection, shipwrecks, hunger and thirst, exhaustion, poisonous snake bites, and eventually was executed in Rome.
He was unstoppable, unbreakable, fueled by the Holy Spirit.
Remember who assigned him to his new career: He was commissioned by Jesus Himself, this commission planted in his heart never faded, until his last breath left his body.
Beloved, as followers of the Lord & Master, we also have been commissioned.
Compared to what Paul, Peter, John, and the others contended with, our tasks should be easy. Our obstacles are peer pressure, political correctness, concern for climbing out from cozy comfort zones, not wanting to "offend" anyone...perhaps some concern that we will not know what to say, won't have the verbiage to share the Gospel effectively. Guess what? These are all part of the ploy our enemy tries to use to suppress you, shut you up, keep you silent, while those around you are kept from hearing the truth.
But most of us have not had a drop of our blood spilled for the sake of the Gospel.
You, me, all of us as disciples, and imitators of Paul and Jesus-have jobs to do, to share the Gospel, to let our lives, our conduct, our love, be living letters, and as those around us are provoked, the opportunity to share comes, we open our mouths, and the words that the Lord gives us for that person at that kairos moment flow out from us in obedience.
Our own commissions are no less real and important than Paul's.
Today beloved, let us seriously consider this sacred charge and move forward fearlessly.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth,
words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
for which I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."
Ephesians 6:18-20
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” "
Matthew 28:18-20
"And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
1Cor.11:1
Paul had good reason to ask for these kinds of prayers, and plenty of reasons in the natural to be afraid! He was in prison, chained up, and for the sake of the gospel he had endured beatings, threats, stonings, angry mobs, riotous insurrection, shipwrecks, hunger and thirst, exhaustion, poisonous snake bites, and eventually was executed in Rome.
He was unstoppable, unbreakable, fueled by the Holy Spirit.
Remember who assigned him to his new career: He was commissioned by Jesus Himself, this commission planted in his heart never faded, until his last breath left his body.
Beloved, as followers of the Lord & Master, we also have been commissioned.
Compared to what Paul, Peter, John, and the others contended with, our tasks should be easy. Our obstacles are peer pressure, political correctness, concern for climbing out from cozy comfort zones, not wanting to "offend" anyone...perhaps some concern that we will not know what to say, won't have the verbiage to share the Gospel effectively. Guess what? These are all part of the ploy our enemy tries to use to suppress you, shut you up, keep you silent, while those around you are kept from hearing the truth.
But most of us have not had a drop of our blood spilled for the sake of the Gospel.
You, me, all of us as disciples, and imitators of Paul and Jesus-have jobs to do, to share the Gospel, to let our lives, our conduct, our love, be living letters, and as those around us are provoked, the opportunity to share comes, we open our mouths, and the words that the Lord gives us for that person at that kairos moment flow out from us in obedience.
Our own commissions are no less real and important than Paul's.
Today beloved, let us seriously consider this sacred charge and move forward fearlessly.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Desperation/ Revelation
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
"And I, I'm desperate for you
And I, I'm I'm lost without you"Lyrics from Breathe, Michael W. Smith
Matthew 5:6
Revelation knowledge of the most Holy doesn't come as a response to being a casual observer. It comes from desperation, when you need the presence of the Lord as desperately as you need to breathe for life itself.
I had a conversation with a friend today. He didn't know my history, where I had come from...as I shared my testimony, especially the part when I returned to the Lord after a period of backsliding, when He "tore the veil" away, His response to my desperation and desire for Him, my seeking and finding Him, complete with the audible voice of the Lord and the presence of the Holy Spirit being so heavy that I could barely breathe... but as I looked at my friend I could see that He didn't really understand the experience that I was trying to convey.
Revelation. God coming down. Being taken up in the spirit, as He answers desperate pleas, when the realization hits us that nothing this world has to offer will ever satisfy, when a broken heart gets mended and filled by the Holy Spirit... when rivers of living water suddenly cascade, crashing down through the dried out river bed of a parched inner man.
I know people that have grown up in the church, and I known people that have had little exposure to spiritual things, and in regards to the presence of the Holy Spirit they are in the same place. The Holy Spirit is a "Gentleman", He will not barge in, unannounced or uninvited, and there is no formula, no buttons to push, switches to pull, that He responds to.
He sees through facades, religiosity, and zeroes in on the hungry and thirsty hearts.
Have you had enough of routine life, tired of the same mundane existence, are you desperate yet?
Revelation knowledge of the most Holy doesn't come as a response to being a casual observer. It comes from desperation, when you need the presence of the Lord as desperately as you need to breathe for life itself.
I had a conversation with a friend today. He didn't know my history, where I had come from...as I shared my testimony, especially the part when I returned to the Lord after a period of backsliding, when He "tore the veil" away, His response to my desperation and desire for Him, my seeking and finding Him, complete with the audible voice of the Lord and the presence of the Holy Spirit being so heavy that I could barely breathe... but as I looked at my friend I could see that He didn't really understand the experience that I was trying to convey.
Revelation. God coming down. Being taken up in the spirit, as He answers desperate pleas, when the realization hits us that nothing this world has to offer will ever satisfy, when a broken heart gets mended and filled by the Holy Spirit... when rivers of living water suddenly cascade, crashing down through the dried out river bed of a parched inner man.
I know people that have grown up in the church, and I known people that have had little exposure to spiritual things, and in regards to the presence of the Holy Spirit they are in the same place. The Holy Spirit is a "Gentleman", He will not barge in, unannounced or uninvited, and there is no formula, no buttons to push, switches to pull, that He responds to.
