Reading the Bible, especially the Old Testament, can sometimes feel like wending our way through the darkest recesses of the human psyche, groping for answers. While in the obscurity of waywardness and hidden motives, I am glad to be reminded that, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119: 105. This is all here for my instruction: teach me, Holy Spirit!
The human tendency is to gloat over other people's wrongdoings, which must explain the preponderance of evil in human storytelling: well, at least I'm not as bad as all that, we think-- and are therefore justified in our own minds. Holy Spirit's reasons for taking us through the darkness of history includes freeing us from our own darkness. We must admit it when He shows it to us. Yes, it's there, and I am not free from it yet. It's so hard for us to admit that the same depravity that caused Absalom to do the things he did, that caused Judas to betray Jesus, and Peter to deny Him, still lives in our own heart to some degree. Until we are completely changed into the likeness of Christ, we still have darkness within.
One of the hardest things for me to understand has been how the Lord seems to allow sin to run its full course. We ache for others when they are on a path of darkness, yearning to "fix" it and get them on the right track before it's too late. Often, we can only pray. In my own personal experience, I know the Lord begins to whisper to each one of us of our heart condition before it has ever caused us to stray. Holy Spirit desires to enlighten our darkness with His holy light and to lead us onto the right path.
I find this is one of the most important functions of Scripture-- to give us wisdom without us having to go through our own experience of failure. He will point to someone else's mess and say, look, there's the seed of that in your own heart. If we are humble and willing to agree with Him, He grants us repentance and cleansing. He shows us the Light we need in order to overcome that darkness and avoid the twisted path of wickedness. But if we are proud and stubborn, this hidden depravity of soul will reveal itself through more and more obvious behavior, until everyone around us knows about it, often leaving us blind to it ourself. How many of us have to totally "hit bottom" before we will turn our sin over to God? It is God's patient mercy that allows our sin to run full course.
Eventually, I got tired of rejecting Holy Spirit's private whispering that would preserve me from public humiliation. I listen to Him now. I learned the hard way, though, I have to admit. I am so grateful for His love that covers a multitude of sins. Sins I never have to commit!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28, 2010 The Perfect Prayer
I feel so enveloped in love whenever I read John 17 -- it is one of my very favorite Scriptures! This is a prayer that is being, and will be, completely fulfilled. You can't go wrong agreeing with this prayer, as the Father's absolute "YES" comes with it. One of the greatest things on God's heart is His people living in Oneness with Himself and each other. This is a miracle beyond our earthly comprehension, but an absolute promise. No human effort could ever achieve this, what Jesus called glory. The only way to accomplish this is for each believer to be fully filled with Him and to be fully "in Him." The Holy Spirit is powerfully working in and around each one of us, to reveal the glory of the eternal Word, Jesus. Our job is to believe.
"Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven."
Psalm 119:89
"Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven."
Psalm 119:89
Thursday, May 27, 2010
May 27, 2010 The Overcomer's Cheer
Could there be a more impacting statement than Jesus' saying, "I have overcome the world"? The outcome of believing His statement is "good cheer." I had to look that word up in the Greek-- it's tharseo: the root is "courage, confidence." Tharseo can also be translated "be of good comfort."
So, the sense I get from this is not a "cheer" that ignores all what's going on (the end of that path is a drunken "ignorance is bliss" mentality), but a joy and comfort that comes from having courage. Our courage comes from our knowledge that He is in control, He wins, and He is with us, and in us, to help us and strengthen us. His goal is for us to be overcomers in Him, Who has already overcome. We can go through whatever we have to with this assurance, with peace, joy, and confidence.
So, the sense I get from this is not a "cheer" that ignores all what's going on (the end of that path is a drunken "ignorance is bliss" mentality), but a joy and comfort that comes from having courage. Our courage comes from our knowledge that He is in control, He wins, and He is with us, and in us, to help us and strengthen us. His goal is for us to be overcomers in Him, Who has already overcome. We can go through whatever we have to with this assurance, with peace, joy, and confidence.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26, 2010 The Prayer Jesus Vouches For
We've talked a little bit about getting our prayers answered, and today there's more. I think that this might be something important to Jesus-- that we pray and receive a "yes" to our prayer! I've come to realize, though, that every prayer is not answered. And that's because every prayer doesn't fit His criteria.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25, 2010 A "Yes" Like David's
Sometimes I like to just sit and ponder a scene, such as we have here, with God and David discussing who's going to build who a house. If you want to know what real humility looks like, check out David's response. He didn't argue with God's plan, and he didn't get puffed up either. He simply acknowledged God for Who He is and praised Him for what He had done; David took God at His word and thanked Him. He gave God credit for the greatness, and he didn't say, "you shouldn't have."
This should be our response when we hear a promise from the Lord, no matter how far-fetched it might seem to us: “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:28-29
Solomon was the immediate fulfillment of that promise, but Jesus was the complete and eternal fulfillment of it. Because of this, we are included in God's promise to establish his kingdom and his throne forever, for the Son has the Father's blessing. Jesus' Kingdom will be established forever, and He shall build a house for God's name.
So then we see Jesus beginning to do this very thing: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23 I suggest reading again Jesus' words today and taking them personally. These promises are for you! Promises aren't activated in your life until you hear them, acknowledge them to be true, accept them for yourself and thank God for them. They are no less real for you than for the disciples who were sitting with Jesus at the time they were spoken.
God was building Christ's Kingdom through David. He is still building a holy temple for the dwelling place of His glory. He wants you to be part of this temple, this Kingdom, this royal family. The Spirit of Truth is here to bring this revelation into our hearts and make it a reality. He will help you to see it. When you do, may your "yes" be like David's.
This should be our response when we hear a promise from the Lord, no matter how far-fetched it might seem to us: “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:28-29
Solomon was the immediate fulfillment of that promise, but Jesus was the complete and eternal fulfillment of it. Because of this, we are included in God's promise to establish his kingdom and his throne forever, for the Son has the Father's blessing. Jesus' Kingdom will be established forever, and He shall build a house for God's name.
So then we see Jesus beginning to do this very thing: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23 I suggest reading again Jesus' words today and taking them personally. These promises are for you! Promises aren't activated in your life until you hear them, acknowledge them to be true, accept them for yourself and thank God for them. They are no less real for you than for the disciples who were sitting with Jesus at the time they were spoken.
God was building Christ's Kingdom through David. He is still building a holy temple for the dwelling place of His glory. He wants you to be part of this temple, this Kingdom, this royal family. The Spirit of Truth is here to bring this revelation into our hearts and make it a reality. He will help you to see it. When you do, may your "yes" be like David's.
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 24, 2010 "The Right To Remain Silent"
Do you ever feel a weight of glory in the Scriptures? Today I did. Just one little part of what Jesus said has so much glory in it that it is really overwhelming if you contemplate it. For instance, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14
I find that my response to this kind of revelation varies depending on where I'm at in my life. At this moment, I'm feeling like worshipping Him because I just came in from praising Him on the keyboard, and His presence is here. It's hard to think of anything else except Him when He's around! What He wants right now is for me (and you) to get what He's saying here. He wants to do His works through us! How awesome is that???
When I'm hearing Him say, "whatever you ask in My name, I will do, so that the Father is glorified," I'm going to listen extra closely to see what is in the Father's heart. How does He want to glorify Himself in the Son today? Jesus is authorizing me to pray. I'm going to get my prayer answered, guaranteed. I'm going to wait and hear and pray.
