"They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night." Numbers 14:14
Not only did Israel see and know God face to face, experiencing His daily and real leading Presence among them, but even the Egyptians knew this about the people of God. Israel's reputation was that God Himself, the only real and true God, was literally and tangibly with them. Seen face to face. Staying over them. A pillar of fire by day (that you could see.) A pillar of fire by night.
What about us?
Do we not have a "better covenant" built on "better promises?"
Are we not the temple of the Spirit of God, individually and collectively, so that we and our enemies should know that God's Spirit is literally with us, in us, and among us? Do we not have a face to face relationship with God the Father, through faith in God the Son, by the very real guiding daily and nightly presence of God the Spirit?
Or do we just read the Bible, in our many Bible versions, according to our many denominations?
Do you want what I want? What if you and I and one other Christian decided we wanted one thing, and one thing only: The Experience of God's Abiding and Real Presence, with us in such a way that it becomes our reputation. Imagine.
You, another brother or sister in Christ, and me, meeting together. We do what Jesus said when He said,
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20
It only takes two, at the most three. It could be you and me only, or one other believer And Jesus would be with us. In the room. We would know it. Anyone who entered the room would know it, friend or foe.
This is church.
This alone is church.
Anything less than this is a lie about who and what we are.
I will not settle for anything less than this.
I hope you are with me.
I hope that you want nothing less than for your reputation to be that God is seen with you, and that you have a face to face relationship with Him in which He leads you day and night, and that even your enemies know this about you.
I will have this.
Today and every day.
It will define my life.
Let's have it together.
(click HERE part 2)
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
How Our Enemies Should Know Us (Part 2)
Wherever you are, if you have one other person who agrees with you, you and that person may have the presence of the living Lord and Savior with you. It only takes two for Jesus to be there. Whether at your present assembly, you meet at your house, or you and another believer at your job or in your neighborhood. Come together in the name of Jesus, not in the name of an agenda or human program.
To gather in Jesus' name means under His authority and for His glory. It means He literally leads the meeting by His Spirit. We are not used to this. We think we need a "program" or things will be "crazy." After all, "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace." So we think WE have to create the order...a program, a ritual. We start out with a prayer, sing a hymn, take prayer requests, sing another hymn, then hear "the word," then pray/sing/fellowship...or whatever the program is we make up.
But what if you and I met and there was no program. We decided to simply meet at a time and on a day that the Spirit puts in both of our hearts. We meet. We submit to the Lord Jesus, because we are meeting in His name, meaning under His authority and for His glory. We wait in silence of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ to literally lead the meeting. Him. Not me. Not you. What would that be like? What would that feel like? Are we scared to find out, because we are scared things will get crazy or disorderly? Is Jesus crazy or disorderly? Is He really with us as Lord? Does He know how to lead a "church service," or do we trust those who've gone to "seminary" more than our Lord?
Let Jesus be Lord. Let Him determine the meeting, what kind it will be and what will happen. Let Him be who He is: King and Lord.
We must be known by His Presence with us. He's alive. He's not the Bible. He is the author and focus of the Bible, and revealed to us in the Bible so that we may know Him in our midst. But we are not used to this, we who are of little faith. We tell the world that He is alive, but we don't really believe it. So we go through the motions, reading scriptures about Him, but not encountering Him as the Lord of our meetings.
This should not be so.
We and even our enemies should know the very real presence of God with us. This should be our reputation. It can be if we want it to be.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Does God Still Get Angry?
Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the Lord, and when he heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp. Numbers 11:1
You know how people think the God of the Old Testament just loved "smiting" people. That God the Father is "Wrathful" and Jesus is "meek and mild." I've also heard it said that God "poured out all of His anger on Jesus on the cross." Today God doesn't angry any more. Ever. He let it all out on Jesus. Now God is "grieved" or "sad" when evil happens, even with the most horrible evils imaginable. It just makes him "sad." Like when you see a horrible little brat in the grocery store treating her mother like dirt, and the mother says, "Sweetie, it really makes mommy 'sad' when you say, 'Mommy, shut the hell up.' That makes mommy 'sad.'
