I love a mystery, don't you? What I enjoy most about a mystery is finding out the solution. If there's only mystery, and no revelation, the thrill is lost and the only thing left is frustration! That's good news when it comes to the gospel! It's a mystery revealed: "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints" "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1: 26, 27b
I'm going to let the Holy Spirit speak to you about that, because it's such a packed statement it really takes the whole New Testament to unfold it! I felt, though, that I needed to be forthright in clearing up an apparent mystery as to why I have not kept up writing in Daily Manna. Be assured, I haven't back-slidden, and I'm still reading my One Year Bible, as I hope you are. I certainly hope my silence has not been a discouragement to you.
I have felt great pressure to "spew" while I've been reading the prophets-- everything I read is so vividly relevant to the present condition of our nation. But the Holy Spirit had not released me to speak what's been on my heart. Just because I have a daily blog does not mean I have permission to speak daily! This is a human expectation (mine included) that can cause pressure. Again I remind you, the designation "Daily Manna" refers to the daily reading of God's Word, not my daily words!!
The Lord has made it clear to me that I am under no compulsion to write daily; rather He has strongly gotten it across to me that I am NOT to do so, at least not now. I will, however, write when He tells me to. This will keep me from blowing off steam that is supposed to build and give me momentum to accomplish the things He has given me to do. It's a hard lesson to learn, for all of us, that just because we have something to say (referring here to something TRUE to say), doesn't mean we should always say it. The goal is to be like Christ, and He only did and said what He saw His Father doing and saying at any given time.
Scriptures are clear about what is wrong and what needs to be done about it. I hope you have been brave and have continued to sludge (if you felt that way) through the prophets' words of wrath and judgment, and that the Holy Spirit has revealed to you the things you needed to see and discuss with Him in prayer. I hope these passages have given you great impetus for intercession. I hope you were comforted and inspired by the many words of hope and pictures of Christ in Isaiah, as was I.
What I want to do today, dear brother or sister, is to encourage you and bless you. I do not curse my country as some people do, but neither do I wish to bless evil as some others do all the time. So what I will do is what I see my Father doing, and that is bless His people, His HOLY nation! Who is His holy nation, if not those who fear Him? Those whose hope of salvation is Christ the Lord. In His name I bless you! You ARE blessed because you belong to HIM! In Jesus Christ, all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.
It is time to SEE the mountain of the Lord, His kingdom growing in the earth. It is time to run to the mountain! God is lifting up His banner of love-- even as the trumpet of battle is blowing-- lifting up His covering which is Christ's blood. Under this covering we are protected from God's wrath against evil. Yes, there is wrath. I feel it inside many times, and maybe you do too, against corruption, injustice and plain stupidity. There is a separation of light from darkness as the Spirit hovers, brooding over the earth. What He is forming in you is CHRIST! Not the world's lying definition of that, but Christ Himself, the Word of Truth. This is your hope of glory, the light shining out into the darkness. There will definitely be a separation-- not of church and state, as many are calling for, but a separation of the wicked from the righteous. The separation will be for judgment, because this world is judged. We are under the blood, if we are His. We are not appointed to wrath (this doesn't mean we don't get some discipline at times when we need it-- we are His children, the children of light.) Let's just make sure we are in Him. As the light rises in you, the darkness will flee from you as the dark of night flees from the rising of the dawn!
This is not a time for finger-pointing or blame, but time for serious consideration, and time for deep intercession. God can and does choose nations, when they submit to Him; He can revive our nation, making it again a "nation under God", but the people of the nation need to be revived! When I say revival, I mean taking hold of the kindgom of God. Nationwide repentance is needed: Repentance for desiring a king other than God. Repentance for trusting in government for provision and safety rather than trusting in the Lord. Repentance for running after and serving other gods. Repentance for the sacrifice of children to the evil spirits of old. Repentance for allowing the freedom that Christ bought for us, that we have fought so desperately to retain, to be traded in for slavery. There are many other things to be repented of, as the Word and Spirit will testify.
The Church must from the heart repent for its lack of discernment and from hiding from her duties: "These things also belong to the wise: It is not good to show partiality in judgment. He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them." Proverbs 24: 23-25
As citizens of an earthly nation, we must come before God to repent for the sins of our nation; as citizens of Heaven, we must call our earthly nation to come under the blood of Christ and be reconciled to God. Then, as citizens of both Earth and of Heaven, when it's time, we must get out and vote as the Holy Spirit, Scripture and conscience direct.
There is no more time for excuses or laziness. Let the Sun rise in you and enlighten the darkness!