I think we all feel like David did when we have a great victory, have our prayers answered, and experience the favor of God. Why not follow David's example in praise, no regard for our dignified appearance or what others are thinking? If we take Jesus at His word, we are going to have some great victories, do some awesome exploits, and be accompanied by the glory of God wherever we go. Jesus' motivation was to glorify the Father, and so should ours be. I do not want to deny Him before men by being afraid to praise and glorify Him freely in their presence. I feel this opportunity will come up more and more often. I relinguish my "right to remain silent." Praise the Lord!
I find that my response to this kind of revelation varies depending on where I'm at in my life. At this moment, I'm feeling like worshipping Him because I just came in from praising Him on the keyboard, and His presence is here. It's hard to think of anything else except Him when He's around! What He wants right now is for me (and you) to get what He's saying here. He wants to do His works through us! How awesome is that???
When I'm hearing Him say, "whatever you ask in My name, I will do, so that the Father is glorified," I'm going to listen extra closely to see what is in the Father's heart. How does He want to glorify Himself in the Son today? Jesus is authorizing me to pray. I'm going to get my prayer answered, guaranteed. I'm going to wait and hear and pray.
I think we all feel like David did when we have a great victory, have our prayers answered, and experience the favor of God. Why not follow David's example in praise, no regard for our dignified appearance or what others are thinking? If we take Jesus at His word, we are going to have some great victories, do some awesome exploits, and be accompanied by the glory of God wherever we go. Jesus' motivation was to glorify the Father, and so should ours be. I do not want to deny Him before men by being afraid to praise and glorify Him freely in their presence. I feel this opportunity will come up more and more often. I relinguish my "right to remain silent." Praise the Lord!
Friday, May 21, 2010
May 21, 2010 Extravagant Love
I'm always so moved by the story of Mary's anointing of Jesus' feet. It was intuitive, it was humble, it was costly, it was intimate, it was symbolic, it was prophetic. It was an extravagant outpouring of love and gratitude, with no thought of herself. It could not be missed.
The fragrance permeated the house. It must have lingered for days! Not a soul there could have been unaware of it. Mary's action would have caused a reaction in everyone: some would have been touched, others angry. Jesus was so moved that He made sure that act of love was memorialized for all time. I would love to touch His heart that much-- wouldn't you?
When we live our life in loving surrender and worship of our Lord Jesus, holding nothing back, we give a gift more precious than a life savings. Each person has a different offering, but when given freely from the heart, it is precious to Him. To give oneself in extravagant worship is to touch the Lord's heart. It creates a mutual experience that lingers. The by-product is that the atmosphere of our life is a compelling fragrance that others, depending on their heart condition, are either drawn to or repelled by. One thing is certain. Jesus loves it!
Jesus loves us extravagantly, doesn't He? Let's return His love.
The fragrance permeated the house. It must have lingered for days! Not a soul there could have been unaware of it. Mary's action would have caused a reaction in everyone: some would have been touched, others angry. Jesus was so moved that He made sure that act of love was memorialized for all time. I would love to touch His heart that much-- wouldn't you?
When we live our life in loving surrender and worship of our Lord Jesus, holding nothing back, we give a gift more precious than a life savings. Each person has a different offering, but when given freely from the heart, it is precious to Him. To give oneself in extravagant worship is to touch the Lord's heart. It creates a mutual experience that lingers. The by-product is that the atmosphere of our life is a compelling fragrance that others, depending on their heart condition, are either drawn to or repelled by. One thing is certain. Jesus loves it!
Jesus loves us extravagantly, doesn't He? Let's return His love.
May 20, 2010 Death Is Defeated
When I don't post in the middle of the week, it's usually because I got in too deep. Yesterday, the 20th, after about three hours of writing, I still hadn't brought it to a satisfactory conclusion. So I guess this topic will have to be a book. I'll let you know when it's done.
I'm going to give you a clue in this day's OYB reading, so that you can go back and see what the Lord says to you about the battle between life and death. There is just too much foundation to be laid for me to go into it here.
Start with Jesus' statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26
This is the key to a new mindset about life and death. The Old Testament passages and the rest of the verses in John all have revelation in them about this topic. I would love to hear what the Lord shows you about it. In the mean time, I'll be jotting down what I get, and in the Lord's timing, I'll put it out there for you. Shalom!
I'm going to give you a clue in this day's OYB reading, so that you can go back and see what the Lord says to you about the battle between life and death. There is just too much foundation to be laid for me to go into it here.
Start with Jesus' statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26
This is the key to a new mindset about life and death. The Old Testament passages and the rest of the verses in John all have revelation in them about this topic. I would love to hear what the Lord shows you about it. In the mean time, I'll be jotting down what I get, and in the Lord's timing, I'll put it out there for you. Shalom!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19, 2010 People Living Up To Their Names
Nabal's name, of course, means "fool," which is explained in Scripture. He thoroughly lived up to his name. Why would someone name their kid that, I wonder? If you call someone "fool" over and over, they'll probably believe it! In contrast, Abigail (whose name means "father" and "rejoicing"), was surely a delight to her father, to her heavenly Father, and to David.
A person who knows they are loved by the Father can be an effective intercessor and a blessing to all. Her wisdom is a great contrast to her husband's brute foolishness. The verse in Proverbs today was very fitting:
"A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother." Proverbs 15:20 NKJV It's not unfitting to say that a wise daughter makes her father glad; a foolish man makes his father miserable, and also that he despises his wife as well as his mother. Abigail was merciful and interceded, and this was rewarded greatly. The fool has no fear of God, and that received its reward as well.
Saul's name means "asked for" or "desired", and the people got what they asked for and desired, but not what they needed. David's name, in contrast, means "beloved." He was beloved by God and the people, and most assuredly my Abigail, (even though she had to share him). When we allow God to give us what we need, rather than demanding what we think we desire, we will truly love what we have been given! Because God knows how to give good gifts to His children.
Only a fool would turn down the opportunity to have that kind of Daddy! Nevertheless, we should be like David, who spared Saul when it was in his power to do him ill, and Abigail, who took upon herself the burden of her foolish husband's sin, even though she probably would have loved to get rid of him, and may have been tempted to let David take his life. The end of the story leaves no doubt that she took the proper course!
God calls us "beloved"! He calls us "Father's delight!" If we keep listening, we'll eventually live up to everything He sees in us-- the likeness of Christ.
A person who knows they are loved by the Father can be an effective intercessor and a blessing to all. Her wisdom is a great contrast to her husband's brute foolishness. The verse in Proverbs today was very fitting:
"A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish man despises his mother." Proverbs 15:20 NKJV It's not unfitting to say that a wise daughter makes her father glad; a foolish man makes his father miserable, and also that he despises his wife as well as his mother. Abigail was merciful and interceded, and this was rewarded greatly. The fool has no fear of God, and that received its reward as well.
Saul's name means "asked for" or "desired", and the people got what they asked for and desired, but not what they needed. David's name, in contrast, means "beloved." He was beloved by God and the people, and most assuredly my Abigail, (even though she had to share him). When we allow God to give us what we need, rather than demanding what we think we desire, we will truly love what we have been given! Because God knows how to give good gifts to His children.
Only a fool would turn down the opportunity to have that kind of Daddy! Nevertheless, we should be like David, who spared Saul when it was in his power to do him ill, and Abigail, who took upon herself the burden of her foolish husband's sin, even though she probably would have loved to get rid of him, and may have been tempted to let David take his life. The end of the story leaves no doubt that she took the proper course!
God calls us "beloved"! He calls us "Father's delight!" If we keep listening, we'll eventually live up to everything He sees in us-- the likeness of Christ.
