I often have to be reminded of what I already know. Although I may feel ashamed for having "forgotten" something I had revelation on, and really felt I understood, I am grateful for the prodding I get from the Holy Spirit. He gently reminds me, and somehow gets across His desire that I do what He's saying.
Today He used this passage to do that kind of prodding with me:
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:8-11 NKJV
I'm not suggesting that I used to be saved but now I'm backslidden and need to be reinstated. No, there's more to salvation than becoming born-again. We tend to use the term "backslidden" to mean "become unsaved," and that's a debatable concept anyway. Just because I might get close to a slippery slope of sin doesn't mean I've lost my salvation! But that's not what I'm talking about here. What I mean is: I'm not walking in total salvation because I forget to cross the bridge from believing to overcoming. What is that bridge anyway? We see the chasm, if we're honest, but we can't see the bridge.
Perhaps we don't see the bridge because whenever we reach that chasm, there is no bridge. We are put in the position of having to build it. We build the bridge over the chasm of doubt by speaking the word of truth that we believe and walking on it until we reach the actuality of our faith.
I'll use myself as an example. Through faith in Christ, I've overcome many obstacles in my life. Depression is one of them. Even though I was a born-again child of God, I still had chronic depression and bouts of severe and debillitating depression-- as I had suffered throughout my life-- until the last several years, where it has diminshed to only an occasional temptation. Quite a process and lots of help from others helped me understand how to overcome the depression. But I had to overcome it myself by walking on the bridge over the chasm of doubt.
All the Word and faith about who I was in Christ, His love for me, His purposes in my life, knowledge of the fruit of the Spirit, etc., wasn't going to defeat the darkness of depression if that truth stayed locked inside my heart. Only by speaking out loud the truth I believed in my heart, and walking upon the bridge it created, would I be able to exit the gross darkness I lived in and into God's glorious light. Declaring what I believed inside my born-again heart was the only thing that could dispel the lying reality that colored my mental and physical existence. Every time I did this, I was able to take another step into freedom from depression. Believing alone could not do it; faith demands action, and speaking is the first action we take.
Sometimes our cultural adages steer us away from believing the word of God. All our life we hear "actions speak louder than words," and so we believe we don't have to speak, only act. This is like saying "the car engine revving is louder than the turn of the key." Well, of course it is, but try getting the engine to rev without turning the key in the ignition switch! And just because the engine is revving doesn't mean we're getting anywhere. We do have to shift gears, release the brake, and put our foot on the gas. Our declared words of faith are like the key that gets it all going.
I'm saying all this to help you, as well as myself, so we can get our heart beliefs out where they can activate our salvation. I'm believing God for healing and restructuring of some physical problems that are hindering my life progress. The things I'm wanting to receive from God are stated clearly in the Word-- they are not gray or cloudy. I have complete faith in their truth, and in God's will for me. So why am I not getting saved in those areas? Because I forget to declare the truth out of my mouth. I forget to put the key into the ignition and turn it. I forget to build the bridge and walk on it.
Understanding and practicing this concept can save us a lot of frustration, disappointment, shame and even anger with God. The above Scripture tips us off as to how to get saved, and keep on getting saved. We believed the truth, and we confessed our faith when we were born again. We have to keep practicing that to get to where we're walking in all that Christ bought for us by His death and resurrection. Christ is the Word, and He is the Salvation. We unveil Him once again in our lives at every point of decision whenever we speak the truth we heard and believed.
What hinders you from confessing your faith? Ask the Lord to show you the things that keep you from speaking the word that's in your heart, so that you can walk on the bridge of faith until you own salvation in that area of your life.
Showing posts with label revelation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label revelation. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July 15, 2010 When Kings Go Out To Battle
What jumped out at me today was a phrase I'd noticed before, but never thought to wonder about: in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle.(1 Chronicles 20:1). I wondered what the spiritual significance of this was, and I asked the Lord about it. I was expecting to read about David's affair with Bathsheba, since the same phrase was used in that story. I looked it up: it is 2 Samuel 11:1, but this was a different account of David. In both accounts, it says that Joab went out against Ammon and besieged Rabbah, but that David stayed in Jerusalem in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle. Whether both accounts are the same period of time, I do not know. It is not in the boundaries of this devotional that I do external research. I will leave this mystery for later, and you can go study it for yourself if you wish.
