March 26, 2011 Fire on the Mountain

How often do we avoid the presence of God because of the glory?  I do too often.  We go to worship and He shows up as fire, His voice makes us tremble, and we're afraid for our lives.  So we back off instead of endure.

Moses was sharing the Commandments with the Israelites, and this is what he said to them. "The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.  I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain." Deuteronomy 5: 4-5 NKJV

Isn't that what we want a lot of times, for someone else to hear from God for us?  We don't want friendship with God enough to endure the fire.

God didn't force the people to hang out with Him. Rather He expressed His desire that they truly would fear Him.  "Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’ Deuteronomy 5: 29-31 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!  Yes, we should definitely have a reverent fear of the Lord - enough to obey Him.  But I want to press through for love of God to be with Him and hear His voice on the mountaintop.  I want friendship with Him, and that means taking Him the way He is.

If we hang out with Jesus long enough, we might end up seeing Him do the things He likes to do!  'Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Luke 7: 11-35  Are we going to get offended with Him for demonstrating His power?  What if the people around us don't like it?

I have to ask myself:  which would I rather have, an intimate relationship with the Lord or being understood by the people around me?  And when I answer myself, I have to honestly say, "I choose the Lord!"

Even if it makes me squirm.

August 7, 2010 Random Thoughts of Encouragement

I found a personal encouragement in each section today:

Ezra -- God can and will deal with a government that is hindering a labor given by God: this is personally applicable for us, as Bob's business has been directly hindered by State government being slow, and totally ignorant; and it was a business given to us by prophecy.

Corinthians -- I'm God's fellow laborer.  That doesn't make me better than anyone else, it just means that God is doing His part in giving increase.  I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit: His refining fire is working all the time to burn off stuff that doesn't please Him.  If I hang in there with Him, I'll have some gold and silver and precious stones to offer Him in the end.

Psalms -- I'm just in awe of the voice of God!  The power, beauty and majesty of His voice is compelling beyond all other sounds.  Whenever I hear Him, I am moved to worship Him.  I can see, hear, touch, feel and sometimes even taste His voice.  I want more.

Proverbs -- I just got this picture of the Lord walking around in my unconscious holding up a lamp.  He's not leaving a single corner, closet or cubbyhole untouched by His light.  There is nothing hidden or unknown to Him, so I don't have to fear what might be lurking around in there.  I'm encouraged to cooperate with Him and let Him completely in.

 It's just not possible to read God's word and not get something, if you're open.  If you're not getting anything real and personal from Him everyday, ask yourself this question:

Am I willing to receive whatever the Lord has to say to me today?

July 1, 2010 Don't Listen To the Trash Talk

I don't know about you, but I've heard the same type of trash talk in my head that Sennacherib was laying on Hezekiah.  Whatever voice it is, any words that lie about God are trash.  You don't have to believe them, or even listen to them.  God will put down the enemy that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, or He will give us the strength to do so.  Remember David and Goliath?  Same situation.

Todays readings all seemed to be about words!  Words are powerful.  Gossip's got hidden poison in it, as we saw in the Proverbs.  Praise and the declaration of God's word are weapons that can take out Satanic control of nations, as we read in Psalms.  We saw what the Assyrian king got for his efforts to defame God (crazy that he would go back after the decimation of his army and worship his loser god, isn't it?).  We saw how the prophetic word annulled the evil pronouncement against God's people.  We read about how people can truly see future events and declare them to you, but you have to hear God about your response to it, as did Paul about what would happen to him in Jerusalem (all prophesy needs to be interpreted and applied properly, which takes seeking God).

Knowing God's word and learning to know His voice, in whatever form it comes, are two of the greatest pursuits in life, and I am dedicated to them.  I am grateful to every teacher, pastor and prophetic communicator that has ever helped me to recognize God's word, who has given me tools to help me walk in obedience to God and to overcome the devil's trash talk. 

God's word is your defense.  When you stand in the truth of Christ, nothing can ever defeat you.