It’s easy to choose exile, today. There is no one forcing us to walk into bondage. Yes, I know, we live in America, the land of the free, right? Then why is it that Americans enslave themselves to their own society, to their culture, to their schedules and to each others demands? The influences all around us can be so overwhelming, even if they are good. We succumb to its pressures instead of living by the word from Jeremiah 31:21, “Set up for yourself roadmarks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your mind to the highway…”
The question that comes to my mind when I read these three words: roadmarks, guideposts, and highway is, “What are these in my life so that I am able to complete the rest of Jeremiah 31:21? “…Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities.”
In this passage of Jeremiah, the Jews were headed to Babylon, into captivity. God instructed them to remember the route they took to Babylon because they were going to use the same route to return to their home. Israel had prostituted themselves to the culture of their day. God, being just, could have killed them, but instead He had determined to welcome His beloved back and forgive. Returning to their home meant forgiveness and a new start with God. This is His grace for Israel, and it is His grace for us, too.
We, like Israel, get easily distracted and swayed by our culture and schedules. We get off track and we miss God’s purposes for our lives. The question for us now is, “What’s the pathway back?”
Roadmark
A “roadmark” by Hebrew definition is “a guiding pillar and a distinguishing mark in the dry dessert.”
When I think of a desert, I envision a parched land that has nothing in it for miles and miles. But in the life of most Americans, our lives are hardly barren. However, the surplus of things, events, demands and duties drive our souls to this dry, empty desert that is drenched in despair and fatigue. So, what is the guiding pillar that can lead us back, help us return to our God and Father in Heaven? Solitude and Prayer!
Jesus in his busy life of preaching, healing, and casting out demons said to His disciples, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31). Notice in our passage of Jeremiah that it says “…set up for yourself…” This means we determine to put in place for ourselves a time of solitude and prayer from all the good we do. This solitude and prayer rights our perspective and keeps our purposes in life focused on God’s purposes not man’s demands.
Jesus in Mark 1:29-39 shows us this by example:
And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.
I can almost see the disciple’s shocked faces when Jesus did not respond with an urgency to meet the demands of “Everyone is looking for You.” Jesus was in the midst of healing and casting out demons. But in the middle of all this activity, Jesus had the self control to keep His perspective on what He came to earth for. He, “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Prayer in a secluded place brings rest to our soul and direction to our life! Did Jesus heal everyone? No, He chose to do what He came for! This is a hard choice for those of us who want to accomplish it all and meet the needs of everyone who is hurting; it can also be a real challenge for those who can’t leave a project unfinished. Like Jesus, we must take time each day to go to that secluded place, away from it all, all people, all needs, children, chores, and demands and spend time in solo prayer. Praying with other people is good, but praying alone with our Heavenly Father is most needed. It becomes a time of just you and Him! The temptation of impressing others with how you pray or with what words you choose is removed. It’s just you and Him – real transparency!
Being silent in a noisy world is challenging. You might be wondering, “How do I get started? I am so distracted that I can barely focus, even when I am alone.”
I suggest that you take the first 10 minutes and be still, think about the Lord and begin to unload all that is on your mind to Him (you can do this in writing, out loud or silently in your mind).
Search for God in His word; meditate on a passage like Matthew 6:25-34 and then start to relax in His presence. Then turn to the book in the Bible that you have chosen to study. God will guide you and give you instruction as to what this day holds for you; do not get up until you have that direction. This could take 30 minutes or 3 hours. In those really desperate dry times of our lives, it could take all day, even a weekend away. The important thing to remember, is we need this regular time, if we are going to live in God’s will not our own or worse, in the will of others.
We have learned that our first start is the guiding pillar of roadmarks: solitude and prayer. But what is our guidepost?
Guideposts
By Hebrew definition, guideposts mean a “marker, signpost, high heap.” Guideposts are stark warning signs that serve much like a fever does to our bodies telling us that something is wrong and we need to address the issue before we get worse.
For me, guideposts are those times when I become irritable, forgetful, and anxious, usually due to over-commitment and fatigue. When my life is getting worse, I know it by how many “yes’s” and how many “no’s” I say. If my yes’s are growing, I’m on the path of over-commitment and I have lost my way. I need to return to my Father in Heaven and ask Him where I need to say “yes” and where I need to say “no” so that I am only doing what I came to earth for. Where do I do this? Again, Jesus said to His disciples:
"Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31).
