From the glory and rejoicing of the dedication of Solomon's temple to the hard-hearted stoning of Stephen: what a jolting and disturbing contrast!
I don't have a lot to say about this. Except: this could be us! At any time, it could be me. This is a stark picture of what happens to us when we habitually stop our ears from the Word of God, reject true prophetic expressions from the Lord, or refuse to receive a godly rebuke given in love. Taking the truth can be painful, but when we refuse it, we can kill. (Don't just limit killing to picking up a stone-- you know we can kill with words, with looks, with rejection.)
I pray that the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment will show us the heart of the matter. One thing I see is that, if we get stuck where we're at and make a religion out of what's supposed to be a relationship, we are at risk of completely misunderstanding, and even outright rejecting, the next thing that God might do. His purposes have been flowing along, right from the beginning, and He's never turned back from where He's been going. The people of Stephen's day were right in the middle of God's river, the same river they were in during Solomon's reign, and yet they misinterpreted what was happening. He even told them in advance what He was going to do.
KEY:
God always goes higher and deeper! Instead of the commandments in the ark and the glory cloud in the holy place of the temple, the living Word was in Stephen and the glory of God had filled him, a temple "not made with hands." [Not just Stephen, but any Christian who allows Him to do so.]
I've seen and heard of God doing some pretty strange things. Sometimes I've misjudged these things, and later had to repent. I think God's going to be doing some very radical things in these days. I've heard some things, even just today, that fit that description, and I'm not going to disregard them. We need discernment, and we definitely need to stay close to Jesus and listen to His Spirit, Who is glad to interpret to us what He is saying and doing in these last days. Let's not cover our ears!
"But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse." Acts 7:57 NASB
Bonus: Discern the difference between following the crowd and the unity of the Spirit.
Showing posts with label rejection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rejection. Show all posts
Friday, June 11, 2010
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!
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.
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.
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
Thursday, January 21, 2010
January 21, 2010
I see a deep resonance between the story of Joseph and the story of Jesus. I realize this is not a new revelation, but I'm seeing it a different way than I have before. This might help you if you've been rejected by your family and close relations because of your testimony of Christ.
Joseph was rejected and sold into slavery-- by his brothers. Jesus could not do many deeds of power in his own home town because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 His own people ended up killing him. But Joseph and Jesus were both raised up to be the savior of their people, and beyond.
Rejection could be the platform from which you are raised up to bring salvation to many. Forgiveness is a deed of power that overcomes.
Joseph was rejected and sold into slavery-- by his brothers. Jesus could not do many deeds of power in his own home town because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:58 His own people ended up killing him. But Joseph and Jesus were both raised up to be the savior of their people, and beyond.
Rejection could be the platform from which you are raised up to bring salvation to many. Forgiveness is a deed of power that overcomes.
Monday, January 18, 2010
January 18, 2010
I wonder how much of the "persecution" we go through is brought on by our own mouth and attitudes? Joseph ended up in a pit because of his, even though he had true dreams. Genesis 37: 5-8 My pride has brought me down many times-- and yet, God is faithful and performs His word. We may have to go through some rough stuff, though, to get us to the place where we can handle our dreams and visions.
If we know we have the favor of God (all His children do), we should help others come to the knowledge that they are favored as well, rather than acting like we are super special above others.
If we're seeing bad fruit in our lives, maybe we should check the tree it's coming off of. A root of pride is going to cause us to say things at the wrong time and with the wrong attitude. And it's our words that indicate our heart condition. Matthew 12: 33-37
There is no glory in being criticized, mistreated, avoided or outright rejected because of our own shortcomings-- no glory for ourselves or the Lord. But if we are persecuted and our hearts do not judge us, then we can say with David: "because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
Psalm 16:8b
If we know we have the favor of God (all His children do), we should help others come to the knowledge that they are favored as well, rather than acting like we are super special above others.
If we're seeing bad fruit in our lives, maybe we should check the tree it's coming off of. A root of pride is going to cause us to say things at the wrong time and with the wrong attitude. And it's our words that indicate our heart condition. Matthew 12: 33-37
There is no glory in being criticized, mistreated, avoided or outright rejected because of our own shortcomings-- no glory for ourselves or the Lord. But if we are persecuted and our hearts do not judge us, then we can say with David: "because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved."
Psalm 16:8b
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