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010 Seeing the King
I've long known that David was a fore-shadowing of the Kingship of Christ. Today, the Lord pointed out a parallel in the Scriptures that I have never noticed before. The Old and New Testaments both concur that there are two reactions to the revelation of the true King. It seems when you are confronted with the King, you either love him or hate him.
From all that I have read about them, I have come to the conclusion that David and Jesus were both totally lovable. Not in a "popularity contest" sort of way, but winsome because they were righteous, powerful, wise and serving. Really, it was only the proud and envious leaders that hated them and stirred people up against them. David was celebrated in Israel from the start, but Saul was fearful of him taking the throne from himself and his son Jonathan. He "saw" the true king, but refused to see what he saw. He tried to kill him instead. It's easy to see the parallels in Jesus' life.
The Pharisees "saw" Jesus and His Kingship but willfully refused to see what they saw. After Jesus gave the blind beggar his sight, He said:
“Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains." John 9: 35-41 NKJV
The beggar couldn't see at first, physically or spiritually, but when confronted with the King, he saw, believed what he saw, and worshipped Him. I believe the Pharisees, like Saul, could see Who Jesus was, but refused to believe what they saw, out of fear, pride and envy. They refused to acknowledge God. The Pharisees' and Saul's iniquity caused them to see their savior as an evil usurper rather than the rightful King. Once confronted with the Light, rebellious, selfish darkness will try to extinguish it.
Jonathan "saw" the kingship in David, and covenanted with him in loyal friendship. He did not try to fight for his own "rights". It says Jonathan loved him as his own soul. This is the kind of love Christians should have for one another, because we see the King. We don't worship each other, but we worship the King in one another, and we give one another the loyalty, love and honor that are due the children and vessels of the King.
How we respond to one another really reveals our heart toward God. If we allow ourselves to be blinded by heart-sin (iniquity), we will throw spears at our brothers and sisters (probably not actually, but verbally). We are actually throwing them at the Lord. If, and when, we find ourselves on the receiving end of this kind of blindness, the Holy Spirit will come along side us and defend us, as Jonathan defended David. If we love the King, we will honor His brothers and sisters, even to the point of risking our own lives.
David escaped from the presence of the earthly king, but returned in power. The beggar was sent out, first by Jesus to wash his eyes (he probably had to get out of the presence of the rabid unbelief in order to be able to receive his sight), and then he was expelled from the congregation by the leaders. Perhaps he was a great witness for the Lord "outside the camp." David's followers were "outlaws" for many years. We too, have to follow the Lord and bear His reproach "outside the camp." (Hebrews 13:13)
If we get rejected by people-- whether our natural family, self-righteous leaders, or a particular group-- be assured that righteousness will eventually be vindicated. Jesus was sent out of this world (by His own choice of course: He laid down His life), rejected by His own. But He will be returning in power to claim His throne in the glory of the Father. I wouldn't want to be one of His enemies!! (read Revelation 19). But His reward will be with Him for His loyal, faithful servants!
From all that I have read about them, I have come to the conclusion that David and Jesus were both totally lovable. Not in a "popularity contest" sort of way, but winsome because they were righteous, powerful, wise and serving. Really, it was only the proud and envious leaders that hated them and stirred people up against them. David was celebrated in Israel from the start, but Saul was fearful of him taking the throne from himself and his son Jonathan. He "saw" the true king, but refused to see what he saw. He tried to kill him instead. It's easy to see the parallels in Jesus' life.
The Pharisees "saw" Jesus and His Kingship but willfully refused to see what they saw. After Jesus gave the blind beggar his sight, He said:
“Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains." John 9: 35-41 NKJV
The beggar couldn't see at first, physically or spiritually, but when confronted with the King, he saw, believed what he saw, and worshipped Him. I believe the Pharisees, like Saul, could see Who Jesus was, but refused to believe what they saw, out of fear, pride and envy. They refused to acknowledge God. The Pharisees' and Saul's iniquity caused them to see their savior as an evil usurper rather than the rightful King. Once confronted with the Light, rebellious, selfish darkness will try to extinguish it.
Jonathan "saw" the kingship in David, and covenanted with him in loyal friendship. He did not try to fight for his own "rights". It says Jonathan loved him as his own soul. This is the kind of love Christians should have for one another, because we see the King. We don't worship each other, but we worship the King in one another, and we give one another the loyalty, love and honor that are due the children and vessels of the King.
How we respond to one another really reveals our heart toward God. If we allow ourselves to be blinded by heart-sin (iniquity), we will throw spears at our brothers and sisters (probably not actually, but verbally). We are actually throwing them at the Lord. If, and when, we find ourselves on the receiving end of this kind of blindness, the Holy Spirit will come along side us and defend us, as Jonathan defended David. If we love the King, we will honor His brothers and sisters, even to the point of risking our own lives.
David escaped from the presence of the earthly king, but returned in power. The beggar was sent out, first by Jesus to wash his eyes (he probably had to get out of the presence of the rabid unbelief in order to be able to receive his sight), and then he was expelled from the congregation by the leaders. Perhaps he was a great witness for the Lord "outside the camp." David's followers were "outlaws" for many years. We too, have to follow the Lord and bear His reproach "outside the camp." (Hebrews 13:13)
If we get rejected by people-- whether our natural family, self-righteous leaders, or a particular group-- be assured that righteousness will eventually be vindicated. Jesus was sent out of this world (by His own choice of course: He laid down His life), rejected by His own. But He will be returning in power to claim His throne in the glory of the Father. I wouldn't want to be one of His enemies!! (read Revelation 19). But His reward will be with Him for His loyal, faithful servants!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
May 15, 2010 Goliath Is Whatever Defies God
The concept of "safety in numbers" doesn't hold up when we're dealing with our own personal nemesis. The armies of Israel were terrified of this one giant. Perhaps that fear came down from the top, as King Saul was afraid too. The challenge was to fight this giant one-on-one, and nobody wanted to do that.
The truth is, we really stand alone against the world, the flesh and the devil. Are you thinking, "that's not right!" Did you ever think about the fact that Jesus Himself stood against Goliath in the wilderness-- alone? ("And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." 1 Samuel 17:16) Goliath isn't just the devil, it's anything that defies God. Dares you to get past it. Intimidates you.
I say that David had already faced his nemesis, and found his Champion! The Scriptures call David a prophet, and I can see why. In some way or another, he saw Jesus in the wilderness defeating the very giant David faced in the Valley of Elah. Seeing himself covered by the Lord, he could easily stand in confidence to face each and every Goliath in his life, and become a champion himself.
This is your destiny! This is your champion mindset; this is what you say to your giant: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23
You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! Find yourself in Him! He has already conquered your nemesis; therefore, there is nothing that can defeat you. You have the five stones of the grace of God. And all it takes is one.
The truth is, we really stand alone against the world, the flesh and the devil. Are you thinking, "that's not right!" Did you ever think about the fact that Jesus Himself stood against Goliath in the wilderness-- alone? ("And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening." 1 Samuel 17:16) Goliath isn't just the devil, it's anything that defies God. Dares you to get past it. Intimidates you.
I say that David had already faced his nemesis, and found his Champion! The Scriptures call David a prophet, and I can see why. In some way or another, he saw Jesus in the wilderness defeating the very giant David faced in the Valley of Elah. Seeing himself covered by the Lord, he could easily stand in confidence to face each and every Goliath in his life, and become a champion himself.