He sees through facades, religiosity, and zeroes in on the hungry and thirsty hearts.
Have you had enough of routine life, tired of the same mundane existence, are you desperate yet?
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Gather and Declare/Committed
"Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
Joel 2:15-17
"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
2Chronicles 16:9a
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
Ephesians 6:11-13
The Call Detroit begins 11/11/11, and the timing couldn't be more appropriate.
There is a sense of urgency in the spiritual and natural realms. There are crisis at every turn, in every area of our existence, the alarms are being sounded.
Be quiet and listen; do you hear it?
It's time to gather, declare, and pray.
Now is the time when it is vitally important to have our priorities in order, and in order to arrange priorities we must to able to discern and understand the days we live in and the forces that are at work.
The eyes of the Lord are looking to strengthen those who are fully committed, all in, sold out, to Him. The battle cry of David, Gideon, Deborah, and all of the Lord's warriors- FOR THE LORD. He will give you strength you never knew you had-that you never did have, actually- because that is His nature, and we are His vessels.
So as many thousands, young and old, setting aside their daily lives, making sacrifices to go and gather in Detroit, fully committed to seeking the Lord, asking and knocking on the gates of Heaven, and tearing down all manners of strongholds, do likewise.
You don't have to wait for a special occassion!
The word says that "wherever two or more gather in my Name I am there in the midst of them", " one can chase away a hundred, two can chase away ten thousand".
There is no time like the present, beloved.
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’ ”
Joel 2:15-17
"For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."
2Chronicles 16:9a
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm."
Ephesians 6:11-13
The Call Detroit begins 11/11/11, and the timing couldn't be more appropriate.
There is a sense of urgency in the spiritual and natural realms. There are crisis at every turn, in every area of our existence, the alarms are being sounded.
Be quiet and listen; do you hear it?
It's time to gather, declare, and pray.
Now is the time when it is vitally important to have our priorities in order, and in order to arrange priorities we must to able to discern and understand the days we live in and the forces that are at work.
The eyes of the Lord are looking to strengthen those who are fully committed, all in, sold out, to Him. The battle cry of David, Gideon, Deborah, and all of the Lord's warriors- FOR THE LORD. He will give you strength you never knew you had-that you never did have, actually- because that is His nature, and we are His vessels.
So as many thousands, young and old, setting aside their daily lives, making sacrifices to go and gather in Detroit, fully committed to seeking the Lord, asking and knocking on the gates of Heaven, and tearing down all manners of strongholds, do likewise.
You don't have to wait for a special occassion!
The word says that "wherever two or more gather in my Name I am there in the midst of them", " one can chase away a hundred, two can chase away ten thousand".
There is no time like the present, beloved.
Monday, November 7, 2011
(Never Show Up) Empty Handed/Priorities #166
"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations. "
Psalm 100:1-5
"Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed."
Deut.16:16
I was raised to never visit another's home without bringing something with you...never show up empty handed. You bring something pleasant with you, handing it to the Master of the house.
So it is when we go the Lord in prayer and worship. We don't show up empty handed, we bring with us the two things that our Father/ Creator God will accept: thanksgiving and praise.
I have learned that I must jettison all distractions, preoccupations, and self-issues and concerns if I am to be able to bring the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving before His throne. I am simply unable to bring both...
The scriptures tell us that "the Lord inhabits the praises of His people".
For years I wondered at the phrase-"sacrifice of praise"...what does that really mean?
What does this mean to you? Have you ever given it serious thought or has it always been just a term, snappy Christianese catch phrase, words in a song, perhaps?
A sacrifice means bringing, offering something valuable, something that cost you dearly.
To me, what a "sacrifice of praise" is not is sitting in the back of the church sanctuary during worship twittering, facebooking etc with my phone, reading the bulletin, glued to the pew/chair by a fear of man, or just warming the seat, as thoughts wander, thinking about where to go for lunch, who's playing in what sports event today- while we throw less than crumbs to our Father who has held nothing back from us, including the life of His only Son. He loves us so jealously, so furiously, and so many take Him so casually!
We should consider whose presence we are in quite soberly.
I want to leave the sanctuary hoarse from proclaiming praises, exclaiming my adoration for Him. If I am still hoarse on Monday, I will gladly say it is from WORSHIPPING THE LORD, not cheering a sports team!
Remember who He is, what He has done for us, and let's not treat His great grace, mercy, and love with familiarity or contempt.
Beloved, today consider what should be done for the One that you owe everything, even your very life, to.
He alone is worthy.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations. "
Psalm 100:1-5
"Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed."
Deut.16:16
I was raised to never visit another's home without bringing something with you...never show up empty handed. You bring something pleasant with you, handing it to the Master of the house.
So it is when we go the Lord in prayer and worship. We don't show up empty handed, we bring with us the two things that our Father/ Creator God will accept: thanksgiving and praise.
I have learned that I must jettison all distractions, preoccupations, and self-issues and concerns if I am to be able to bring the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving before His throne. I am simply unable to bring both...
The scriptures tell us that "the Lord inhabits the praises of His people".
For years I wondered at the phrase-"sacrifice of praise"...what does that really mean?
What does this mean to you? Have you ever given it serious thought or has it always been just a term, snappy Christianese catch phrase, words in a song, perhaps?
A sacrifice means bringing, offering something valuable, something that cost you dearly.
To me, what a "sacrifice of praise" is not is sitting in the back of the church sanctuary during worship twittering, facebooking etc with my phone, reading the bulletin, glued to the pew/chair by a fear of man, or just warming the seat, as thoughts wander, thinking about where to go for lunch, who's playing in what sports event today- while we throw less than crumbs to our Father who has held nothing back from us, including the life of His only Son. He loves us so jealously, so furiously, and so many take Him so casually!