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Colossians 1: 19-20
Questions to ponder:
What parts of the Word have been a mystery to you? Have you asked God to reveal them to you? What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you lately?
What influences have you come under in your life that have stolen the freedom you have in Christ? Are you a slave to anything right now, other than Christ? Do you know how to get free?
How much do you value your freedom? Are you willing to fight for it?
What enemies do you see that want to destroy your freedom? What part of the battle is physical, and what part is spiritual?
Showing posts with label judgment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label judgment. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
September 20, 2010 A Vision In The Fire
Instead of trying to figure all this out in my mind, I just let the words today swirl around me and soak into me. Don't you just love the visions of the Lord here, how He stands out with such magnificent beauty and glory? The visions of judgment can create an overwhelming fear in people sometimes, but in these passages we are given such a clear vision of the Lord and His indestructible kingdom, that if we keep our eyes on Him we will be able to stand and trust Him until it is all accomplished. Seeing Him in this way reminds me of what the three Hebrew men saw in the firey furnace: the Lord Himself present among them. They came forth without even the smell of smoke on them. When we are in the Lord, this is what our experience will be. Whether we are being persecuted by the wicked, or the fires of judgment burn, we will be preserved and protected by our Savior when we are standing with Him.
Weighed in the balance:
HYPOCRISY
"Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites," Isaiah 33:14
We may be fooled by false righteousness, but it will not hold up against the fire. If we have a fear of judgment, we may want to examine ourselves and see if we are walking in hypocrisy. It can sneak up on us even when we are serious about walking with the Lord. The sure way to stay secure is to
WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Because God looks at the heart, there is no "formula" for living that is fireproof. Good behavior can be hypocrisy when it covers up hidden lust in the heart (and lust is simply whatever is motivating the flesh at the time). God is so good to bring things about in such a way as to reveal to us what we thought was the fruit of the Spirit but was only our own effort at being good.
Only the fruit of the Spirit can hold up under pressure, and fire. There is no reason to worry about this: walk with Him and trust Him to reveal what needs to be revealed. A desire to walk in the Spirit, and humble prayer for the Lord to teach us how, will set us on the path. His voice is always leading us, so all we must do is listen and obey. The Word is our guide as well; if we neglect the Word, it's harder to hear Him speak to us in our heart. The good news is, if you are born again, it is natural for you to walk in the Spirit! The more mature you get, the more swiftly you will run. You are free to BE in Him, you see!
Questions to ponder:
What fruits of the Spirit have you been able to see in your life lately? How about in your spouse, child or friend? Have you ever thought about mentioning it to them? How would you feel if someone pointed out a fruit of the Spirit that they saw growing in your life?
What is it about hypocrisy that bothers you the most? In yourself? In another? What is your response to it? What did Jesus say about it?
What would hypocrisy look like on a national level? What should our response be to hypocrisy in the government or in our leaders?
Weighed in the balance:
HYPOCRISY
"Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites," Isaiah 33:14
We may be fooled by false righteousness, but it will not hold up against the fire. If we have a fear of judgment, we may want to examine ourselves and see if we are walking in hypocrisy. It can sneak up on us even when we are serious about walking with the Lord. The sure way to stay secure is to
WALK IN THE SPIRIT. Because God looks at the heart, there is no "formula" for living that is fireproof. Good behavior can be hypocrisy when it covers up hidden lust in the heart (and lust is simply whatever is motivating the flesh at the time). God is so good to bring things about in such a way as to reveal to us what we thought was the fruit of the Spirit but was only our own effort at being good.
Only the fruit of the Spirit can hold up under pressure, and fire. There is no reason to worry about this: walk with Him and trust Him to reveal what needs to be revealed. A desire to walk in the Spirit, and humble prayer for the Lord to teach us how, will set us on the path. His voice is always leading us, so all we must do is listen and obey. The Word is our guide as well; if we neglect the Word, it's harder to hear Him speak to us in our heart. The good news is, if you are born again, it is natural for you to walk in the Spirit! The more mature you get, the more swiftly you will run. You are free to BE in Him, you see!
Questions to ponder:
What fruits of the Spirit have you been able to see in your life lately? How about in your spouse, child or friend? Have you ever thought about mentioning it to them? How would you feel if someone pointed out a fruit of the Spirit that they saw growing in your life?
What is it about hypocrisy that bothers you the most? In yourself? In another? What is your response to it? What did Jesus say about it?