This is your destiny! This is your champion mindset; this is what you say to your giant: “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." John 8:23
You are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus! Find yourself in Him! He has already conquered your nemesis; therefore, there is nothing that can defeat you. You have the five stones of the grace of God. And all it takes is one.
Friday, May 14, 2010
May 14, 2010 God Looks on the Heart
“Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 I am so very glad that God looks at the heart, and that when He looks at me, He sees Jesus, and me in Him. After reading this part of Saul's sad, sad story, I was very grateful to read of Jesus' mercy with the woman caught in adultery. He saw a heart of repentance. If there had been true repentance in Saul, he would have been accepted.
No amount of bargaining with God can bring about a truce with Him; only accepting His way, and that Way is Christ. But His love covers a multitude of sins-- things that couldn't be wiped out with any amount of tears or efforts at restitution. We need Him. We need to fear Him and obey Him, which can be hard until we know Him better. Once we know His love, we would go through flames of utter destruction to get close to His heart.
Samuel was still learning lessons about discernment and seeing the heart, not just hearing words or seeing masks. Jesus quoted what the Lord said to him, too, about not judging by appearances. We need to know that God sees our heart: there's nothing we can hide from Him, but there's also nothing that God is hiding from us. If we want to know Him, He is more than willing to reveal Himself to us.
I have never been the person the world would choose (funny, but I was really the proverbial person no one wanted on their sports team, at least until later on in highschool), and you probably aren't either. But that's OK, because God chooses us. He loved us before we knew Him, called us and accepted us. I don't want to be unchosen for the things He's called me to do. That keeps me on the straight and narrow. He's not going to entrust anything to me if I'm untrustworthy. I'm glad though, that He's not going to "unchoose me" from being His child, or "unfriend me" because I mess up. He knows my weaknesses, and He helps me (and disciplines me sometimes). Jesus said He'd never leave us or forsake us. We would have to totally reject Him and leave Him completely to end up like Saul, which is, I guess, what Saul did. I'd much rather be the one on the healing end of the harp than the one with a tormenting spirit because I rejected the Spirit of God.
No amount of bargaining with God can bring about a truce with Him; only accepting His way, and that Way is Christ. But His love covers a multitude of sins-- things that couldn't be wiped out with any amount of tears or efforts at restitution. We need Him. We need to fear Him and obey Him, which can be hard until we know Him better. Once we know His love, we would go through flames of utter destruction to get close to His heart.
Samuel was still learning lessons about discernment and seeing the heart, not just hearing words or seeing masks. Jesus quoted what the Lord said to him, too, about not judging by appearances. We need to know that God sees our heart: there's nothing we can hide from Him, but there's also nothing that God is hiding from us. If we want to know Him, He is more than willing to reveal Himself to us.
I have never been the person the world would choose (funny, but I was really the proverbial person no one wanted on their sports team, at least until later on in highschool), and you probably aren't either. But that's OK, because God chooses us. He loved us before we knew Him, called us and accepted us. I don't want to be unchosen for the things He's called me to do. That keeps me on the straight and narrow. He's not going to entrust anything to me if I'm untrustworthy. I'm glad though, that He's not going to "unchoose me" from being His child, or "unfriend me" because I mess up. He knows my weaknesses, and He helps me (and disciplines me sometimes). Jesus said He'd never leave us or forsake us. We would have to totally reject Him and leave Him completely to end up like Saul, which is, I guess, what Saul did. I'd much rather be the one on the healing end of the harp than the one with a tormenting spirit because I rejected the Spirit of God.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
May 12, 2010 Bullies in a Battle of Words
We're always going to get tested to see what our true motivations are. King Saul was tested, and he flunked. If we look at the story only in the natural we might want to take Saul's part; but if you see what Samuel saw, you'll realize what went wrong, and why the kingdom was to be taken away from him.
The king and his son were the only ones who had swords! The oppressive enemy had seen to it that the people had none (and they put up with it!) In the spiritual sense, Saul was the one who had the word of God-- and he disobeyed it. His explanation sounds plausible, but Samuel says other wise. Saul was not "a man after God's heart," and therefore his kindgom would not continue.
David, on the other hand was a man after God's heart. He knew not to fight the enemy without the Lord going before him: "Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 108:12-13 Saul sought his own glory, but David sought the glory of God.
Jesus said, "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." John 7:18
Jesus said only what His Father told Him to say. He only sought the glory of the Father, and now the kingdom of Christ has been established over all.
We get tested when the enemy is there taunting us and making threats, and we think the Lord isn't doing anything about it. Sometimes He doesn't "show up" fast enough for us. If we don't have the Word in us, we're going to go run and hide in a cave, and the bully gets a victory. If we do have the Word, but we don't have God's heart, we will speak and act presumptuously. We may have been better off running and hiding. When we speak the Word or do an "obedient" action out of God's time, and with a selfish motivation, we can easily become a weapon in the hands of the enemy.
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
Proverbs 15:4
I think we know, by now, that the perverseness is in the heart (if it were in the physical tongue, we could all cut out our tongues out and be very righteous indeed!). Words can be swords. How many times have our rash words broken another's spirit, and, in turn, our own? I cannot begin to count the times I have done this. But it happens less often now, because I'm tired of hurting others and suffering the pain of it myself-- and I'm tired of grieving the Holy Spirit. I want a wholesome tongue. I want a whole heart after God.
Powerlessness is a bad thing, and God wants to deliver us from it. But power without godly authority is deadly. We cannot inherit the kingdom of God by walking in power without love and submission to God. We can't beat the devil with the devil's attitudes. For one thing, we must realize that Satan is already defeated; but we still must destroy his works. God will help us destroy the works of the enemy if we have God's heart and are seeking His glory and not our own.
Jesus is the Tree of Life. The more we yield to the Spirit and allow Him to grow that Tree in our heart, the more life-giving our words will be. This is God's heart for you, and for all His children. Some of Satan's strategy would be to irritate you so much that you hack away at the Tree growing in someone else's garden. Let's be patient with one another, and look for and nourish that Tree. At this moment, it might be just be a seedling that needs to be nurtured and protected. Someday, it will be a great Tree that will offer shelter to the lost and dying.
The king and his son were the only ones who had swords! The oppressive enemy had seen to it that the people had none (and they put up with it!) In the spiritual sense, Saul was the one who had the word of God-- and he disobeyed it. His explanation sounds plausible, but Samuel says other wise. Saul was not "a man after God's heart," and therefore his kindgom would not continue.
David, on the other hand was a man after God's heart. He knew not to fight the enemy without the Lord going before him: "Give us help from trouble, For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." Psalm 108:12-13 Saul sought his own glory, but David sought the glory of God.
Jesus said, "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." John 7:18
Jesus said only what His Father told Him to say. He only sought the glory of the Father, and now the kingdom of Christ has been established over all.
We get tested when the enemy is there taunting us and making threats, and we think the Lord isn't doing anything about it. Sometimes He doesn't "show up" fast enough for us. If we don't have the Word in us, we're going to go run and hide in a cave, and the bully gets a victory. If we do have the Word, but we don't have God's heart, we will speak and act presumptuously. We may have been better off running and hiding. When we speak the Word or do an "obedient" action out of God's time, and with a selfish motivation, we can easily become a weapon in the hands of the enemy.
"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
Proverbs 15:4
I think we know, by now, that the perverseness is in the heart (if it were in the physical tongue, we could all cut out our tongues out and be very righteous indeed!). Words can be swords. How many times have our rash words broken another's spirit, and, in turn, our own? I cannot begin to count the times I have done this. But it happens less often now, because I'm tired of hurting others and suffering the pain of it myself-- and I'm tired of grieving the Holy Spirit. I want a wholesome tongue. I want a whole heart after God.