Jesus instructed his disciples to not only come away to a secluded place of solitude, but to rest a while, too. Fatigue is a problem in America. Constant activity that continues to tire us out can lead to so many crises in our lives such as: depression, sickness, missed responsibilities; neglect of family relationships, the list goes on…
The Greek meaning of “rest” means “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength; it means to refresh, to keep quiet, be calm and develop patient expectation.”
Rest does not always mean to sleep, even though that is part of it. It means to have an inner calm that relaxes the mind, the soul and the body. Notice the progression in this Greek definition: cease - recover – collect – refresh – quiet – calm – patient expectation.
Ceasing all work, being still long enough gives us the time to recover from the labor we do so that we can collect the strength needed to continue God’s work in our lives. Refreshment provides spiritual guidance so that in our quiet time we can hear God speak to our calm heart, soul and mind. In this quiet calm state, we receive. We are able to develop that patient expectation for God’s presence, His purpose and His power in our lives. At the completion of this rest we are able to do what Jesus did in the midst of His busy activity of healing, preaching and casting out demons. With confidence we can claim our purpose and state this is what I came for.
Our roadmark is solitude and prayer. Our guideposts are the warning signs that we need rest. With these in place, our mind is now able to focus on the highway. What does this highway represent?
Highway
The Hebrew meaning for “highway” is simple: public road. Notice that the scripture says in Jeremiah 31:21 “direct your mind to the highway.” I used to think that “highway” meant God. But notice that the Hebrew meaning means “public road.” Once we have spent time in solitude, prayer and rest, we are then able to direct our minds to the public and start ministry again.
In Mark 1:29-39, Jesus did not remain in solitude, prayer and a state of rest. Once He was finished what did He tell His disciples?
"Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.”
Jesus set His mind to the highway (public road), the place where the people needed to hear the Word of God, needed healing and rescuing from the evil one.
Christmas is one of many examples of a busy time. Anyone who already has a full life of ministry, family and work can attest that Christmas, like any other busy time, can throw our schedules into frenzy. It can be a blessed time, but it can also be a hectic time that even takes us away from Christ instead of drawing us near to Him.
I have heard myself say, “I love the birth of Christ, but I hate Christmas.” The busyness of Christmas can be a huge distraction and it can certainly rob us of our solitude, prayer life, and rest. It’s really the week after Christmas that becomes my best time of year. All the excitement, energy, planning, dinners, parties and gift giving are over. While I love the time spent with family and friends, the quiet in the home afterward is sweet with peace.
Interestingly, it was after the birth of Christ, that peace came into the world! Beforehand, Mary and Joseph were traveling on foot to Bethlehem, no place for them to stay because of the multitude of people bustling and hustling in the town, trying to find a placed to stay. It was after Jesus was born in that stable, where Mary wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger that the multitude of angels said to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” (Luke 2:14). Likewise, it is after the holiday that I experience the peace of Christ, a real benefit of knowing Him. I use to not be okay with the delay of this peace (after the holiday) until this year. I realized that the busyness before Christmas causes me to walk that hard road to Bethlehem with Mary and Joseph. I have a greater appreciation for the peace that comes afterward. Just like the peace that came to Mary and Joseph afterward for a time, it comes to you and me, too. Amen?
Jesus did not instruct us to stop ministering to people, or to stop the busyness of life altogether. He did not say, “Stop life and be still forever.” That would encourage laziness. It would also go against His purpose in John 4:34: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.” This is our food for each day, too. However, it is His work we are to accomplish, nothing else. To do His work may mean to leave projects unfinished, not meet every need we come across; it could mean to even take a new direction or persevere on the same hard track. Ultimately, it means a total surrender to His will not our own. And the only way to know His will is to return to Him via His pathway: solitude, prayer, rest, and ministry.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
Dismantle the Disunity
Do not use useless words or wrangle with non essential concepts when teaching the body of Christ. What benefit is this when we go after such needless things? It only undermines and takes away the truth, therefore, leading the hearers away from God’s will. (2 Timothy 2:14)
We are to be diligent and persistent in presenting God’s word correctly to all situations. The one who wrongly delivers the truth of the word becomes a tool in Satan’s deceptive hand. Remember his tactic is to say, “Did God really say...?” He was and is always questioning the truth instead of himself. This leads those to condone sin in their own life and justify the sins of another. Those that deliver God’s word in this way are deceitful messengers that need to be corrected and avoided at all costs. Their tactics will only lead to more sin and division in the church.