One thing is clear, there are seasons when we should be battling the enemy, and if we're not, then we'll surely end up devastated. Going from historical ignorance here, but not spiritual ignorance, I'd say it is quite possible that this was one particular time period in David's life. It seems, from the way he took and wore the defeated king's crown instead of dedicating the gold to the Lord-- as he had always done before-- that he was falling into pride. When we're prosperous and feel powerful and undefeatable, luxury and a feeling of complacency certainly have a way of leading us away from humility and hard work and into pride and laziness. "Let other people do it; this is my due."
In our reading, although there is great time-compression in this chronicle, it is revealing to see what happened over the census David decided to do. Pride again seems to be the open door here for the sinful choice he made. "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." 1 Chroncles 21:1 The consequences for this were devastating, and God's judgment brought David to a place of humility again. Pride and not fearing the Lord go hand in hand. Pride is iniquity of the spirit, and it was Satan's downfall, remember-- he is particularly attuned to it and empowered by it.
In our individual lives, pride opens the door for the devil to steal, kill and destroy. Resisting the devil requires submitting to God, and that requires humility. (James 4:7) Humility is one of the best of our weapons of warfare. In a nation's life, pride in the hearts of those in leadership (government) opens the door for satanic attack, and also God's judgment-- which falls on the people the government was supposed to bless and protect. Rather than lash out in anger, it is wise for the people in a nation to humble themselves and pray for their leadership. I've been convicted many times of not doing this seriously enough. What I read in the Word today gives me strong incentive.
I still want more revelation about the time kings go out to battle. It was in the spring. To me that says it's the time when things that have already been planted and established are beginning to bud (spiritual or natural, and it's a different time for everyone). That means that another harvest is on its way, and each harvest should be greater than the last (for a natural example-- a harvest from an apple orchard). Satan wants to keep us and our life efforts from bearing any fruit; if there's something established in our life that he hasn't been able to destoy, he's going to want to keep the harvest from happening: "nip it in the bud." Every spring, it's the same. The bully wants to create a famine for us if he can. If we're proud and lazy-- or simply don't have a clue -- we'll lose the fruit of our labors. This was to be our provision, our offering to the Lord, and a blessing to the poor.
You know spring is a reality, therefore you need to understand the season and go out to battle. The person who has the initiative can take the high ground, or choose the most strategic battlefront. Why wait for the devil to barge in and take what's yours (by the blessing of God and the work of your hands)? You know he's just going to keep doing the same thing until he realizes it's futile. So don't be proud, lazy or stupid! Pick up your Sword and go out against him.
One thing is clear, there are seasons when we should be battling the enemy, and if we're not, then we'll surely end up devastated. Going from historical ignorance here, but not spiritual ignorance, I'd say it is quite possible that this was one particular time period in David's life. It seems, from the way he took and wore the defeated king's crown instead of dedicating the gold to the Lord-- as he had always done before-- that he was falling into pride. When we're prosperous and feel powerful and undefeatable, luxury and a feeling of complacency certainly have a way of leading us away from humility and hard work and into pride and laziness. "Let other people do it; this is my due."
In our reading, although there is great time-compression in this chronicle, it is revealing to see what happened over the census David decided to do. Pride again seems to be the open door here for the sinful choice he made. "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." 1 Chroncles 21:1 The consequences for this were devastating, and God's judgment brought David to a place of humility again. Pride and not fearing the Lord go hand in hand. Pride is iniquity of the spirit, and it was Satan's downfall, remember-- he is particularly attuned to it and empowered by it.
