"God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." Genesis 1:31a, NIV
In the beginning, God made everything. He still makes everything, as it is written, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Rev. 4:11 NIV. God made you. As David said to God by the Spirit, "...you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."
God made you, but are you what God made you to be? When he sees you, what does he see?
In the beginning, God made all, and then he looked at all that he had made. Because it was just as he intended it to be, what God saw was very good. Look at the verse at the top again. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. What was very good? All that He had made. Only what originates from God is very good. This applies to you and me. When God looks at our lives, only what came from Him in our lives is very good, nothing else.
God creates. God critiques what he makes.
God created you. God critiques you.
We live in a society that hates the idea of being judged. Yet ironically we are a very judgmental society. If you watch TV you will see many reality shows that do just that. Some famous celebrity, actor, or singer sits as judge over contestants who desperately want to be deemed worthy by a celebrity. But no one dares submit to God's judgment. We give glory to celebrities and not to our Creator. Is this true of you?
Do you submit to celebrity judgment? Do you assume the authority to be your own judge?
If a celebrity looked at you and said "You are very good," would you cry because of his or her approval? Or do you look at yourself and say about yourself, "I am very good. I deserve it. I'm worth it!"
If you submit to human judgment instead of our Creator's judgment, or to your own self-critique instead of our Creator's critique of you, then you are prideful and you need to repent. You did not make yourself, therefore you have no authority to critique yourself. I did not make you, and no other human being made you. God alone made you, and He alone ultimately critiques you.
Now don't misunderstand. If you accept our Creator as your Master, as the One who owns you, defines you, and determines your actions, then you can say of yourself exactly what the Creator says of you. You can accept compliments from anyone, including yourself, if those compliments are echoes of the Creator's compliments of you. In other words, as it is written, our destiny is "to be conformed to the likeness of God's Son".
Therefore, if you are like Jesus, having placed your faith in Jesus, then when God looks at you, He sees you as very good. But if you are not like Jesus, if you are not a reflection of what God Himself is like, then you are not very good, nor should you feel good about yourself. Why should you? You were made by God and for God; He made you to be like Him. When people see you, they should see what God Himself is like in that situation. Is that what people see? Is that what God sees?
Stop right now and acknowledge the truth about yourself, about what God sees when he sees you.
If you are living to honor and obey God, living to be like him and act exactly as he does, then thank God for the privilege of the knowledge and likeness of God.
But if you are living for human approval, and for your own approval, admit this in the prayer below:
"God, you made me, but I am not living for you. I am not like you. I focus on what people think about me, and I focus on my own self-esteem instead of your honor and approval alone. I exalt myself and focus on myself instead of you. I focus others on me and my opinions instead of on your Son. I'm sorry for this. Please forgive me. From now on, I live only to serve and please you."
From now on, when God sees you, may what he sees be very good.
Showing posts with label Christian living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian living. Show all posts
Monday, February 15, 2016
Monday, January 25, 2016
The truth about what you are (Part 2)
Do you remember what happened with Mary, the mother of Jesus?
The angel Gabriel came to her and gave her this message, "You will give birth to the son of God."
Mary asked, "How can this happen? It is physically impossible because I have never had sex with a man?"
Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and by His power the son of God would be placed in her womb.
What could Mary do at this point?
She couldn't bring it about by her own efforts.
She could either accept what Gabriel said, or reject it.
Mary accepted the word of God. She yielded her body to the will of God, and Jesus was born, in her and from her.
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38
The same is true for you and me as Christians.
God promises us that if we accept Jesus, we will be reborn, and the Spirit of Jesus will be in us, filling us just as Jesus filled Mary.
We can't bring this about by our efforts any more than Mary could.
But we can accept Jesus and His Spirit, yielding our bodies to God just as Mary did.
When we do this, we are reborn by the word, will, and Spirit of God.
After this, we thank God, and we do what children naturally do when they are born.
If you are born again, a child of God, you naturally want to cling to God just as you naturally wanted to cling to your mother and father when you were a child.