We should consider whose presence we are in quite soberly.
I want to leave the sanctuary hoarse from proclaiming praises, exclaiming my adoration for Him. If I am still hoarse on Monday, I will gladly say it is from WORSHIPPING THE LORD, not cheering a sports team!
Remember who He is, what He has done for us, and let's not treat His great grace, mercy, and love with familiarity or contempt.
Beloved, today consider what should be done for the One that you owe everything, even your very life, to.
He alone is worthy.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Doers/ The Call for Mobilization
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
James 1:22-24,27
As believers, we are called to hear, understand, and then do.
You may be thinking: "I'm only one person, what can I do?"
The answer: Much more than you can imagine!
Hearing generally gives way to doing. Instruction and direction comes first, and then a course of action followed by action. Things are accomplished by doing, not by hearing alone.
Jesus said, " Greater things than these shall you...do... and He wasn't referring to lunch after church.
There is an old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Does not something as simple as a random act of kindness minister, speaking volumes, to a broken spirit?
There are many word pictures, metaphors in the Bible referring to those who are called (that's all of us by the way) to be actively involved: "members of the body", soldiers, warriors, ministers ... It means setting aside activities that are all about ourselves, forsaking that comfort zone, and doing unto the Lord (especially to the least of them) sowing our precious time carefully and consistently.
The only thing that we are not called to do is - nothing .
Let me say that again: The only thing that we are not called to do is nothing.
Beloved, be doers of the Word. Today, tomorrow, everyday.
Let's work together, while there is daylight.
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
James 1:22-24,27
As believers, we are called to hear, understand, and then do.
You may be thinking: "I'm only one person, what can I do?"
The answer: Much more than you can imagine!
Hearing generally gives way to doing. Instruction and direction comes first, and then a course of action followed by action. Things are accomplished by doing, not by hearing alone.
Jesus said, " Greater things than these shall you...do... and He wasn't referring to lunch after church.
There is an old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Does not something as simple as a random act of kindness minister, speaking volumes, to a broken spirit?
There are many word pictures, metaphors in the Bible referring to those who are called (that's all of us by the way) to be actively involved: "members of the body", soldiers, warriors, ministers ... It means setting aside activities that are all about ourselves, forsaking that comfort zone, and doing unto the Lord (especially to the least of them) sowing our precious time carefully and consistently.
The only thing that we are not called to do is - nothing .
Let me say that again: The only thing that we are not called to do is nothing.
Beloved, be doers of the Word. Today, tomorrow, everyday.
Let's work together, while there is daylight.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tick Tock/ Last Hours
"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."
James 4:13, 14
"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
John 9:4
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
You have just been told that you don't have long to live.
There is no treatment, nothing can be done to change the situation.
Your time on this earth will soon be up, and your life here will end.
You (we)are, in fact, dying, with each passing tick of the clock.
I'm not talking about a particular person with a terminal illness, I'm referring to us all.
We all have limited, even "borrowed" time, the Bible says that our lives are like a mist, just a vapor.
We are not guaranteed even the next breath.
In light of this undeniable, unchangeable fact, what will you do with the time remaining?
Would you be a better steward of whatever time you have here, being careful not to "kill" time? Can you feel the weight of eternity pressing in?
Do you feel the need to say some things, perhaps choose your words more carefully, impart some things, straighten things out, while you can?
Time is the most valuable gift and non-renewal resource that the Lord has given us.
Each moment that passes by can never be retrieved.
It is gone forever.
Don't waste it on frivolous endeavors, beloved. Your life, your time belongs to the Lord.
Invest it wisely, sow into eternal endeavors.
James 4:13, 14
"As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
John 9:4
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
You have just been told that you don't have long to live.
There is no treatment, nothing can be done to change the situation.
Your time on this earth will soon be up, and your life here will end.
You (we)are, in fact, dying, with each passing tick of the clock.
I'm not talking about a particular person with a terminal illness, I'm referring to us all.
We all have limited, even "borrowed" time, the Bible says that our lives are like a mist, just a vapor.
We are not guaranteed even the next breath.
In light of this undeniable, unchangeable fact, what will you do with the time remaining?
Would you be a better steward of whatever time you have here, being careful not to "kill" time? Can you feel the weight of eternity pressing in?
Do you feel the need to say some things, perhaps choose your words more carefully, impart some things, straighten things out, while you can?
Time is the most valuable gift and non-renewal resource that the Lord has given us.
Each moment that passes by can never be retrieved.
It is gone forever.
Don't waste it on frivolous endeavors, beloved. Your life, your time belongs to the Lord.
Invest it wisely, sow into eternal endeavors.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Always Faithful/Trading Places
"The Lord said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the Lord loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.”
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.”
For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
Hosea 3:1-5
Imagine the Lord directing you to marry someone known to be unfaithful, and having to bear children with that person as they continue to be unfaithful! Imagine the sense of mistrust, betrayal, broken heartedness, as your life partner breaks covenant, over and over again!
How would you feel if you were Hosea, or more importantly, the Lord/ Bridegroom?
Yet this is what His Chosen People did...and sadly what His people are doing today! Not just Am Israel but so so many who are called to be His Bride. Who would be able to deal with such unfaithfulness and betrayal with such lovingkindness? I know what it feels like-I was married briefly right out of college, and had a Hosea experience.
But how He loves us! Taking us back over and over, He just keeps on loving us.
Hosea 3:3 declares a coming prophesy...that the Israelites-those of the natural branch, and those grafted in-will seek the Lord God and return to Him, trembling and seeking His blessings, just like a spouse who has realized what they have done.