In our individual lives, pride opens the door for the devil to steal, kill and destroy. Resisting the devil requires submitting to God, and that requires humility. (James 4:7) Humility is one of the best of our weapons of warfare. In a nation's life, pride in the hearts of those in leadership (government) opens the door for satanic attack, and also God's judgment-- which falls on the people the government was supposed to bless and protect. Rather than lash out in anger, it is wise for the people in a nation to humble themselves and pray for their leadership. I've been convicted many times of not doing this seriously enough. What I read in the Word today gives me strong incentive.
I still want more revelation about the time kings go out to battle. It was in the spring. To me that says it's the time when things that have already been planted and established are beginning to bud (spiritual or natural, and it's a different time for everyone). That means that another harvest is on its way, and each harvest should be greater than the last (for a natural example-- a harvest from an apple orchard). Satan wants to keep us and our life efforts from bearing any fruit; if there's something established in our life that he hasn't been able to destoy, he's going to want to keep the harvest from happening: "nip it in the bud." Every spring, it's the same. The bully wants to create a famine for us if he can. If we're proud and lazy-- or simply don't have a clue -- we'll lose the fruit of our labors. This was to be our provision, our offering to the Lord, and a blessing to the poor.
You know spring is a reality, therefore you need to understand the season and go out to battle. The person who has the initiative can take the high ground, or choose the most strategic battlefront. Why wait for the devil to barge in and take what's yours (by the blessing of God and the work of your hands)? You know he's just going to keep doing the same thing until he realizes it's futile. So don't be proud, lazy or stupid! Pick up your Sword and go out against him.
Monday, July 5, 2010
July 5, 2010 Strengthening The Spiritual Immune System
Psalm 3 showed up at a good time for me; it must have been on Paul's mind too when 40 men had vowed to kill him. I don't have people vowing to kill me, (that I know of), but all it takes is one to throw a spiritual javelin at you and take you out (if you don't have your shield of faith up). When an angry person shows up at my door with no good intentions, I have to be reminded that it's "not against flesh and blood" that we fight against, but against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12, KJV and NKJV combined).
When we're threatened in any way, we tend to go into our natural "fight or flight" reaction, don't we? I haven't overcome that yet, and I'm not sure we're supposed to. The best thing to do, I think, is to train ourselves to "fly" to God, and then, if we're going to have to fight, we'll do it in His strength and wisdom, and inside His protective shield. I would like to be found in Him to the point where I'm invulnerable to enemy penetration, and always have the Spirit-led response to an attack-- but unfortunately I'm not always where I should be at every given moment.
God uses any attacks from the evil one (and yes, they often come through people who allow themselves to be used) to show us our weak places, or wrong states of being. He heals us right up when we go to Him, so it's not the end of the world when we take a hit. However, when we're not in the place of safety, we are at risk unnecessarily. We waste time when we're knocked out for a while. And the devil plays dirty and likes to kick us when we're down.
One of the worse things about getting wounded by a spiritual attack is that we tend to further injure ourselves with our unhealthy habitual responses to pain. I do better than I used to, but I have to admit I still tend to fall into fleshly "self-medicating" when I am deeply hurt. Our spiritual enemy studies how to hit us where he knows we're vulnerable: we advertise our vulnerabilities all the time, don't we? Most of us have trouble facing what "open books" we are to all who care to observe. Someone who hates you and wants to hurt you will go right for the jugular! All he has to do, then, is watch our behavior afterward to know the attack was effective. He doesn't have to do anything more, knowing we'll finish off the destruction all by ourselves.
I've learned that I will recover much more slowly from a spiritual attack, and even end up getting sick, sometimes depressed, when I take refuge in fleshly things. I thought the Proverb today was such an appropriate reminder: "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Proverbs 18:14-15 If our response to spiritual attack isn't to immediately seek out the Lord-- His word, His comfort, His healing and His wisdom-- we will lower our physical and our spiritual immune systems, becoming even that more vulnerable to whatever would like to destroy us. Even our own weaknesses, then-- things we may have begun to have some victory in-- become greater enemies. The world's lies have more access into us if we take refuge in worldly media when we are down. Do you see why it is so important to go to the Lord first of all, no matter how we feel--even if we are angry with Him for some reason?