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. Numbers 11:10
As Christians, in church, in theological studies and Bible studies, we go to great lengths to "prove" that God is "a person." We site passages that show God has thoughts, emotions, and a will, the components of personhood. We even show that at times Jesus became angry. Yes. Meek and Mild Jesus got angry and cleared the temple with a whip. Jesus looked around a room of stubborn people in a synagogue with anger. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus speaks some stern words of rebuke and threatens some serious consequence if some of the churches won't repent.
"I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6
God not only became angry with the Israelites, but "exceedingly angry," in response to their exceedingly evil words against Him. We understand His anger and feel it with Him when we read how badly they were disrespecting Him, after all He had done for them. Don't you get angry when you get disrespected to such an extent that fire burns in you? Are you not made in God's image and likeness...a "person?" The LORD hasn't changed. The Cross didn't change the holiness of God against evil.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
What made Jesus angry "yesterday" would still make him angry today, and forever. If he entered your church and saw people dishonoring His Father, He would act like He did the day He made the whip. Just because He died for our sins doesn't mean sin is less repugnant to God the Father or the Son. Or the Spirit, the "peaceful Dove." Yes, we even make the Spirit so "dovelike" that we forget that Ananias and Sapphira DIED fore lying to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5) We forget that blasphemy against God the Father and God the Son will be forgiven, but that blaspheming the Spirit is unforgivable. (Mark 3:29)
Does God still get angry?
Is He a person?
Has He changed?
You know how people think the God of the Old Testament just loved "smiting" people. That God the Father is "Wrathful" and Jesus is "meek and mild." I've also heard it said that God "poured out all of His anger on Jesus on the cross." Today God doesn't angry any more. Ever. He let it all out on Jesus. Now God is "grieved" or "sad" when evil happens, even with the most horrible evils imaginable. It just makes him "sad." Like when you see a horrible little brat in the grocery store treating her mother like dirt, and the mother says, "Sweetie, it really makes mommy 'sad' when you say, 'Mommy, shut the hell up.' That makes mommy 'sad.'
Moses heard the people of every family wailing at the entrance to their tents. The Lord became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. Numbers 11:10
As Christians, in church, in theological studies and Bible studies, we go to great lengths to "prove" that God is "a person." We site passages that show God has thoughts, emotions, and a will, the components of personhood. We even show that at times Jesus became angry. Yes. Meek and Mild Jesus got angry and cleared the temple with a whip. Jesus looked around a room of stubborn people in a synagogue with anger. In the Book of Revelation, Jesus speaks some stern words of rebuke and threatens some serious consequence if some of the churches won't repent.
"I the LORD do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed." Malachi 3:6
God not only became angry with the Israelites, but "exceedingly angry," in response to their exceedingly evil words against Him. We understand His anger and feel it with Him when we read how badly they were disrespecting Him, after all He had done for them. Don't you get angry when you get disrespected to such an extent that fire burns in you? Are you not made in God's image and likeness...a "person?" The LORD hasn't changed. The Cross didn't change the holiness of God against evil.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
What made Jesus angry "yesterday" would still make him angry today, and forever. If he entered your church and saw people dishonoring His Father, He would act like He did the day He made the whip. Just because He died for our sins doesn't mean sin is less repugnant to God the Father or the Son. Or the Spirit, the "peaceful Dove." Yes, we even make the Spirit so "dovelike" that we forget that Ananias and Sapphira DIED fore lying to the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5) We forget that blasphemy against God the Father and God the Son will be forgiven, but that blaspheming the Spirit is unforgivable. (Mark 3:29)
Does God still get angry?
Is He a person?
Has He changed?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
The Husband who Healed His Wife
My head hurts so bad I can't stand it.