What is making you read my words? Where does your interest in the knowledge and likeness of God come from? If you were not born again, you wouldn't want to read my words or think these thoughts. Keep doing what you're doing right now. Keep seeking God. Keep being who you are and what you are: a child of God. Know that when people see you, they are in fact seeing Jesus.
Say to God what Mary said to Him:
"Lord, I am your servant. May your word to me be fulfilled"
The angel Gabriel came to her and gave her this message, "You will give birth to the son of God."
Mary asked, "How can this happen? It is physically impossible because I have never had sex with a man?"
Gabriel told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and by His power the son of God would be placed in her womb.
What could Mary do at this point?
She couldn't bring it about by her own efforts.
She could either accept what Gabriel said, or reject it.
Mary accepted the word of God. She yielded her body to the will of God, and Jesus was born, in her and from her.
"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May your word to me be fulfilled." Then the angel left her. Luke 1:38
The same is true for you and me as Christians.
God promises us that if we accept Jesus, we will be reborn, and the Spirit of Jesus will be in us, filling us just as Jesus filled Mary.
We can't bring this about by our efforts any more than Mary could.
But we can accept Jesus and His Spirit, yielding our bodies to God just as Mary did.
When we do this, we are reborn by the word, will, and Spirit of God.
After this, we thank God, and we do what children naturally do when they are born.
If you are born again, a child of God, you naturally want to cling to God just as you naturally wanted to cling to your mother and father when you were a child.
What is making you read my words? Where does your interest in the knowledge and likeness of God come from? If you were not born again, you wouldn't want to read my words or think these thoughts. Keep doing what you're doing right now. Keep seeking God. Keep being who you are and what you are: a child of God. Know that when people see you, they are in fact seeing Jesus.
Say to God what Mary said to Him:
"Lord, I am your servant. May your word to me be fulfilled"
Friday, March 27, 2015
How people know you're a child of God
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14 NIV
My wife took a picture of my son and I walking hand in hand. On that day, the day my wife took the picture, anyone could see that my son looked like me, walked with me, and called me daddy. This is how they knew he was my child. And this is how people know you are a child of God.
You look like God.
You walk with God.
You call God "daddy."
When you pray, you feel God listening. Anyone with you or near you can also feel God listening to you, as it is written, "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."
When you hear a daughter call her daddy sincerely, you know who her father is and who she is as a daughter. The same is true for our heavenly father and us. When we pray, people see and feel God listening to us. I've personally experienced this on more than one occasion.
Once on a job assignment I silently prayed within me, in my mind only. Someone came up to me and said, "Excuse me, I didn't want to disturb you while you were praying...." He then asked me a question relating to my job position. But how did he know I was praying? I wasn't kneeling or bowing my head or putting my hands together like we sometimes do when we pray. Somehow, he saw it and felt it. Intuitively he knew I was connecting with God. Another woman I worked with saw the same thing and responded the same way. My prayer connection to God was so real they could feel it. The same is true for you, son or daughter or God, when you pray.
How do people know you're a child of God?
You look like Him.
You walk with Him.
You call Him dad.
They know you are God's child when you pray.
They feel Him listening to you.
They sense Him in the room with you.
Know the power of your prayers in manifesting the presence of God.
If you agree, pray right now with me:
Our Father in heaven, we approach you in the name of Jesus by Your Spirit in us. We welcome your presence with us and in us. Let everyone with me and near me feel you with me and in me. If they don't know you, let the come to know you. If they do know you, let them be closer to you. Amen.
My wife took a picture of my son and I walking hand in hand. On that day, the day my wife took the picture, anyone could see that my son looked like me, walked with me, and called me daddy. This is how they knew he was my child. And this is how people know you are a child of God.
You look like God.
You walk with God.
You call God "daddy."
When you pray, you feel God listening. Anyone with you or near you can also feel God listening to you, as it is written, "The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."
When you hear a daughter call her daddy sincerely, you know who her father is and who she is as a daughter. The same is true for our heavenly father and us. When we pray, people see and feel God listening to us. I've personally experienced this on more than one occasion.