My immune systems are pretty strong right now, because I've been spending time in the Word, and I'm generally in a place of closeness with the Lord. But I can still clearly remember times when I was not. I don't want to get there again! I can see the enemy would like to break my spirit so that I will succumb to sickness and sin and not be able to recover. I am grateful to be shown that I am not where I need to be, and that I can improve my level of immunity. I hope my experience, and these Scriptures today, will encourage you to stay close to the Lord, and run to Him first whenever you are challenged. He is your shield, your defender, your sustenance, and the One who lifts your head.
Extra credit: If the devil shows contempt for Christ by trying to thwart His purposes of redemption, can we be witnesses of the Gospel and gain great personal victories over the devil by overcoming sin, sickness and emotional disorders? See Isaiah 53, Psalm 103, Luke 4:18, 2 Corinthians10:5
When we're threatened in any way, we tend to go into our natural "fight or flight" reaction, don't we? I haven't overcome that yet, and I'm not sure we're supposed to. The best thing to do, I think, is to train ourselves to "fly" to God, and then, if we're going to have to fight, we'll do it in His strength and wisdom, and inside His protective shield. I would like to be found in Him to the point where I'm invulnerable to enemy penetration, and always have the Spirit-led response to an attack-- but unfortunately I'm not always where I should be at every given moment.
God uses any attacks from the evil one (and yes, they often come through people who allow themselves to be used) to show us our weak places, or wrong states of being. He heals us right up when we go to Him, so it's not the end of the world when we take a hit. However, when we're not in the place of safety, we are at risk unnecessarily. We waste time when we're knocked out for a while. And the devil plays dirty and likes to kick us when we're down.
One of the worse things about getting wounded by a spiritual attack is that we tend to further injure ourselves with our unhealthy habitual responses to pain. I do better than I used to, but I have to admit I still tend to fall into fleshly "self-medicating" when I am deeply hurt. Our spiritual enemy studies how to hit us where he knows we're vulnerable: we advertise our vulnerabilities all the time, don't we? Most of us have trouble facing what "open books" we are to all who care to observe. Someone who hates you and wants to hurt you will go right for the jugular! All he has to do, then, is watch our behavior afterward to know the attack was effective. He doesn't have to do anything more, knowing we'll finish off the destruction all by ourselves.
I've learned that I will recover much more slowly from a spiritual attack, and even end up getting sick, sometimes depressed, when I take refuge in fleshly things. I thought the Proverb today was such an appropriate reminder: "The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit? The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." Proverbs 18:14-15 If our response to spiritual attack isn't to immediately seek out the Lord-- His word, His comfort, His healing and His wisdom-- we will lower our physical and our spiritual immune systems, becoming even that more vulnerable to whatever would like to destroy us. Even our own weaknesses, then-- things we may have begun to have some victory in-- become greater enemies. The world's lies have more access into us if we take refuge in worldly media when we are down. Do you see why it is so important to go to the Lord first of all, no matter how we feel--even if we are angry with Him for some reason?
My immune systems are pretty strong right now, because I've been spending time in the Word, and I'm generally in a place of closeness with the Lord. But I can still clearly remember times when I was not. I don't want to get there again! I can see the enemy would like to break my spirit so that I will succumb to sickness and sin and not be able to recover. I am grateful to be shown that I am not where I need to be, and that I can improve my level of immunity. I hope my experience, and these Scriptures today, will encourage you to stay close to the Lord, and run to Him first whenever you are challenged. He is your shield, your defender, your sustenance, and the One who lifts your head.