I'm sorry sweetie. How long has it been hurting?
For about an hour now. I can barely think straight.
Can I pray for you sweetheart?
Yes, I would very much appreciate it.
The husband went to get his Bible and the Olive Oil he set aside for one purpose: to pray for the sick, according to these verses of scripture:
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.
The husband studied these scriptures and the role of "elders." He found out that an elder is a church leader, one who is a "mature and seasoned man of experience." The husband led a home church of in his neighborhood of 5 people.
It was late, and he thought about the application of this verse to his situation. In his home, he realized by the Spirit that he is the "elder," or leader, of his home, as it says in scripture:
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3
"So in my home, Christ is my 'elder,' I am my wife's 'elder,' and God is the 'Elder' of Christ," the husband thought. It's the only thing that made scriptural sense in his situation. If he were sick, he would have no "elder" to call, other than Christ, who is the head of the man in the home.
All of these thoughts went through the husband's head as he got his anointing oil and Bible.
He came to his wife, who was now lying on the couch with her eyes closed. Filled with compassion for his hurting wife, he opened the scriptures and the oil. "I'll simply pray exactly what the scriptures say," he decided.
"Our Father in heaven, I pray over my wife and anoint her with oil in the name of the Lord. Let my prayer offered in faith make my wife well; Lord, please raise her up. Amen."
His wife went to the kitchen and he thought about what happened. He knew he didn't have the "gift of healing." He was not a healer. The Word of Wisdom was his spiritual gift. But he also knew what the scriptures said he should do if someone is sick, so for him it was a matter of simple obedience to that command like any other command in scripture. But he thought about something else.
Jesus said one of the signs that would follow those who believe is laying hands on the sick and the sick recovering. He thought about the different words related to sickness that he remembered in scripture:
1. Healed.
2. Made whole.
3. Raised up.
4. Recovering.
5. Made well.
He also thought about the role of faith in the healer and healed, as well as the measure of giftedness each believer has. Finally, he thought about love and how when his wife was in pain, he simply wanted her to not be in pain anymore, to feel better, to feel good. Maybe the least he should expect when he prays for sick people is that in some way they feel better, that they are able to think and function without pain as a distraction. He learned from Ravi Zacharias that any pain (or pleasure) that distracts, diminishes, or destroys God's goal for your life is an illegitimate pain or pleasure. Nothing should keep distract us form prayer and service.
Like when Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and she got up and served them.
He thought about basic Christian supernatural healing like taking Tylenol when he has a headache and has to go to work. Even though the Tylenol doesn't "heal him" of the fever or whatever his body is fighting off through the fever, the Tylenol relieves his pain and the distraction of the fever so that he can focus on doing his job.
He believed now that the least he could do by the Spirit, by trusting God's word, is relieve people of pain out of love, and for the purpose of them doing what God has them to do without pain as a distraction. In some way, he thought, every prayer should bring some relief...at least the relief of the "peace that surpasses all understanding," as Paul said.
Jesus at least makes people feel better. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I'm sorry sweetie. How long has it been hurting?
For about an hour now. I can barely think straight.
Can I pray for you sweetheart?
Yes, I would very much appreciate it.
The husband went to get his Bible and the Olive Oil he set aside for one purpose: to pray for the sick, according to these verses of scripture:
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.
The husband studied these scriptures and the role of "elders." He found out that an elder is a church leader, one who is a "mature and seasoned man of experience." The husband led a home church of in his neighborhood of 5 people.
It was late, and he thought about the application of this verse to his situation. In his home, he realized by the Spirit that he is the "elder," or leader, of his home, as it says in scripture:
But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3
"So in my home, Christ is my 'elder,' I am my wife's 'elder,' and God is the 'Elder' of Christ," the husband thought. It's the only thing that made scriptural sense in his situation. If he were sick, he would have no "elder" to call, other than Christ, who is the head of the man in the home.
All of these thoughts went through the husband's head as he got his anointing oil and Bible.