How good and faithful God is, even when we have been evil, selfish, and faithless...
It truly is His lovingkindness that draws us to real and lasting repentance.
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and about a homer and a lethek of barley. Then I told her, “You are to live with me many days; you must not be a prostitute or be intimate with any man, and I will live with you.”
For the Israelites will live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred stones, without ephod or idol. Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.
Hosea 3:1-5
Imagine the Lord directing you to marry someone known to be unfaithful, and having to bear children with that person as they continue to be unfaithful! Imagine the sense of mistrust, betrayal, broken heartedness, as your life partner breaks covenant, over and over again!
How would you feel if you were Hosea, or more importantly, the Lord/ Bridegroom?
Yet this is what His Chosen People did...and sadly what His people are doing today! Not just Am Israel but so so many who are called to be His Bride. Who would be able to deal with such unfaithfulness and betrayal with such lovingkindness? I know what it feels like-I was married briefly right out of college, and had a Hosea experience.
But how He loves us! Taking us back over and over, He just keeps on loving us.
Hosea 3:3 declares a coming prophesy...that the Israelites-those of the natural branch, and those grafted in-will seek the Lord God and return to Him, trembling and seeking His blessings, just like a spouse who has realized what they have done.
How good and faithful God is, even when we have been evil, selfish, and faithless...
It truly is His lovingkindness that draws us to real and lasting repentance.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The End of Ordinary Living (The Beginning of the Extraordinary)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Isaiah 6:1-5
"The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was upon him.
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty,like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel 1:3-8, 24-28
When God shows up, when He injects His glory into otherwise ordinary mundane situations, life as we know it ends! The Word says that the Lord "makes all things new."
The dead are raised, droughts started and ended, men promoted from prison to palaces, water gushes from desert rocks to quench the thirst of millions, countryboy fishermen become "fishers of men", scraps feed thousands, hundreds defeat hundreds of thousands, empty jars never run dry, a man outruns a chariot, giant warriors vanquished, the sick are healed...ordinary, run-of-the-mill people who heard and saw the Lord, paid attention, walked away from life as they had known it, and obeyed a most extraordinary God. Life was never the same.
God is still in the business of ending ordinary lives, and replacing them with extraordinary ones! It is impossible to see such supernatural splendor, glory, power, mercy, and love and just continue down the ordinary road!
Where are you today? If you have embraced Him and are walking the narrow path with Him, just keep your eyes fixed on Him...worship, praise, love, adore, abide in Him.
If you have lost your way though, beloved, remember that we serve a risen Savior/Father/Master who loves you with an everlasting love, cares for you, and is watching and waiting for you to turn from a backslidden life and come home.
Cast off unbelief, walk away from the sin that ensnares so easily, trade the ordinary for the extraordinary.
It's never too late, and you are never too far away.
The decision is yours.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Isaiah 6:1-5
"The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was upon him.
I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings. Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze. Under their wings on their four sides they had the hands of a man. All four of them had faces and wings, When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty,like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel 1:3-8, 24-28
When God shows up, when He injects His glory into otherwise ordinary mundane situations, life as we know it ends! The Word says that the Lord "makes all things new."
The dead are raised, droughts started and ended, men promoted from prison to palaces, water gushes from desert rocks to quench the thirst of millions, countryboy fishermen become "fishers of men", scraps feed thousands, hundreds defeat hundreds of thousands, empty jars never run dry, a man outruns a chariot, giant warriors vanquished, the sick are healed...ordinary, run-of-the-mill people who heard and saw the Lord, paid attention, walked away from life as they had known it, and obeyed a most extraordinary God. Life was never the same.
God is still in the business of ending ordinary lives, and replacing them with extraordinary ones! It is impossible to see such supernatural splendor, glory, power, mercy, and love and just continue down the ordinary road!
Where are you today? If you have embraced Him and are walking the narrow path with Him, just keep your eyes fixed on Him...worship, praise, love, adore, abide in Him.
If you have lost your way though, beloved, remember that we serve a risen Savior/Father/Master who loves you with an everlasting love, cares for you, and is watching and waiting for you to turn from a backslidden life and come home.
Cast off unbelief, walk away from the sin that ensnares so easily, trade the ordinary for the extraordinary.
It's never too late, and you are never too far away.
The decision is yours.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Vanishing Point
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?
Luke 9:23-25
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness."
Philippians 2:5-7
"I must decrease, but He must increase."
John 3:30
To be hungering and thirsting, one has to be dry and empty. Jesus, the epitome of all fullness, emptied Himself out-because of His great love for us.
Take a few moments...take that in. He emptied Himself of...himself, pouring out human attributes such as self desire, self concern, selfishness, self everything .
The point where we end and are empty, where we are hungering for the Bread of Life and thirsting for streams of Living Water is what I call the "Vanishing Point". It is the moment we are so broken that only the Holy Spirit can reach us, when we realize nothing that this world offers can satisfy or fill us, when stone hearts are shattered, and we are emptied out of pride, unforgiveness, fear, jealousy, lust, greed, hatred, covetousness, anger, and selfishness. Self everything vanishes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our blinded eyes are opened, deaf ears unlocked, our dead-because-of-sin lives are resurrected and we live for Jesus.
The world would have us believe that this means giving up everything, but we know that just as Paul said that he "counted it all loss for the sake of really knowing Jesus", the truth is that we are giving up nothing but garbage, trinkets, and gaining inexhaustible, incredible eternal wealth in exchange.
Today, beloved, if your "garbage can" is full, it's time to empty it out, and be filled with all the goodness that He has waiting for you.