Extra credit: If the devil shows contempt for Christ by trying to thwart His purposes of redemption, can we be witnesses of the Gospel and gain great personal victories over the devil by overcoming sin, sickness and emotional disorders? See Isaiah 53, Psalm 103, Luke 4:18, 2 Corinthians10:5
Thursday, June 24, 2010
June 24, 2010 Facing Up
Do you ever wonder why the Scriptures are so full of supernatural happenings, and yet our lives (most of them anyway) are so NOT? I do! Maybe having an ordinary life is all you want, so I guess if that's what you have, you should keep up doing what you're doing to have it that way. But me, I'm not satisfied with ordinary. I don't see anywhere in Scripture, either in the Old or New Testaments, where life with God is ordinary. It seems that anywhere He is, there is something going on that is out-of-this-world!
When I read accounts of people in the Bible having supernatural interactions with God (and doesn't that seem to be a regular thing in our readings?) a growing hunger arises in my spirit for the things of heaven, and I wonder why my life seems so earthbound. While I've been "on vacation," the Lord's been speaking to me about why I'm not experiencing as much of Him as I'd like, or even as much as I used to. I have been getting too much earthly input, and not enough heavenly! Realizing this, I decided to watch some videos from ministries I trust. All the messages I heard seemed to say the same thing (and one of them even quoted today's passage from Kings!): we should be having greater revelation and prophetic experiences than ever, and we are going to need them; and that if we want to see heaven, then heaven is what we should put before our eyes. I'm being reminded of what I knew before: whatever we focus on is what we eventually experience.
I had an inkling that Proverbs 17:24* was related to this, and when I ventured to look it up in the Hebrew, I was amazed at how much is missing in translation! I'm not going to go into a long explanation, so you'll just have to look it up for yourself. But this is the message that jumped out at me: If you face heaven, then you'll see heaven and you'll gain wisdom and understanding; but if you face earth, then all you'll see is earthly things, and you'll end up a fool.
That seems pretty simple and straightforward, doesn't it? Basically, we choose our experience of life by where we place our focus. Admittedly, it's easy to get our focus off onto meaningless and temporary things, or even "earth-shattering" events. But if we want to live the life Christ intended for us, we need to get our focus on Him and on His Kingdom. I am making the needed adjustments. You?
*"Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth." Proverbs 17: 24-25 NKJV
When I read accounts of people in the Bible having supernatural interactions with God (and doesn't that seem to be a regular thing in our readings?) a growing hunger arises in my spirit for the things of heaven, and I wonder why my life seems so earthbound. While I've been "on vacation," the Lord's been speaking to me about why I'm not experiencing as much of Him as I'd like, or even as much as I used to. I have been getting too much earthly input, and not enough heavenly! Realizing this, I decided to watch some videos from ministries I trust. All the messages I heard seemed to say the same thing (and one of them even quoted today's passage from Kings!): we should be having greater revelation and prophetic experiences than ever, and we are going to need them; and that if we want to see heaven, then heaven is what we should put before our eyes. I'm being reminded of what I knew before: whatever we focus on is what we eventually experience.
I had an inkling that Proverbs 17:24* was related to this, and when I ventured to look it up in the Hebrew, I was amazed at how much is missing in translation! I'm not going to go into a long explanation, so you'll just have to look it up for yourself. But this is the message that jumped out at me: If you face heaven, then you'll see heaven and you'll gain wisdom and understanding; but if you face earth, then all you'll see is earthly things, and you'll end up a fool.
That seems pretty simple and straightforward, doesn't it? Basically, we choose our experience of life by where we place our focus. Admittedly, it's easy to get our focus off onto meaningless and temporary things, or even "earth-shattering" events. But if we want to live the life Christ intended for us, we need to get our focus on Him and on His Kingdom. I am making the needed adjustments. You?
*"Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth." Proverbs 17: 24-25 NKJV
Friday, May 21, 2010
May 20, 2010 Death Is Defeated
When I don't post in the middle of the week, it's usually because I got in too deep. Yesterday, the 20th, after about three hours of writing, I still hadn't brought it to a satisfactory conclusion. So I guess this topic will have to be a book. I'll let you know when it's done.
I'm going to give you a clue in this day's OYB reading, so that you can go back and see what the Lord says to you about the battle between life and death. There is just too much foundation to be laid for me to go into it here.