What would hypocrisy look like on a national level? What should our response be to hypocrisy in the government or in our leaders?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
September 14, 2010 Hastening Righteousness
As I read the O.T. prophets I sometimes wonder what kind of relevancy there is in them (for myself, for us right now) . I love to find the passages that speak directly of Christ, so of course I'm always looking for that. But what of the rest of it? It's easy to want to pass over it. Today though, since the coming elections are on my mind (I've been seeking the Lord for ways to pray for the nation), these prophetic words take on a poignant application.
One thing we can see in the prophetic writings, especially the ones of judgment on particular nations, is what is it that pleases God in a nation, and what brings His anger and judgment? I see a clear "compare and contrast" of the rulership of Christ vs. the rulership of earthly kingdoms. If we're open to it, I think we will be able to see our nation, with its government and leadership, as God sees it. We will have a clearer vision of what we should look for in our leaders, and we will be able to see what the future outcomes will be of the decisions made in our government. As the constituents of a democracy, the responsibility for these falls on us.
Rather than attempt to tell you (or myself) what to think or pray, I'm simply going to point out the sides of the "balance" that I see. I don't want the proclamation on us in the heavenlies to be you've been weighed in the balance and found wanting. On God's right hand is Christ, the King, and His righteous character. On the left is that which, eventually, will be separated out and destroyed.
In mercy the throne will be established;
And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David,
Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.
Isaiah 16:5
We know that Jesus Christ is returning to reign on Earth, and that His reign will be just, righteous and true. But anyone who wants to can willingly give up the throne and allow Him to rule right now (in the future, it will be mandatory). This is simply recognizing the reality that Jesus is actually Lord. "All authority in heaven and earth is given to me." The truth is, there is only one throne. Anyone in it other than Him is a usurper and will be overthrown. It is easy enough to tell who is on the throne-- in my own life and in the nations.
PRIDE
We have heard of the pride of Moab—
He is very proud—
Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath;
But his lies shall not be so.
Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab;
Everyone shall wail.
Isaiah 16: 6-7a
Pride is what brought Satan down, and what will bring every nation and every individual to a fall.
The first and best thing we can each do for our nation is to go before the Lord and allow Him to reveal Himself to us. In His presence, our own pride and haughtiness are revealed. The places where we do not allow Him to rule are revealed. If we allow Him to take the logs out of our eyes, we may, with His grace, have a clear enough vision to see the faults of our nation and take them before the Lord in humble intercession.
Questions to ponder:
We often hear the statement God Bless America! Do you say it?
Have you ever taken for granted the fact of God's blessing the nation?
What do we need to do as a nation to reap God's blessings?
On what is the Lord dealing with you today to help you be a better citizen:
1) of the Kingdom of God 2) of the country you live in?
One thing we can see in the prophetic writings, especially the ones of judgment on particular nations, is what is it that pleases God in a nation, and what brings His anger and judgment? I see a clear "compare and contrast" of the rulership of Christ vs. the rulership of earthly kingdoms. If we're open to it, I think we will be able to see our nation, with its government and leadership, as God sees it. We will have a clearer vision of what we should look for in our leaders, and we will be able to see what the future outcomes will be of the decisions made in our government. As the constituents of a democracy, the responsibility for these falls on us.
Rather than attempt to tell you (or myself) what to think or pray, I'm simply going to point out the sides of the "balance" that I see. I don't want the proclamation on us in the heavenlies to be you've been weighed in the balance and found wanting. On God's right hand is Christ, the King, and His righteous character. On the left is that which, eventually, will be separated out and destroyed.
In mercy the throne will be established;
And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David,
Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.
Isaiah 16:5
We know that Jesus Christ is returning to reign on Earth, and that His reign will be just, righteous and true. But anyone who wants to can willingly give up the throne and allow Him to rule right now (in the future, it will be mandatory). This is simply recognizing the reality that Jesus is actually Lord. "All authority in heaven and earth is given to me." The truth is, there is only one throne. Anyone in it other than Him is a usurper and will be overthrown. It is easy enough to tell who is on the throne-- in my own life and in the nations.
PRIDE
We have heard of the pride of Moab—
He is very proud—
Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath;
But his lies shall not be so.
Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab;
Everyone shall wail.
Isaiah 16: 6-7a
Pride is what brought Satan down, and what will bring every nation and every individual to a fall.
The first and best thing we can each do for our nation is to go before the Lord and allow Him to reveal Himself to us. In His presence, our own pride and haughtiness are revealed. The places where we do not allow Him to rule are revealed. If we allow Him to take the logs out of our eyes, we may, with His grace, have a clear enough vision to see the faults of our nation and take them before the Lord in humble intercession.