Once on a job assignment I silently prayed within me, in my mind only. Someone came up to me and said, "Excuse me, I didn't want to disturb you while you were praying...." He then asked me a question relating to my job position. But how did he know I was praying? I wasn't kneeling or bowing my head or putting my hands together like we sometimes do when we pray. Somehow, he saw it and felt it. Intuitively he knew I was connecting with God. Another woman I worked with saw the same thing and responded the same way. My prayer connection to God was so real they could feel it. The same is true for you, son or daughter or God, when you pray.
How do people know you're a child of God?
You look like Him.
You walk with Him.
You call Him dad.
They know you are God's child when you pray.
They feel Him listening to you.
They sense Him in the room with you.
Know the power of your prayers in manifesting the presence of God.
If you agree, pray right now with me:
Our Father in heaven, we approach you in the name of Jesus by Your Spirit in us. We welcome your presence with us and in us. Let everyone with me and near me feel you with me and in me. If they don't know you, let the come to know you. If they do know you, let them be closer to you. Amen.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
How to Know God's Spirit is With You (Part 1)
"All spiritual blessings are given on a definite
basis." Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life
What is the definite basis of God's Spirit being with
you? The basis of God's presence in your life is the same basis for God
forgiving all of your sins. The Spirit is with you for the same reason
that you have been born again. The basis of every spiritual blessing is
what the Lord Jesus has done, and not what you have done.
Why are all of your sins forgiven? Because of
the Lord Jesus' crucifixion.
Why are you a new creation? Because of the Lord
Jesus' resurrection.
Why is the Spirit with you in power and
presence? Because of the Lord Jesus' exaltation, as it is written:
This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are
witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having
received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this
that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Acts 2:32-33 ESV
You believe that Jesus died for your sins, so your
sins are forgiven right now.
- You believe Jesus rose from the dead, so you are born again, right here and right now.
- You believe Jesus ascended into heaven and is exalted as Lord and Christ:
- You have the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, right now.
Did you do anything to receive forgiveness or to be
born again? Absolutely not!
You simply accepted what Jesus did for you, and
received what God gave you through Jesus.
It's exactly the same with the Spirit's presence and
power in your life.
Some of you may ask, "But how do I know that the
Spirit is with me?"
The same way you know that your sins are forgiven and
that you are born again!
Do you know that Jesus died, rose, and ascended?
Then you know you are forgiven, born again, and have the Spirit's
manifestation.
Some may still say, "I understand all of that and
truly believe it. But I want to feel God's presence with me. How do
I directly experience it?"
If you know and believe the basis of the Spirit's
presence in your life (which you do), then all that is left is meeting two
conditions. (Click here
for part two.)
Saturday, February 14, 2015
The best way to motivate yourself
Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks.
Romans 1:21 NLT
I know how it feels to be truly listened to. A counselor gave me her full attention, and now I want to give others my full attention. Because I felt thankful to the one who truly understood me, I'm compelled to give someone who needs it the same gift of understanding that was given to me. Thankfulness is the best motivation for me, and it's the best motivation for you.
What are you thankful for?
Whatever you deeply appreciate should motivate your very purpose.
If someone helped you in the lowest point of your life, then shouldn't you do the same for someone who is suffering as you did? You know where you would've been without the help of the one who was there for you. Because you are thankful, be to someone else what you yourself are thankful for.
Romans 1:21 NLT
I know how it feels to be truly listened to. A counselor gave me her full attention, and now I want to give others my full attention. Because I felt thankful to the one who truly understood me, I'm compelled to give someone who needs it the same gift of understanding that was given to me. Thankfulness is the best motivation for me, and it's the best motivation for you.
What are you thankful for?
Whatever you deeply appreciate should motivate your very purpose.
If someone helped you in the lowest point of your life, then shouldn't you do the same for someone who is suffering as you did? You know where you would've been without the help of the one who was there for you. Because you are thankful, be to someone else what you yourself are thankful for.
How YOU make a difference in someone's life
"Love never fails." The Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church
Who really loves you? Whoever he is, he makes a difference in your life. Whoever she is makes your life worth living.