Powerlessness is a bad thing, and God wants to deliver us from it. But power without godly authority is deadly. We cannot inherit the kingdom of God by walking in power without love and submission to God. We can't beat the devil with the devil's attitudes. For one thing, we must realize that Satan is already defeated; but we still must destroy his works. God will help us destroy the works of the enemy if we have God's heart and are seeking His glory and not our own.
Jesus is the Tree of Life. The more we yield to the Spirit and allow Him to grow that Tree in our heart, the more life-giving our words will be. This is God's heart for you, and for all His children. Some of Satan's strategy would be to irritate you so much that you hack away at the Tree growing in someone else's garden. Let's be patient with one another, and look for and nourish that Tree. At this moment, it might be just be a seedling that needs to be nurtured and protected. Someday, it will be a great Tree that will offer shelter to the lost and dying.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11, 2010 How God Deals With Rejection
There's not a lot you can do when people decide to reject God. If He doesn't force them to accept Him, then how can we presume to do so? In today's passages, we have two examples of people rejecting God, and how He responded to them. Since we humans get rejected now and again, I'd say we could learn something from His example.
The people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations (I think this indicates they were a little out-of-sync with God, as He wanted them to be different from all the other nations). Samuel got instructions from the Lord as to what to do about this (he's one of my Bible heroes: he was so accurate in hearing, seeing and speaking God's word!), and the Lord led him to the king who was to be anointed. Now, taking into consideration that the people got what they wanted, this is what Samuel said to them: "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.” 1 Samuel 10:19 This says to me right away that just because we may have gotten what we asked for doesn't mean that God was pleased with us!
God wanted to be Israel's king Himself, and how could they have had a better one? Even though their rejection of Him was "covert" (not direct), He identified their true condition as rejecting of Him, and He expressed His displeasure to them. Nevertheless, I believe God's heart was to bless the people on whatever level they could accept, so He provided them a king to lead them and deliver them from their enemies. God did not abandon them. He even gave Saul the experience of being "possessed by God's Spirit" so that he had enough knowledge to call upon God to be empowered. Apparently he did so, at least at first.
Now, what did Jesus do when He was rejected? Again, people were often covert in their rejection of Him, yet He always knew what was in their hearts, and He gave them many chances to change their minds. And again, most of the people were only looking to have their physical needs met and weren't looking at things from a heavenly (spiritual) perspective. They wanted Jesus to give them more bread, even demanding that He prove Himself with a miracle of giving them heavenly manna. He told them that He Himself was the "bread from heaven" that would give them eternal life, but the people got offended with Him and stopped following Him. Jesus didn't do the rejecting, but He didn't let Himself be manipulated either. He just told the truth and let the people make a choice.
Jesus didn't reject the people back-- He kept going to their towns preaching, teaching and healing until it was His time to lay down His life for them. He didn't go around flailing them with "bitter diatribes", although I'm sure Jesus was grieved. He also didn't fire Judas from being a disciple: but He did confront Him with His inward rejection. I'm sure Judas had many chances to repent before he gave in to Satan and betrayed Jesus. But Jesus was no dupe; He knew about it all the time.
You wonder how people can reject a God so great and glorious as He is. How can people reject Jesus Christ who offers us forgiveness, salvation on all levels, and eternal life!? Many reject Him outright, and many more reject Him covertly. As a nation, it seems we have rejected God's rule over us and demanded a king. How will that turn out, I wonder? Most seem to reject the Lord Jesus for who He actually is and what He actually said, choosing rather to believe in a Jesus and a Christianity that they have made up themselves to suit their own preferences. And yet, God still loves them and blesses them as much as they will allow. This is our example of how to treat people who reject us. Confront first, as you see God and Jesus did in both examples; do not reject back. However, the intimacy and "top shelf" blessings are reserved for those who accept Him wholeheartedly.
How often do we do covertly reject God, and maybe don't even realize it? I am going to ask Him if I'm doing that in any way. I hope not, but if I am, I know He will be faithful to show me and offer me forgiveness and restoration. Read the Psalm! God responds to us when we repent and call out to Him. Over and over.
The people of Israel wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations (I think this indicates they were a little out-of-sync with God, as He wanted them to be different from all the other nations). Samuel got instructions from the Lord as to what to do about this (he's one of my Bible heroes: he was so accurate in hearing, seeing and speaking God's word!), and the Lord led him to the king who was to be anointed. Now, taking into consideration that the people got what they wanted, this is what Samuel said to them: "But you have today rejected your God, who Himself saved you from all your adversities and your tribulations; and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us!’ Now therefore, present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your clans.” 1 Samuel 10:19 This says to me right away that just because we may have gotten what we asked for doesn't mean that God was pleased with us!
God wanted to be Israel's king Himself, and how could they have had a better one? Even though their rejection of Him was "covert" (not direct), He identified their true condition as rejecting of Him, and He expressed His displeasure to them. Nevertheless, I believe God's heart was to bless the people on whatever level they could accept, so He provided them a king to lead them and deliver them from their enemies. God did not abandon them. He even gave Saul the experience of being "possessed by God's Spirit" so that he had enough knowledge to call upon God to be empowered. Apparently he did so, at least at first.
Now, what did Jesus do when He was rejected? Again, people were often covert in their rejection of Him, yet He always knew what was in their hearts, and He gave them many chances to change their minds. And again, most of the people were only looking to have their physical needs met and weren't looking at things from a heavenly (spiritual) perspective. They wanted Jesus to give them more bread, even demanding that He prove Himself with a miracle of giving them heavenly manna. He told them that He Himself was the "bread from heaven" that would give them eternal life, but the people got offended with Him and stopped following Him. Jesus didn't do the rejecting, but He didn't let Himself be manipulated either. He just told the truth and let the people make a choice.
Jesus didn't reject the people back-- He kept going to their towns preaching, teaching and healing until it was His time to lay down His life for them. He didn't go around flailing them with "bitter diatribes", although I'm sure Jesus was grieved. He also didn't fire Judas from being a disciple: but He did confront Him with His inward rejection. I'm sure Judas had many chances to repent before he gave in to Satan and betrayed Jesus. But Jesus was no dupe; He knew about it all the time.
You wonder how people can reject a God so great and glorious as He is. How can people reject Jesus Christ who offers us forgiveness, salvation on all levels, and eternal life!? Many reject Him outright, and many more reject Him covertly. As a nation, it seems we have rejected God's rule over us and demanded a king. How will that turn out, I wonder? Most seem to reject the Lord Jesus for who He actually is and what He actually said, choosing rather to believe in a Jesus and a Christianity that they have made up themselves to suit their own preferences. And yet, God still loves them and blesses them as much as they will allow. This is our example of how to treat people who reject us. Confront first, as you see God and Jesus did in both examples; do not reject back. However, the intimacy and "top shelf" blessings are reserved for those who accept Him wholeheartedly.
How often do we do covertly reject God, and maybe don't even realize it? I am going to ask Him if I'm doing that in any way. I hope not, but if I am, I know He will be faithful to show me and offer me forgiveness and restoration. Read the Psalm! God responds to us when we repent and call out to Him. Over and over.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
May 6, 2010 The Seed of Blessing
I've always loved the story of Ruth and Boaz. Besides being a great study of ancient Hebrew culture, it is a powerful vision of the redemptive power of love. In Ruth's story, I see the law of increase at work, as words of blessing and acts of kindness are planted, growing into a harvest of favor and blessing. Ruth's words of blessing and acts of kindness towards Naomi, her mother-in-law, brought a harvest of favor to her through Boaz. Boaz's words of blessing and acts of kindness to his own workers, family, and Ruth, a foreigner, brought him a harvest of favor and blessing from God. Together, these people who loved God, knew His goodness, and followed Him in word and deed, brought forth the Seed of blessing into the world. Through them came the earthly lineage of Jesus.