Questions to ponder:
We often hear the statement God Bless America! Do you say it?
Have you ever taken for granted the fact of God's blessing the nation?
What do we need to do as a nation to reap God's blessings?
On what is the Lord dealing with you today to help you be a better citizen:
1) of the Kingdom of God 2) of the country you live in?
Monday, August 9, 2010
August 9, 2010 God's Clear Guidelines For Social Networking
Today the Lord reminded me of some things I'd learned, and clarified them for me. I thought they might be relevant to you as they are to me. They have to do with our interactions with people in the world, and with fellow Christians.
First, it is most important that we do what we say. The issue of living what we preach came up first; often that's going to take crying out to God for help in order to do so. Without that kind of integrity, we lose our good witness and end up ashamed. God comes through with aid when we're committed to actually doing the Word, not just reading it and talking about it.
The issues of "intermarrying with pagans" and "sexual immorality" got a lot of attention: these are obviously really important to the Lord. With the Old and New Testament passages juxtaposed like this, I got a clearer understanding of what the Lord is trying to say, at least to me right now. I think as Christians, we mostly know we're not to marry outside of Christ, or have sex outside of marriage. But I think we can apply this to ourselves in a deeper understanding of intimacy and partnership. We shouldn't be birthing anything of mixed spiritual seed (children of the devil birthing something together with children of God; birthing something that's partly of the devil and partly of God). We shouldn't even take the risk of that kind of illegitimate relationship -- it creates all sorts of trouble.
On the other hand, the Apostle Paul made it clear that the Lord wasn't telling us to go around judging the world for its idolatrous and sexually immoral behavior, or for all the rest of the things he listed (and there is so much more)! God's got it covered. He said he wasn't even telling us to avoid contact with the people in the world, "since then you would need to go out of the world." How could we be a witness in the world if we're not allowed to hang around with people in the world?
If you'll think about it for a minute, Jesus came down out of a holy heaven and entered into a very sinful world, in human form, to hang out with us sinful people. It wasn't because He loved the sin! Obviously He doesn't! He came because He loves people, and He wanted to share God's good news with them. He wanted to give them a way out of the sin, and a way to escape the corruption in the world and the judgement of the world that is to come. He is the Way, and He made it possible for us to see that.
Now it's up to us to do the same. He never engaged in the sinful behavior, however. He was always Himself, yet He made Himself accessible. He was engaging without compromise. Jesus is the best example of how to do godly social networking. Not only that, He's given us His Spirit to help us do it right.
Paul brought up a major issue about how to deal with people who call themselves Christians and don't live like it (and it seems to me that he is talking about habitual lifestyle, not just mistakes, since he called them "evil people"!). As I said before, we should not be one of those. But here we see that we shouldn't even hang around with one of those! Does this seem contradictory? Hang out with the sinners in the world, but don't hang out with the sinners in the Church.
Well, think about it. First, there's the possibility that it might be an imposter (poser, infiltrator), possibly a wolf. Or it could be a person under the influence of a Jezebel spirit. Any of these types are stalking around looking to lead people astray and devour them. Someone doing immoral things within the body of Christ ends up leading others to do the same, usually the lambs. It despoils the testimony of the Church, and it grieves the Spirit of God. The Church is about oneness with God and each other. God will not be one with evil! There may be other reasons besides these. Whatever the reasons for God saying it's a big deal, Paul makes it clear that it's dangerous and that we are to take action. Yes, we are to judge it. We are to disengage from fellowship with them, and we are not to associate. [If you have read further in the letters of Paul, you will see that this choice is to be redemptive always].
As you can see, the things we read in Scripture are very relevant and applicable to our daily lives. I received some clear instruction today, and some things on which to seek God further. I hope you did too.
Questions to ponder:
How committed are you to obeying what the Word of God teaches?
What do you do when you are up against a compromising situation?
Have you ever gotten too involved with an unbeliever? How did that turn out?
How much say does God have in your own social networking practices?
How does God's Word affect how you relate to people in the world? people in the church? Is He calling for any change in these areas?
Have you ever had to give up a Christian friend because they were living a sinful lifestyle? What would tell someone facing that type of choice?
First, it is most important that we do what we say. The issue of living what we preach came up first; often that's going to take crying out to God for help in order to do so. Without that kind of integrity, we lose our good witness and end up ashamed. God comes through with aid when we're committed to actually doing the Word, not just reading it and talking about it.
