.
And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." (Romans 11:4).
Jezebel. Her name lives on in infamy through the ages. During her reign with Ahab, her week-kneed husband, the nation of Israel turned far from God and became filled with unimaginable decadence. Jezebel herself led the campaign to murder all the prophets of God, seeking to silence their voices and dismiss their moral mandates. She instituted idol worship throughout the land, and celebrated every form of sexual perversion.
Elijah. His name stands eternal in the halls of honor -- on earth, and in heaven. He was a fearless reformer who was mighty in prayer . He rebuked kings, shut the heavens from giving rain, befriended Gentiles, and called fire from heaven to fall upon the false prophets of Baal.
These two polar figures live at the same time in history, and their embattled relationship with each other was the stuff of daily news. It was the epic struggle between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood. The wicked Queen held political power; Elijah carried moral authority, and walked in spiritual power. And when the smoke cleared in the aftermath of their tumultuous years, Jezebel was eaten by wild dogs and passed as dung in the open fields; while Elijah was spirited to heaven in a chariot of fire.
But he did have some bad days. Days when doubts assailed him, and loneliness overtook him. Days when it seemed as if no one else even cared. Elijah was a man familiar with the depression that often follows successful ministry.
We find him alone in a cave, where he has fled from Jezebel in a moment of weakness and fear. We hear his honest complaint to the Lord, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." (vs.14).
Then, in a still small voice, God answered the wavering prophet, "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
Seven thousand! Any way you look at it, that's a mighty host. Especially to a man who thought that he was the only one. Elijah had no idea how much his courage, faithfulness and public action had influenced a multitude, who even now were standing their ground, ready to turn the tide back to truth and goodness.
And is it not even the same today? Despite the wholesale cave-in to immorality, greed, perversion, hatred and deceit -- the Lord has yet reserved unto Himself "seven thousand" unbending knees!
Truth will win the battle, and when the smoke clears -- will we see you as one who is still standing? One who did not bend the knee to Baal? Surely your answer is a resounding, "YES!!!"
.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Nothing to Lose
.
"None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself" (Acts 20:24).
There can be few things more exasperating than trying to defeat somebody who has nothing to lose; someone who is so anchored and secure in the faithfulness of God, that man's puny efforts to the contrary hold no power over them whatsoever.
Imagine Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, ever being threatened again with death. "What are you gonna do, kill me?" he might ask. And the incredulous look on his face would surely turn even his fiercest foe away, feeling like a fool.
Paul had that same unwavering confidence in the face of horrific threats, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).
The fourth "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Lose."
Paul was a man with nothing to lose. Elsewhere he wrote, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). How are you going to defeat a man like that? You're not!
Perhaps the better question now is how do we become that kind of person? The answer is simple really; the key to living a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
The Bible tells us that while Paul was enroute to Rome upon a ship, a great storm assailed the vessel with hurricane force; such that in the words of Luke, "all hope of our being saved was lost."
And there, in that dark and hopeless moment, Paul, though a prisoner in chains, stepped forward and took charge. "Be of good cheer," he said, "for there stood by me this night an angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve, saying, 'Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Act 27:23-25).
Our storm-tossed world could use some men and women like this right now. Men and women who belong to God and serve Him faithfully; men and women to whom God speaks in the midst of the storms. Men and women who, despite their mistreatment, nevertheless step forward with a word of hope in hopeless times. Are you one of them? Wouldn't you like to be?
In summary, we have seen over the past few days that a life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love. A life with nothing to prove comes from standing in God's grace. A life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light. And a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
The man or woman who lives this life will be undefeated. Why not be this person!
.
"None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself" (Acts 20:24).
There can be few things more exasperating than trying to defeat somebody who has nothing to lose; someone who is so anchored and secure in the faithfulness of God, that man's puny efforts to the contrary hold no power over them whatsoever.
Imagine Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, ever being threatened again with death. "What are you gonna do, kill me?" he might ask. And the incredulous look on his face would surely turn even his fiercest foe away, feeling like a fool.
Paul had that same unwavering confidence in the face of horrific threats, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God" (Act 20:24).
The fourth "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Lose."
Paul was a man with nothing to lose. Elsewhere he wrote, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). How are you going to defeat a man like that? You're not!
Perhaps the better question now is how do we become that kind of person? The answer is simple really; the key to living a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
The Bible tells us that while Paul was enroute to Rome upon a ship, a great storm assailed the vessel with hurricane force; such that in the words of Luke, "all hope of our being saved was lost."
And there, in that dark and hopeless moment, Paul, though a prisoner in chains, stepped forward and took charge. "Be of good cheer," he said, "for there stood by me this night an angel of the God, whose I am and whom I serve, saying, 'Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.' Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me" (Act 27:23-25).
Our storm-tossed world could use some men and women like this right now. Men and women who belong to God and serve Him faithfully; men and women to whom God speaks in the midst of the storms. Men and women who, despite their mistreatment, nevertheless step forward with a word of hope in hopeless times. Are you one of them? Wouldn't you like to be?
In summary, we have seen over the past few days that a life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love. A life with nothing to prove comes from standing in God's grace. A life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light. And a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
The man or woman who lives this life will be undefeated. Why not be this person!
.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Nothing to Hide
.
"But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:21, Contemporary English Version).
"Pssst. Hey, you there..." -- it's how the devil begins many of his conversations. He must draw you aside into an alley, the darker the better, in order to peddle his wares. And if he succeeds, then a stain with set upon your soul and you will live from that moment forward with something to hide.
Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden, and then covered themselves in fig leaves in an attempt to hide from one another. The Human Family has been doing this ever since. And we hide in a thousand different ways. Ironically, Religion is one of the favorite hiding places. Amidst the bells and smells, the pomp and ceremony, the robes and scepters, the songs and homilies, the smiles and social affections -- one may hide quite easily, and go undetected for many years.
And in this regard the devil has no problem whatsoever with you being a good, dutiful church-goer. For as long as you live with something to hide -- he's got you right where he wants you.
Jesus said, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing" (John 18:20). Earlier He said, "I am the Light of the World. He that follows Me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (ch.8:12).
The third "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Hide." And a life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light.
In one of His first recorded conversations, Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus (a ruler of the Jews), said, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the the light lest his deeds be reproved. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:19-21).
A man or woman with nothing to hide will come to the light and walk in great freedom, experiencing unbounded blessings; despite all the attempts by others to shut them down in silence. They, like Isaiah, may confidently say, "You will give us peace and prosperity, LORD, because everything we have done was by your power; everything that we achieve is the result of what you do." (Isaiah 26:12 from CEV, and GNB).
Satan cannot defeat a man or woman who are walking in God's light, living a life with nothing to fear, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide.
When we were kids we played Hide 'n Go Seek. The seeker would eventually sound the words that brought everyone out of hiding without penalty of being caught, "Ollie, Ollie in come free!" And now, if you listen closely, you can the same call from the ramparts of heaven. You can come out of hiding and live in the light!
Do it my friend, and you will defeat the Prince of Darkness!
.
"But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:21, Contemporary English Version).
"Pssst. Hey, you there..." -- it's how the devil begins many of his conversations. He must draw you aside into an alley, the darker the better, in order to peddle his wares. And if he succeeds, then a stain with set upon your soul and you will live from that moment forward with something to hide.
Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden, and then covered themselves in fig leaves in an attempt to hide from one another. The Human Family has been doing this ever since. And we hide in a thousand different ways. Ironically, Religion is one of the favorite hiding places. Amidst the bells and smells, the pomp and ceremony, the robes and scepters, the songs and homilies, the smiles and social affections -- one may hide quite easily, and go undetected for many years.
And in this regard the devil has no problem whatsoever with you being a good, dutiful church-goer. For as long as you live with something to hide -- he's got you right where he wants you.
Jesus said, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing" (John 18:20). Earlier He said, "I am the Light of the World. He that follows Me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (ch.8:12).
The third "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Hide." And a life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light.
In one of His first recorded conversations, Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus (a ruler of the Jews), said, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the the light lest his deeds be reproved. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:19-21).
A man or woman with nothing to hide will come to the light and walk in great freedom, experiencing unbounded blessings; despite all the attempts by others to shut them down in silence. They, like Isaiah, may confidently say, "You will give us peace and prosperity, LORD, because everything we have done was by your power; everything that we achieve is the result of what you do." (Isaiah 26:12 from CEV, and GNB).
Satan cannot defeat a man or woman who are walking in God's light, living a life with nothing to fear, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide.
When we were kids we played Hide 'n Go Seek. The seeker would eventually sound the words that brought everyone out of hiding without penalty of being caught, "Ollie, Ollie in come free!" And now, if you listen closely, you can the same call from the ramparts of heaven. You can come out of hiding and live in the light!
Do it my friend, and you will defeat the Prince of Darkness!
.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nothing to Prove
.
"Only by pride cometh contention" (Proverbs 13:10).
The second "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Prove." The surest way to set off an argument is to show up anywhere with something to prove. That is one of Satan's favorite playing grounds!
Consider the devil tempting Jesus in the wilderness. "If you are the Son of God," he chided, "then command these stones be turned to bread." There is a load of mockery bundled up in that single word IF. You can feel the derision dripping out of the corner of Satan's mocking lips. He was attempting to provoke Jesus to the point of proving Himself.
Has the devil ever ensnared you with that nasty trick? He is, after all, the master of pride; fallen creature though he be. And all who lift themselves up will likewise fall.
The Bible says, "The servant of the Lord must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." (2Ti 2:24-26).
A person with something to prove will often be contentious and combative; belligerent and bullish. And, sadly, many of our pulpits today are filled with just such temperaments! But this is not the way of the Cross; these are not the footsteps of Jesus. He showed us that one can be upright without being uptight.