Is there division happening in your church? Test the scripture against the divisiveness and ask yourself, “Is this divisiveness worldly and empty chatter or it is in defense of the truth of God’s Word?” Worldly and empty chatter translated from the Greek means “an empty sounding noise.”
Now, before you answer that question, make sure that you are reading the Bible for what IT says concerning the divisive matter, and not for what you think or want it to say. It is very important to go to the Bible with the right heart.
Quite often divisiveness is the result of people comparing themselves to people. Let’s face it, we can all find someone in the church worse off than we are spiritually, likewise, we can also find someone better off spiritually than we are. This type of comparison is nonsense because God does not call us to compare ourselves to others; if we do that we get a distorted view of our spiritual walk.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Paul continues to admonish us in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13. He says we are not to live like those that “…measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, people like this are without understanding. We will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure…” And that sphere of measure for us is to “…be imitators of God…” not men. Ephesians 5:1. The correct comparison is to constantly compare ourselves to Christ. Then, we see ourselves more clearly and are able to approach the Word of God with humility. Instead of being like the Pharisee who sees himself in comparison to the poor tax gatherer, we seek God’s truth with the same humility as the tax gatherer. Our heats cry out, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” With this prayer, our eyes are opened to the truth of ourselves and we set our eyes on what the Bible truly says and not what we want it to say. In this correct comparison our hearts belong to Jesus!
1 Timothy 2:19 reminds us that“…The Lord knows who are His…” And He knows this by the condition of our hearts and the correct delivery we give of His Word. One who rightly divides His Word is birthed into a vessel that is useful and honorable to God’s people.
A simple illustration would be this: If we took one of our dirty bowls and simply washed it with water and refilled it with fresh food, does its apparent cleanliness mean it was without harmful bacteria that could infect the fresh provisions? Of course not! It may have looked clean, but it is toxic in disguise.
A vessel that cleans itself of filth is sanctified for God’s honor. It is useful to the Master and prepared for His good work. God calls us to rid ourselves of anything that destroys and pursue righteousness (right living), faith, love, and peace. Let’s ponder this question, "Does quarreling and disunity have a place in righteousness, faith, love and peace?" Or does it distort the picture of God, who is love? “Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Don’t read this quickly; you may miss its convicting weight. Read it one more time, this time slow enough to see you in it. Where are you falling short? Where are you making the mark?
Looking at 1 Timothy 2:22, who are we to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with? It says “…with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” This is the body of Christ, the church of God. There isn’t room for “disunity” if this is our DNA.
What is the antidote to disunity? It is a good shot of refusal, that’s what it is. A refusal of “…foolish and ignorant speculations that produce quarrels…” In modern day terms, this would be called, “drama, drama, drama.” Don’t you just hate “drama!” One of the very reasons I would not go back to being a teenager, is because of the constant “drama.” Drama is such a waste of time and energy. It is an endless circle of ideas, gossip and comparisons that lead to a downward spiral of NOWHERE.
“Drama” is like driving endlessly in a car without a destination. Driving in this way is exhausting. Driving is only necessary when the driving takes us somewhere productive and interesting. The only reason I get in a car, is because I know that I am getting out! And I’m getting out to a place that will be profitable to me. Let us strive in our churches to be on mission that takes us to a profitable place for the body and for those who need Jesus.
The Lord’s servants, which are His church, are to not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, gentle when correcting those in opposition. (2 Timothy 2:24-25). In this God may grant them a change of mind (repentance); this change of mind will lead to the knowledge of the truth and the ability to discern rightly why there is division in our church. If all of God’s people would take this approach to dismantling disunity in the church, the church would “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil…” They would be sanctioned in the power of the Holy Spirit to propel the saving message of Jesus.
I’ve heard the old saying that “those who eat together stay together.” In the church Paul tells that “…those who believed together, shared together, praised God together, had one mind together…” was a powerful evangelical force together. Why? Because it is their love for each other that makes God known to the unbelieving of our community.
We are to be diligent and persistent in presenting God’s word correctly to all situations. The one who wrongly delivers the truth of the word becomes a tool in Satan’s deceptive hand. Remember his tactic is to say, “Did God really say...?” He was and is always questioning the truth instead of himself. This leads those to condone sin in their own life and justify the sins of another. Those that deliver God’s word in this way are deceitful messengers that need to be corrected and avoided at all costs. Their tactics will only lead to more sin and division in the church.