The issues of "intermarrying with pagans" and "sexual immorality" got a lot of attention: these are obviously really important to the Lord. With the Old and New Testament passages juxtaposed like this, I got a clearer understanding of what the Lord is trying to say, at least to me right now. I think as Christians, we mostly know we're not to marry outside of Christ, or have sex outside of marriage. But I think we can apply this to ourselves in a deeper understanding of intimacy and partnership. We shouldn't be birthing anything of mixed spiritual seed (children of the devil birthing something together with children of God; birthing something that's partly of the devil and partly of God). We shouldn't even take the risk of that kind of illegitimate relationship -- it creates all sorts of trouble.
On the other hand, the Apostle Paul made it clear that the Lord wasn't telling us to go around judging the world for its idolatrous and sexually immoral behavior, or for all the rest of the things he listed (and there is so much more)! God's got it covered. He said he wasn't even telling us to avoid contact with the people in the world, "since then you would need to go out of the world." How could we be a witness in the world if we're not allowed to hang around with people in the world?
If you'll think about it for a minute, Jesus came down out of a holy heaven and entered into a very sinful world, in human form, to hang out with us sinful people. It wasn't because He loved the sin! Obviously He doesn't! He came because He loves people, and He wanted to share God's good news with them. He wanted to give them a way out of the sin, and a way to escape the corruption in the world and the judgement of the world that is to come. He is the Way, and He made it possible for us to see that.
Now it's up to us to do the same. He never engaged in the sinful behavior, however. He was always Himself, yet He made Himself accessible. He was engaging without compromise. Jesus is the best example of how to do godly social networking. Not only that, He's given us His Spirit to help us do it right.
Paul brought up a major issue about how to deal with people who call themselves Christians and don't live like it (and it seems to me that he is talking about habitual lifestyle, not just mistakes, since he called them "evil people"!). As I said before, we should not be one of those. But here we see that we shouldn't even hang around with one of those! Does this seem contradictory? Hang out with the sinners in the world, but don't hang out with the sinners in the Church.
Well, think about it. First, there's the possibility that it might be an imposter (poser, infiltrator), possibly a wolf. Or it could be a person under the influence of a Jezebel spirit. Any of these types are stalking around looking to lead people astray and devour them. Someone doing immoral things within the body of Christ ends up leading others to do the same, usually the lambs. It despoils the testimony of the Church, and it grieves the Spirit of God. The Church is about oneness with God and each other. God will not be one with evil! There may be other reasons besides these. Whatever the reasons for God saying it's a big deal, Paul makes it clear that it's dangerous and that we are to take action. Yes, we are to judge it. We are to disengage from fellowship with them, and we are not to associate. [If you have read further in the letters of Paul, you will see that this choice is to be redemptive always].
As you can see, the things we read in Scripture are very relevant and applicable to our daily lives. I received some clear instruction today, and some things on which to seek God further. I hope you did too.
Questions to ponder:
How committed are you to obeying what the Word of God teaches?
What do you do when you are up against a compromising situation?
Have you ever gotten too involved with an unbeliever? How did that turn out?
How much say does God have in your own social networking practices?
How does God's Word affect how you relate to people in the world? people in the church? Is He calling for any change in these areas?
Have you ever had to give up a Christian friend because they were living a sinful lifestyle? What would tell someone facing that type of choice?
Friday, April 23, 2010
April 23, 2010
As much as I wanted to get into a less weighted topic than yesterday's, I couldn't help honing in on this verse, as it seemed to deserve our focused attention: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21: 34-38
[It is a very good study to look up the words in this verse in the Greek--I did.]
I was brought up believing in the Rapture (the doctrine that says Christians will be taken off of Earth while the unbelievers suffer through the tribulation and God's wrath). When I began to see that Jesus' exhortations and prophecies were meant to help us "endure until the end," I then had a big question about the above verse-- Jesus telling us to pray we'd be counted worthy to escape. I've never heard a Rapture doctrine about being worthy, only about being a Christian, and then, of course, about people getting saved afterward, such as in the "Left Behind" series. As as good friend of mine used to say, "The only way to get out of here is to die."
I wish that there was such a thing as being Christlike enough to get lifted off the world and out of trouble. I think of Enoch as an example. But as that leaves little hope for me, and probably for you either, I'm searching for a better answer. What does Jesus mean-- counted worthy to escape? Are people like Enoch and Elijah the only ones who get to escape? I hope not, because "all these things that will come to pass" don't sound too pretty. I seriously want to escape! You?