Sir Thomas Carlyle wrote, "In any controversy the moment you feel anger, you have already ceased striving for the truth and have begun striving for yourself." Truth is its own defense, and a life well-lived is the soundest argument against all critics. Such a life -- a life with nothing to prove -- comes from standing in God's grace.
"I am what I am by the grace of God," Paul said. "And His grace given unto me was not in vain, for I labored more abundantly than they all -- yet not I, but it was the grace of God in me." (1 Co.15:10). And again he says, "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God -- we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you." (2 Co. 1;12).
Mark Twain said, "Don't get in the mud and wrestle with a pig. The pig will love it, and you'll just get muddy!" Don't live your life as though you have something to prove. For you very well might win, but end up being the biggest loser of all.
Follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the Undefeated One, and live your life standing in the grace of God -- a life with nothing to fear, and nothing to prove! A Life that Satan cannot defeat!!
.
"Only by pride cometh contention" (Proverbs 13:10).
The second "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Prove." The surest way to set off an argument is to show up anywhere with something to prove. That is one of Satan's favorite playing grounds!
Consider the devil tempting Jesus in the wilderness. "If you are the Son of God," he chided, "then command these stones be turned to bread." There is a load of mockery bundled up in that single word IF. You can feel the derision dripping out of the corner of Satan's mocking lips. He was attempting to provoke Jesus to the point of proving Himself.
Has the devil ever ensnared you with that nasty trick? He is, after all, the master of pride; fallen creature though he be. And all who lift themselves up will likewise fall.
The Bible says, "The servant of the Lord must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." (2Ti 2:24-26).
A person with something to prove will often be contentious and combative; belligerent and bullish. And, sadly, many of our pulpits today are filled with just such temperaments! But this is not the way of the Cross; these are not the footsteps of Jesus. He showed us that one can be upright without being uptight.
Sir Thomas Carlyle wrote, "In any controversy the moment you feel anger, you have already ceased striving for the truth and have begun striving for yourself." Truth is its own defense, and a life well-lived is the soundest argument against all critics. Such a life -- a life with nothing to prove -- comes from standing in God's grace.
"I am what I am by the grace of God," Paul said. "And His grace given unto me was not in vain, for I labored more abundantly than they all -- yet not I, but it was the grace of God in me." (1 Co.15:10). And again he says, "Our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God -- we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly toward you." (2 Co. 1;12).
Mark Twain said, "Don't get in the mud and wrestle with a pig. The pig will love it, and you'll just get muddy!" Don't live your life as though you have something to prove. For you very well might win, but end up being the biggest loser of all.
Follow in the footsteps of Jesus, the Undefeated One, and live your life standing in the grace of God -- a life with nothing to fear, and nothing to prove! A Life that Satan cannot defeat!!
.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Nothing to Fear
.
'There is no fear in love, for perfect love cast out all fear." (1 John 4:18).
The first "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Fear." And we gain this ground by trusting in God's love. The Message says, "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life -- fear of death, fear of judgment -- is one not yet fully formed in love."
To the degree that fear is present and active in your life -- the devil will have access. He plays upon our fears, and uses them to drive us into separation and isolation, where he then wrecks havoc upon our souls. But, once God's love secures your heart, He will drive fear out of your life -- more and more until you can truly say, "I have nothing to fear."
A life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love.
When David feared Saul, he fled for refuge to a pagan king, and made a complete fool of himself (see 1 Sa.21:10-15). Then, coming to his senses, he embraced God's love and faithfulness, and said, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). And again, "I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear! What can man do unto me?" (Psalm 118:5-6).
The fear of man brings a snare; the fear of death holds us in lifelong bondage; the fear of failure prevents us from risking it all for success; the fear rejection immobilizes us from truly expressing the grace of God in our lives; and the fear of financial loss makes us grab for more and more, while clutching tightly to what we have. And on and on it goes.
In what ways is FEAR preventing you from experiencing and enjoying God's love? Follow David's example and say, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." (Psalm 56:3).
The Amplified Bible assures us of God's love and faithfulness. It says, "Let your character, your moral disposition, be free from love of money; including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions. Be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down, nor relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! So we take comfort and are encouraged, and we confidently and boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm! I will not fear or dread or be terrified! What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Joshua proved this word to be true -- "All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you." (Joshua 1:5).
Many have walked in the truth of this promise, and now we can, too. We can follow in the footsteps of the undefeated by living a life in God's love -- a life with nothing to fear! A Life that Satan cannot defeat!!
.
'There is no fear in love, for perfect love cast out all fear." (1 John 4:18).
The first "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Fear." And we gain this ground by trusting in God's love. The Message says, "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life -- fear of death, fear of judgment -- is one not yet fully formed in love."
To the degree that fear is present and active in your life -- the devil will have access. He plays upon our fears, and uses them to drive us into separation and isolation, where he then wrecks havoc upon our souls. But, once God's love secures your heart, He will drive fear out of your life -- more and more until you can truly say, "I have nothing to fear."
A life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love.
When David feared Saul, he fled for refuge to a pagan king, and made a complete fool of himself (see 1 Sa.21:10-15). Then, coming to his senses, he embraced God's love and faithfulness, and said, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). And again, "I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear! What can man do unto me?" (Psalm 118:5-6).
The fear of man brings a snare; the fear of death holds us in lifelong bondage; the fear of failure prevents us from risking it all for success; the fear rejection immobilizes us from truly expressing the grace of God in our lives; and the fear of financial loss makes us grab for more and more, while clutching tightly to what we have. And on and on it goes.
In what ways is FEAR preventing you from experiencing and enjoying God's love? Follow David's example and say, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." (Psalm 56:3).
The Amplified Bible assures us of God's love and faithfulness. It says, "Let your character, your moral disposition, be free from love of money; including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions. Be satisfied with your present circumstances and with what you have; for God Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down, nor relax My hold on you! Assuredly not! So we take comfort and are encouraged, and we confidently and boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm! I will not fear or dread or be terrified! What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Joshua proved this word to be true -- "All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you." (Joshua 1:5).
Many have walked in the truth of this promise, and now we can, too. We can follow in the footsteps of the undefeated by living a life in God's love -- a life with nothing to fear! A Life that Satan cannot defeat!!
.
Monday, February 23, 2009
In the Footsteps of the Undefeated
.
"...he has nothing in Me." (John 14:30).
What composure Jesus maintained in the face of Satan's attack! He tells us that the devil held no claim upon Him; they had nothing in common; there was nothing in Jesus that belonged to the devil, and thus he had no power over Him.
And so, when our "Ancient Foe" leveled the full arsenal of his dark empire in an all out assault upon the Son of God -- he failed. Miserably. And now he is humiliated, and on the run. In the immortal words of Paul, "He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets" ((Colossians 2:15, The Message).
But there's more. The great wonder of it all is that God has assigned the victory to us! "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," He tells us. The devil fears us, even more than we once feared him! All we need to do is resist, and we will see it is true.
But how are we to resist him? In the same manner that Jesus did.
There were four strategic factors to Jesus' overwhelming success. And these are now available to us as we mount our own defense against the wiles of the devil. We could say that Jesus beat the devil with four "nothings." Let me explain.
Jesus was a man with nothing to fear, nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose. Thus, the devil held nothing on Him; indeed, he had nothing IN Him. There was nothing that provided Satan with a point of access into the Lord's life. NOTHING.
Think what your life would be like if you truly lived in the freedom that comes from knowing that you have nothing to fear, nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose.
How is it possible to live such a life? Here is the answer.
A life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love. A life with nothing to prove comes from standing in God's grace. A life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light. And a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
I call these the Four Nothings, and we look at each one in detail over the following few days.
.
"...he has nothing in Me." (John 14:30).
What composure Jesus maintained in the face of Satan's attack! He tells us that the devil held no claim upon Him; they had nothing in common; there was nothing in Jesus that belonged to the devil, and thus he had no power over Him.
And so, when our "Ancient Foe" leveled the full arsenal of his dark empire in an all out assault upon the Son of God -- he failed. Miserably. And now he is humiliated, and on the run. In the immortal words of Paul, "He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets" ((Colossians 2:15, The Message).
But there's more. The great wonder of it all is that God has assigned the victory to us! "Resist the devil and he will flee from you," He tells us. The devil fears us, even more than we once feared him! All we need to do is resist, and we will see it is true.
But how are we to resist him? In the same manner that Jesus did.
There were four strategic factors to Jesus' overwhelming success. And these are now available to us as we mount our own defense against the wiles of the devil. We could say that Jesus beat the devil with four "nothings." Let me explain.
Jesus was a man with nothing to fear, nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose. Thus, the devil held nothing on Him; indeed, he had nothing IN Him. There was nothing that provided Satan with a point of access into the Lord's life. NOTHING.
Think what your life would be like if you truly lived in the freedom that comes from knowing that you have nothing to fear, nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose.
How is it possible to live such a life? Here is the answer.
A life with nothing to fear comes from trusting in God's love. A life with nothing to prove comes from standing in God's grace. A life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light. And a life with nothing to lose comes from believing in God's Word.
I call these the Four Nothings, and we look at each one in detail over the following few days.
.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
That Place Called Ziklag
.
"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:6).
There are defining moments that come into every life; unexpected and unavoidable. What we do in those moments may very well be the single action that determines whether our lives rise to the heights of our calling -- or not. David, the ancient King of Israel, experienced his defining moment at that place called Ziklag.
The Amalekites, sworn enemies of Israel, had raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground. But this wasn't just any city; this was the place David and his fighting men had secured as a stronghold. It was their home; their refuge. It was the one place where their wives and children were safe, and out of harm's way. Or, so they thought. For as they approached the city they saw columns of smoke billowing up into the sky. Rushing to the scene they found that the city had been looted, and then burned to the ground. All the women and children had been taken captive. It was a devastating moment.