He came to his wife, who was now lying on the couch with her eyes closed. Filled with compassion for his hurting wife, he opened the scriptures and the oil. "I'll simply pray exactly what the scriptures say," he decided.
"Our Father in heaven, I pray over my wife and anoint her with oil in the name of the Lord. Let my prayer offered in faith make my wife well; Lord, please raise her up. Amen."
"Amen," his wife said.
She sat up and said, "I actually feel much better! Thank you so much."
You're welcome sweetie. I thank God for hearing me and touching you. Is your headache completely gone?
No, not completely, but when you prayed and put the oil on my head, the throbbing completely stopped. I still feel pressure, but it's faint and bearable. I feel like I can think and do things now, even though the slight pressure is still in the back of my head. I feel so much better. Thank you again. It really made a difference.
You're welcome.
Do you want something from the kitchen? I'm going to get some tea.
No thank you.
His wife went to the kitchen and he thought about what happened. He knew he didn't have the "gift of healing." He was not a healer. The Word of Wisdom was his spiritual gift. But he also knew what the scriptures said he should do if someone is sick, so for him it was a matter of simple obedience to that command like any other command in scripture. But he thought about something else.
Jesus said one of the signs that would follow those who believe is laying hands on the sick and the sick recovering. He thought about the different words related to sickness that he remembered in scripture:
1. Healed.
2. Made whole.
3. Raised up.
4. Recovering.
5. Made well.
He also thought about the role of faith in the healer and healed, as well as the measure of giftedness each believer has. Finally, he thought about love and how when his wife was in pain, he simply wanted her to not be in pain anymore, to feel better, to feel good. Maybe the least he should expect when he prays for sick people is that in some way they feel better, that they are able to think and function without pain as a distraction. He learned from Ravi Zacharias that any pain (or pleasure) that distracts, diminishes, or destroys God's goal for your life is an illegitimate pain or pleasure. Nothing should keep distract us form prayer and service.
Like when Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and she got up and served them.
He thought about basic Christian supernatural healing like taking Tylenol when he has a headache and has to go to work. Even though the Tylenol doesn't "heal him" of the fever or whatever his body is fighting off through the fever, the Tylenol relieves his pain and the distraction of the fever so that he can focus on doing his job.
He believed now that the least he could do by the Spirit, by trusting God's word, is relieve people of pain out of love, and for the purpose of them doing what God has them to do without pain as a distraction. In some way, he thought, every prayer should bring some relief...at least the relief of the "peace that surpasses all understanding," as Paul said.
Jesus at least makes people feel better. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The One Thing You Need As Your Pray Today
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
I'm assuming you believe in Jesus and that prayer is as natural to you as breathing. We're supposed to pray without ceasing, meaning we're in constant conversation connection with God. We're not only supposed to pray, but we're supposed to get what we pray for. Jesus Himself agrees with this when He says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22
To do this, to get exactly what you pray for, you need one thing today:
If you are righteous, your prayers, whatever they are, will be "powerful and effective," according to James 5:16.
To be a righteous person is easy because Jesus made it easy. In the context of James chapter 5, being righteous simply means your sins are confessed and forgiven. That's it. That's righteousness. When you believe in Jesus and your sins are confessed and forgiven, your prayers are as powerful and effective as the prophet Elijah's. He was the "righteous person" James used as an example. Elijah's prayers were so powerful and effective that he prayed it wouldn't rain for three years, and it didn't rain for three years. Elijah prayed again that it would rain after those three years, and it rained. You can't pray more powerfully and effectively than to start and stop the weather! James made it clear that Elijah was just as human we are. But he was a righteous man. And his righteousness made his prayers powerful and effective.
Powerful and effective prayers are prayers that are very capable of bringing about very specific results. (Meaning you ask for God to stop rain for three years, and rain stops for three years. This prayer is specific, undeniable, and tangible.)