Start with Jesus' statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26
This is the key to a new mindset about life and death. The Old Testament passages and the rest of the verses in John all have revelation in them about this topic. I would love to hear what the Lord shows you about it. In the mean time, I'll be jotting down what I get, and in the Lord's timing, I'll put it out there for you. Shalom!
I'm going to give you a clue in this day's OYB reading, so that you can go back and see what the Lord says to you about the battle between life and death. There is just too much foundation to be laid for me to go into it here.
Start with Jesus' statement: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26
This is the key to a new mindset about life and death. The Old Testament passages and the rest of the verses in John all have revelation in them about this topic. I would love to hear what the Lord shows you about it. In the mean time, I'll be jotting down what I get, and in the Lord's timing, I'll put it out there for you. Shalom!
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17, 2010 Seeing the King
I've long known that David was a fore-shadowing of the Kingship of Christ. Today, the Lord pointed out a parallel in the Scriptures that I have never noticed before. The Old and New Testaments both concur that there are two reactions to the revelation of the true King. It seems when you are confronted with the King, you either love him or hate him.
From all that I have read about them, I have come to the conclusion that David and Jesus were both totally lovable. Not in a "popularity contest" sort of way, but winsome because they were righteous, powerful, wise and serving. Really, it was only the proud and envious leaders that hated them and stirred people up against them. David was celebrated in Israel from the start, but Saul was fearful of him taking the throne from himself and his son Jonathan. He "saw" the true king, but refused to see what he saw. He tried to kill him instead. It's easy to see the parallels in Jesus' life.
The Pharisees "saw" Jesus and His Kingship but willfully refused to see what they saw. After Jesus gave the blind beggar his sight, He said:
“Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains." John 9: 35-41 NKJV
The beggar couldn't see at first, physically or spiritually, but when confronted with the King, he saw, believed what he saw, and worshipped Him. I believe the Pharisees, like Saul, could see Who Jesus was, but refused to believe what they saw, out of fear, pride and envy. They refused to acknowledge God. The Pharisees' and Saul's iniquity caused them to see their savior as an evil usurper rather than the rightful King. Once confronted with the Light, rebellious, selfish darkness will try to extinguish it.
Jonathan "saw" the kingship in David, and covenanted with him in loyal friendship. He did not try to fight for his own "rights". It says Jonathan loved him as his own soul. This is the kind of love Christians should have for one another, because we see the King. We don't worship each other, but we worship the King in one another, and we give one another the loyalty, love and honor that are due the children and vessels of the King.
How we respond to one another really reveals our heart toward God. If we allow ourselves to be blinded by heart-sin (iniquity), we will throw spears at our brothers and sisters (probably not actually, but verbally). We are actually throwing them at the Lord. If, and when, we find ourselves on the receiving end of this kind of blindness, the Holy Spirit will come along side us and defend us, as Jonathan defended David. If we love the King, we will honor His brothers and sisters, even to the point of risking our own lives.
David escaped from the presence of the earthly king, but returned in power. The beggar was sent out, first by Jesus to wash his eyes (he probably had to get out of the presence of the rabid unbelief in order to be able to receive his sight), and then he was expelled from the congregation by the leaders. Perhaps he was a great witness for the Lord "outside the camp." David's followers were "outlaws" for many years. We too, have to follow the Lord and bear His reproach "outside the camp." (Hebrews 13:13)
If we get rejected by people-- whether our natural family, self-righteous leaders, or a particular group-- be assured that righteousness will eventually be vindicated. Jesus was sent out of this world (by His own choice of course: He laid down His life), rejected by His own. But He will be returning in power to claim His throne in the glory of the Father. I wouldn't want to be one of His enemies!! (read Revelation 19). But His reward will be with Him for His loyal, faithful servants!
From all that I have read about them, I have come to the conclusion that David and Jesus were both totally lovable. Not in a "popularity contest" sort of way, but winsome because they were righteous, powerful, wise and serving. Really, it was only the proud and envious leaders that hated them and stirred people up against them. David was celebrated in Israel from the start, but Saul was fearful of him taking the throne from himself and his son Jonathan. He "saw" the true king, but refused to see what he saw. He tried to kill him instead. It's easy to see the parallels in Jesus' life.
