Today, the glory of God shines forth in two awesome examples of the how the Holy Spirit manifests Himself as wisdom, understanding and counsel (see Isaiah 11:2)-- King Solomon and Stephen. I never would have thought to connect them, but there it was. I hesitated to even mention it for fear of it being too obvious. But then, the glory of God is obvious each and every day when then sun rises and we think our first thought-- but plenty of people manage to miss it. It's always in good taste to magnify the Lord!
I'm not going to write a big essay on these two, because I think you're intelligent enough to see what I'm talking about. I'll simply refer you to a few verses to get you started on your own study. God honored Solomon's request for "understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart." 1 Kings 3:12. "And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice." 1 Kings 3:28
The Apostles told the people to chose deacons from "men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom." Acts 6:3. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." Acts 6:8 (Notice that Stephen was not one of the Twelve, yet he did signs and wonders). When he was taken before the council for his "blasphemy", they saw his face shining with the glory! What was the glory? The Spirit of God!
In the next few days, when you read about Stephen, look to see how the same Spirit of discernment was working in him as in Solomon when the king judged a case. Why did he get a different reaction from the same people than did Solomon? How does Solomon's heart for the nation compare to Stephen's? What does this tell us about the prerequisites for making righteous judgments?
There is great glory in wisdom and discernment! I want those-- don't you? We can't be sure what kind of outcome we'll have when we function in the Spirit of wisdom and counsel, but I believe it is a great need, not only in our daily lives, but for the nations we represent. Whatever the turn of events, we can be assured that God's glory will rest on the one who serves Him with faith, love, and humility enough to give His timely counsel with razor sharp clarity of discernment and wisdom. We could even end up glowing like Stephen did!
Showing posts with label manifestation of God's glory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label manifestation of God's glory. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
June 1, 2010 How to Light Up the King's Face
"In the light of the king’s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain." Proverbs 16:15 The promises in this proverb are great, and they induce me to want to "light up the king's face." So, how to do this?? I want God's life and favor. I'm getting a picture of the glory cloud in the day of the latter rain! I think I would like to walk in His glorious presence in this time. Don't you?
Jesus' response to Thomas, after His resurrection, gives us a wonderful clue as to how to excel in pleasing Him: Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20: 29 When we believe His Word, even when it comes through others, we please Him. He can work through faith. Jesus didn't condemn Thomas for needing to have proof, He just indicated that he wasn't going to be as blessed as those who believed without seeing.
The Apostle John was one of the disciples who believed Jesus had risen without first seeing Him in the body. Later on in his life, he was given heavenly visions that showed Christ in His kingly glory, as well as many things about the future. This is a kind of blessing that I would like to receive! When we only believe what we see with our eyes, we certainly limit our spiritual vision.
When we love Jesus enough to obey Him, this is when our faith can work (Gal. 5:6). We don't get proofs of His Word, most of the time, until after we have carried out His Word. We just have to obey. If our faith doesn't operate without signs or proofs, then our love is small and we will end up being disobedient. This, of course, is a way to NOT please the Lord, and then we don't have the flow of favor we are hoping for.
I realize that some of what I'm saying here could be taken as if God shows favoritism: but giving favor and practicing favoritism is not the same thing. God doesn't have "favorite children." He gives reward and disciplines us depending on what we need at any given time. Really, His discipline is favor, it just doesn't feel like it at the time it's happening. All His children have His favor (and this means His "born-again" children, not just His human creation). He still blesses everyone with His overflowing goodness, even unbelievers-- "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good." (Matthew 5:45)
Here's a verse that makes it clear that there is a way to "light up the king's face": "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 There's reward! Who doesn't like reward?
In order to diligently seek the Lord, we have to believe there is more than what we can see, and that God is desiring to give it. "Seeking" is looking for something we haven't found yet. If I were "seeking employment" or "seeking a soulmate," that means I believe there is a job out there that I could do, or a person with whom I could happily spend my life. I don't seek for things I don't believe exist.
The more I know God, the more I seek for Him, because He keeps telling me about things I haven't seen yet, things that are in Him. When I believe His Word-- whether I read it in the Bible, I hear it in a sermon, or the Holy Spirit whispers it in my heart-- I begin to "ask, seek and knock" for the thing I heard about. This is when I can receive. This is when I am blessed with that favor that was waiting right there in heaven with Christ.