That's what you want, right? You want to receive exactly what you pray for. Why ask God for something if you really don't expect Him to give it to you? Why be vague when you know you want or need something very specific, at a very specific time, like today?
What are your prayers for today? Or better put, think of one thing you are praying for today that you really need or want. Be specific now. Be tangible.
For me, I'm taking a test and I need to make a specific score. Now my part in the answer to this prayer is to study. God won't do that for me. But He will give me wisdom, because He promises wisdom in the book of James when I ask with unwavering single-minded faith. I will get wisdom from God when I study because I'm a "righteous man." Because of Jesus, my sins are forgiven and forgotten. I can pray as powerfully and effectively for wisdom as Elijah prayed that it wouldn't rain for three years.
What about you?
What are you praying will happen today?
If you have any sin in your life, confess and forsake it by faith in Jesus' death for that sin. After this confession, you will be a righteous person, and you can pray as powerfully and effectively as the Prophet Elijah.
In other words, you'll get exactly what you pray for.
I'm assuming you believe in Jesus and that prayer is as natural to you as breathing. We're supposed to pray without ceasing, meaning we're in constant conversation connection with God. We're not only supposed to pray, but we're supposed to get what we pray for. Jesus Himself agrees with this when He says, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:22
To do this, to get exactly what you pray for, you need one thing today:
Be a righteous person.
If you are righteous, your prayers, whatever they are, will be "powerful and effective," according to James 5:16.
To be a righteous person is easy because Jesus made it easy. In the context of James chapter 5, being righteous simply means your sins are confessed and forgiven. That's it. That's righteousness. When you believe in Jesus and your sins are confessed and forgiven, your prayers are as powerful and effective as the prophet Elijah's. He was the "righteous person" James used as an example. Elijah's prayers were so powerful and effective that he prayed it wouldn't rain for three years, and it didn't rain for three years. Elijah prayed again that it would rain after those three years, and it rained. You can't pray more powerfully and effectively than to start and stop the weather! James made it clear that Elijah was just as human we are. But he was a righteous man. And his righteousness made his prayers powerful and effective.
Powerful and effective prayers are prayers that are very capable of bringing about very specific results. (Meaning you ask for God to stop rain for three years, and rain stops for three years. This prayer is specific, undeniable, and tangible.)
That's what you want, right? You want to receive exactly what you pray for. Why ask God for something if you really don't expect Him to give it to you? Why be vague when you know you want or need something very specific, at a very specific time, like today?
What are your prayers for today? Or better put, think of one thing you are praying for today that you really need or want. Be specific now. Be tangible.
For me, I'm taking a test and I need to make a specific score. Now my part in the answer to this prayer is to study. God won't do that for me. But He will give me wisdom, because He promises wisdom in the book of James when I ask with unwavering single-minded faith. I will get wisdom from God when I study because I'm a "righteous man." Because of Jesus, my sins are forgiven and forgotten. I can pray as powerfully and effectively for wisdom as Elijah prayed that it wouldn't rain for three years.
What about you?
What are you praying will happen today?
If you have any sin in your life, confess and forsake it by faith in Jesus' death for that sin. After this confession, you will be a righteous person, and you can pray as powerfully and effectively as the Prophet Elijah.
In other words, you'll get exactly what you pray for.
The one thing you need as you pray today is to be a righteous person,
because only the righteous person can pray powerfully and effectively.
Confessing your sin by faith in Jesus makes you a righteous person.
May God bless you as you pray today.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
What Happens When People Encounter You
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you received from God?
The Apostle Paul
If you trust and obey Jesus as the only way to be a child of God, then the Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
God is in you.
Therefore, whenever anyone encounters you, they encounter God in you.
How does this feel?
Have you ever felt God in someone?
I have. So did my wife.
We were at a Bible Study and there was a man there who taught us the lesson for the night. It was our first time at this study. We were invited by a friend of ours. The lesson was good, but that's not what I or my wife remember.