Then we see Jesus, walking through Cana of Galilee. He had already blessed them at the wedding, where He did his first miracle. Again He blessed them with His words, "Go your way; your son lives." Wherever He went, He sowed words of blessing and acts of kindness. Whoever believed Him reaped God's favor. Look how much increase had come down through Boaz and Ruth!
We are part of this lineage of blessing-- through Christ we have been grafted in. There has been no end to the increase of His Kingdom by His word and His power. His word is planted in us, and by faith, we can also receive the blessing and give it. As our character is established in Christ and our obedience is built by training and practice, we should see the same power of God's favor coming from the words of blessing and acts of kindness the Spirit prompts us to sow. If we could only get a hold of how overly-abundant-beyond-all-we-can-think-or-ask God's favor is through Christ, there would be no lack of provision, no lack of the power of God.
Then we see Jesus, walking through Cana of Galilee. He had already blessed them at the wedding, where He did his first miracle. Again He blessed them with His words, "Go your way; your son lives." Wherever He went, He sowed words of blessing and acts of kindness. Whoever believed Him reaped God's favor. Look how much increase had come down through Boaz and Ruth!
We are part of this lineage of blessing-- through Christ we have been grafted in. There has been no end to the increase of His Kingdom by His word and His power. His word is planted in us, and by faith, we can also receive the blessing and give it. As our character is established in Christ and our obedience is built by training and practice, we should see the same power of God's favor coming from the words of blessing and acts of kindness the Spirit prompts us to sow. If we could only get a hold of how overly-abundant-beyond-all-we-can-think-or-ask God's favor is through Christ, there would be no lack of provision, no lack of the power of God.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
May 5, 2010 A True Witness
"A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies." Proverbs 14:25 There is more to being a true witness than telling true facts. Jesus demonstrated this in His witness to the Samaritan woman. His true witness won her to Truth. He also taught her how to be a true witness. Then her true witness won others to Truth. We cannot of our own ability win souls, but we can be in a place where the Spirit of Truth can work to draw people to Christ. Let's see what Jesus had to show and tell about being a true witness.
First of all, Jesus did not hide Who He was or what He had to offer. He didn't try to cover anything up-- He was a true witness in that He did not use any kind of deception. Darkness and deception had no place in Christ, and that is His work in us, to reveal these things by His light of truth. He was spiritually transparent, and the light and love of God shone through. He told pure truth. He had no "fear of man," and He had no need to use tricks to try and win people.
Jesus did not ignore the darkness in the woman to whom He was witnessing. He let the light shine right on it. If we were to do this in a sense of judgment, as probably the woman had often experienced before, the opportunity to share the truth would be over. Even though Jesus' light was shining with nothing but the Father's love and compassion, the woman's habit was to deflect the conversation away from her darkness-- she changed the subject, even though previously, she had been very interested in the offer of living water.
Since the woman began the topic of worship, Jesus took up that topic. [The whole time He was talking to her, He was always steering her away from looking at everything in the natural and helping her to focus upon the spiritual instead. This was really a key in getting her free from her sinful lifestyle.] "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4: 22-24 He showed her how needful it was that she allow the light in and not hide from it, even to cover up her shameful darkness. He was telling her that God already knew about it, and yet was still willing to reveal Himself to her. She was ready for the revelation, and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, Who was to be her covering.
When the Samaritan woman went to be a witness to the people of her town, she no longer was trying to cover up and hide. She had received His word about being a true witness, and her statement was: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. John 4: 29-30 Something about this was enough to make the whole town want to come and meet Jesus. Once they had heard Him themselves, they too believed.
Whenever Jesus speaks to us, He shows us that He is the provision for whatever it is that we're needing. He also lovingly shows us what it is that is keeping us from receiving whatever it is that He has for us. He does this because He loves us. Every place that is dark in us is a place that can be inhabited by Jesus' light. The light will always overcome the darkness, so all we have to do is let the light in.
One of the best ways to become more filled with Him, which is how we become a true witness for Him, is to worship Him. True worship is not happening when our bodies are doing one thing and our hearts are somewhere else. It also doesn't happen when we're not being honest with the Lord. So true, unveiled worship in God's presence is one of our most important preparations for work in the harvest. This is where we become transparent enough for His light to shine forth into the world. Worship in spirit and in truth needs to become our lifestyle.
The "fear of man" will compel us to cover up (or deflect people's attention away from) things we think will not be acceptable to others. It is always based on our own perceptions, or that which others have taught us. It is not related to how God really sees us, but sometimes to how we think He sees us. The more we encounter the love of God through Christ, the more we realize how very much He loves us. Even if He reveals darkness in us, He shines in His light and dispels it, filling us with His love. We can run and hide from it if we choose, but it is wise to choose truth.
Personally, I have to keep on opening up to the presence of God to overcome the fear of rejection that keeps me struggling with the desire to hide. He keeps on reassuring me of His love, filling me up with His light, and helping me to lay down anything that I might use to hide from Himself and others. This motivates me to continually seek His help: if I am hiding behind something, for example, a mask of cheerfulness when I am depressed, then I have become a deceitful witness telling lies instead of the truth I want to tell. This may sound very harsh, but it is probably one of the greatest reasons in the Church for not seeing a much greater harvest of souls into the Kingdom.
The process of becoming a true witness is often painful, but always rewarding. The joy comes when we get to enjoy the fruit of the harvest with the Father and the Son. "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together." John 4:36
First of all, Jesus did not hide Who He was or what He had to offer. He didn't try to cover anything up-- He was a true witness in that He did not use any kind of deception. Darkness and deception had no place in Christ, and that is His work in us, to reveal these things by His light of truth. He was spiritually transparent, and the light and love of God shone through. He told pure truth. He had no "fear of man," and He had no need to use tricks to try and win people.
Jesus did not ignore the darkness in the woman to whom He was witnessing. He let the light shine right on it. If we were to do this in a sense of judgment, as probably the woman had often experienced before, the opportunity to share the truth would be over. Even though Jesus' light was shining with nothing but the Father's love and compassion, the woman's habit was to deflect the conversation away from her darkness-- she changed the subject, even though previously, she had been very interested in the offer of living water.
Since the woman began the topic of worship, Jesus took up that topic. [The whole time He was talking to her, He was always steering her away from looking at everything in the natural and helping her to focus upon the spiritual instead. This was really a key in getting her free from her sinful lifestyle.] "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4: 22-24 He showed her how needful it was that she allow the light in and not hide from it, even to cover up her shameful darkness. He was telling her that God already knew about it, and yet was still willing to reveal Himself to her. She was ready for the revelation, and believed that Jesus was the Messiah, Who was to be her covering.
When the Samaritan woman went to be a witness to the people of her town, she no longer was trying to cover up and hide. She had received His word about being a true witness, and her statement was: “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. John 4: 29-30 Something about this was enough to make the whole town want to come and meet Jesus. Once they had heard Him themselves, they too believed.
Whenever Jesus speaks to us, He shows us that He is the provision for whatever it is that we're needing. He also lovingly shows us what it is that is keeping us from receiving whatever it is that He has for us. He does this because He loves us. Every place that is dark in us is a place that can be inhabited by Jesus' light. The light will always overcome the darkness, so all we have to do is let the light in.
