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?

  

January 20, 2010

Again I am struck by the agreement of the passages for today, and the message in them. Dreams and parables, signs and wonders featured strongly. This is very timely, for aren't we in the times Jesus prophesied, the end of the age? Maybe we have heard the story of Joseph and the parables of Jesus since we were children, and take them too lightly. But they have huge significance for this time that we are in.

God will be speaking to us (and even to unbelievers) in dreams and visions, because we will need instruction! The parables are important for our time! Understanding God's spiritual language is needed for direction, wisdom and discernment. For our protection and the good of those we care for and serve, we must seek the Lord for understanding! It's not just for people who might considered weird because they are gifted prophetically, it's for anyone "who has ears to hear."

"Jesus told the crowd all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world." Matthew 13:34-35

Jesus is still speaking in dreams, visions and parables today, and He is still giving those who seek him the keys of understanding that will save the day.

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