David was greatly distressed on two counts. First, his wife and family were among the hostages. And second, his own soldiers turned their anger for what had happened against David, threatening to stone him. It was not a good day. Yet, David did not succumb to the circumstances. Having nowhere else to turn but UP, David "encouraged himself in the Lord."
This was his defining moment. For as he knelt in prayer God moved on his behalf and gave insight on what action needed to be taken. David rallied his men and they overtook the bandits and recovered everything that was theirs, including wives and children -- all unmolested!
This became the turning point for David, for shortly after this dark episode he was exalted in the land and became the King of Israel. Commenting on this passage, Matthew Henry writes, "Great faith must expect such severe trials. But observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before he was raised to the throne."
There are many great lessons for us in all this, but one stands out above all others. In our darkest moments, when all seems lost and even our friends have turned from us, we can still "encourage ourselves in the Lord." We can find that secret place where God regenerates our spirit and guides us out of the funk into a bright future!
That's what's awaiting you at a place called Ziklag.
.
"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:6).
There are defining moments that come into every life; unexpected and unavoidable. What we do in those moments may very well be the single action that determines whether our lives rise to the heights of our calling -- or not. David, the ancient King of Israel, experienced his defining moment at that place called Ziklag.
The Amalekites, sworn enemies of Israel, had raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground. But this wasn't just any city; this was the place David and his fighting men had secured as a stronghold. It was their home; their refuge. It was the one place where their wives and children were safe, and out of harm's way. Or, so they thought. For as they approached the city they saw columns of smoke billowing up into the sky. Rushing to the scene they found that the city had been looted, and then burned to the ground. All the women and children had been taken captive. It was a devastating moment.
David was greatly distressed on two counts. First, his wife and family were among the hostages. And second, his own soldiers turned their anger for what had happened against David, threatening to stone him. It was not a good day. Yet, David did not succumb to the circumstances. Having nowhere else to turn but UP, David "encouraged himself in the Lord."
This was his defining moment. For as he knelt in prayer God moved on his behalf and gave insight on what action needed to be taken. David rallied his men and they overtook the bandits and recovered everything that was theirs, including wives and children -- all unmolested!
This became the turning point for David, for shortly after this dark episode he was exalted in the land and became the King of Israel. Commenting on this passage, Matthew Henry writes, "Great faith must expect such severe trials. But observe, that David was brought thus low, only just before he was raised to the throne."
There are many great lessons for us in all this, but one stands out above all others. In our darkest moments, when all seems lost and even our friends have turned from us, we can still "encourage ourselves in the Lord." We can find that secret place where God regenerates our spirit and guides us out of the funk into a bright future!
That's what's awaiting you at a place called Ziklag.
.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
The Unforsaken Ones
.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5).
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "be satisfied with such things as you have." So, what "such things" are we to be satisfied with; what is it that we now have? You can create you own list, but let me help get you started:
We have forgiveness of all our sins; the cancellation of our unpayable debt; the release from the burden of guilt and shame. Surely this is a great possession, for there are many who drink and drug themselves into unconscious shame trying to purge their minds of the relentless sting of all their dark failures; only to awaken once again with the list compounded by more and more transgressions. What a hopeless hole in which to fall!
We have freedom in Christ to pursue the full measure of God's purposes for our lives, and to proclaim His great love to all. Free to be the men and women God created us to be, and has called us to become. Free, despite the weak powers that are set against us; despite those entanglements which continually pull about our feet, ever trying to trip us up, and tie us down.
We have fellowship with God, and with one another. There is peace between us and our God, and there is peace between us. There is a friendship that far excels the natural affection of family ties; a bond of love much more superior to mere brotherhood. We are each enfolded into a growing family of worshipping warriors, who are possessed of a love that will lay down its life for another. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
We have faith, which cannot be denied, destroyed, nor dismissed. We see the invisible, endure the improbable, and do the impossible. We ignite the dead zones with life and light; we instill hope into hopeless places, and bring joy to the downtrodden. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world -- and this FAITH is but one of the things we now have.
We have a future which is resplendent and full of great things. There is a City, whose builder and maker is God; and this City is our Home. There is a King who reigns in righteousness, and this King is our Savior and Lord -- Jesus. There is eternal life which is ours to live, and bright purposes for us to fulfill -- which, even if we were told what they were, would be so incredible that we would not believe it!
These few things, along with a great supply of yet untapped resources, even now are at our side.
Yet all this is but a side note to the primary point of the verse. We have the ONE THING that makes all other things possible. We have God's own word of promise, His unswerving commitment to be to us everything we need in every circumstance we face. See the verse once more in this light: "be satisfied with such things as you have, for God Himself has said, 'I will never fail you or abandon you!'
We are of all people on the earth the most to be envied -- for we are the Unforsaken Ones!
.
"Keep your lives free from the love of money; and be satisfied with what you have; for God himself has said, "I will never fail you or abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5).
The writer of Hebrews tells us, "be satisfied with such things as you have." So, what "such things" are we to be satisfied with; what is it that we now have? You can create you own list, but let me help get you started:
We have forgiveness of all our sins; the cancellation of our unpayable debt; the release from the burden of guilt and shame. Surely this is a great possession, for there are many who drink and drug themselves into unconscious shame trying to purge their minds of the relentless sting of all their dark failures; only to awaken once again with the list compounded by more and more transgressions. What a hopeless hole in which to fall!
We have freedom in Christ to pursue the full measure of God's purposes for our lives, and to proclaim His great love to all. Free to be the men and women God created us to be, and has called us to become. Free, despite the weak powers that are set against us; despite those entanglements which continually pull about our feet, ever trying to trip us up, and tie us down.
We have fellowship with God, and with one another. There is peace between us and our God, and there is peace between us. There is a friendship that far excels the natural affection of family ties; a bond of love much more superior to mere brotherhood. We are each enfolded into a growing family of worshipping warriors, who are possessed of a love that will lay down its life for another. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord.
We have faith, which cannot be denied, destroyed, nor dismissed. We see the invisible, endure the improbable, and do the impossible. We ignite the dead zones with life and light; we instill hope into hopeless places, and bring joy to the downtrodden. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world -- and this FAITH is but one of the things we now have.
We have a future which is resplendent and full of great things. There is a City, whose builder and maker is God; and this City is our Home. There is a King who reigns in righteousness, and this King is our Savior and Lord -- Jesus. There is eternal life which is ours to live, and bright purposes for us to fulfill -- which, even if we were told what they were, would be so incredible that we would not believe it!
These few things, along with a great supply of yet untapped resources, even now are at our side.
Yet all this is but a side note to the primary point of the verse. We have the ONE THING that makes all other things possible. We have God's own word of promise, His unswerving commitment to be to us everything we need in every circumstance we face. See the verse once more in this light: "be satisfied with such things as you have, for God Himself has said, 'I will never fail you or abandon you!'
We are of all people on the earth the most to be envied -- for we are the Unforsaken Ones!
.
Friday, February 20, 2009
When All Hell Breaks Loose, Heaven is Close at Hand!
.
"Therefore we are unafraid, even if the earth gives way, even if the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea" (Psalm 46:2, Complete Jewish Bible).
The Psalmist portrays the whole world erupting into a state of great confusion; with the mountains being hurled into the depths of the sea, and the sea itself upturned into a raging tempest; and even the venerable "everlasting hills" are now described as drifting aimless upon the foaming billows. As they say down South, "All hell broke loose!"
But here is what the Bible wants us to know -- when all Hell breaks loose, Heaven is close at hand!
The Lord is never nearer than when we are vexed with grievous troubles. And while it may seem as though evil has triumphed, we are held by a calm and mysterious assurance -- God has everything under control.
"Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong; Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own." (James Russell Lowe)
And never lose sight of this -- it is God's hand that has stirred the raging waters. "Behold the works of the Lord," the Psalmist tells us, "what desolations He has wrought in the earth!" (vs.8).
Desolations? Yes, for by this word he means the ruin that falls upon the misspent lives of wicked men, and the astonishment it causes in the eyes of those who see it happen.
Indeed, despite the great and ceaseless boastings of those who rely in their own security and strength, it is God who in an instant can turn the entire show on its head. And in the deafening silence of the aftermath He speaks, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth" (vs.10).
Trusting the Lord in troubled times is the only way to make it. When all hell breaks loose, Heaven is close at hand for those who place their trust in the Lord.
.
"Therefore we are unafraid, even if the earth gives way, even if the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea" (Psalm 46:2, Complete Jewish Bible).
The Psalmist portrays the whole world erupting into a state of great confusion; with the mountains being hurled into the depths of the sea, and the sea itself upturned into a raging tempest; and even the venerable "everlasting hills" are now described as drifting aimless upon the foaming billows. As they say down South, "All hell broke loose!"
But here is what the Bible wants us to know -- when all Hell breaks loose, Heaven is close at hand!
The Lord is never nearer than when we are vexed with grievous troubles. And while it may seem as though evil has triumphed, we are held by a calm and mysterious assurance -- God has everything under control.
"Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong; Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own." (James Russell Lowe)
And never lose sight of this -- it is God's hand that has stirred the raging waters. "Behold the works of the Lord," the Psalmist tells us, "what desolations He has wrought in the earth!" (vs.8).
Desolations? Yes, for by this word he means the ruin that falls upon the misspent lives of wicked men, and the astonishment it causes in the eyes of those who see it happen.
Indeed, despite the great and ceaseless boastings of those who rely in their own security and strength, it is God who in an instant can turn the entire show on its head. And in the deafening silence of the aftermath He speaks, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen; I will be exalted in the earth" (vs.10).
Trusting the Lord in troubled times is the only way to make it. When all hell breaks loose, Heaven is close at hand for those who place their trust in the Lord.
.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Song of Holy Confidence
.
"....a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).
We have long been assured of a coming day of shaking; a time when all things that can be shaken will be, so that only that which is unshakable shall remain. Whether or not these tumultuous times are in fact the fulfillment of that ancient prophecy, only time will tell.