Luke 9:23-25
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness."
Philippians 2:5-7
"I must decrease, but He must increase."
John 3:30
To be hungering and thirsting, one has to be dry and empty. Jesus, the epitome of all fullness, emptied Himself out-because of His great love for us.
Take a few moments...take that in. He emptied Himself of...himself, pouring out human attributes such as self desire, self concern, selfishness, self everything .
The point where we end and are empty, where we are hungering for the Bread of Life and thirsting for streams of Living Water is what I call the "Vanishing Point". It is the moment we are so broken that only the Holy Spirit can reach us, when we realize nothing that this world offers can satisfy or fill us, when stone hearts are shattered, and we are emptied out of pride, unforgiveness, fear, jealousy, lust, greed, hatred, covetousness, anger, and selfishness. Self everything vanishes when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our blinded eyes are opened, deaf ears unlocked, our dead-because-of-sin lives are resurrected and we live for Jesus.
The world would have us believe that this means giving up everything, but we know that just as Paul said that he "counted it all loss for the sake of really knowing Jesus", the truth is that we are giving up nothing but garbage, trinkets, and gaining inexhaustible, incredible eternal wealth in exchange.
Today, beloved, if your "garbage can" is full, it's time to empty it out, and be filled with all the goodness that He has waiting for you.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Not A Vending Machine/Prayers
"On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
Esther 5:1-3
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
John 14:12-14
Have you ever had this experience that I'm about to describe ?
You have hardly seen your teenager son or daughter in weeks, you have no idea what is going on in his/her lives, you haven't had any time together, they are so busy doing their own thing, and they just hit you up with a request like this:
"Dad, can I borrow your credit card? Can I have the keys to the car?"
Do you find yourself feeling used, like the only reason you are being approached is because that person wants something from you, but not really interested in spending time having a relationship, knowing you and interacting with you? It's definitely not a good feeling.
So how should we act, interact with our Heavenly Father/Bridegroom/King?
But sometimes isn't this exactly what can be happen in our walk though? No time really spent just being together just sitting before Him, worshipping, and basking in His presence, but instead just reading off the shopping list, hitting Him up for things we desire, using the Lord like a vending machine, a genie in a bottle? How do we expect the Lord to feel, to respond to such requests when He is being used, as opposed to being in relationship with Him, when we desire to do His will, when the Father's ear is inclined towards those He loves, when He "extends His royal scepter" towards us?
"Anyone who has faith in me will keep doing what I have been doing".
Direct our prayers in a manner that has eternal perspective and consequence, promoting kingdom work. Let's ask the Lord for His will to be done through us, and He will provide the tools we need to get the good done. As we learn to think and pray with the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit, seeking His will and purposes for us, there is no denying that we will be blessed with His goodness along the way.
Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
Esther 5:1-3
"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
John 14:12-14
Have you ever had this experience that I'm about to describe ?
You have hardly seen your teenager son or daughter in weeks, you have no idea what is going on in his/her lives, you haven't had any time together, they are so busy doing their own thing, and they just hit you up with a request like this:
"Dad, can I borrow your credit card? Can I have the keys to the car?"
Do you find yourself feeling used, like the only reason you are being approached is because that person wants something from you, but not really interested in spending time having a relationship, knowing you and interacting with you? It's definitely not a good feeling.
So how should we act, interact with our Heavenly Father/Bridegroom/King?
But sometimes isn't this exactly what can be happen in our walk though? No time really spent just being together just sitting before Him, worshipping, and basking in His presence, but instead just reading off the shopping list, hitting Him up for things we desire, using the Lord like a vending machine, a genie in a bottle? How do we expect the Lord to feel, to respond to such requests when He is being used, as opposed to being in relationship with Him, when we desire to do His will, when the Father's ear is inclined towards those He loves, when He "extends His royal scepter" towards us?
"Anyone who has faith in me will keep doing what I have been doing".
Direct our prayers in a manner that has eternal perspective and consequence, promoting kingdom work. Let's ask the Lord for His will to be done through us, and He will provide the tools we need to get the good done. As we learn to think and pray with the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit, seeking His will and purposes for us, there is no denying that we will be blessed with His goodness along the way.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Short Memories/Priorities
"When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.
In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand."
Deuteronomy 6:10-21
The Lord knew what was coming. The children of Israel were about to enter a land of milk & honey, He have them the ability to make wealth, and the result was that the people did not continue to press in, running after Him, adoring Him, calling on Him...no, they forgot about Him, made idols for themselves...swimming in the fat of the land and the blessing that God gave them, they slid backwards, bringing down on themselves the anger and wrath of the Lord.
This story has been repeated so many times in our history! Why is it that we actually languish- our faith vaporizing, even rotting- when prosperity abounds? We become "rich" but actually we are poor - filthy rags, we have gone astray. Consider soberly the condition of the American and the western churches - compared to the church around the world that is right now in the throes of tremendous persecution, with more martyrs losing their earthly lives than are previously recorded in Fox's Book of Martyrs? The numbers of Christians in these areas in exploding, with brothers and sisters hungering and thirsting - dying for His Name's sake, while many Christians in the US measure how much time they can spare as time for God, after accounting for TV, facebook, twitter, movies, sports events, lunches, brunches, dinner parties, cookouts, barbecues, picnics? The average American watches 6 hours of TV a day...I wonder how much time is spent praying? ...
I am not condemning anyone here, but only suggesting vigorously, sounding the alarm, that we all examine our priorities, while there is still time, while we still have daylight, before the darkness comes...
The Lord will not return to a wrinkled, blemished Bride.