Your genuine love never fails to change someone's life. How do I know? Because you're making a difference in my life by simply reading my words. Out of all the things you could be doing right now, you're listening to me, giving me your attention. And out of all the things I could be doing right now, I'm talking to you, giving you my undivided attention. So by writing to you, the one reading my words right now, I'm loving you. And by you reading my words, you are loving me. My love is making a difference in your life because you could be doing something different right now. Before you read my words, a blogger wasn't telling you that he's writing to directly to you because he loves you. Now you are, and it's making a difference; it feels good to love and to be loved. But what if you don't really feel loved right now?
"How can you say you love me when you don't know me?" you may ask.
"Because I feel loved by you for simply giving me your time and attention."
"I'm not really 'loving you,' I'm just reading a blog. Love is far too strong a word," you may respond.
"Maybe it is for you, but not for me. I do love you. That's why I'm writing to you, specifically to you, the one who is reading. I'm writing as if we are face to face, and I'm sharing my thoughts and feelings with you in words. Now you can accept or reject my love, but it doesn't change the way I feel about you."
"Maybe you're some lonely stalker blogger desperate for someone to love you," someone says to me.
"Or maybe you're just as lonely as you think I am," I could respond.
What difference does it make whether I'm lonely or you're lonely, whether I'm desperate or you're desperate? As the apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church, "Love never fails," so love always makes a difference to the one being loved. Is it wrong for me to love you? Would you rather me stop? I won't because I can't, so you've just got to accept or reject it. But know this, I'm making a difference in your life whether you accept or reject my love, and you are making a difference in my life by simply reading my words, whether I ever meet you or not.
I love you.
My love makes a difference to you.
Your love makes a difference to the one you love.
Who really loves you? Whoever he is, he makes a difference in your life. Whoever she is makes your life worth living.
You make a difference in the life of someone you really love.
You make someone's life worth living by really living them.
Your genuine love never fails to change someone's life. How do I know? Because you're making a difference in my life by simply reading my words. Out of all the things you could be doing right now, you're listening to me, giving me your attention. And out of all the things I could be doing right now, I'm talking to you, giving you my undivided attention. So by writing to you, the one reading my words right now, I'm loving you. And by you reading my words, you are loving me. My love is making a difference in your life because you could be doing something different right now. Before you read my words, a blogger wasn't telling you that he's writing to directly to you because he loves you. Now you are, and it's making a difference; it feels good to love and to be loved. But what if you don't really feel loved right now?
Feel loved by me.
I genuinely love you.
"How can you say you love me when you don't know me?" you may ask.
"Because I feel loved by you for simply giving me your time and attention."
"I'm not really 'loving you,' I'm just reading a blog. Love is far too strong a word," you may respond.
"Maybe it is for you, but not for me. I do love you. That's why I'm writing to you, specifically to you, the one who is reading. I'm writing as if we are face to face, and I'm sharing my thoughts and feelings with you in words. Now you can accept or reject my love, but it doesn't change the way I feel about you."
"Maybe you're some lonely stalker blogger desperate for someone to love you," someone says to me.
"Or maybe you're just as lonely as you think I am," I could respond.
What difference does it make whether I'm lonely or you're lonely, whether I'm desperate or you're desperate? As the apostle Paul said to the Corinthian church, "Love never fails," so love always makes a difference to the one being loved. Is it wrong for me to love you? Would you rather me stop? I won't because I can't, so you've just got to accept or reject it. But know this, I'm making a difference in your life whether you accept or reject my love, and you are making a difference in my life by simply reading my words, whether I ever meet you or not.
I love you.
My love makes a difference to you.
Your love makes a difference to the one you love.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
God's power and yours (part 2)
DAVID
When David told Saul he would fight Goliath, Saul doubted David's ability because David was young and inexperienced in war. David told Saul that God had given David victory over lions and bears. The same God who delivered wild animals into David's hands would deliver Goliath into his hands. David focused on victories he'd already experienced. God had already prepared David for fighting a giant far bigger and stronger than him. Even Goliath was probably no match for lions and bears. He probably wasn't as big or strong as a lion or bear. David had been prepared by God, and God will prepare you and me for any battle we must face. But there's more.