The disciples were wonderfully blessed by having the opportunity to walk around with Jesus, see His miracles, and hear God's Word straight from His mouth. But we are even more blessed! Why? Since we don't have evidence of constant "seeing" and "touching," we have a greater opportunity to believe by pure faith (which is itself the "evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, WE have the opportunity to "light up the king's face" with our faith in Him and His Word. This opens the door to greater blessings and favor than you or I can even imagine.
Jesus' response to Thomas, after His resurrection, gives us a wonderful clue as to how to excel in pleasing Him: Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20: 29 When we believe His Word, even when it comes through others, we please Him. He can work through faith. Jesus didn't condemn Thomas for needing to have proof, He just indicated that he wasn't going to be as blessed as those who believed without seeing.
The Apostle John was one of the disciples who believed Jesus had risen without first seeing Him in the body. Later on in his life, he was given heavenly visions that showed Christ in His kingly glory, as well as many things about the future. This is a kind of blessing that I would like to receive! When we only believe what we see with our eyes, we certainly limit our spiritual vision.
When we love Jesus enough to obey Him, this is when our faith can work (Gal. 5:6). We don't get proofs of His Word, most of the time, until after we have carried out His Word. We just have to obey. If our faith doesn't operate without signs or proofs, then our love is small and we will end up being disobedient. This, of course, is a way to NOT please the Lord, and then we don't have the flow of favor we are hoping for.
I realize that some of what I'm saying here could be taken as if God shows favoritism: but giving favor and practicing favoritism is not the same thing. God doesn't have "favorite children." He gives reward and disciplines us depending on what we need at any given time. Really, His discipline is favor, it just doesn't feel like it at the time it's happening. All His children have His favor (and this means His "born-again" children, not just His human creation). He still blesses everyone with His overflowing goodness, even unbelievers-- "He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good." (Matthew 5:45)
Here's a verse that makes it clear that there is a way to "light up the king's face": "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 There's reward! Who doesn't like reward?
In order to diligently seek the Lord, we have to believe there is more than what we can see, and that God is desiring to give it. "Seeking" is looking for something we haven't found yet. If I were "seeking employment" or "seeking a soulmate," that means I believe there is a job out there that I could do, or a person with whom I could happily spend my life. I don't seek for things I don't believe exist.
The more I know God, the more I seek for Him, because He keeps telling me about things I haven't seen yet, things that are in Him. When I believe His Word-- whether I read it in the Bible, I hear it in a sermon, or the Holy Spirit whispers it in my heart-- I begin to "ask, seek and knock" for the thing I heard about. This is when I can receive. This is when I am blessed with that favor that was waiting right there in heaven with Christ.
The disciples were wonderfully blessed by having the opportunity to walk around with Jesus, see His miracles, and hear God's Word straight from His mouth. But we are even more blessed! Why? Since we don't have evidence of constant "seeing" and "touching," we have a greater opportunity to believe by pure faith (which is itself the "evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1). Therefore, WE have the opportunity to "light up the king's face" with our faith in Him and His Word. This opens the door to greater blessings and favor than you or I can even imagine.
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, February 4, 2010
February 4, 2010
I think we take God way too lightly! These readings today remind me that He is awesome in ways I don't really know, except to read about them in the Word. How would I react if I were standing before that smoking, shaking mountain with God speaking audibly in the fire, and a loud, loud trumpet blowing nonstop? But He hasn't changed!
It is wisdom to find out what God loves and love that, and what He hates and hate that. Jesus made it very clear. There is no doubt if we read the Word. If we have the proper fear of the Lord, we will study the Word and get to truly know Him. Then we will not be afraid to speak with Him and take refuge in Him. We will love Him and pursue intimacy with Him if we seek for His heart in the midst of the fire.
It is wisdom to find out what God loves and love that, and what He hates and hate that. Jesus made it very clear. There is no doubt if we read the Word. If we have the proper fear of the Lord, we will study the Word and get to truly know Him. Then we will not be afraid to speak with Him and take refuge in Him. We will love Him and pursue intimacy with Him if we seek for His heart in the midst of the fire.
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