We were both struck by an invisible influence coming from the bible teacher. It felt like a calm, humble presence, but it wasn't the bible teacher. It was "with" or "on" or "surrounding" the bible teacher. The Presence didn't make us think anything about the teacher, but drew us to him and what he was like, as well as what he was saying. My wife and I didn't fully realize the effect The Presence around the teacher had on us until after the meeting. But we both could describe the same experience.
Someone was with the bible teacher. The Person was invisible to human eyes, inaudible to human ears, and intangible to human touch. The Presence had no color, scent, or sound. But I felt it, and so did my wife.
We both knew we were feeling God's Spirit coming from this man.
How did we know?
Because my wife and I have the Spirit of God in us just like the bible teacher did.
When you meet someone and become well acquainted with him or her, from that point on you know how that person is. You know his tone of voice on the phone. You know her hand gestures and mannerisms.
This is how it is with God, if you are intimate with Him. There is only One God. No one feels like Him. No one can. Once you know Him, you will know what He feels like in others who trust in Jesus. And people will know what He feels like in you if you trust in the Lord.
If you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Therefore, God is in you.
Anyone who encounters you encounters God in you.
The Apostle Paul
If you trust and obey Jesus as the only way to be a child of God, then the Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
God is in you.
Therefore, whenever anyone encounters you, they encounter God in you.
How does this feel?
Have you ever felt God in someone?
I have. So did my wife.
We were at a Bible Study and there was a man there who taught us the lesson for the night. It was our first time at this study. We were invited by a friend of ours. The lesson was good, but that's not what I or my wife remember.
We were both struck by an invisible influence coming from the bible teacher. It felt like a calm, humble presence, but it wasn't the bible teacher. It was "with" or "on" or "surrounding" the bible teacher. The Presence didn't make us think anything about the teacher, but drew us to him and what he was like, as well as what he was saying. My wife and I didn't fully realize the effect The Presence around the teacher had on us until after the meeting. But we both could describe the same experience.
Someone was with the bible teacher. The Person was invisible to human eyes, inaudible to human ears, and intangible to human touch. The Presence had no color, scent, or sound. But I felt it, and so did my wife.
We both knew we were feeling God's Spirit coming from this man.
How did we know?
Because my wife and I have the Spirit of God in us just like the bible teacher did.
When you meet someone and become well acquainted with him or her, from that point on you know how that person is. You know his tone of voice on the phone. You know her hand gestures and mannerisms.
This is how it is with God, if you are intimate with Him. There is only One God. No one feels like Him. No one can. Once you know Him, you will know what He feels like in others who trust in Jesus. And people will know what He feels like in you if you trust in the Lord.
If you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is in you.
The Holy Spirit is God.
Therefore, God is in you.
Anyone who encounters you encounters God in you.
How and Why God Wants YOU To Be Seen
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house." Matthew 5:14-15
When Jesus came on the scene, it was obvious to all that His purpose was divine. From His birth, to His baptism, throughout His ministry on earth, His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus' life could not be hidden. And a Christians, neither should ours.
How can our lives undeniably give God glory?
Intentionally.
We intend it.
We make it our aim to speak and act in a way that draws attention to God.
This is what Jesus meant by "the town built on a hill," and people putting their lamps in conspicuous places. Look at the city on the hill! The lamp lights the whole house. Neither can be ignored.
Christ couldn't be ignored.
Christians, we who are Christ like, should not be able to be ignored.
Why?
Why does God WANT you to be seen?
Jesus said God wants you to be seen for His glory, that people will honor and praise God based on seeing your bright shining life.
The world needs to see Jesus, but more specifically, the people in your life need to see you reflecting Jesus.
How will they see Him?
According to Jesus, you display your good deeds so that they cannot be hidden, but they are completely seen wherever you are, just as a bright lamp is deliberately placed in a room to light up the whole room.