One thing is undeniable, however; we have never witnessed such as shaking as is now going on.
And for times like these, we have this song of holy confidence, "God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble"(Psalm 46:1). It is well worth your time to take a moment and read the whole psalm. In fact, may I be so bold as to suggest you memorize it? You will be glad you did!
At the outset we see three great truths.
1. God is our Refuge -- He is our only impregnable, accessible, and delightful place of retreat. He is our shelter in the midst of the storm, and our sure defense against all assaults. He is our hiding place in times of perilous exposure, and our high tower in a day when things are tumbling down. He is the Rock of our salvation; the glory, and the lifter of our heads!
2. God is our Strength -- He is our all-sufficient, unconquerable, honorable, and emboldening strength. As such He is our hope, our peace, and our joy. The strength of the Lord is our joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength! He delivers us because He delights in us! He will not abandon us in the day of trouble, nor suffer His name to be mocked by those who hold us in derision because of our trust in Him.
3. God is our Help -- ever near, very present, always watching, never failing. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"(Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV).
“A very present help in trouble.” Faith is never so valuable as in seasons of trouble, and in times of tumult. For it reaches out and takes hold of the often unseen Hand of God, and finds Him to be VERY present. And the heart floods with the song of holy confidence -- "God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble"(Psalm 46:1).
Isn't it time you started singing?
.
"....a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).
We have long been assured of a coming day of shaking; a time when all things that can be shaken will be, so that only that which is unshakable shall remain. Whether or not these tumultuous times are in fact the fulfillment of that ancient prophecy, only time will tell.
One thing is undeniable, however; we have never witnessed such as shaking as is now going on.
And for times like these, we have this song of holy confidence, "God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble"(Psalm 46:1). It is well worth your time to take a moment and read the whole psalm. In fact, may I be so bold as to suggest you memorize it? You will be glad you did!
At the outset we see three great truths.
1. God is our Refuge -- He is our only impregnable, accessible, and delightful place of retreat. He is our shelter in the midst of the storm, and our sure defense against all assaults. He is our hiding place in times of perilous exposure, and our high tower in a day when things are tumbling down. He is the Rock of our salvation; the glory, and the lifter of our heads!
2. God is our Strength -- He is our all-sufficient, unconquerable, honorable, and emboldening strength. As such He is our hope, our peace, and our joy. The strength of the Lord is our joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength! He delivers us because He delights in us! He will not abandon us in the day of trouble, nor suffer His name to be mocked by those who hold us in derision because of our trust in Him.
3. God is our Help -- ever near, very present, always watching, never failing. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.' So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"(Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV).
“A very present help in trouble.” Faith is never so valuable as in seasons of trouble, and in times of tumult. For it reaches out and takes hold of the often unseen Hand of God, and finds Him to be VERY present. And the heart floods with the song of holy confidence -- "God is our refuge and our strength; a very present help in trouble"(Psalm 46:1).
Isn't it time you started singing?
.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A Mighty Fortress is Our God!
.
"God is our refuge and our strength" (Psalm 46:1).
When I call to mind the great hymns of the Faith that have stood the test of time -- there are a few that always stand to the front. Here are the top five on my list: 1) Amazing Grace, 2) How Great Thou Art, 3) Holy Holy Holy, 4) Great is Thy Faithfulness, and 5) A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
Martin Luther wrote the last one, and his words are as meaningful and power-packed today as when he first penned them in 1529. I invite you to read this song aloud this morning, and see how the Lord uses its timeless truth to lift your spirit higher!
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.
What peace is our when we stand in the security of God, who is our refuge and our strength!
.
"God is our refuge and our strength" (Psalm 46:1).
When I call to mind the great hymns of the Faith that have stood the test of time -- there are a few that always stand to the front. Here are the top five on my list: 1) Amazing Grace, 2) How Great Thou Art, 3) Holy Holy Holy, 4) Great is Thy Faithfulness, and 5) A Mighty Fortress is Our God.
Martin Luther wrote the last one, and his words are as meaningful and power-packed today as when he first penned them in 1529. I invite you to read this song aloud this morning, and see how the Lord uses its timeless truth to lift your spirit higher!
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.
What peace is our when we stand in the security of God, who is our refuge and our strength!
.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
You Never Did Let Go!
.
"Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Have you ever blown it so bad that the memory of your screw-up is as painful today as back when it first happened? I have...more than once. And you have, too.
Now the problem for both of us is that to the degree we have blown it, we feel a deep obligation to do something that will somehow make it right. Some go so far that they perform some sort of penance to pay for their sins, with prolonged self-loathing, shame, and misery. Others become dutiful and pious; hoping to get time off for good behavior.
But here's the problem -- you and I can never pay that debt! And when we try to do so, we end up stuck in an never-ending circle of defeat.
That is not the Lord’s desire; He takes no pleasure is seeing us suffer under this diabolic burden. Jesus paid the price for our forgiveness – once and for all, completely. The Lord wants you to know that by holding on to the things in your past, you are being kept back from reaching out and taking hold of what He has for you today…and tomorrow.
This short poem may be a word from the Lord for you this very day!
As children bring their broken toys with tears, for us to mend. I brought my broken dreams to God, because He is my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone; I hung around and tried to help in ways that were my own.
He didn't do at all the things I thought that He should do; He didn't mend my broken dreams; He didn't make them new. In fact He seemed quite nonchalant, as though He didn’t care. So I increased with holy zeal My intercessory prayer.
Watching, waiting for His hand to do what I had prayed; but nothing I could say or do helped Him on His way! At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" "My child," He lovingly replied, you never did let go!"
My friend, from this day forward turn away from this habitual enslavement to the failures of the past; and take one good long look at Jesus. The Bible says, "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." (Psalm 34:5)
Resolve that from now on you will fix your gaze upon Jesus; the Author and Finisher of your faith! Take hold of Him and then you will discover that these dreadful things that haunt your soul no longer hold any power over you! Cast your care upon HIm, and be free; look unto Him and become RADIANT!
.
"Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).
Have you ever blown it so bad that the memory of your screw-up is as painful today as back when it first happened? I have...more than once. And you have, too.
Now the problem for both of us is that to the degree we have blown it, we feel a deep obligation to do something that will somehow make it right. Some go so far that they perform some sort of penance to pay for their sins, with prolonged self-loathing, shame, and misery. Others become dutiful and pious; hoping to get time off for good behavior.
But here's the problem -- you and I can never pay that debt! And when we try to do so, we end up stuck in an never-ending circle of defeat.
That is not the Lord’s desire; He takes no pleasure is seeing us suffer under this diabolic burden. Jesus paid the price for our forgiveness – once and for all, completely. The Lord wants you to know that by holding on to the things in your past, you are being kept back from reaching out and taking hold of what He has for you today…and tomorrow.
This short poem may be a word from the Lord for you this very day!
As children bring their broken toys with tears, for us to mend. I brought my broken dreams to God, because He is my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone; I hung around and tried to help in ways that were my own.
He didn't do at all the things I thought that He should do; He didn't mend my broken dreams; He didn't make them new. In fact He seemed quite nonchalant, as though He didn’t care. So I increased with holy zeal My intercessory prayer.
Watching, waiting for His hand to do what I had prayed; but nothing I could say or do helped Him on His way! At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" "My child," He lovingly replied, you never did let go!"
My friend, from this day forward turn away from this habitual enslavement to the failures of the past; and take one good long look at Jesus. The Bible says, "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." (Psalm 34:5)
Resolve that from now on you will fix your gaze upon Jesus; the Author and Finisher of your faith! Take hold of Him and then you will discover that these dreadful things that haunt your soul no longer hold any power over you! Cast your care upon HIm, and be free; look unto Him and become RADIANT!
.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Music of the Buried Streams
.
"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Travelers tell us that there are rivers flowing beneath the streets of the ancient city of Shechem. During the hours of the day you cannot hear them because of the bustling noise of the narrow streets and the bazaars. But when evening comes and the clamor dies away and the dew falls on the city, then quite audibly, in the hush of night, you may hear the music of the buried streams.
Likewise will our hearts hear the music of God's voice when we dial down the volume of our hurried and worried lives.
May you find that moment where all is quiet except for God. And may that moment extend its timeless presence throughout the fabric of your life, such that even in the midst of the raging storm and relentless strife -- you may yet know that He is God.
.
"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Travelers tell us that there are rivers flowing beneath the streets of the ancient city of Shechem. During the hours of the day you cannot hear them because of the bustling noise of the narrow streets and the bazaars. But when evening comes and the clamor dies away and the dew falls on the city, then quite audibly, in the hush of night, you may hear the music of the buried streams.
Likewise will our hearts hear the music of God's voice when we dial down the volume of our hurried and worried lives.
Some hustle to escape a guilty conscience, while others scamble to get away from the burden of shame. Some, out of a sense of duty, overwork themselves in good causes; hoping to assuage an deep, gnawing feeling of never being good enough. All this, and more, constitute the noise of the streets that block us from hearing what God is saying to us.
Yet we must not lose sight of this -- the Bible never says to us, "Be busy, and know that I am God." No. It says, "Be still, and know that I am God." It is also intresting to note that this verse is couched in the midst of a Psalm flooded with storm, tumult and war!May you find that moment where all is quiet except for God. And may that moment extend its timeless presence throughout the fabric of your life, such that even in the midst of the raging storm and relentless strife -- you may yet know that He is God.
.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
In the Midst of the Camp
.
"He let it fall in the midst of their camp" (Psalm 78:28).
God's people never need to scramble to and fro seeking their provision, flitting about here and there like sparrows hunting for french fries in a Mac Donald's parking lot.
"O ye of little faith," Jesus said to those preoccupied with what they were to eat, and drink; where they were to live; how they were to dress. These are the sort of thoughts the fill the minds of those who know not the Faithful God.