The Pharisees "saw" Jesus and His Kingship but willfully refused to see what they saw. After Jesus gave the blind beggar his sight, He said:
“Do you believe in the Son of God?” He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.” Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains." John 9: 35-41 NKJV
The beggar couldn't see at first, physically or spiritually, but when confronted with the King, he saw, believed what he saw, and worshipped Him. I believe the Pharisees, like Saul, could see Who Jesus was, but refused to believe what they saw, out of fear, pride and envy. They refused to acknowledge God. The Pharisees' and Saul's iniquity caused them to see their savior as an evil usurper rather than the rightful King. Once confronted with the Light, rebellious, selfish darkness will try to extinguish it.
Jonathan "saw" the kingship in David, and covenanted with him in loyal friendship. He did not try to fight for his own "rights". It says Jonathan loved him as his own soul. This is the kind of love Christians should have for one another, because we see the King. We don't worship each other, but we worship the King in one another, and we give one another the loyalty, love and honor that are due the children and vessels of the King.
How we respond to one another really reveals our heart toward God. If we allow ourselves to be blinded by heart-sin (iniquity), we will throw spears at our brothers and sisters (probably not actually, but verbally). We are actually throwing them at the Lord. If, and when, we find ourselves on the receiving end of this kind of blindness, the Holy Spirit will come along side us and defend us, as Jonathan defended David. If we love the King, we will honor His brothers and sisters, even to the point of risking our own lives.
David escaped from the presence of the earthly king, but returned in power. The beggar was sent out, first by Jesus to wash his eyes (he probably had to get out of the presence of the rabid unbelief in order to be able to receive his sight), and then he was expelled from the congregation by the leaders. Perhaps he was a great witness for the Lord "outside the camp." David's followers were "outlaws" for many years. We too, have to follow the Lord and bear His reproach "outside the camp." (Hebrews 13:13)
If we get rejected by people-- whether our natural family, self-righteous leaders, or a particular group-- be assured that righteousness will eventually be vindicated. Jesus was sent out of this world (by His own choice of course: He laid down His life), rejected by His own. But He will be returning in power to claim His throne in the glory of the Father. I wouldn't want to be one of His enemies!! (read Revelation 19). But His reward will be with Him for His loyal, faithful servants!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
May 1, 2010
The essence of evangelism: "We have found the Messiah. Come and see." First of all, we have to have a revelation of the Lord. It helps to tell people how we got that revelation. Next, we introduce them to Jesus. Telling about Him is never enough-- people have to meet Him themselves. Then, in His presence, they experience Him-- He looks at them and speaks into their heart. Then they know He is God. After that, it is between them and God. People have to make their own choice, but trying to convince them without introducing them to a REAL PERSON is of little value. Once you've done that, though, you've done your part, except to pray for them and be a good example of a person who maintains a real relationship with Christ.
Friday, March 5, 2010
March 5, 2010
I come to the Scriptures to meet with Jesus and hear from Him! When I do this, I come away feeling enriched and strengthened. If I don't (meaning I just approached the Bible-reading as a religious habit or obligation), I tend to feel irritated, impatient, confused or bored-- especially when reading such Old Testament books as Leviticus and Numbers! And if I did not allow the Spirit of Truth to aid me in my studies, I would very often end up in error. I am glad the Spirit is always available to lead us into all truth, and to reveal Christ in His Word. I put my confidence in Him.
Even the Jews of Jesus' day had trouble understanding the Scriptures they were brought up with. In the Mark passage, Jesus said that the Sadducees (learned men of the Book) were wrong because "you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God." Mark 2:24 On the other hand, He commended the wisdom of the scribe and said, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." 12:34 Jesus distillation of the Commandments gives us a good template with which to begin studying the Scriptures: how does this passage help me love the Lord my God with my whole being, and what does it teach me about loving others? 12:29
When I see the Law books as a vivid and symbolic expression of God's heart, they become as revelatory to me as Revelations or the Prophets. Did you see, in the Numbers description of the "test for faithfulness," the holy jealousy of the Lord over His Bride? Have you ever experienced His written Word becoming a painful revelation of sin in your heart? I have! I am grateful that it doesn't stop there, and that Jesus took the curse Himself.