One of the best ways to become more filled with Him, which is how we become a true witness for Him, is to worship Him. True worship is not happening when our bodies are doing one thing and our hearts are somewhere else. It also doesn't happen when we're not being honest with the Lord. So true, unveiled worship in God's presence is one of our most important preparations for work in the harvest. This is where we become transparent enough for His light to shine forth into the world. Worship in spirit and in truth needs to become our lifestyle.
The "fear of man" will compel us to cover up (or deflect people's attention away from) things we think will not be acceptable to others. It is always based on our own perceptions, or that which others have taught us. It is not related to how God really sees us, but sometimes to how we think He sees us. The more we encounter the love of God through Christ, the more we realize how very much He loves us. Even if He reveals darkness in us, He shines in His light and dispels it, filling us with His love. We can run and hide from it if we choose, but it is wise to choose truth.
Personally, I have to keep on opening up to the presence of God to overcome the fear of rejection that keeps me struggling with the desire to hide. He keeps on reassuring me of His love, filling me up with His light, and helping me to lay down anything that I might use to hide from Himself and others. This motivates me to continually seek His help: if I am hiding behind something, for example, a mask of cheerfulness when I am depressed, then I have become a deceitful witness telling lies instead of the truth I want to tell. This may sound very harsh, but it is probably one of the greatest reasons in the Church for not seeing a much greater harvest of souls into the Kingdom.
The process of becoming a true witness is often painful, but always rewarding. The joy comes when we get to enjoy the fruit of the harvest with the Father and the Son. "And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together." John 4:36
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
May 4, 2010
What a good role-model is John the Baptist! He faithfully and passionately carried out his mission from God: to prepare the people for the Messiah. He was a great preacher, and got results. Lots of people followed him. But when the Messiah was indeed revealed to him, just as God had told him, John the Baptist gave way to him. "He must increase, but I must decrease." He had joy, not resentment when the fulfillment of his calling had brought his ministry to an end. His testimony about Christ is one of the most clearly articulated in Scripture: he left no doubt as to who Jesus was and what He was here to accomplish. It would be good for us to meditate on John the Baptist's words and get them deep into our hearts.
There is plenty of practical application of John the Baptist's gracious giving-way to Christ. Parents' ministry is to raise children to grow up and have their own life. Ministers are preparing the saints to mature and carry out their own callings. If we do our job well, we will come to an obvious place of having to release that which we birthed, for it has a life of its own.
I came to the Lord as a broken and dysfunctional person who had no idea who she was. My personhood had been stolen from me. The Lord Jesus, by His Spirit and Word, and through His godly ministers, nursed me back to health, restored me to healthy functioning, and gave me a sense of worth, identity and purpose. He gave me back myself! It was so awesome to finally feel good about myself and about being alive. Then I truly had the opportunity to "lay down my life" for Him. Before that, I had little to offer, only a "broken and contrite heart", which we know He does not despise. Now I'm in a different place of making way for Christ.
I think it is important to note that John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The Lord certainly increased in me, building me up from the inside out, starting from a below-basement level of destruction. As I learned who I was, I discovered my weaknesses and how He could fill them. I discovered my empty places and how He could fill those too. He revealed my wrong thinking and replaced it with His truth. He showed me my strengths and how He could empower them for His glory. There's much, much more to do, (I'm far from being Christlike) but at least now, I know how to let Him live in me.
At a certain point in my life, however, I became aware that He was "letting go." He again gave me a choice to follow and serve Him. Now that He had restored me, He was setting me free! Is this amazing or what? Of course, it wasn't a difficult choice for me. I was like that Old Testament picture of the slave who didn't want to be set free because of love for the master, choosing to become a bondservant for life. My ear has been pierced! I totally belong to Him! He chose me first, but then He gave me a chance to choose Him back. I chose Him, and I have never regretted it.
Now, as I live for Him, study His Word and get more revelation of Him, He continues to grow in me; it gets very uncomfortable for my "self" and I have to make more room for Him by letting go of pride, an agenda, or anything else that doesn't fit with Him. I don't just try to get rid of something about myself or "kill myself off". Picking up your cross and following Him daily is not the same as trying to crucify yourself! That just doesn't work. It leaves holes in us that can be filled with something other than Him if we're not very careful. I think it's dangerous to try to decrease yourself so that He can increase. The Lord will expose deeper holes in you that need to be filled with Him (He's done this to me more than once lately, through some trials). He will also discipline us if we're resisting Him. Seek the Lord with as much of your heart as you can, being as pliable as you are able, and let Him increase. Present yourself to Him, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest.
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. I have total confidence in His ability to finish the work He started in me, and in you too. He knows what He's doing. He is the Author and Finisher of the Church too, and He is in charge (the Head). We should trust Him in forming us, and in forming the Church. He's going to present us to the Father without spot or blemish. What a glorious day that will be!
There is plenty of practical application of John the Baptist's gracious giving-way to Christ. Parents' ministry is to raise children to grow up and have their own life. Ministers are preparing the saints to mature and carry out their own callings. If we do our job well, we will come to an obvious place of having to release that which we birthed, for it has a life of its own.
I came to the Lord as a broken and dysfunctional person who had no idea who she was. My personhood had been stolen from me. The Lord Jesus, by His Spirit and Word, and through His godly ministers, nursed me back to health, restored me to healthy functioning, and gave me a sense of worth, identity and purpose. He gave me back myself! It was so awesome to finally feel good about myself and about being alive. Then I truly had the opportunity to "lay down my life" for Him. Before that, I had little to offer, only a "broken and contrite heart", which we know He does not despise. Now I'm in a different place of making way for Christ.
I think it is important to note that John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." The Lord certainly increased in me, building me up from the inside out, starting from a below-basement level of destruction. As I learned who I was, I discovered my weaknesses and how He could fill them. I discovered my empty places and how He could fill those too. He revealed my wrong thinking and replaced it with His truth. He showed me my strengths and how He could empower them for His glory. There's much, much more to do, (I'm far from being Christlike) but at least now, I know how to let Him live in me.
At a certain point in my life, however, I became aware that He was "letting go." He again gave me a choice to follow and serve Him. Now that He had restored me, He was setting me free! Is this amazing or what? Of course, it wasn't a difficult choice for me. I was like that Old Testament picture of the slave who didn't want to be set free because of love for the master, choosing to become a bondservant for life. My ear has been pierced! I totally belong to Him! He chose me first, but then He gave me a chance to choose Him back. I chose Him, and I have never regretted it.
Now, as I live for Him, study His Word and get more revelation of Him, He continues to grow in me; it gets very uncomfortable for my "self" and I have to make more room for Him by letting go of pride, an agenda, or anything else that doesn't fit with Him. I don't just try to get rid of something about myself or "kill myself off". Picking up your cross and following Him daily is not the same as trying to crucify yourself! That just doesn't work. It leaves holes in us that can be filled with something other than Him if we're not very careful. I think it's dangerous to try to decrease yourself so that He can increase. The Lord will expose deeper holes in you that need to be filled with Him (He's done this to me more than once lately, through some trials). He will also discipline us if we're resisting Him. Seek the Lord with as much of your heart as you can, being as pliable as you are able, and let Him increase. Present yourself to Him, obey Him, and He will take care of the rest.
Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. I have total confidence in His ability to finish the work He started in me, and in you too. He knows what He's doing. He is the Author and Finisher of the Church too, and He is in charge (the Head). We should trust Him in forming us, and in forming the Church. He's going to present us to the Father without spot or blemish. What a glorious day that will be!
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 3, 2010
Magical thinking seems to be a basic characteristic of fallen Man. Human beings have such a capacity to take things, even spiritual things, and turn them into idols! The story of Micah is one such example, and his creation of an idol and the hiring of a priest to serve it for him, shows how one man's idolatry can spread to a whole clan, as his did to the tribe of Dan.
The passage in John has interesting (although perhaps not obvious) connections to this story of Micah and his idol. Jesus, in His conversation with Nicodemus, says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3: 14-15
If you'll remember, back in Numbers, the Israelites complained against the Lord, and were struck by a plague of "fiery serpents" [this Hebrew word saraph can, interestingly enough, be translated poisonous serpent, winged dragon, or seraphim]. When Moses prayed for the people, God told him, "Make a saraph, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." Numbers 21:8 God provided the antidote.
But the Israelites seemed to have the same darkened understanding as Nicodemus, who replied to Jesus statement about being born-again with, “How can these things be?” Instead of remembering and trusting in God's greatness and goodness, they fell into idolatry once again, and a godly king had to make corrections:
[Hezekiah] removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan." 2 Kings 18:4
Magical thinking is a developmental issue. Young children attribute unrealistic powers to themselves and things when they wrongly interpret events and make assumptions about cause and effect that are not based on truth. I made a wish and blew out my birthday cake candles, and I got what I wished for. When people don't develop properly, and continue to make wrong assumptions about things they really don't understand, magical thinking progresses into superstitions and idolatry. These things can get entrenched into families and cultures, forming belief systems that strongly resist logic and truth.
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus was dealing with a strongly entrenched religious system that was as much based in tradition and magical thinking as it was on the Jewish heritage of Mosaic law and the prophets. His answer to how can these things be? was “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." John 3:10-13
I never saw, until now, that Jesus was speaking of His being "seated in heavenly places" before His death and resurrection. You can take His statement as prophetic, or as a statement of His condition at the time He was speaking. I see it as both. He was saying to Nicodemus that if you are born-again of the Spirit, you live in the heavenly realm as well as the natural. Until you are born-again, you interpret everything naturally, even spiritual things-- even God's actions. That is why most of the Pharisees saw what Jesus did, such a healing people, as a physical action only.
Seeing Christ on the cross, when interpreted spiritually and understood with the born-again mind enlightened by the Spirit of Truth, is the antidote for everything that afflicts mankind. As the "type and shadow" bronze serpent on the pole was the antidote for the venomous bite of a serpent, so is what Christ accomplished on the cross the antidote for the effects of believing the lies of Satan, ("So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world" Revelation 12:9).
It doesn't do any good to make a religious icon out of a spiritual picture, and worshipping such becomes idolatry. A crucifix doesn't heal anything, although some faith in God's power to heal might bring some healing to someone looking at a crucifix, even if the faith was misplaced onto the crucifix. Eventually, though, the faith will be extinguished and the crucifix will become an idol, when seen through the eyes of flesh.
Faith based in the reality of who Jesus Christ is and what He did is not magical thinking. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 The more we exercise our faith in Him, the more we will be delivered from the power of deception and sin, the more everlasting life we will experience. Whatever we need to be saved from, Christ is the antidote, received by faith.
Bonus study: the commonly used symbol for the medical profession is possibly related to the image of the serpent Moses used; but there are other ancient symbols that it is related to, of idolatrous meaning. If a person can receive healing from God through a doctor, then God used the doctor as an instrument; but if a person looks to the medical profession as its savior, how much healing are they going to get? The pagan symbolism is much more fitting for the magical thinking and idolatry that has become so prevalent in today's society.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius
The passage in John has interesting (although perhaps not obvious) connections to this story of Micah and his idol. Jesus, in His conversation with Nicodemus, says, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3: 14-15
If you'll remember, back in Numbers, the Israelites complained against the Lord, and were struck by a plague of "fiery serpents" [this Hebrew word saraph can, interestingly enough, be translated poisonous serpent, winged dragon, or seraphim]. When Moses prayed for the people, God told him, "Make a saraph, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live." Numbers 21:8 God provided the antidote.
But the Israelites seemed to have the same darkened understanding as Nicodemus, who replied to Jesus statement about being born-again with, “How can these things be?” Instead of remembering and trusting in God's greatness and goodness, they fell into idolatry once again, and a godly king had to make corrections:
[Hezekiah] removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan." 2 Kings 18:4
Magical thinking is a developmental issue. Young children attribute unrealistic powers to themselves and things when they wrongly interpret events and make assumptions about cause and effect that are not based on truth. I made a wish and blew out my birthday cake candles, and I got what I wished for. When people don't develop properly, and continue to make wrong assumptions about things they really don't understand, magical thinking progresses into superstitions and idolatry. These things can get entrenched into families and cultures, forming belief systems that strongly resist logic and truth.
In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus was dealing with a strongly entrenched religious system that was as much based in tradition and magical thinking as it was on the Jewish heritage of Mosaic law and the prophets. His answer to how can these things be? was “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." John 3:10-13
I never saw, until now, that Jesus was speaking of His being "seated in heavenly places" before His death and resurrection. You can take His statement as prophetic, or as a statement of His condition at the time He was speaking. I see it as both. He was saying to Nicodemus that if you are born-again of the Spirit, you live in the heavenly realm as well as the natural. Until you are born-again, you interpret everything naturally, even spiritual things-- even God's actions. That is why most of the Pharisees saw what Jesus did, such a healing people, as a physical action only.
Seeing Christ on the cross, when interpreted spiritually and understood with the born-again mind enlightened by the Spirit of Truth, is the antidote for everything that afflicts mankind. As the "type and shadow" bronze serpent on the pole was the antidote for the venomous bite of a serpent, so is what Christ accomplished on the cross the antidote for the effects of believing the lies of Satan, ("So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world" Revelation 12:9).
It doesn't do any good to make a religious icon out of a spiritual picture, and worshipping such becomes idolatry. A crucifix doesn't heal anything, although some faith in God's power to heal might bring some healing to someone looking at a crucifix, even if the faith was misplaced onto the crucifix. Eventually, though, the faith will be extinguished and the crucifix will become an idol, when seen through the eyes of flesh.
Faith based in the reality of who Jesus Christ is and what He did is not magical thinking. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 The more we exercise our faith in Him, the more we will be delivered from the power of deception and sin, the more everlasting life we will experience. Whatever we need to be saved from, Christ is the antidote, received by faith.
Bonus study: the commonly used symbol for the medical profession is possibly related to the image of the serpent Moses used; but there are other ancient symbols that it is related to, of idolatrous meaning. If a person can receive healing from God through a doctor, then God used the doctor as an instrument; but if a person looks to the medical profession as its savior, how much healing are they going to get? The pagan symbolism is much more fitting for the magical thinking and idolatry that has become so prevalent in today's society.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010
The essence of evangelism: "We have found the Messiah. Come and see." First of all, we have to have a revelation of the Lord. It helps to tell people how we got that revelation. Next, we introduce them to Jesus. Telling about Him is never enough-- people have to meet Him themselves. Then, in His presence, they experience Him-- He looks at them and speaks into their heart. Then they know He is God. After that, it is between them and God. People have to make their own choice, but trying to convince them without introducing them to a REAL PERSON is of little value. Once you've done that, though, you've done your part, except to pray for them and be a good example of a person who maintains a real relationship with Christ.
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