Is there division happening in your church? Test the scripture against the divisiveness and ask yourself, “Is this divisiveness worldly and empty chatter or it is in defense of the truth of God’s Word?” Worldly and empty chatter translated from the Greek means “an empty sounding noise.”
Now, before you answer that question, make sure that you are reading the Bible for what IT says concerning the divisive matter, and not for what you think or want it to say. It is very important to go to the Bible with the right heart.
Quite often divisiveness is the result of people comparing themselves to people. Let’s face it, we can all find someone in the church worse off than we are spiritually, likewise, we can also find someone better off spiritually than we are. This type of comparison is nonsense because God does not call us to compare ourselves to others; if we do that we get a distorted view of our spiritual walk.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “…let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Paul continues to admonish us in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13. He says we are not to live like those that “…measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, people like this are without understanding. We will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure…” And that sphere of measure for us is to “…be imitators of God…” not men. Ephesians 5:1. The correct comparison is to constantly compare ourselves to Christ. Then, we see ourselves more clearly and are able to approach the Word of God with humility. Instead of being like the Pharisee who sees himself in comparison to the poor tax gatherer, we seek God’s truth with the same humility as the tax gatherer. Our heats cry out, “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!” With this prayer, our eyes are opened to the truth of ourselves and we set our eyes on what the Bible truly says and not what we want it to say. In this correct comparison our hearts belong to Jesus!
1 Timothy 2:19 reminds us that“…The Lord knows who are His…” And He knows this by the condition of our hearts and the correct delivery we give of His Word. One who rightly divides His Word is birthed into a vessel that is useful and honorable to God’s people.
A simple illustration would be this: If we took one of our dirty bowls and simply washed it with water and refilled it with fresh food, does its apparent cleanliness mean it was without harmful bacteria that could infect the fresh provisions? Of course not! It may have looked clean, but it is toxic in disguise.
A vessel that cleans itself of filth is sanctified for God’s honor. It is useful to the Master and prepared for His good work. God calls us to rid ourselves of anything that destroys and pursue righteousness (right living), faith, love, and peace. Let’s ponder this question, "Does quarreling and disunity have a place in righteousness, faith, love and peace?" Or does it distort the picture of God, who is love? “Love is patient and kind, not jealous, not boastful, not proud, rude or selfish, not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not gloat over other people’s sins but takes its delight in the truth. Love always bears up, always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) Don’t read this quickly; you may miss its convicting weight. Read it one more time, this time slow enough to see you in it. Where are you falling short? Where are you making the mark?
Looking at 1 Timothy 2:22, who are we to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with? It says “…with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” This is the body of Christ, the church of God. There isn’t room for “disunity” if this is our DNA.
What is the antidote to disunity? It is a good shot of refusal, that’s what it is. A refusal of “…foolish and ignorant speculations that produce quarrels…” In modern day terms, this would be called, “drama, drama, drama.” Don’t you just hate “drama!” One of the very reasons I would not go back to being a teenager, is because of the constant “drama.” Drama is such a waste of time and energy. It is an endless circle of ideas, gossip and comparisons that lead to a downward spiral of NOWHERE.
“Drama” is like driving endlessly in a car without a destination. Driving in this way is exhausting. Driving is only necessary when the driving takes us somewhere productive and interesting. The only reason I get in a car, is because I know that I am getting out! And I’m getting out to a place that will be profitable to me. Let us strive in our churches to be on mission that takes us to a profitable place for the body and for those who need Jesus.
The Lord’s servants, which are His church, are to not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, gentle when correcting those in opposition. (2 Timothy 2:24-25). In this God may grant them a change of mind (repentance); this change of mind will lead to the knowledge of the truth and the ability to discern rightly why there is division in our church. If all of God’s people would take this approach to dismantling disunity in the church, the church would “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil…” They would be sanctioned in the power of the Holy Spirit to propel the saving message of Jesus.
I’ve heard the old saying that “those who eat together stay together.” In the church Paul tells that “…those who believed together, shared together, praised God together, had one mind together…” was a powerful evangelical force together. Why? Because it is their love for each other that makes God known to the unbelieving of our community.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ticking Satan Off...