Jesus speaks prophetically over us: "you SHALL love the Lord your God with all your heart. . ." and He is bringing it to pass. He is drawing us to Himself, and His Word washes us clean. Although it often hurts, we are wise to keep coming back for more.
Even the Jews of Jesus' day had trouble understanding the Scriptures they were brought up with. In the Mark passage, Jesus said that the Sadducees (learned men of the Book) were wrong because "you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God." Mark 2:24 On the other hand, He commended the wisdom of the scribe and said, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." 12:34 Jesus distillation of the Commandments gives us a good template with which to begin studying the Scriptures: how does this passage help me love the Lord my God with my whole being, and what does it teach me about loving others? 12:29
When I see the Law books as a vivid and symbolic expression of God's heart, they become as revelatory to me as Revelations or the Prophets. Did you see, in the Numbers description of the "test for faithfulness," the holy jealousy of the Lord over His Bride? Have you ever experienced His written Word becoming a painful revelation of sin in your heart? I have! I am grateful that it doesn't stop there, and that Jesus took the curse Himself.
Jesus speaks prophetically over us: "you SHALL love the Lord your God with all your heart. . ." and He is bringing it to pass. He is drawing us to Himself, and His Word washes us clean. Although it often hurts, we are wise to keep coming back for more.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
February 6, 2010
What can I say? This is one of my favorite reading days in the One Year Bible! So much is packed in here (really all the days are that way, aren't they?)-- I feel so full, and so inspired. Maybe it's all the pictures. They make me want to do art!!
One thing I love is the picture of the "sapphire pavement" under God's feet. Another is the flowering almond lampstand all in one piece of gold. Exodus 24:10, 25:31-36. And what a glorious picture in Matthew 24:30-31-- the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the heavens, Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven in power and glory, and the angels sent out with a loud trumpet to gather his people wherever they are! Is that awesome or what? To top it all off, the Psalms 30:11 offers the picture of dancing with praise when He turns our mourning into joy.
I sure do love the Lord-- don't you?
One thing I love is the picture of the "sapphire pavement" under God's feet. Another is the flowering almond lampstand all in one piece of gold. Exodus 24:10, 25:31-36. And what a glorious picture in Matthew 24:30-31-- the sign of the Son of Man appearing in the heavens, Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven in power and glory, and the angels sent out with a loud trumpet to gather his people wherever they are! Is that awesome or what? To top it all off, the Psalms 30:11 offers the picture of dancing with praise when He turns our mourning into joy.
I sure do love the Lord-- don't you?
Monday, January 25, 2010
January 25, 2010
There are a lot of voices in the world, and we have to discern which ones we're hearing, and choose our responses accordingly. The people were saying all sorts of different things about who Jesus was, but the only right answer was revealed by the Father-- Jesus is the Christ, God's Son.
Peter got that revelation, but then he heard and responded to the wrong voice (Satan's) when he rebuked Jesus.
Every revelation from God is not as overwhelming as what Peter then got on the mountain and heard God say "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to Him!' Matthew 17:5. It's still the same powerful revelation though, so hold on to it. The next time an opposing voice comes along, use this Word and shoot down the lies.
And listen to Jesus, no matter how He's speaking!
Peter got that revelation, but then he heard and responded to the wrong voice (Satan's) when he rebuked Jesus.
Every revelation from God is not as overwhelming as what Peter then got on the mountain and heard God say "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to Him!' Matthew 17:5. It's still the same powerful revelation though, so hold on to it. The next time an opposing voice comes along, use this Word and shoot down the lies.
And listen to Jesus, no matter how He's speaking!
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