When David prepared to fight Goliath, at first he tried to wear Saul's armor. The scriptures say David wasn't used to them, so David took off Saul's armor. He then went to a brook and gathered 5 smooth stones for his sling, which he was used to, and had experience and practice. Like Moses had experience with his staff, David had experience with his sling. God didn't tell David to use a weapon or armor that David found awkward. David used the resource he had with the strength and experience he had. The same is true for me and you.
What can you do?
What do you have?
All God expects of you is to do what you can with what you have. If all you have is to give is your time and attention, use them to honor God. If all you can do is read and share these words, share what you've read for God's honor. This is all God expects and requires of you, no more, but no less.
If you agree, please pray with me:
"God, I offer you who I am, what I have, and what I can do. No more, no less. I commit to use what I have and what I can do as soon as I finish reading these words. Be with me for your glory. In Jesus name and by the Spirit. Amen."
Now share this blog, or write your own.
Or do whatever you feel you can do, with what you have, to honor God.
God is with you. God is in you. God loves you. God empowers you.
Natural and supernatural abilities and resources both come from God.
Use what you have.
Do what you can do.
God is with you.
God's power and yours (Part 1)
The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Judges 6:14
Are you powerless as a Christian to accomplish God's will in your life? Some think so. Some read Jesus' words, "Abide in me and I in you; apart from me you can do nothing." After they read this, they think Jesus means they are passively powerless without him. This isn't true.
What is true is this:
God expects us to use the power and resources that we have, and to trust Him for what we don't have. We act by faith in the strength we have, and God supplies the strength we don't have.
The scriptures bear witness to this in the stories of Moses, Gideon, and David.
MOSES
God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" It was a staff. God told Moses to throw down the staff, which became a serpent. He then told Moses to pick up the serpent, which became a staff again. This wasn't a magic staff, but the same staff Moses had been using for possibly years as a shepherd. Moses didn't use supernatural strength to throw down the staff, but his own natural strength to throw down a natural staff. When Moses did what he could do with what he had, and with the strength he had, God did what Moses couldn't do in his own strength. The same was true for Gideon.
GIDEON
God told Gideon in plain words, "Go in the strength that you have." Gideon shouldn't use more strength than he had, but he also wasn't to use less strength than he had. This matches the first and most important commandment, according to Jesus:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."
Take note:
with all YOUR heart
with all YOUR soul
with all YOUR mind
with all YOUR strength.
Yours, not mine nor anyone else's. ALL of what you have, not some, not more, not less.
God commands us in the same way He commanded Gideon. His commands aren't a burden, as the apostle John said. They aren't oppressive due to being more than we have the strength or resources to accomplish. Finally, we see this with David in his fight with Goliath. (Click HERE for part 2)
Saturday, December 27, 2014
What does God require of you?
Perfection.
God requires you to be perfect.
Jesus said it: "Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect."
As God loves His enemies, His children are to love theirs.
As God the Father is, His heavenly children should be.
The Apostle Peter said it, "Be holy as God is holy."
We are to be as perfect and holy as God.
How?
Our faith should express itself in love, and our love should express itself in obedience.
Our faith should express itself in obedience to God's commands.
What are His commands?
Love God supremely.
Love people impartially.
According to Jesus, those two commands summarize and epitomize God's law, or God's will, for you and me. Our faith in Jesus should express itself in supremely loving God and loving people impartially, even our enemies.
These two commands are reasonable and aren't burdensome.
They make sense, and they aren't hard to obey, once you believe in Jesus.
God wants you to love Him with all of your heart and soul and strength. He doesn't expect more because He can't expect more. You can't give more than you have, but you shouldn't give less than you have.
God wants you to love people like you love yourself, to treat people like you want to be treated.
He doesn't expect you to love people more than you love yourself, but He also doesn't expect you to love them less than you love yourself.
All God requires is love as expression of your faith.
If you meet His requirement, not striving for more, nor settling for less, you will be perfect.
Let no one deceive you.
God accepts nothing less.
God requires you to be perfect.
Jesus said it: "Be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect."