Surely, no one who has walked even but a little distance with Jesus can ever doubt His tender mercies nor faint under the fear that He will fail to meet their every need.
"I have been young, and now am old," the Psalmist said. "I have lived a long time, and as long as I can remember I have never seen the righteous abandoned by the LORD, nor their children begging for bread" (Psalm 37:25).
When the children of Israel made their historical journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, passing through the wilderness beset with many trials and temptations -- even then did the Lord provide for their every need. And mark this one thing well -- in whatsoever manner He supplied their daily needs, the Bible tells us that "He let it fall in the midst of their camp."
The same is true for you. God's provisions are supplied for you where you are.
They have fallen round about you on every side. You need not look far and wide to find what the Lord has given you -- it even now lays upon the ground in the midst of your camp. And while it may not look like what you think you need, it is exactly the very thing you've been looking for in all your other hurried pursuits and empty escapades.
May the Lord give you grace today to see what has been provided all around you in the midst of the camp!
.
"He let it fall in the midst of their camp" (Psalm 78:28).
God's people never need to scramble to and fro seeking their provision, flitting about here and there like sparrows hunting for french fries in a Mac Donald's parking lot.
"O ye of little faith," Jesus said to those preoccupied with what they were to eat, and drink; where they were to live; how they were to dress. These are the sort of thoughts the fill the minds of those who know not the Faithful God.
Surely, no one who has walked even but a little distance with Jesus can ever doubt His tender mercies nor faint under the fear that He will fail to meet their every need.
"I have been young, and now am old," the Psalmist said. "I have lived a long time, and as long as I can remember I have never seen the righteous abandoned by the LORD, nor their children begging for bread" (Psalm 37:25).
When the children of Israel made their historical journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, passing through the wilderness beset with many trials and temptations -- even then did the Lord provide for their every need. And mark this one thing well -- in whatsoever manner He supplied their daily needs, the Bible tells us that "He let it fall in the midst of their camp."
The same is true for you. God's provisions are supplied for you where you are.
They have fallen round about you on every side. You need not look far and wide to find what the Lord has given you -- it even now lays upon the ground in the midst of your camp. And while it may not look like what you think you need, it is exactly the very thing you've been looking for in all your other hurried pursuits and empty escapades.
May the Lord give you grace today to see what has been provided all around you in the midst of the camp!
.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Is He Only the God of the Hills? (Part 3)
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
One of my favorite writers is the distinguished Scottish preacher George H. Morrison (1866-1928). His ministry drew such vast crowds that people would line up an hour prior to the services to insure finding seats in the large auditorium. His pulpit style, as well as his writing, flourish with imagination and sound biblical insights.
Here is an example.
"Sometimes we fall into the sin of limiting God to the greater hours of our life. I take it that all of us are so tempted. When the Syrians were fighting Israel they found they were always beaten on the hills, from which they gathered that the God of Israel was a God of the hills and not of the valleys. And this exclusion of the will of God from the peaceful and lowly valley-land of life is not confined to Syrian mentality. Every life has its dramatic hours and knows the exhilaration of the heights. In such hours, "so nigh to God is man," we often are strangely conscious of His presence.
"But to limit the Holy One of Israel to our rarer moments on the hills is to miss the wonder of His fellowship. He is as near us in the dreary day as in the day when all the birds are singing. He is as close to us in lowly duty as in the hours that are going to alter everything. He is present in the lilies of the field, according to the teaching of our Lord, as magnificently as in the earthquake or the storm. Do not confine God to the big things as if these alone lay upon His heart. Never reserve Him for the greater moments as if He had no feeling for the lesser ones. To do so is to fall into the sin which was recorded against the ancient Jews -- "They limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). (To read more of Morrison's writings, you can download his Devotional Sermons for free at www.e-sword.net )
God takes pleasure when we trust in His power to save; when we boast in the Lord, rather than in our own strength. It honors Him when we hold to an unflinching faith in the face of insurmountable obstacles, and debilitating limitations. Even though we may appear to be but a "little flock of goats" beset all around with innumerable opponents armed to the teeth -- the Lord can handle it.
And handle it He will! For He is not merely the God of the Hills, but not of the valleys -- He is the Lord of All!
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
One of my favorite writers is the distinguished Scottish preacher George H. Morrison (1866-1928). His ministry drew such vast crowds that people would line up an hour prior to the services to insure finding seats in the large auditorium. His pulpit style, as well as his writing, flourish with imagination and sound biblical insights.
Here is an example.
"Sometimes we fall into the sin of limiting God to the greater hours of our life. I take it that all of us are so tempted. When the Syrians were fighting Israel they found they were always beaten on the hills, from which they gathered that the God of Israel was a God of the hills and not of the valleys. And this exclusion of the will of God from the peaceful and lowly valley-land of life is not confined to Syrian mentality. Every life has its dramatic hours and knows the exhilaration of the heights. In such hours, "so nigh to God is man," we often are strangely conscious of His presence.
"But to limit the Holy One of Israel to our rarer moments on the hills is to miss the wonder of His fellowship. He is as near us in the dreary day as in the day when all the birds are singing. He is as close to us in lowly duty as in the hours that are going to alter everything. He is present in the lilies of the field, according to the teaching of our Lord, as magnificently as in the earthquake or the storm. Do not confine God to the big things as if these alone lay upon His heart. Never reserve Him for the greater moments as if He had no feeling for the lesser ones. To do so is to fall into the sin which was recorded against the ancient Jews -- "They limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). (To read more of Morrison's writings, you can download his Devotional Sermons for free at www.e-sword.net )
God takes pleasure when we trust in His power to save; when we boast in the Lord, rather than in our own strength. It honors Him when we hold to an unflinching faith in the face of insurmountable obstacles, and debilitating limitations. Even though we may appear to be but a "little flock of goats" beset all around with innumerable opponents armed to the teeth -- the Lord can handle it.
And handle it He will! For He is not merely the God of the Hills, but not of the valleys -- He is the Lord of All!
.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Is He Only the God of the Hills? (Part 2)
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
A war was about to ignite, and it looked as though Israel would be swallowed up in an instant. But a man of God arrived and told King Ahab that the LORD would show Ben-Hadad, the king and Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian forces, that He was the God of the valleys as well as of the hills.
For seven days the opposing armies faced off, which shows us two things at the same time: 1) Israel's faith, and 2) Syria's fear. The battle was Syria's call, not Israel's. But what were the Syrians waiting for? Why not attack? After all, the army of Israel looked "like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside" (verse 27). So what were they waiting for?
They hesitated because they were afraid; not of Israel, but of Israel's God. They believed He was only the God of the Hills.....but they really weren't all that sure.
The Bible doesn't tell us what triggered the fight -- a twitch here, a smirk there, an insult over there. We don't know. But we do know that once the war began it was bloody and swift. The Spirit of the Lord came upon the army of Israel, and the soldiers were unleashed upon the Syrians like Yoda in The Clone Wars!
When the fog of war cleared, 100,000 Syrian warriors lay dead in the field; an additional 27,000 who fled for their lives into the city, were crushed when a city wall fell upon them. Israel suffered no casualties.
Now the question at hand is this -- what does this story have to do with us today? Well, I will tell you the answer to that tomorrow!
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
A war was about to ignite, and it looked as though Israel would be swallowed up in an instant. But a man of God arrived and told King Ahab that the LORD would show Ben-Hadad, the king and Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian forces, that He was the God of the valleys as well as of the hills.
For seven days the opposing armies faced off, which shows us two things at the same time: 1) Israel's faith, and 2) Syria's fear. The battle was Syria's call, not Israel's. But what were the Syrians waiting for? Why not attack? After all, the army of Israel looked "like two little flocks of goats, while the Syrians filled the countryside" (verse 27). So what were they waiting for?
They hesitated because they were afraid; not of Israel, but of Israel's God. They believed He was only the God of the Hills.....but they really weren't all that sure.
The Bible doesn't tell us what triggered the fight -- a twitch here, a smirk there, an insult over there. We don't know. But we do know that once the war began it was bloody and swift. The Spirit of the Lord came upon the army of Israel, and the soldiers were unleashed upon the Syrians like Yoda in The Clone Wars!
When the fog of war cleared, 100,000 Syrian warriors lay dead in the field; an additional 27,000 who fled for their lives into the city, were crushed when a city wall fell upon them. Israel suffered no casualties.
Now the question at hand is this -- what does this story have to do with us today? Well, I will tell you the answer to that tomorrow!
.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Is He Only the God of the Hills? (Part 1)
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
"You don't spit into the wind, you don't pull on Superman's cape, you don't take the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with Jim!" So goes the old song by Jim Croce. It is a humorous way of saying that there are just some things you simply DO NOT DO.
At the top of that list, however long it may grow to be afterwards, is this one thing -- YOU DO NOT BELITTLE GOD!
The verse we look at today comes from an account in the Old Testament where Ben-Hadad, king of the Syrians, marched with his great army against Israel for the second time. The first battle had been fought a year earlier, and Syria had suffered a humiliating defeat. Ben-Hadad's commanders attributed their loss to the power of Israel's god, which (in their pagan beliefs) was "the god of the hills."
In this second war they decided to confront Israel on the plains, where their god would have no power. What made the outcome even more certain for Syria was the fact that they outnumbered Israel in size and firepower -- such that the writer tells us Israel's army, when marshaled into the field, look like two little flocks of goats compared to the mighty Syrian hosts.
It was at that precise moment that a man of God brought this word to Ahab, king of Israel. Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD."
Wait till you hear what happened next!
(to be continued...)
.
And there came a man of God, and spoke unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD" (1 Kings 20:28).
"You don't spit into the wind, you don't pull on Superman's cape, you don't take the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with Jim!" So goes the old song by Jim Croce. It is a humorous way of saying that there are just some things you simply DO NOT DO.