Jesus was well aware of this desire to escape, and addressed it in the above verses. “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life." Most of us avoid the carousing and drunkenness, don't we? But most of us are certainly weighed down with the cares of this life. Negative thoughts swirl about our heads, things like "it was sure nice when life was good." The temptation of escapism is greater than it has ever been. And the modes of practicing escapism are grand and varied indeed. It's hard to resist getting lost in whatever form of entertainment appeals to us at the moment.
It is easy for me to imagine staying lost in some awesome BluRay movie, cool video game, or fantasy novel for the rest of my life. Then what: I couldn't stand before the Lord: I'd be covered in shame, with what excuse-- I didn't have the strength to watch and pray, and to get His help in staying mentally, emotionally and spiritually sober. No difference whatsoever, from when I was lost in drug-land long ago. The motivation would have been the same: I couldn't handle life. (I still enjoy movies, games, and books in moderation, don't get me wrong. I still have to be careful I don't use them wrongly. God ministers to our hearts, each on the things we need to deal with. I use myself as an example.)
I've come a long way from my drug-using days, and yet, I still feel intense pressure to escape. Things in the world are hard to face-- I can't fix them. I sometimes feel at a loss to even deal with things in my own firsthand world. It would be nice not to think about them. And yet the Lord challenges us to stay awake, watch for Him, live for Him. The Holy Spirit is our constant helper.
There is a great Harvest of souls to come out of the world and into God's Kingdom, and I want to be here to work in that field. People are frightened and hurting, dazed and confused. Jesus Christ Himself is what we have to give them, and if we keep our eyes open in the spirit, we will be able to do "whatever I see my Father doing." We have to live on the Earth in order to do that. How will we survive in such a dangerous time as this? I'm so glad you asked.
Psalm 91 showed up right when I needed it! This Psalm has been such a comfort for me ever since I was first born-again. It speaks to me of how we can escape the evil and dangers of the last days and keep our wits about us too. We are to dwell in God: "Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways." Psalm 91: 9-11 We can dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High!
Jesus is our secret place, and we know that we are in Him and He is in us-- we are seated in the heavenlies. We enter into this reality by faith, by spending time with Him and allowing Him to establish this reality in us, so that we can experience it. It takes focus on heavenly things, laying aside everything that keeps us weighed down. Once we realize that we can be empowered to overcome, here on Earth, for His purposes, it makes it a lot easier to watch for Him, trust Him and do His will.
If we're listening, we won't be surprised, or ashamed, at His coming!
For further study-- people and situations in Scripture who escaped the judgments of God without leaving Earth:
Israel in Goshen and at Passover
Lot and his family from Sodom [his wife didn't "stand"]
Noah and his family when God flooded the earth
(There are more, I'm sure, but these are what I thought of right away.)
Jesus is the Refuge we run to.
Jesus is our Hope for our future.
Jesus is our Safe Home.
[It is a very good study to look up the words in this verse in the Greek--I did.]
I was brought up believing in the Rapture (the doctrine that says Christians will be taken off of Earth while the unbelievers suffer through the tribulation and God's wrath). When I began to see that Jesus' exhortations and prophecies were meant to help us "endure until the end," I then had a big question about the above verse-- Jesus telling us to pray we'd be counted worthy to escape. I've never heard a Rapture doctrine about being worthy, only about being a Christian, and then, of course, about people getting saved afterward, such as in the "Left Behind" series. As as good friend of mine used to say, "The only way to get out of here is to die."
I wish that there was such a thing as being Christlike enough to get lifted off the world and out of trouble. I think of Enoch as an example. But as that leaves little hope for me, and probably for you either, I'm searching for a better answer. What does Jesus mean-- counted worthy to escape? Are people like Enoch and Elijah the only ones who get to escape? I hope not, because "all these things that will come to pass" don't sound too pretty. I seriously want to escape! You?
Jesus was well aware of this desire to escape, and addressed it in the above verses. “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life." Most of us avoid the carousing and drunkenness, don't we? But most of us are certainly weighed down with the cares of this life. Negative thoughts swirl about our heads, things like "it was sure nice when life was good." The temptation of escapism is greater than it has ever been. And the modes of practicing escapism are grand and varied indeed. It's hard to resist getting lost in whatever form of entertainment appeals to us at the moment.