As God loves His enemies, His children are to love theirs.
As God the Father is, His heavenly children should be.
The Apostle Peter said it, "Be holy as God is holy."
We are to be as perfect and holy as God.
How?
Our faith should express itself in love, and our love should express itself in obedience.
Our faith should express itself in obedience to God's commands.
What are His commands?
Love God supremely.
Love people impartially.
According to Jesus, those two commands summarize and epitomize God's law, or God's will, for you and me. Our faith in Jesus should express itself in supremely loving God and loving people impartially, even our enemies.
These two commands are reasonable and aren't burdensome.
They make sense, and they aren't hard to obey, once you believe in Jesus.
God wants you to love Him with all of your heart and soul and strength. He doesn't expect more because He can't expect more. You can't give more than you have, but you shouldn't give less than you have.
God wants you to love people like you love yourself, to treat people like you want to be treated.
He doesn't expect you to love people more than you love yourself, but He also doesn't expect you to love them less than you love yourself.
All God requires is love as expression of your faith.
If you meet His requirement, not striving for more, nor settling for less, you will be perfect.
Let no one deceive you.
God accepts nothing less.
Monday, June 2, 2014
How To Be Angry Without Regret (Part 1)
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
The Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus
God gets angry.
But His anger is sinless.
I envy this about God.
It seems to me that God can be angry freely and sinlessly. He can express it without the fear of going too far, or being wrong like we often are when we are angry. Sometimes we get angry too quickly and find out that what we thought was happening wasn't happening at all. We've misunderstood yet once again.
What if we could be as free in being angry as God is?
I believe we can. The Apostle Paul shows us the way in four steps.
1. BE ANGRY.
Imagine what Paul is saying, even commanding. Imagine the freedom to be angry, and where this freedom comes from. It comes from an understanding of what anger is and what anger's purpose is.
Anger is intense displeasure towards evil or wrong doing.
It's purpose is justice, to expose and undo unrighteousness and establish righteousness.
Isn't this why God gets angry? If He sees a baby being abused, doesn't this make Him angry, and doesn't He want to stop the abuse? This is the proper place of anger. In this way, and in this way only, are we encouraged and even commanded by Paul to be angry.
2. DO NOT SIN.
This is the difference between sinful and sinless anger:
Sinless anger is slow, controlled, and just.
Yes, God gets angry, and His anger is intense, but He is not immediately or quickly angry. He is not rash or reactionary when He is angry. His anger is slow, controlled, and just. In other words, it is an informed anger. His dealings with Sodom and Gomorrah is an example.
God told Abraham that He had come down to see if the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah that had come up to Him was true. If so, then He would know. So before God became angry and expressed anger, He sought to be informed. Before He judged, He investigated.
Another example is how He dealt with Nineveh through the prophet Jonah. He gave Jonah this message: In 40 days, Nineveh will be destroyed. Why 40 days? Because God is patient, and gives us the way to be slow to anger through this example.
The key to being slow to anger, or patient, is to set a limit on our patience. God's patience is not indefinite, but has a limit. So should ours. In setting a limit on our patience, and in being informed about situations of wrong, we can be angry without sin, and we can avoid another danger of sinful anger. (Click HERE for part 2)
The Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus
But His anger is sinless.
I believe we can. The Apostle Paul shows us the way in four steps.
Imagine what Paul is saying, even commanding. Imagine the freedom to be angry, and where this freedom comes from. It comes from an understanding of what anger is and what anger's purpose is.
Anger is intense displeasure towards evil or wrong doing.
It's purpose is justice, to expose and undo unrighteousness and establish righteousness.
Isn't this why God gets angry? If He sees a baby being abused, doesn't this make Him angry, and doesn't He want to stop the abuse? This is the proper place of anger. In this way, and in this way only, are we encouraged and even commanded by Paul to be angry.
This is the difference between sinful and sinless anger:
Sinless anger is slow, controlled, and just.
Yes, God gets angry, and His anger is intense, but He is not immediately or quickly angry. He is not rash or reactionary when He is angry. His anger is slow, controlled, and just. In other words, it is an informed anger. His dealings with Sodom and Gomorrah is an example.