All my life I have heard people pray asking God "to bind Satan." Until recently, I have never given it much thought. But now that we have a number of people in our church talking about Satan and his demons, praying that God would bind Him and keep Him from them, it has caused me to wonder. "When the fiery darts of Satan hit us, is asking God to bind Him what we should be praying for? Think for a moment with me, isn't praying for Satan's binding and focusing on his activity a form of giving him credit and glory?
If God receives glory from us when we verbally praise Him because of His goodness, then wouldn't Satan receive glory if we focus on his evil? If we are constantly giving him so much credit for the evil deeds done to us in our lives, are we not unintentionally raising him up? Wouldn't this focus in our lives, bring him satisfaction?
If we truly intend to tick Satan off, so He will flee, what must we do? Three things are effective and the third will really send him reeling into his abysmal cave.
1. Recognize that God's power is greater than Satan's. There is no equal power between God and Satan. 1 John 4:4 tells us clearly, "...greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world." Our culture tends to believe the lie that good and evil are of equal power. Maybe in "Star Wars" this is true, but not in the real world. God is greater, which leads me to the very next action.
2. Hold up God's sovereignty in all things of our life. No trial or temptation befalls us unless it has first been passed through the approval of God's hands. Satan was not allowed to test Job without first asking God for permission. While Job's experiences were incredibly horrible, God knew exactly what Job could handle; God also planned an escape for Job. His escape? Job praised God for His sovereignty! Job chose to "...not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
It's interesting to me the many people who claim that they are victims of Satan. The only way to be a victim is to entertain Satan and his demons by having an unhealthy interest in them and their activities. When we find ourselves enticed by their presence, we invite them into our lives. And if we are doing the inviting by our own free will, we aren't really victims after all, we have become our own perpetrator. We then wonder, why are we in this spiritual mess? The danger in this belief is that we absolve our responsibility in the whole mess, leaving us to believe that there is no way out. Yet, another of the many lies of Satan.
Romans 8:35-37 tells us that we are not victims, we are conquerors! "Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...But in all these things we are overwhelmingly conquerors through Him who loved us." The word "love or loved" in this verse means "benevolence." And benevolence means to perform a good charitable act. And God's good charitable act is to provide "...the way of escape...that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) And in that endurance we are able to send Satan reeling, especially when we...
3. Use the trials, temptations and struggles that Satan sends our way as an opportunity to praise God with joy for each and every one. For when we encounter various trials, we know that our faith is being tested, producing endurance, which is perfecting us so that we lack nothing we need to do God's will. (James 1:2-4) It is in that praise that God can use the bad and turn it into the good. And nothing makes Satan angrier! However, Romans 8:28 is clear: those who love God will reap Him working all things together for good according to His good purpose. Our interests and our focus must be on God not Satan.
In the end, ticking Satan off is not our goal. Giving praise to God and producing His character in our life is. James 4:7 does not encourage us to pray for the evil one nor speak reprimands to him, instead it tells us to "Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
In return we will reap the benefit of every trial and tribulation that comes our way by seeing them clearly as God's sovereignty sees them, to be "equipped in every good thing to do His will, as He works in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ..."
So, don't fear the next trial or tribulation that Satan darts at you. Praise God for them. Now that sounded easy. I don't take this lightly as I have also faced many difficult hardships in my life, but I have learned that each trail in my life has been an opportunity to be more like Jesus! It's an opportunity to submit to God's complete control and surrender all to Him. In the end I have seen God produce holy change in my life from the trials I have experienced. And those changes have been worth the suffering!
One last point I must make to all of us. Remember that God does not call us to fear Satan; He calls us to fear Him. He does not call us to fear the fiery darts that Satan sends our way either. He calls us to "...fear God and keep His commandments..." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
If we do our part: praise God, focus on His goodness, and allow Him to mold and shape us by whatever means He chooses and leave the judgment of evil to God we will see "...God...bring every act to judgment, everything...hidden,...good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). And Satan will one day spend all eternity in His abysmal cave of contempt!
If God receives glory from us when we verbally praise Him because of His goodness, then wouldn't Satan receive glory if we focus on his evil? If we are constantly giving him so much credit for the evil deeds done to us in our lives, are we not unintentionally raising him up? Wouldn't this focus in our lives, bring him satisfaction?
If we truly intend to tick Satan off, so He will flee, what must we do? Three things are effective and the third will really send him reeling into his abysmal cave.