At the top of that list, however long it may grow to be afterwards, is this one thing -- YOU DO NOT BELITTLE GOD!
The verse we look at today comes from an account in the Old Testament where Ben-Hadad, king of the Syrians, marched with his great army against Israel for the second time. The first battle had been fought a year earlier, and Syria had suffered a humiliating defeat. Ben-Hadad's commanders attributed their loss to the power of Israel's god, which (in their pagan beliefs) was "the god of the hills."
In this second war they decided to confront Israel on the plains, where their god would have no power. What made the outcome even more certain for Syria was the fact that they outnumbered Israel in size and firepower -- such that the writer tells us Israel's army, when marshaled into the field, look like two little flocks of goats compared to the mighty Syrian hosts.
It was at that precise moment that a man of God brought this word to Ahab, king of Israel. Thus says the LORD, "Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD."
Wait till you hear what happened next!
(to be continued...)
.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Obstacles and Limitations
.
"God is our refuge and our strength" (Psalm 46:1).
Obstacles and Limitations -- these two things will eventually require that you find another way to do what you are doing to get where you are going. An obstacle blocks you from moving forward, while a limitation holds you back. But neither define who you are. They merely represent an opportunity for you to move beyond what you thought was possible.
We are in a time where we will be faced with increasing obstacles and limitations. The natural tendency will be to moan and complain, and then try to force things to change. This will not work.
If we hold to the belief that Jesus is Lord, then these obstacles and limitations are to be viewed within the perspective of His love and power. Rather than throw a fit and try to force the situation, we must instead accept the fact that Jesus knows better than we do what is best for us, and He is at work in the ever tightening circumstances of our lives.
Chuck Swindoll said, "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." The Lord can turn these blockades into stepping-stones that take us to something even greater than we ever imagined.
Chip Ingram, President of Walk Thru the Bible, said, "Our limitations are not prohibiters to God using our lives, but are the very platform on which He chooses to display His grace." So instead of reacting to obstacles and limitations in the same way as those who do not know the Lord -- we must regard this unsettling season of stress as the greatest opportunity for us to actually experience what we've been trying to convince others that we really believe.
Jesus is Lord, and He is in control!
So for starters, give some serious reflection to this age old Psalm, and watch how the Holy Spirit penetrates your soul with a calm confidence and a resilient faith. Are you ready?
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." Psalm 46:1-5, King James
Yep, these fitful days are exactly what we've been designed to handle; so come on dear brother and sister, forsake the world's ways of dealing with difficulties, and instead step under the loving Lordship of Jesus. He will carry you over any obstacle that prevents you from moving forward, and take you miles beyond every limitation that attempts to hold you back!
.
"God is our refuge and our strength" (Psalm 46:1).
Obstacles and Limitations -- these two things will eventually require that you find another way to do what you are doing to get where you are going. An obstacle blocks you from moving forward, while a limitation holds you back. But neither define who you are. They merely represent an opportunity for you to move beyond what you thought was possible.
We are in a time where we will be faced with increasing obstacles and limitations. The natural tendency will be to moan and complain, and then try to force things to change. This will not work.
If we hold to the belief that Jesus is Lord, then these obstacles and limitations are to be viewed within the perspective of His love and power. Rather than throw a fit and try to force the situation, we must instead accept the fact that Jesus knows better than we do what is best for us, and He is at work in the ever tightening circumstances of our lives.
Chuck Swindoll said, "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." The Lord can turn these blockades into stepping-stones that take us to something even greater than we ever imagined.
Chip Ingram, President of Walk Thru the Bible, said, "Our limitations are not prohibiters to God using our lives, but are the very platform on which He chooses to display His grace." So instead of reacting to obstacles and limitations in the same way as those who do not know the Lord -- we must regard this unsettling season of stress as the greatest opportunity for us to actually experience what we've been trying to convince others that we really believe.
Jesus is Lord, and He is in control!
So for starters, give some serious reflection to this age old Psalm, and watch how the Holy Spirit penetrates your soul with a calm confidence and a resilient faith. Are you ready?
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." Psalm 46:1-5, King James
Yep, these fitful days are exactly what we've been designed to handle; so come on dear brother and sister, forsake the world's ways of dealing with difficulties, and instead step under the loving Lordship of Jesus. He will carry you over any obstacle that prevents you from moving forward, and take you miles beyond every limitation that attempts to hold you back!
.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
"But, Where Exactly Are We Headed?"
.
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1Peter 1:22).
One thing that has always impressed me about the Bible is how the writers so often capture so much in a single phrase. Today's verse is a great example.
Peter, that uneducated fisherman whose claim to fame is nothing other than that he walked with Jesus, writes to his friends and encourages them to let the life which Christ placed within them now find expression through them.
Let's examine his counsel, and see what it has to say to us today.
First, he points out that we can only purify our souls by obeying the truth. Peter knew this from personal experience. His entire life had been transformed by Jesus patiently working on him, while overlooking a thousand reasons to give up on him. And Peter, step by step, stumbling and bumbling most of the way, at length experienced the purity of soul that comes from obeying the truth.
However, as Peter points out, we can only obey the truth through the Spirit. This is an important point, for if we miss this piece in the process -- we become religious and unloving; legalistic and combative; filled with opinion, strife, and criticism.
The Phillips New Testament reads, "Some seem to have forgotten this and to have lost themselves in endless words. They want a reputation as teachers of the Law, yet they fail to realize the meaning of their own words, still less of the subject they are so dogmatic about!" (1 Timothy 5:5-7)
Friends, we are never made righteous by the power of our own efforts; it comes only and always through the work of the Holy Spirit, as He applies the Word of God to our lives in very personal and practical ways.
Next, Peter shows us that we must stay on course as the Spirit leads us "unto unfeigned love of the brethren" -- a love that is unpretentious, unselfish, and undeniable!
This is where we are headed. We are on a one-way trip with a one-stop destination. And while many hop on the band-wagon and ride along for awhile, the true work of grace will only be seen in those who go the distance -- to a place called "unfeigned love of the brethren."
Finally, Peter brings us the point of his exhortation -- all that remains now is for us to DO IT. "See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently!"
Never loose sight of this destination. Though the way may grow difficult, and your heart grow heavy, as you tavel though a land flooded with selfishness, pretention, and darkness -- you are headed for a City called LOVE.
.
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1Peter 1:22).
One thing that has always impressed me about the Bible is how the writers so often capture so much in a single phrase. Today's verse is a great example.
Peter, that uneducated fisherman whose claim to fame is nothing other than that he walked with Jesus, writes to his friends and encourages them to let the life which Christ placed within them now find expression through them.
Let's examine his counsel, and see what it has to say to us today.
First, he points out that we can only purify our souls by obeying the truth. Peter knew this from personal experience. His entire life had been transformed by Jesus patiently working on him, while overlooking a thousand reasons to give up on him. And Peter, step by step, stumbling and bumbling most of the way, at length experienced the purity of soul that comes from obeying the truth.
However, as Peter points out, we can only obey the truth through the Spirit. This is an important point, for if we miss this piece in the process -- we become religious and unloving; legalistic and combative; filled with opinion, strife, and criticism.
The Phillips New Testament reads, "Some seem to have forgotten this and to have lost themselves in endless words. They want a reputation as teachers of the Law, yet they fail to realize the meaning of their own words, still less of the subject they are so dogmatic about!" (1 Timothy 5:5-7)
Friends, we are never made righteous by the power of our own efforts; it comes only and always through the work of the Holy Spirit, as He applies the Word of God to our lives in very personal and practical ways.
Next, Peter shows us that we must stay on course as the Spirit leads us "unto unfeigned love of the brethren" -- a love that is unpretentious, unselfish, and undeniable!
This is where we are headed. We are on a one-way trip with a one-stop destination. And while many hop on the band-wagon and ride along for awhile, the true work of grace will only be seen in those who go the distance -- to a place called "unfeigned love of the brethren."
Finally, Peter brings us the point of his exhortation -- all that remains now is for us to DO IT. "See that you love one another with a pure heart fervently!"
Never loose sight of this destination. Though the way may grow difficult, and your heart grow heavy, as you tavel though a land flooded with selfishness, pretention, and darkness -- you are headed for a City called LOVE.
.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Just Head Out in That Direction
.
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Oh what a sweep of inspiration is this! Were this merely the musings of a man it would read thus -- "Stop fulfilling the lust of the flesh, and then you will walk in the Spirit."
The difference between how we see it, and how God says it, is profound. It's the difference between religion and relationship; between bondage and freedom; between life and death.
Think about it. How many times have you instinctively tried to "clean up your act" so that God would be pleased with you? Or "put yourself together" so that you can be the man or woman you know God wants you to be? That's religion, not relationship. It is a dead-end street.
Years ago I saw an ad for home cleaning services that should've been re-worded before going to press. It said, "Tired of Cleaning Yourself? Let Me Do It!" The image this put in my head was both disturbing and hilarious at the same time. But then it struck me -- maybe that is exactly what the Lord is saying to each one of us!
"Tired of cleaning yourself? Let Me do it!"
The fact is that despite how desperately we try to make it happen, we simply CANNOT clean ourselves. Only God can do it. And do it He will! Indeed, He already has!!
The staggering truth of the Christian Faith is that we are in the process of becoming what God has already made us to be. He who knows the end from the beginning, and declares those things that are not as though they are, has spoken the final word of victory over our lives.
We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, even though we now walk this earth below.
As we walk, God invites us to walk in the Spirit -- and that means we walk in LOVE, with all of its attending fruit. Thus God guides us and influences us into becoming what He has already declared us to be. Brilliant!
So, warts and all, just head out in that direction -- and you will get there from here.
.
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).
Oh what a sweep of inspiration is this! Were this merely the musings of a man it would read thus -- "Stop fulfilling the lust of the flesh, and then you will walk in the Spirit."
The difference between how we see it, and how God says it, is profound. It's the difference between religion and relationship; between bondage and freedom; between life and death.