Spread the Word, return to Him, forsake worthless activities and meaningless junk.
Return.
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah. Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers, thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.
In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand."
Deuteronomy 6:10-21
The Lord knew what was coming. The children of Israel were about to enter a land of milk & honey, He have them the ability to make wealth, and the result was that the people did not continue to press in, running after Him, adoring Him, calling on Him...no, they forgot about Him, made idols for themselves...swimming in the fat of the land and the blessing that God gave them, they slid backwards, bringing down on themselves the anger and wrath of the Lord.
This story has been repeated so many times in our history! Why is it that we actually languish- our faith vaporizing, even rotting- when prosperity abounds? We become "rich" but actually we are poor - filthy rags, we have gone astray. Consider soberly the condition of the American and the western churches - compared to the church around the world that is right now in the throes of tremendous persecution, with more martyrs losing their earthly lives than are previously recorded in Fox's Book of Martyrs? The numbers of Christians in these areas in exploding, with brothers and sisters hungering and thirsting - dying for His Name's sake, while many Christians in the US measure how much time they can spare as time for God, after accounting for TV, facebook, twitter, movies, sports events, lunches, brunches, dinner parties, cookouts, barbecues, picnics? The average American watches 6 hours of TV a day...I wonder how much time is spent praying? ...
I am not condemning anyone here, but only suggesting vigorously, sounding the alarm, that we all examine our priorities, while there is still time, while we still have daylight, before the darkness comes...
The Lord will not return to a wrinkled, blemished Bride.
Spread the Word, return to Him, forsake worthless activities and meaningless junk.
Return.
Friday, October 28, 2011
First and Foremost
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. "
Revelation 2:1-5
Imagine a wedding, the bride and bridegroom standing at the altar, gazing breathlessly into each other's eyes, having looked forward to and dreamed about this moment for so long, promising to love each other, taking vows to forsake everything and everyone else ...now fast forward a year... five years...ten years...twenty years...caught up in the business of running a household, the husband comes home, no kisses or embrace for his wife, his only questions are, "Where's the mail?", and "what's for dinner?", the wife who deep inside has all but given up on regaining the fiery love, relationship and passion that they once shared...
A pastor sits in his office. On his desk are stacks of paperwork, his calendar packed with so many meetings, so many demands on his schedule! As he sits reflecting, he realizes that he has become so busy with the work of the ministry, that he has forgotten why he became a pastor in the first place ... he tries to remember when he had his own quiet time with his Abba, just the Lord and him, like it was when he was saved, wrecked by his Father's love...
"Remember the height from which you hav fallen!"
We - all of us - must guard ourselves. If you have fallen, lost your first love, get it back. Be jealous and zealous for regaining and retaining your relationship with your Father & Bridegroom, Jesus. Heed the warning. Cast off time wasting activities- TV, social media, movies- the need to be entertained - which is a sign of personal and corporate lukewarmness.
We are not here to be entertained, beloved.
Remember the heights from which you've fallen.
To those who have their first love and are wrecked and ruined by His love, and desire only for relationship with Him, the Lord says, "Guard your heart, protect your first love. Catch those little foxes, the sins that can so, so easily ensnare, uprooting your anchor, and set you adrift."
"Repent and do the things you did at first."
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.
If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. "
Revelation 2:1-5
Imagine a wedding, the bride and bridegroom standing at the altar, gazing breathlessly into each other's eyes, having looked forward to and dreamed about this moment for so long, promising to love each other, taking vows to forsake everything and everyone else ...now fast forward a year... five years...ten years...twenty years...caught up in the business of running a household, the husband comes home, no kisses or embrace for his wife, his only questions are, "Where's the mail?", and "what's for dinner?", the wife who deep inside has all but given up on regaining the fiery love, relationship and passion that they once shared...
A pastor sits in his office. On his desk are stacks of paperwork, his calendar packed with so many meetings, so many demands on his schedule! As he sits reflecting, he realizes that he has become so busy with the work of the ministry, that he has forgotten why he became a pastor in the first place ... he tries to remember when he had his own quiet time with his Abba, just the Lord and him, like it was when he was saved, wrecked by his Father's love...
"Remember the height from which you hav fallen!"
We - all of us - must guard ourselves. If you have fallen, lost your first love, get it back. Be jealous and zealous for regaining and retaining your relationship with your Father & Bridegroom, Jesus. Heed the warning. Cast off time wasting activities- TV, social media, movies- the need to be entertained - which is a sign of personal and corporate lukewarmness.
We are not here to be entertained, beloved.
Remember the heights from which you've fallen.
To those who have their first love and are wrecked and ruined by His love, and desire only for relationship with Him, the Lord says, "Guard your heart, protect your first love. Catch those little foxes, the sins that can so, so easily ensnare, uprooting your anchor, and set you adrift."
"Repent and do the things you did at first."
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Another Kind of Freedom
“Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise–
Ephesians 6:2
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Ephesians 4:31-32
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
I loved my father. He worked long hours managing restaurants, and sometimes if I had fallen asleep in front of the TV, he would pick me up in his arms and tuck me in...even today I can still smell his cologne, Fabergé. I have regrets about not having more time with him but I loved him and did not harbor unforgiveness against him, I honor his memory.