1. Recognize that God's power is greater than Satan's. There is no equal power between God and Satan. 1 John 4:4 tells us clearly, "...greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world." Our culture tends to believe the lie that good and evil are of equal power. Maybe in "Star Wars" this is true, but not in the real world. God is greater, which leads me to the very next action.
2. Hold up God's sovereignty in all things of our life. No trial or temptation befalls us unless it has first been passed through the approval of God's hands. Satan was not allowed to test Job without first asking God for permission. While Job's experiences were incredibly horrible, God knew exactly what Job could handle; God also planned an escape for Job. His escape? Job praised God for His sovereignty! Job chose to "...not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)
It's interesting to me the many people who claim that they are victims of Satan. The only way to be a victim is to entertain Satan and his demons by having an unhealthy interest in them and their activities. When we find ourselves enticed by their presence, we invite them into our lives. And if we are doing the inviting by our own free will, we aren't really victims after all, we have become our own perpetrator. We then wonder, why are we in this spiritual mess? The danger in this belief is that we absolve our responsibility in the whole mess, leaving us to believe that there is no way out. Yet, another of the many lies of Satan.
Romans 8:35-37 tells us that we are not victims, we are conquerors! "Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?...But in all these things we are overwhelmingly conquerors through Him who loved us." The word "love or loved" in this verse means "benevolence." And benevolence means to perform a good charitable act. And God's good charitable act is to provide "...the way of escape...that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) And in that endurance we are able to send Satan reeling, especially when we...
3. Use the trials, temptations and struggles that Satan sends our way as an opportunity to praise God with joy for each and every one. For when we encounter various trials, we know that our faith is being tested, producing endurance, which is perfecting us so that we lack nothing we need to do God's will. (James 1:2-4) It is in that praise that God can use the bad and turn it into the good. And nothing makes Satan angrier! However, Romans 8:28 is clear: those who love God will reap Him working all things together for good according to His good purpose. Our interests and our focus must be on God not Satan.
In the end, ticking Satan off is not our goal. Giving praise to God and producing His character in our life is. James 4:7 does not encourage us to pray for the evil one nor speak reprimands to him, instead it tells us to "Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you."
In return we will reap the benefit of every trial and tribulation that comes our way by seeing them clearly as God's sovereignty sees them, to be "equipped in every good thing to do His will, as He works in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ..."
So, don't fear the next trial or tribulation that Satan darts at you. Praise God for them. Now that sounded easy. I don't take this lightly as I have also faced many difficult hardships in my life, but I have learned that each trail in my life has been an opportunity to be more like Jesus! It's an opportunity to submit to God's complete control and surrender all to Him. In the end I have seen God produce holy change in my life from the trials I have experienced. And those changes have been worth the suffering!
One last point I must make to all of us. Remember that God does not call us to fear Satan; He calls us to fear Him. He does not call us to fear the fiery darts that Satan sends our way either. He calls us to "...fear God and keep His commandments..." (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
If we do our part: praise God, focus on His goodness, and allow Him to mold and shape us by whatever means He chooses and leave the judgment of evil to God we will see "...God...bring every act to judgment, everything...hidden,...good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). And Satan will one day spend all eternity in His abysmal cave of contempt!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Is Knowlege Power?
Knowlege can work for us or against us depending on what we do with it. We agree that all knowledge is not good, but knowledge that is God's truth is.
The Pharisees had much knowledge; they knew the law well and even knew how to interpret it for application. Jesus had knowledge, too; He also knew the law well, afterall He wrote it with His Father in heaven, but that is beside the point. Jesus also knew how to interpret the law for application. But there was one difference between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus knew how to turn knowlege into wisdom.
If we turn knowledge into wisdom by walking in its truth and making that truth evident by our actions, then knowledge works for us.
But if we are not careful, education and knowlege damages us by puffing us up and puffing us out. It can simply be knowledge that lays dormant in our pride and causes that pride to infect and spoil our character, for the Bible says that "...knowledge becomes arrogant..." (1 Corinthians 8:1) and that arrogance brings a person low, humbling them until they can reach the wisdom that directs them to God's righteouness. Being humbled by the Lord is not a fun process, just ask Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 3-4)
Knowledge in our minds that is not turned into wisdom by our actions is a virus in our processors. It becomes a worthless element that pervades and fills our minds, clogging it; it cannot be utilized; therefore it becomes a stench in the soul, wreaking with the smell of sin, smelling much like the Pharisees. They were a stagnant pool that diseased themselves and those in their company. But Jesus was and is a pool that gives refreshment, a water that gives life to the soul. He was the proof of wisdom in the actions He produced, not just because of Who He was but because of What He did.