Think about it. How many times have you instinctively tried to "clean up your act" so that God would be pleased with you? Or "put yourself together" so that you can be the man or woman you know God wants you to be? That's religion, not relationship. It is a dead-end street.
Years ago I saw an ad for home cleaning services that should've been re-worded before going to press. It said, "Tired of Cleaning Yourself? Let Me Do It!" The image this put in my head was both disturbing and hilarious at the same time. But then it struck me -- maybe that is exactly what the Lord is saying to each one of us!
"Tired of cleaning yourself? Let Me do it!"
The fact is that despite how desperately we try to make it happen, we simply CANNOT clean ourselves. Only God can do it. And do it He will! Indeed, He already has!!
The staggering truth of the Christian Faith is that we are in the process of becoming what God has already made us to be. He who knows the end from the beginning, and declares those things that are not as though they are, has spoken the final word of victory over our lives.
We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, even though we now walk this earth below.
As we walk, God invites us to walk in the Spirit -- and that means we walk in LOVE, with all of its attending fruit. Thus God guides us and influences us into becoming what He has already declared us to be. Brilliant!
So, warts and all, just head out in that direction -- and you will get there from here.
.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
The After Glow
.
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1 Timothy 1:5).
Paul is showing Timothy that the ultimate aim of any authentic minister is to produce the love which springs from a pure heart, a good conscience and a genuine faith.
Take a moment of do a little self-examination. Don't you find that a defiled heart, a bad conscience, and a pretentious faith constitute a real blockade to love -- both giving it to others, as well as receiving it for yourself?
We've just journeyed together over the past several days as we discussed the fruit of the Spirit, which is LOVE expressing itself in a variety of ways. The whole purpose of this was to aid each one of us in taking the steps toward becoming what Jesus wants us to be -- men and women who walk in love.
A pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith are the keys to our success. Here is how it works.
Genuine faith is the first to act. It is the faith that comes from hearing God speak, which brings with it the desire to please Him. Faith steps out to do whatever God has said to do -- inwardly and outwardly. This leads to a good conscience.
Paul said, "Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do" (Acts 24:16). A man or woman with a troubled conscience need only to take one step back to the place where genuine faith can complete its work in their souls.
A genuine faith produces a good conscience, and these two then work in concert to purify the heart. And the job is not easy. "The heart is deceitful above all things," Jeremiah tells us. "It is desperately wicked: who can know it?" (ch.17:9). This is the answer he heard from heaven, "I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." (vs.10, the Message).
It is the Lord who alone holds the power to transform our lives. He speaks and gives us a genuine faith, which instills within us the desire to please Him. He leads us, and gives us a good conscience as we obey His will. And He purifies our hearts by the pervasive influence of His Holy Spirit, examining and cleansing us day by day.
And here is the payoff of this happy process -- LOVE!
Not LOVE imagined, but LOVE that is real, and lasting. Love that is experienced and expressed. Love that works no ill toward its neighbor, and thus fulfills the Royal Law.
It is the love that flows out of a pure heart, which is the product of a good conscience and a genuine faith working together.
Where are you in the process?
.
"Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1 Timothy 1:5).
Paul is showing Timothy that the ultimate aim of any authentic minister is to produce the love which springs from a pure heart, a good conscience and a genuine faith.
Take a moment of do a little self-examination. Don't you find that a defiled heart, a bad conscience, and a pretentious faith constitute a real blockade to love -- both giving it to others, as well as receiving it for yourself?
We've just journeyed together over the past several days as we discussed the fruit of the Spirit, which is LOVE expressing itself in a variety of ways. The whole purpose of this was to aid each one of us in taking the steps toward becoming what Jesus wants us to be -- men and women who walk in love.
A pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith are the keys to our success. Here is how it works.
Genuine faith is the first to act. It is the faith that comes from hearing God speak, which brings with it the desire to please Him. Faith steps out to do whatever God has said to do -- inwardly and outwardly. This leads to a good conscience.
Paul said, "Believe me, I do my level best to keep a clear conscience before God and my neighbors in everything I do" (Acts 24:16). A man or woman with a troubled conscience need only to take one step back to the place where genuine faith can complete its work in their souls.
A genuine faith produces a good conscience, and these two then work in concert to purify the heart. And the job is not easy. "The heart is deceitful above all things," Jeremiah tells us. "It is desperately wicked: who can know it?" (ch.17:9). This is the answer he heard from heaven, "I, the Lord, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be." (vs.10, the Message).
It is the Lord who alone holds the power to transform our lives. He speaks and gives us a genuine faith, which instills within us the desire to please Him. He leads us, and gives us a good conscience as we obey His will. And He purifies our hearts by the pervasive influence of His Holy Spirit, examining and cleansing us day by day.
And here is the payoff of this happy process -- LOVE!
Not LOVE imagined, but LOVE that is real, and lasting. Love that is experienced and expressed. Love that works no ill toward its neighbor, and thus fulfills the Royal Law.
It is the love that flows out of a pure heart, which is the product of a good conscience and a genuine faith working together.
Where are you in the process?
.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
SELF-CONTROL is Love Working
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
Ed Cole wrote, "Maturity does not come with age; it begins with the acceptance of responsibility."
Down through the centuries people of every culture and age have discovered that the work of grace in the human spirit not only liberates us from the overwhelming power of sin, but also restores us to the power of personal choice and self-control.
We have no need of external pressures and policies to govern our conduct, for the Lord has written His Law within our very hearts, and filled us with His Holy Spirit -- empowering us to know and to do what is right and good and true.
God's grace at work in us shows us "how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life" (Titus 2:12, The Message).
The Old King James uses the word temperance, which means "the strength of self-control." It speaks to the virtue of that man or woman who masters their desires and passions by yielding to the inward influence of the Holy Spirit.
SELF-CONTROL is Love working in us, especially in a day when everything around us is spinning out of control.
Is this not the beauty and mystery of our friendship with Jesus? He empowers us to behave ourselves, and to become the men and women He has called us to be. And as we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word we mature into "lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance" (Titus 2:2, The Message).
Isn't that the life you've wanted all along!
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
Ed Cole wrote, "Maturity does not come with age; it begins with the acceptance of responsibility."
Down through the centuries people of every culture and age have discovered that the work of grace in the human spirit not only liberates us from the overwhelming power of sin, but also restores us to the power of personal choice and self-control.
We have no need of external pressures and policies to govern our conduct, for the Lord has written His Law within our very hearts, and filled us with His Holy Spirit -- empowering us to know and to do what is right and good and true.
God's grace at work in us shows us "how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life" (Titus 2:12, The Message).
The Old King James uses the word temperance, which means "the strength of self-control." It speaks to the virtue of that man or woman who masters their desires and passions by yielding to the inward influence of the Holy Spirit.
SELF-CONTROL is Love working in us, especially in a day when everything around us is spinning out of control.
Is this not the beauty and mystery of our friendship with Jesus? He empowers us to behave ourselves, and to become the men and women He has called us to be. And as we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word we mature into "lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance" (Titus 2:2, The Message).
Isn't that the life you've wanted all along!
.
Friday, February 06, 2009
MEEKNESS is Love Yielding
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness...." (Galatians 5:22).
Whether you drink beer or not, you cannot dispute the sheer beauty of the Budweiser Clydesdales harnessed and working together as a team. I reference this because it is perhaps the best contemporary example of what the word meekness truly means.
Meekness is strength which has been harnessed so that it might be guided to a higher and nobler purpose. Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.
The Lord says to us, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mat 11:28-30).
Meekness is Love yielding to the will of God, and becoming harnessed in the yoke of humility.
Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who we are, and the rightness of what we do. It is the freedom that comes from agreeing with God, and doing what He bids us to do.
This is the next step in the path to power in perilous times -- and it is but one step away from the prize.
You've come this far -- you may as well go ahead and take the final step. You will be glad you did so.
I'll tell you that step tomorrow.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness...." (Galatians 5:22).
Whether you drink beer or not, you cannot dispute the sheer beauty of the Budweiser Clydesdales harnessed and working together as a team. I reference this because it is perhaps the best contemporary example of what the word meekness truly means.
Meekness is strength which has been harnessed so that it might be guided to a higher and nobler purpose. Meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.
The Lord says to us, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mat 11:28-30).
Meekness is Love yielding to the will of God, and becoming harnessed in the yoke of humility.
Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who we are, and the rightness of what we do. It is the freedom that comes from agreeing with God, and doing what He bids us to do.
This is the next step in the path to power in perilous times -- and it is but one step away from the prize.
You've come this far -- you may as well go ahead and take the final step. You will be glad you did so.
I'll tell you that step tomorrow.
.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
FAITH is Love Believing
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith...." (Galatians 5:22).
Any jeweler who knows their business will always display their best diamonds under the brightest light, against a backdrop of black velvet. The Lord does the same.
These jewels listed by Paul as "the fruit of the Spirit" find their greatest beauty when they are displayed in the midst of a culture that is crooked and perverse. Thankfully, we live in such a culture today!
This affords us the best of all opportunities to show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into marvelous light. It only remains for us to do our part, which is to let God's light shine upon us so that others may see His beauty displayed in our lives.
FAITH is Love believing -- and this Faith is at its finest when doubts assail us during the darkest of storms.
It was Job who said in the moment of his severest trial, "Though He slay me; yet will I trust Him!" It was Abraham who, against all hope believed in hope and staggered not at the promise of God. The Psalmist himself said, "What times I am afraid, I will trust in Thee!" (Psalm 56:3).
Anybody can believe when their is no real challenge against their faith. But God is truly honored by those who, for Love's sake, believe even when all other things are begging them to cave in and surrender to doubt and dismay.
This is the faith that pleases God, and overcomes the world. And in a day when the faith of so many may be failing -- YOUR faith, which works by Love, can carry not only your own soul to the Land of Promise, but can also bring along multitudes in tow!