My mother was a different story, though. My memories of her are of an uncaring, bitter woman who turned her own children against each other. Instead of building up my spirit, she tore me down, and said cruel and hurtful things. In the year preceding her death, I lashed out at her angrily, and I never forgave her. When she died I am sad to say that I never missed her, and I carried bitterness and unforgiveness against her. Although I forgave others, including my ex-wife, when I was saved, my mother was in a special category - The "unforgiveness reserve", in it's own thorn and barbed wire covered vessel, if you will, and it sat in a corner of my heart, and I was unwilling to release it. It has been only in the last 15 months, as I have surrendered to the Lord, and He has demanded everything, that I have been able to release this pain and unforgiveness. The pain was actually caused by what I had done, like carrying burning coals in my shirt pocket. As the Lord examined my heart, He asked me, "what is in that ugly awful looking vessel, way back in the corner, in the shadows?" (As if He didnt't know). I said," Not that, Lord! I deserve to feel this way, to hang onto this ugliness, feeling this way about my mother."
He said, " Well, actually you don't...remember my forgiveness of you, when you slandered and insulted my people, and said awful things about my word, and didn't even believe in me?"
If my mother was here today, if I had that last day with her again, I'd tell her that I forgive her, that I honor her as the scripture says, and I would tell her that I love her, just as Jesus loves me.
Forgiveness is freedom.
Ephesians 6:2
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
Ephesians 4:31-32
"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32
I loved my father. He worked long hours managing restaurants, and sometimes if I had fallen asleep in front of the TV, he would pick me up in his arms and tuck me in...even today I can still smell his cologne, Fabergé. I have regrets about not having more time with him but I loved him and did not harbor unforgiveness against him, I honor his memory.
My mother was a different story, though. My memories of her are of an uncaring, bitter woman who turned her own children against each other. Instead of building up my spirit, she tore me down, and said cruel and hurtful things. In the year preceding her death, I lashed out at her angrily, and I never forgave her. When she died I am sad to say that I never missed her, and I carried bitterness and unforgiveness against her. Although I forgave others, including my ex-wife, when I was saved, my mother was in a special category - The "unforgiveness reserve", in it's own thorn and barbed wire covered vessel, if you will, and it sat in a corner of my heart, and I was unwilling to release it. It has been only in the last 15 months, as I have surrendered to the Lord, and He has demanded everything, that I have been able to release this pain and unforgiveness. The pain was actually caused by what I had done, like carrying burning coals in my shirt pocket. As the Lord examined my heart, He asked me, "what is in that ugly awful looking vessel, way back in the corner, in the shadows?" (As if He didnt't know). I said," Not that, Lord! I deserve to feel this way, to hang onto this ugliness, feeling this way about my mother."
He said, " Well, actually you don't...remember my forgiveness of you, when you slandered and insulted my people, and said awful things about my word, and didn't even believe in me?"
If my mother was here today, if I had that last day with her again, I'd tell her that I forgive her, that I honor her as the scripture says, and I would tell her that I love her, just as Jesus loves me.
Forgiveness is freedom.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Paradigms 307
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read:
This is the King of the Jews."
Luke 23:35-38
"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here."
Matthew 12:38-41
"And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Exodus 33:17-23
There is a tremendous difference in paradigms between the mind of a natural person and the mind of someone who has been born again. The natural mind, as shown in Luke 23, and Matthew 12, demands that God show Himself first, and then they will believe, but the renewed born again mind has believed without seeing God with their eyes, but with their hearts. Juxtapose the natural man with Moses, who hungered and thirsted for God. Moses already believed and did not need to see the Lord as proof of Divine Existence, but Moses desired to see- as in experience- the Glory of the Lord. As the Lord swept Moses up and hid him in a mountainous cleft, Moses was allowed to see His back...all that he could handle.
The difference is that our Father will chose to reveal Himself to those who already know Him, but want more..."blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled..." He desires a lovesick and desperately devoted bride whose senses and heart are attuned only to the Bridegroom...a Bride who is existing in one of two states of being: either in the Presence of the Lord, or desperately desiring to be in His Presence.
Are you desiring to meet with Him, abide with Him, be awash is His Glory, have His presence billow over you, or do you just want Him to show up as proof He exists?
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read:
This is the King of the Jews."
Luke 23:35-38
"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.”
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here."
Matthew 12:38-41
"And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”
Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”
Exodus 33:17-23
There is a tremendous difference in paradigms between the mind of a natural person and the mind of someone who has been born again. The natural mind, as shown in Luke 23, and Matthew 12, demands that God show Himself first, and then they will believe, but the renewed born again mind has believed without seeing God with their eyes, but with their hearts. Juxtapose the natural man with Moses, who hungered and thirsted for God. Moses already believed and did not need to see the Lord as proof of Divine Existence, but Moses desired to see- as in experience- the Glory of the Lord. As the Lord swept Moses up and hid him in a mountainous cleft, Moses was allowed to see His back...all that he could handle.
The difference is that our Father will chose to reveal Himself to those who already know Him, but want more..."blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled..." He desires a lovesick and desperately devoted bride whose senses and heart are attuned only to the Bridegroom...a Bride who is existing in one of two states of being: either in the Presence of the Lord, or desperately desiring to be in His Presence.
Are you desiring to meet with Him, abide with Him, be awash is His Glory, have His presence billow over you, or do you just want Him to show up as proof He exists?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Why?
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Corinthians 12:12-25
Where I live there are many churches. As I drive on a Saturday or Sunday towards our little church, I pass sign after sign, myriads of signs: turn this way for this church, that way for that church, and I cannot help but hear the scripture here in my mind and heart, and wonder: why so many churches, why so little unity?
I want to know: why do we have such denominations as Episcopals, Baptists, Southern Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Catholics, Protestants, Methodists, Anglicans, and more splinters than I can count, when the Word says ONE BODY?
I want to know where in the Holy Bible we were directed to splinter the body into such denominations?
I want to know: what benefit there is in any of this?