So the question lies, what are we doing with the knowledge of God's truth? Is it a stagnant pool infecting us and those in our presence, because it is not producing actions that vindicate it? Or is it wisdom that is justified by our actions and refreshing by its existence seen in our lives? The truth of the matter is this: Knowlege is only power when its transformed into wisdom.
The Pharisees had much knowledge; they knew the law well and even knew how to interpret it for application. Jesus had knowledge, too; He also knew the law well, afterall He wrote it with His Father in heaven, but that is beside the point. Jesus also knew how to interpret the law for application. But there was one difference between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus knew how to turn knowlege into wisdom.
If we turn knowledge into wisdom by walking in its truth and making that truth evident by our actions, then knowledge works for us.
But if we are not careful, education and knowlege damages us by puffing us up and puffing us out. It can simply be knowledge that lays dormant in our pride and causes that pride to infect and spoil our character, for the Bible says that "...knowledge becomes arrogant..." (1 Corinthians 8:1) and that arrogance brings a person low, humbling them until they can reach the wisdom that directs them to God's righteouness. Being humbled by the Lord is not a fun process, just ask Nebuchadnezzar. (Daniel 3-4)
Knowledge in our minds that is not turned into wisdom by our actions is a virus in our processors. It becomes a worthless element that pervades and fills our minds, clogging it; it cannot be utilized; therefore it becomes a stench in the soul, wreaking with the smell of sin, smelling much like the Pharisees. They were a stagnant pool that diseased themselves and those in their company. But Jesus was and is a pool that gives refreshment, a water that gives life to the soul. He was the proof of wisdom in the actions He produced, not just because of Who He was but because of What He did.
So the question lies, what are we doing with the knowledge of God's truth? Is it a stagnant pool infecting us and those in our presence, because it is not producing actions that vindicate it? Or is it wisdom that is justified by our actions and refreshing by its existence seen in our lives? The truth of the matter is this: Knowlege is only power when its transformed into wisdom.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Identity Theft
Identity theft is the crime of someone acquiring your personal identity and using it for their own personal reasons, in others words they commit fraud.
Spiritually, we have an identity theif, but he does not want to be our identity, he does not want to use our identity, no, this thief wants to steal, kill and destroy our identity by attacking who we are in relationship with God and the ministry God calls us to.
Who is this theif? Satan.
Before Jesus started His ministry in Matthew 4, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, fasted for forty days and nights, and became hungry. It was in His state of weakness that Satan attacked. This is so like Satan to attack when a person is down, weak, and stricken. And where is the first place that Satan attacked Jesus? And where does he attack us when we are in this state? Our identity.
Just before Jesus was led to the wilderness by the Spirit of God, He was baptized by John and concluding this baptism, the Spirit of God descended as a dove and came upon Jesus; God's voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17) Publically, God announced that Jesus is His Son, His beloved Son; "beloved" refers to Jesus' mission and takes us back to Psalm 2:7, informing us that this word "beloved" is in reference to Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The baptism was in reference to His death and His burial, but God's claim that Jesus was His "beloved" referred to His resurrection. God claimed the identity of Christ and declared His mission.
Clearly stating the identiy of Jesus, Jesus was taken into the wilderness. Concluding the forty days of fasting, and entering a state of human weakness-hunger, what does Satan say to Jesus at the point of His weakness? "If You are the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:3) and immediately after the first temptation failed, Satan comes back at Him again in verse 6, "If You are the Son of God..." Both instances, Satan attacks His identity. Then failing yet again, Satan attacks Jesus' mission, by attempting to entice Him with the lust of the eyes and the riches of the world - all He said could be His if Jesus would fall down and worship Satan. (Matthew 4:9) If Jesus had fallen and worshiped Satan, Jesus' mission would have been halted and mankind would not experience what Jesus promised "...that mankind would have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
We can have the same baptismal and wilderness experience; we can have that wonderful quiet time in the morning; God lifts us up and encourages us as His child and directs us into His purpose, and then the struggles of the day come. We have a choice, just as Jesus had a choice: to easily fall into the pit of a stolen identity or fight Satan's tactic with the truth of God's word.