Stand up, O Believer, for there be many with you who have not bowed the knee, and so many more who will regain standing and stamina at your encouraging example.
Carry on, and we will talk again tomorrow.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith...." (Galatians 5:22).
Any jeweler who knows their business will always display their best diamonds under the brightest light, against a backdrop of black velvet. The Lord does the same.
These jewels listed by Paul as "the fruit of the Spirit" find their greatest beauty when they are displayed in the midst of a culture that is crooked and perverse. Thankfully, we live in such a culture today!
This affords us the best of all opportunities to show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into marvelous light. It only remains for us to do our part, which is to let God's light shine upon us so that others may see His beauty displayed in our lives.
FAITH is Love believing -- and this Faith is at its finest when doubts assail us during the darkest of storms.
It was Job who said in the moment of his severest trial, "Though He slay me; yet will I trust Him!" It was Abraham who, against all hope believed in hope and staggered not at the promise of God. The Psalmist himself said, "What times I am afraid, I will trust in Thee!" (Psalm 56:3).
Anybody can believe when their is no real challenge against their faith. But God is truly honored by those who, for Love's sake, believe even when all other things are begging them to cave in and surrender to doubt and dismay.
This is the faith that pleases God, and overcomes the world. And in a day when the faith of so many may be failing -- YOUR faith, which works by Love, can carry not only your own soul to the Land of Promise, but can also bring along multitudes in tow!
Stand up, O Believer, for there be many with you who have not bowed the knee, and so many more who will regain standing and stamina at your encouraging example.
Carry on, and we will talk again tomorrow.
.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
GOODNESS is Love Increasing
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness...." (Galatians 5:22).
In another place the Bible tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:9). Our world longs for that which is good, right, and true. And specifically in perilous times, those who know how to live and walk in goodness, rightness, and truth will be held in great esteem.
After all, it was the goodness of God that led us to repentance. How fitting then that His goodness extended through us in perilous times would be the means whereby He reaches even others and draws them to Himself.
GOODNESS is Love increasing in its reach and influence. It is the prevailing tide that answers the darkness of perilous times.
God has purposed that The Community of the Called Out (i.e., the Church) be the means whereby the world may know the length, the breadth, the depth, and the height of God's love. And to this unique Assembly He says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
This is precisely WHY He is pleased to pass us through perilous times, for we therein may hold forth the word of light to those around us; as we shine in the midst of a wicked and perverse world.
Goodness is its own commercial; and all who hunger for it will rally to the person and place where goodness can be found.
Three steps to go.
See you tomorrow.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness...." (Galatians 5:22).
In another place the Bible tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Ephesians 5:9). Our world longs for that which is good, right, and true. And specifically in perilous times, those who know how to live and walk in goodness, rightness, and truth will be held in great esteem.
After all, it was the goodness of God that led us to repentance. How fitting then that His goodness extended through us in perilous times would be the means whereby He reaches even others and draws them to Himself.
GOODNESS is Love increasing in its reach and influence. It is the prevailing tide that answers the darkness of perilous times.
God has purposed that The Community of the Called Out (i.e., the Church) be the means whereby the world may know the length, the breadth, the depth, and the height of God's love. And to this unique Assembly He says, "Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
This is precisely WHY He is pleased to pass us through perilous times, for we therein may hold forth the word of light to those around us; as we shine in the midst of a wicked and perverse world.
Goodness is its own commercial; and all who hunger for it will rally to the person and place where goodness can be found.
Three steps to go.
See you tomorrow.
.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
KINDNESS is Love Behaving
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...." (Galatians 5:22).
Love, Joy, and Peace are virtues we experience within ourselves despite whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in at any given time.
Patience, Kindness, and Goodness are the unsuppressed expressions of our moral behavior toward others who are in the circumstances with us.
KINDNESS is Love behaving in less than perfect situations. This is the next step on the pathway to power in perilous times.
This is never more so than in those dark times when men are "lovers of themselves, lovers of money.....unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
When we act with kindness toward others, especially to those who are unkind toward us, the Lord finds us to be both useful and profitable to His purposes. For this is a root meaning of the word kindness.
Instead of being a grump, like so many others who complain and criticize when things are difficult, you and I are to be useful and profitable -- we are to show kindness. And while such behavior may not be our natural inclination, we can do it with grace because we are being filled with the Holy Spirit.
This Spirit sheds God's love abroad in our hearts, which then unleashes the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Why not put it to the test today. Is there somebody that would find it useful and profitable for you to be kind to them? Then do it -- and you will discover that love, joy, peace, and patience all show up at the same time to celebrate the moment!
Just a few more steps and we are there.
See you tomorrow.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness...." (Galatians 5:22).
Love, Joy, and Peace are virtues we experience within ourselves despite whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in at any given time.
Patience, Kindness, and Goodness are the unsuppressed expressions of our moral behavior toward others who are in the circumstances with us.
KINDNESS is Love behaving in less than perfect situations. This is the next step on the pathway to power in perilous times.
This is never more so than in those dark times when men are "lovers of themselves, lovers of money.....unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
When we act with kindness toward others, especially to those who are unkind toward us, the Lord finds us to be both useful and profitable to His purposes. For this is a root meaning of the word kindness.
Instead of being a grump, like so many others who complain and criticize when things are difficult, you and I are to be useful and profitable -- we are to show kindness. And while such behavior may not be our natural inclination, we can do it with grace because we are being filled with the Holy Spirit.
This Spirit sheds God's love abroad in our hearts, which then unleashes the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Why not put it to the test today. Is there somebody that would find it useful and profitable for you to be kind to them? Then do it -- and you will discover that love, joy, peace, and patience all show up at the same time to celebrate the moment!
Just a few more steps and we are there.
See you tomorrow.
.
Monday, February 02, 2009
PATIENCE is Love Enduring
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...." (Galatians 5:22).
The man and woman who is blessed by God is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Even in old age they shall still bear fruit and flourish. And always in each season the one true characteristic of those who bear fruit is that they do so with patience.
Patience is Love enduring. This is the next step on the pathway to power in perilous times.
Because God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us, we are flooded with love and abound with joy. Peace pervades and prevails in our every circumstance, and patience marks us as those who are held by something far more enduring than the fleeting moments of time.
And mark this one thing well -- the patience we speak of here is not passive. Rather it is the strength of character that holds steady in the face of trials, and endures with grace as it faces absurd provocations.
Paul said, "We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul -- not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us" (Colossians 1:11-12, The Message).
Love, joy, peace, patience -- we are getting closer; but there are yet a few more steps we need to take.
See you tomorrow.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...." (Galatians 5:22).
The man and woman who is blessed by God is like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. Even in old age they shall still bear fruit and flourish. And always in each season the one true characteristic of those who bear fruit is that they do so with patience.
Patience is Love enduring. This is the next step on the pathway to power in perilous times.
Because God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us, we are flooded with love and abound with joy. Peace pervades and prevails in our every circumstance, and patience marks us as those who are held by something far more enduring than the fleeting moments of time.
And mark this one thing well -- the patience we speak of here is not passive. Rather it is the strength of character that holds steady in the face of trials, and endures with grace as it faces absurd provocations.
Paul said, "We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul -- not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us" (Colossians 1:11-12, The Message).
Love, joy, peace, patience -- we are getting closer; but there are yet a few more steps we need to take.
See you tomorrow.
.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
PEACE is Love Reposing
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...." (Galatians 5:22).
George Morrison wrote, "Peace is the possession of adequate resource." This is true in every way. Think of how much anxiety comes in your life when you lack something.
Whether you are a student facing an exam, a job-seeker facing an interview, an investor watching the Stock Market, an athlete facing an opponent, a soldier on the battlefield, parents holding a newborn, a neighbor experiencing conflict with another neighbor -- and on and on and on -- each of these potentially stressful scenarios is settled once you realize that God has given you the adequate resource to face and handle each and every one of them in the right way.
What is the source of your anxiety today? Name it, and look it squarely in the face.
Even now, in the face of this thing, yield to the the will of God and be filled with His Spirit. You will experience love, joy, and peace. Such peace that lets you repose in the face of countless depositions.
"My peace give I unto you," Jesus said. "Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid." All that Christ is, He now will be IN YOU.
The full resource of heaven is now at your disposal in this thing that you face. God's love has secured you in His Presence, God's joy has satisfied you with His goodness -- now let God's peace sustain you in the midst of strife and stress.
PEACE is the next step along the pathway to power in perilous times. And nothing shows God's power and presence more than peace when all hell is breaking loose!
Tomorrow we will take yet another step.
.
"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...." (Galatians 5:22).
George Morrison wrote, "Peace is the possession of adequate resource." This is true in every way. Think of how much anxiety comes in your life when you lack something.
Whether you are a student facing an exam, a job-seeker facing an interview, an investor watching the Stock Market, an athlete facing an opponent, a soldier on the battlefield, parents holding a newborn, a neighbor experiencing conflict with another neighbor -- and on and on and on -- each of these potentially stressful scenarios is settled once you realize that God has given you the adequate resource to face and handle each and every one of them in the right way.
What is the source of your anxiety today? Name it, and look it squarely in the face.
Even now, in the face of this thing, yield to the the will of God and be filled with His Spirit. You will experience love, joy, and peace. Such peace that lets you repose in the face of countless depositions.
"My peace give I unto you," Jesus said. "Let not your heart be troubled; neither let it be afraid." All that Christ is, He now will be IN YOU.
The full resource of heaven is now at your disposal in this thing that you face. God's love has secured you in His Presence, God's joy has satisfied you with His goodness -- now let God's peace sustain you in the midst of strife and stress.
PEACE is the next step along the pathway to power in perilous times. And nothing shows God's power and presence more than peace when all hell is breaking loose!
Tomorrow we will take yet another step.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)