What good deeds are Jesus talking about? What shines so brightly when you do it that people see it and praise God? Before He told them to let their lights sine, Jesus told His followers in His sermon on the mount something that you can apply today. You can focus on doing this one thing because it inherently draws attention to you as a child of God, according to Jesus. By doing it, by deliberately and intentionally doing it, people will see this good deed and glorify your Father in heaven:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
There it is. There is a way you can let your light shine today. You can put yourself in a position where you are a peacemaker. Whether there is a conflict to resolve between two people arguing, or whether you simply make the room feel peaceful by simply coming in with a prayerful and peaceful attitude from the Spirit of Peace, if you choose to deliberately be a peace maker in the name of Jesus, you will be called a child of God, drawing attention to God, letting your light shine before men and women. No one will be able to ignore you, just as a bright lamp cannot be ignored.
How does God want you to be seen? By you deliberately putting yourself in a position to draw attention to God whom you serve, so much so that it is impossible to ignore you.
Why does God want you to be seen, to be as impossible to ignore as a city DELIBERATELY built on a hill, or as lamp DELIBERATELY put in the middle of a house to light the whole house? Because He Himself wants to be seen and known by everyone you come into contact with. God wants to be known. He wants to be known through you.
Be a peacemaker today and be called a child of God. In this way, intentionally and deliberately let your light shine before the people in your life right now. God bless you as you do this.
(Tell me what happens when you do it. I need your encouragement, and I want to give you mine. Tell me in the comments section how you let your light shine today.)
When Jesus came on the scene, it was obvious to all that His purpose was divine. From His birth, to His baptism, throughout His ministry on earth, His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus' life could not be hidden. And a Christians, neither should ours.
How can our lives undeniably give God glory?
Intentionally.
We intend it.
We make it our aim to speak and act in a way that draws attention to God.
This is what Jesus meant by "the town built on a hill," and people putting their lamps in conspicuous places. Look at the city on the hill! The lamp lights the whole house. Neither can be ignored.
Christ couldn't be ignored.
Christians, we who are Christ like, should not be able to be ignored.
Why?
Why does God WANT you to be seen?
Jesus said God wants you to be seen for His glory, that people will honor and praise God based on seeing your bright shining life.
The world needs to see Jesus, but more specifically, the people in your life need to see you reflecting Jesus.
How will they see Him?
According to Jesus, you display your good deeds so that they cannot be hidden, but they are completely seen wherever you are, just as a bright lamp is deliberately placed in a room to light up the whole room.
What good deeds are Jesus talking about? What shines so brightly when you do it that people see it and praise God? Before He told them to let their lights sine, Jesus told His followers in His sermon on the mount something that you can apply today. You can focus on doing this one thing because it inherently draws attention to you as a child of God, according to Jesus. By doing it, by deliberately and intentionally doing it, people will see this good deed and glorify your Father in heaven:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9
There it is. There is a way you can let your light shine today. You can put yourself in a position where you are a peacemaker. Whether there is a conflict to resolve between two people arguing, or whether you simply make the room feel peaceful by simply coming in with a prayerful and peaceful attitude from the Spirit of Peace, if you choose to deliberately be a peace maker in the name of Jesus, you will be called a child of God, drawing attention to God, letting your light shine before men and women. No one will be able to ignore you, just as a bright lamp cannot be ignored.
How does God want you to be seen? By you deliberately putting yourself in a position to draw attention to God whom you serve, so much so that it is impossible to ignore you.
Why does God want you to be seen, to be as impossible to ignore as a city DELIBERATELY built on a hill, or as lamp DELIBERATELY put in the middle of a house to light the whole house? Because He Himself wants to be seen and known by everyone you come into contact with. God wants to be known. He wants to be known through you.
Be a peacemaker today and be called a child of God. In this way, intentionally and deliberately let your light shine before the people in your life right now. God bless you as you do this.
(Tell me what happens when you do it. I need your encouragement, and I want to give you mine. Tell me in the comments section how you let your light shine today.)
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