Protecting yoruself from the crime of identity theft takes time and effort. It takes delibertate actions to prevent the crime from happening to you. It takes inquiring and acquiring information that will help protect you. Just like taking these necessary steps to protect yourself from the identity theives of our culture, we must take the time to immerse ourselves in God's Word so that we are armed and ready to fight the spriitual identity theif - Satan. We must protect the truth of Who God says we are and the mission He has set before us. It truly is a matter of protection, life and death.
Spiritually, we have an identity theif, but he does not want to be our identity, he does not want to use our identity, no, this thief wants to steal, kill and destroy our identity by attacking who we are in relationship with God and the ministry God calls us to.
Who is this theif? Satan.
Before Jesus started His ministry in Matthew 4, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, fasted for forty days and nights, and became hungry. It was in His state of weakness that Satan attacked. This is so like Satan to attack when a person is down, weak, and stricken. And where is the first place that Satan attacked Jesus? And where does he attack us when we are in this state? Our identity.
Just before Jesus was led to the wilderness by the Spirit of God, He was baptized by John and concluding this baptism, the Spirit of God descended as a dove and came upon Jesus; God's voice from heaven said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17) Publically, God announced that Jesus is His Son, His beloved Son; "beloved" refers to Jesus' mission and takes us back to Psalm 2:7, informing us that this word "beloved" is in reference to Jesus' resurrection from the dead. The baptism was in reference to His death and His burial, but God's claim that Jesus was His "beloved" referred to His resurrection. God claimed the identity of Christ and declared His mission.
Clearly stating the identiy of Jesus, Jesus was taken into the wilderness. Concluding the forty days of fasting, and entering a state of human weakness-hunger, what does Satan say to Jesus at the point of His weakness? "If You are the Son of God..." (Matthew 4:3) and immediately after the first temptation failed, Satan comes back at Him again in verse 6, "If You are the Son of God..." Both instances, Satan attacks His identity. Then failing yet again, Satan attacks Jesus' mission, by attempting to entice Him with the lust of the eyes and the riches of the world - all He said could be His if Jesus would fall down and worship Satan. (Matthew 4:9) If Jesus had fallen and worshiped Satan, Jesus' mission would have been halted and mankind would not experience what Jesus promised "...that mankind would have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
We can have the same baptismal and wilderness experience; we can have that wonderful quiet time in the morning; God lifts us up and encourages us as His child and directs us into His purpose, and then the struggles of the day come. We have a choice, just as Jesus had a choice: to easily fall into the pit of a stolen identity or fight Satan's tactic with the truth of God's word.
Protecting yoruself from the crime of identity theft takes time and effort. It takes delibertate actions to prevent the crime from happening to you. It takes inquiring and acquiring information that will help protect you. Just like taking these necessary steps to protect yourself from the identity theives of our culture, we must take the time to immerse ourselves in God's Word so that we are armed and ready to fight the spriitual identity theif - Satan. We must protect the truth of Who God says we are and the mission He has set before us. It truly is a matter of protection, life and death.
Monday, February 1, 2010
He Never Returns Empty
Well, here I sit with a new toy - a blog site! A place where God can write through me and with this writing I hope to point people to God.
Some days, I am full of God's truth so much so that it is very hard to keep in. I feel compelled to share what God places on my heart. His message becomes this burning desire to go forth, to acoomplish, to comfort, to teach, and to guide others to Him.
I'm confident that when I write, using God's Word, He will accomplish exactly what He desires in whomever is reading these blogs.
How can I be so confident? Isaiah 55:11 promises this, "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
I trust that the "matter" God uses, such as a blog site, will be a conduit in which He can speak, bless and encourage every reader that visits.
I invite you on this journey of faith with me as we embark together on new adventures and new discoveries. I trust that we will become great spiritual friends in the process.
So, let's come to the water and drink...shall we?
Some days, I am full of God's truth so much so that it is very hard to keep in. I feel compelled to share what God places on my heart. His message becomes this burning desire to go forth, to acoomplish, to comfort, to teach, and to guide others to Him.
I'm confident that when I write, using God's Word, He will accomplish exactly what He desires in whomever is reading these blogs.
How can I be so confident? Isaiah 55:11 promises this, "So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
I trust that the "matter" God uses, such as a blog site, will be a conduit in which He can speak, bless and encourage every reader that visits.
I invite you on this journey of faith with me as we embark together on new adventures and new discoveries. I trust that we will become great spiritual friends in the process.
So, let's come to the water and drink...shall we?
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