It is easy for me to imagine staying lost in some awesome BluRay movie, cool video game, or fantasy novel for the rest of my life. Then what: I couldn't stand before the Lord: I'd be covered in shame, with what excuse-- I didn't have the strength to watch and pray, and to get His help in staying mentally, emotionally and spiritually sober. No difference whatsoever, from when I was lost in drug-land long ago. The motivation would have been the same: I couldn't handle life. (I still enjoy movies, games, and books in moderation, don't get me wrong. I still have to be careful I don't use them wrongly. God ministers to our hearts, each on the things we need to deal with. I use myself as an example.)
I've come a long way from my drug-using days, and yet, I still feel intense pressure to escape. Things in the world are hard to face-- I can't fix them. I sometimes feel at a loss to even deal with things in my own firsthand world. It would be nice not to think about them. And yet the Lord challenges us to stay awake, watch for Him, live for Him. The Holy Spirit is our constant helper.
There is a great Harvest of souls to come out of the world and into God's Kingdom, and I want to be here to work in that field. People are frightened and hurting, dazed and confused. Jesus Christ Himself is what we have to give them, and if we keep our eyes open in the spirit, we will be able to do "whatever I see my Father doing." We have to live on the Earth in order to do that. How will we survive in such a dangerous time as this? I'm so glad you asked.
Psalm 91 showed up right when I needed it! This Psalm has been such a comfort for me ever since I was first born-again. It speaks to me of how we can escape the evil and dangers of the last days and keep our wits about us too. We are to dwell in God: "Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways." Psalm 91: 9-11 We can dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High!
Jesus is our secret place, and we know that we are in Him and He is in us-- we are seated in the heavenlies. We enter into this reality by faith, by spending time with Him and allowing Him to establish this reality in us, so that we can experience it. It takes focus on heavenly things, laying aside everything that keeps us weighed down. Once we realize that we can be empowered to overcome, here on Earth, for His purposes, it makes it a lot easier to watch for Him, trust Him and do His will.
If we're listening, we won't be surprised, or ashamed, at His coming!
For further study-- people and situations in Scripture who escaped the judgments of God without leaving Earth:
Israel in Goshen and at Passover
Lot and his family from Sodom [his wife didn't "stand"]
Noah and his family when God flooded the earth
(There are more, I'm sure, but these are what I thought of right away.)
Jesus is the Refuge we run to.
Jesus is our Hope for our future.
Jesus is our Safe Home.
Monday, April 19, 2010
April 19, 2010
All the passages today, from Luke on, seemed to speak to me of the consequences of rejecting the Word of God. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, prophesying that “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19:41-44
As I read Psalm 88, it seemed like the psalmist (not David) was seeing ahead to that day of destruction and expressing the feelings of a people who had experienced that destruction. He seemed not to see the restoration, but that doesn't mean there was not to be one. It reminds me of the times I have been in the throes of deep depression and hopelessness. It does truly feel like a waking death. However, I can testify that if we will continue to cry out to the Lord, He will come to us, and again reveal Himself to us and restore us, if we will respond to Him and believe His word to us. He will come with whatever we need-- conviction, correction, healing-- but He always comes with love.
How often, I wonder, does our Lord visit our life with His presence and weep for our lack of response to Him? It does not give Him pleasure to have to bring discipline, or to have to allow us to "hit bottom" so that we will turn to Him. But one thing is certain, when we do realize we are in need of Him, He will answer our cry for help. He will come with "the things that make for our peace."
As I read Psalm 88, it seemed like the psalmist (not David) was seeing ahead to that day of destruction and expressing the feelings of a people who had experienced that destruction. He seemed not to see the restoration, but that doesn't mean there was not to be one. It reminds me of the times I have been in the throes of deep depression and hopelessness. It does truly feel like a waking death. However, I can testify that if we will continue to cry out to the Lord, He will come to us, and again reveal Himself to us and restore us, if we will respond to Him and believe His word to us. He will come with whatever we need-- conviction, correction, healing-- but He always comes with love.
How often, I wonder, does our Lord visit our life with His presence and weep for our lack of response to Him? It does not give Him pleasure to have to bring discipline, or to have to allow us to "hit bottom" so that we will turn to Him. But one thing is certain, when we do realize we are in need of Him, He will answer our cry for help. He will come with "the things that make for our peace."
Saturday, February 20, 2010
February 20, 2010
I was thinking about God's statement "You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean." Leviticus 10:10. And then, there it was again in the New Testament reading! These Scriptures together made me wonder if the concept of "clean and unclean" has to do with "what the Lord will inhabit and what the devil will inhabit."
Jesus delivered the man with the legion of demons, and when He cast them out, they went and inhabited a bunch of swine ("unclean" animals by Mosaic law). The man was converted and became an evangelist then. Jesus delivered him and he became clean. Jesus called him into cleanness, a habitation for the Lord.
