If we could ask the Lord for two things in the Kids Quest Ministry, what would they be? What would we consider the most valuable to us, to our children? Proverbs 30:7-9 gives us a great example of a prayer to pray for ourselves and our children in Kids Quest:
"Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
The Way of Holiness is The Way!
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 35:8-10
The Way of Holiness is the Way. Today, we fight to remain on this narrow path, but a day is approaching when The Way of Holiness will be the only path to tread upon. Its width will widen and will only encompass great blessings instead of the ravenous beasts that want to devour us and take us away from God’s design. I am grateful and eager for this highway to be the only highway that I see! Such peace that will come over me to know that every step I take forward will only be holy to the Lord. I am eager for the days where only goodness and light will be my temptation. But, what about today? Isn’t the Way of Holiness the pathway we are to travel at present?
Our life at current battles the unclean, the wicked fools, the lions, and the ravenous beasts of unholy temptation, sin, and flesh. Where do I find the strength to carry on, to tread forward, and to remain holy in an unholy scene? We must live our lives much like the men who built the wall in the days of Nehemiah, in one hand be equipped with spears, shield, bows and armor always ready to fight the lion, the wicked, and the deceiver while in the other hand work and walk the highway of holiness! Yes, this is a hard life to live! Because quite often the unclean, the wicked fool, the lion and the ravenous beast often lives inside me! How do I escape? How do I stand firm?
A great leadership principle to remember is to work in your strengths and spend less time serving in your weaknesses. Our ultimate strength is not found in our abilities or our talents. Our ultimate success is found in The Way of Holiness; in the strength of the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10). A steady posture of prayer is my sword, a healthy diet of His word is my nourishment, and the energy drink of the Holy Spirit is my recharge.
In the Kingdom age all of life will be Holy to the Lord. I am eager for it, but even today the path of Holiness is paved for us to gait upon. Weirsbe says it well, “There is no “secular” or “sacred” in the Christian life, because everything comes from God and should be used for His glory.” If His glory is not our aim, then we can expect to be refined in the pool of affliction. Amen?! For God states this quite boldly ““I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction, for My own sake, for My own sake, I do this. How can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.” Isaiah 48:10-11.
Notice that God says "why" we will be refined in the furnace of affliction: for My own sake, for My own sake. He says this twice which gives this statement yet even more unashamed purpose! Yes, it is difficult to walk the Way of Holiness in the setting of sin. But in this setting we can shine especially if we determine to fight for and submit to God’s command to uphold His glory not our own. In all that we do, in all that we eat, in all that we drink, in all that we put our hands and feet to build and tread, we do for the sole purpose of magnifying God, His Praise, His Credit, His Fame. We will only tail on the laurels of His splendor and never ride ahead of His Brilliance. For our Brilliance is found in the shadow of His wings over us.
My friends, a day is coming, “where there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day – a day known only to the Lord – with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.” Zechariah 14:6-7. This vision from God in His word is worth fighting for; and glimpses can be captured today. I have to admit, I can’t imagine a day any more unique than God’s current creation. All that He has made is beautiful, even the darkness amidst the starlit skies. However, according to His word, a day is coming that is unique. I ponder and speculate that the reason this day will be exceptional and irreplaceable is because all of man’s supposed “glory” will be gone and only God’s glory will polish the earth; the shadows of man’s achievements will fade to nothingness and only Holiness will procreate; we will be tempted with only yearnings for more of Him – there will be nothing to compete for His glory, not even the pride of man! Hallelujah, Lord. Keep me going, keep me in your ways, I want to see this!
Isaiah 35:8-10
The Way of Holiness is the Way. Today, we fight to remain on this narrow path, but a day is approaching when The Way of Holiness will be the only path to tread upon. Its width will widen and will only encompass great blessings instead of the ravenous beasts that want to devour us and take us away from God’s design. I am grateful and eager for this highway to be the only highway that I see! Such peace that will come over me to know that every step I take forward will only be holy to the Lord. I am eager for the days where only goodness and light will be my temptation. But, what about today? Isn’t the Way of Holiness the pathway we are to travel at present?
Our life at current battles the unclean, the wicked fools, the lions, and the ravenous beasts of unholy temptation, sin, and flesh. Where do I find the strength to carry on, to tread forward, and to remain holy in an unholy scene? We must live our lives much like the men who built the wall in the days of Nehemiah, in one hand be equipped with spears, shield, bows and armor always ready to fight the lion, the wicked, and the deceiver while in the other hand work and walk the highway of holiness! Yes, this is a hard life to live! Because quite often the unclean, the wicked fool, the lion and the ravenous beast often lives inside me! How do I escape? How do I stand firm?
A great leadership principle to remember is to work in your strengths and spend less time serving in your weaknesses. Our ultimate strength is not found in our abilities or our talents. Our ultimate success is found in The Way of Holiness; in the strength of the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10). A steady posture of prayer is my sword, a healthy diet of His word is my nourishment, and the energy drink of the Holy Spirit is my recharge.
In the Kingdom age all of life will be Holy to the Lord. I am eager for it, but even today the path of Holiness is paved for us to gait upon. Weirsbe says it well, “There is no “secular” or “sacred” in the Christian life, because everything comes from God and should be used for His glory.” If His glory is not our aim, then we can expect to be refined in the pool of affliction. Amen?! For God states this quite boldly ““I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction, for My own sake, for My own sake, I do this. How can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.” Isaiah 48:10-11.
Notice that God says "why" we will be refined in the furnace of affliction: for My own sake, for My own sake. He says this twice which gives this statement yet even more unashamed purpose! Yes, it is difficult to walk the Way of Holiness in the setting of sin. But in this setting we can shine especially if we determine to fight for and submit to God’s command to uphold His glory not our own. In all that we do, in all that we eat, in all that we drink, in all that we put our hands and feet to build and tread, we do for the sole purpose of magnifying God, His Praise, His Credit, His Fame. We will only tail on the laurels of His splendor and never ride ahead of His Brilliance. For our Brilliance is found in the shadow of His wings over us.
My friends, a day is coming, “where there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. It will be a unique day – a day known only to the Lord – with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.” Zechariah 14:6-7. This vision from God in His word is worth fighting for; and glimpses can be captured today. I have to admit, I can’t imagine a day any more unique than God’s current creation. All that He has made is beautiful, even the darkness amidst the starlit skies. However, according to His word, a day is coming that is unique. I ponder and speculate that the reason this day will be exceptional and irreplaceable is because all of man’s supposed “glory” will be gone and only God’s glory will polish the earth; the shadows of man’s achievements will fade to nothingness and only Holiness will procreate; we will be tempted with only yearnings for more of Him – there will be nothing to compete for His glory, not even the pride of man! Hallelujah, Lord. Keep me going, keep me in your ways, I want to see this!
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