I want to know: who really believes that such fragmentation is pleasing to our Father, fulfilling the divine will and purposes of the Lord, or just satisfying people and fitting God into comfortable cultures and lifestyles?
I want to know: why do so many in ministry consider other churches, and ministers to be "the competition", and fail to see each other as other parts of the same body? Why are efforts to establish unity, continuity, dialogue and fellowship in likemindedness among the churches so scarce,and often times ignored?
Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25)
The word of the Lord to me for the body is simple and four-fold:
1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
2) Love your neighbor, and those in the Body at other churches, as yourself
3) Bear each other's burdens
4) Sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron
It's time for unity, beloved.
One salvation.
One Baptism.
One Messiah.
One Body.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don't need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don't need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
1 Corinthians 12:12-25
Where I live there are many churches. As I drive on a Saturday or Sunday towards our little church, I pass sign after sign, myriads of signs: turn this way for this church, that way for that church, and I cannot help but hear the scripture here in my mind and heart, and wonder: why so many churches, why so little unity?
I want to know: why do we have such denominations as Episcopals, Baptists, Southern Baptists, Primitive Baptists, Catholics, Protestants, Methodists, Anglicans, and more splinters than I can count, when the Word says ONE BODY?
I want to know where in the Holy Bible we were directed to splinter the body into such denominations?
I want to know: what benefit there is in any of this?
I want to know: who really believes that such fragmentation is pleasing to our Father, fulfilling the divine will and purposes of the Lord, or just satisfying people and fitting God into comfortable cultures and lifestyles?
I want to know: why do so many in ministry consider other churches, and ministers to be "the competition", and fail to see each other as other parts of the same body? Why are efforts to establish unity, continuity, dialogue and fellowship in likemindedness among the churches so scarce,and often times ignored?
Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand (Matthew 12:25)
The word of the Lord to me for the body is simple and four-fold:
1) Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
2) Love your neighbor, and those in the Body at other churches, as yourself
3) Bear each other's burdens
4) Sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron
It's time for unity, beloved.
One salvation.
One Baptism.
One Messiah.
One Body.
Seeing
"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. "
Isaiah 6:1
"...everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:7
I was in church this morning during worship, and I was honestly so tired, irritable, and preoccupied that I was having a hard time entering in and focusing on the Lord. As the worship team started playing the song, "I'm Desperate For You", the Holy Spirit fell. I was breathless as He came down, sweeping away the stuff so I could behold Him, the Glory of the Lord overtaking me. His word to me: "Seek my face... follow Me alone...forsake everything else, except Me, keep me first in everything about your life...
I wanted only to be in His presence, and everything else faded in importance.
You see, I know all these things, but unless I am actively seeking the Lord, if I stop moving forward however briefly, if I stand still, I find that I do not remain in the same spiritual place, but slide backwards, sink downwards....so there is no option but to keep running, moving forward.
Remember today that we are made for Him alone, our temples perfectly made to hold His glory.
Behold Him today.
Isaiah 6:1
"...everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”
Isaiah 43:7
I was in church this morning during worship, and I was honestly so tired, irritable, and preoccupied that I was having a hard time entering in and focusing on the Lord. As the worship team started playing the song, "I'm Desperate For You", the Holy Spirit fell. I was breathless as He came down, sweeping away the stuff so I could behold Him, the Glory of the Lord overtaking me. His word to me: "Seek my face... follow Me alone...forsake everything else, except Me, keep me first in everything about your life...
I wanted only to be in His presence, and everything else faded in importance.
You see, I know all these things, but unless I am actively seeking the Lord, if I stop moving forward however briefly, if I stand still, I find that I do not remain in the same spiritual place, but slide backwards, sink downwards....so there is no option but to keep running, moving forward.
Remember today that we are made for Him alone, our temples perfectly made to hold His glory.
Behold Him today.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wrong Places/The Answer
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
“Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
Song of Songs 3:1-3
"...for your love is more delightful than wine."
Song of Songs 1:2b
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Hebrews 12:2a NLT
As I read Song of Songs chapter 3, I strangely heard the words to that old country song..."looking for love in all the wrong places..."... I almost laughed out loud, as I thought, "Isn't this exactly what I did, what we do, before that "god-shaped vacuum" gets filled, before we are born again, or even after we are saved by grace when we take our eyes off "the one our hearts love"?
The answer to the eternal questions as the search for identity, fulfillment, meaning, purpose continues... but no matter how much money we make/have, how well educated or credentialed, how famous, how much stuff we are surrounded by, nothing ever satisfies...
The answer to all the questions is found only in Jesus, by remaining totally focused on , and always coming back to, Jesus, as we unequivocably dedicate ourselves and cast ouselves onto Jesus.
I looked for him but did not find him.
2 I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
So I looked for him but did not find him.
3 The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
“Have you seen the one my heart loves?”
Song of Songs 3:1-3
"...for your love is more delightful than wine."
Song of Songs 1:2b
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Hebrews 12:2a NLT
As I read Song of Songs chapter 3, I strangely heard the words to that old country song..."looking for love in all the wrong places..."... I almost laughed out loud, as I thought, "Isn't this exactly what I did, what we do, before that "god-shaped vacuum" gets filled, before we are born again, or even after we are saved by grace when we take our eyes off "the one our hearts love"?
The answer to the eternal questions as the search for identity, fulfillment, meaning, purpose continues... but no matter how much money we make/have, how well educated or credentialed, how famous, how much stuff we are surrounded by, nothing ever satisfies...
The answer to all the questions is found only in Jesus, by remaining totally focused on , and always coming back to, Jesus, as we unequivocably dedicate ourselves and cast ouselves onto Jesus.
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