What happened to Aaron's sons, then, in Leviticus? Apparently, they weren't clean, although they had been consecrated with all the ritual. God looks at the heart. It's His heart of compassion to see us delivered from evil. The priests of God had all the advantages, and yet they didn't love God. The man among the tombs was an abused outcast, and yet his immediate response was to be devoted to Christ. The priests were common then, and the delivered man was holy. I think it's very interesting to see the contrasts in these chapters today, and the judgment and mercy of God.
Jesus delivered the man with the legion of demons, and when He cast them out, they went and inhabited a bunch of swine ("unclean" animals by Mosaic law). The man was converted and became an evangelist then. Jesus delivered him and he became clean. Jesus called him into cleanness, a habitation for the Lord.
What happened to Aaron's sons, then, in Leviticus? Apparently, they weren't clean, although they had been consecrated with all the ritual. God looks at the heart. It's His heart of compassion to see us delivered from evil. The priests of God had all the advantages, and yet they didn't love God. The man among the tombs was an abused outcast, and yet his immediate response was to be devoted to Christ. The priests were common then, and the delivered man was holy. I think it's very interesting to see the contrasts in these chapters today, and the judgment and mercy of God.
Monday, February 1, 2010
January 29,2010
Do you see a correlation between Pharoah receiving God's judgments and Jesus' statement "it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven"? I do! And I think it's "the little children" that live in Goshen. Matthew 19:23, 14
It seems, from reading the Exodus account, that not having the "fear of the Lord" results in "hardness of heart." These are things that keep us from entering into the kingdom of heaven. We can be as "poor as a churchmouse" and still hold riches in our heart as our god. Poor people can be as hard-hearted as wealthy people if they don't trust God.
If we look around, I think we can see the hand of God revealing hearts, as "hailstones" of one sort or the other pound away at corruption, oppression and idolatry. The sooner we admit that "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it" and that we are His stewards, the sooner we can submit to Him and stop resisting His pressure.
I want to have the soft, pliable heart of a child. Jesus laid His hand on them and blessed them. And if His hand is on me, I have nothing at all to fear.
It seems, from reading the Exodus account, that not having the "fear of the Lord" results in "hardness of heart." These are things that keep us from entering into the kingdom of heaven. We can be as "poor as a churchmouse" and still hold riches in our heart as our god. Poor people can be as hard-hearted as wealthy people if they don't trust God.
If we look around, I think we can see the hand of God revealing hearts, as "hailstones" of one sort or the other pound away at corruption, oppression and idolatry. The sooner we admit that "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it" and that we are His stewards, the sooner we can submit to Him and stop resisting His pressure.
I want to have the soft, pliable heart of a child. Jesus laid His hand on them and blessed them. And if His hand is on me, I have nothing at all to fear.
Friday, January 8, 2010
January 8, 2010
I am always impressed with Abraham's conversation with God. I'm sure Abraham was aware of the great evil in that place and was habitually interceding for Lot and his family. I always thought "how could Lot offer his daughters to those evil men?" but today I realized that the ladies weren't in danger from those guys. He included it to let us know clearly what those men were up to and what the Lord thinks about it.
I found myself comforted and warned by the Scripture selections today. Warned, because I saw how easy it is to become compromised in righteousness when we're in close contact with and influenced by the world, judging our own condition by comparison with what's going on around us. Comforted, as I also noticed the reference again in Proverbs 2:7 to the Lord being our SHIELD, and the references to God's justice.
It's also like Wisdom and Prudence, verses 10 and 11, are guarding us in the Way, and they will lead us out if need be, to protect us--like the two "men" did (I'm assuming they're angels)--from judgments to come. If I'm seeking the Kingdom and His righteousness first, Matthew 6:33, I will have my eyes on God and won't look back. Genesis 19:36
I found myself comforted and warned by the Scripture selections today. Warned, because I saw how easy it is to become compromised in righteousness when we're in close contact with and influenced by the world, judging our own condition by comparison with what's going on around us. Comforted, as I also noticed the reference again in Proverbs 2:7 to the Lord being our SHIELD, and the references to God's justice.
It's also like Wisdom and Prudence, verses 10 and 11, are guarding us in the Way, and they will lead us out if need be, to protect us--like the two "men" did (I'm assuming they're angels)--from judgments to come. If I'm seeking the Kingdom and His righteousness first, Matthew 6:33, I will have my eyes on God and won't look back. Genesis 19:36
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