God told Abraham that He had come down to see if the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah that had come up to Him was true. If so, then He would know. So before God became angry and expressed anger, He sought to be informed. Before He judged, He investigated.
Another example is how He dealt with Nineveh through the prophet Jonah. He gave Jonah this message: In 40 days, Nineveh will be destroyed. Why 40 days? Because God is patient, and gives us the way to be slow to anger through this example.
The key to being slow to anger, or patient, is to set a limit on our patience. God's patience is not indefinite, but has a limit. So should ours. In setting a limit on our patience, and in being informed about situations of wrong, we can be angry without sin, and we can avoid another danger of sinful anger. (Click HERE for part 2)
Monday, April 21, 2014
The Key to Your Power (In One Word)
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger..."
James, the Brother of Jesus
Your phone rings. You look at your caller ID. It's your boss, who usually calls you on your day off to ask you to come in. It's your decision. He can't make you, but you usually yield to his manipulation.
The caller ID gives you the key to your power, expressed in one word:
PAUSE.
Because you see whose calling, you have that precious moment of decision, to answer or not answer. To let the answering machine pick up the call, or you can pick up the phone. It's up to you.
These moments, these pauses, are experienced throughout your day, if you allow them, if you choose them. The pause is your choice, a God given ability.
How can you choose the pause when you feel rushed or pressured to act or speak?
When do you feel rushed or pressured? What situations or persons rush you or pressure you?
You know them. You can probably list them right now if you wanted to.
Now imagine the beginning of your day. Is your boss, or whoever it is that pressures you, in your bedroom with a gun to your head? Of course not. Your day begins with you and your Lord, and He never pressures you.
Prayer is the first act of pause for your day.
At the beginning of your day, if you pray against all sources of pressure, against everything that rushes you to speak or act before considering the will of God, then you will deal with the spiritual enemies who seek to block your liberty.
Having prayed at the beginning of your day, you may practice pausing in little things throughout the day:
1. Pause and thank God before you eat your breakfast, before you take one sip of coffee or one bite of cereal.
2. Pause before you leave the house, just a moment, as you make sure you lock the door, say a prayer of submission to the Spirit.
3. Pause before you drive to your first destination of the day, just a moment, to think and pray, or adjust your music to a song that focuses you.
These small practices of pauses will put you in the mindset of pausing before you speak to difficult people, or before you face difficult situations.
Pausing is the key to your power, the power to choose, the power to decide.
If you choose to use this power, you will protect yourself from regret.
If you refuse to use this power, you will act without thought or prayer.
James, the Brother of Jesus
Your phone rings. You look at your caller ID. It's your boss, who usually calls you on your day off to ask you to come in. It's your decision. He can't make you, but you usually yield to his manipulation.
The caller ID gives you the key to your power, expressed in one word:
PAUSE.
Because you see whose calling, you have that precious moment of decision, to answer or not answer. To let the answering machine pick up the call, or you can pick up the phone. It's up to you.
These moments, these pauses, are experienced throughout your day, if you allow them, if you choose them. The pause is your choice, a God given ability.
How can you choose the pause when you feel rushed or pressured to act or speak?
When do you feel rushed or pressured? What situations or persons rush you or pressure you?
You know them. You can probably list them right now if you wanted to.
Now imagine the beginning of your day. Is your boss, or whoever it is that pressures you, in your bedroom with a gun to your head? Of course not. Your day begins with you and your Lord, and He never pressures you.
Prayer is the first act of pause for your day.
At the beginning of your day, if you pray against all sources of pressure, against everything that rushes you to speak or act before considering the will of God, then you will deal with the spiritual enemies who seek to block your liberty.
Having prayed at the beginning of your day, you may practice pausing in little things throughout the day:
1. Pause and thank God before you eat your breakfast, before you take one sip of coffee or one bite of cereal.
2. Pause before you leave the house, just a moment, as you make sure you lock the door, say a prayer of submission to the Spirit.
3. Pause before you drive to your first destination of the day, just a moment, to think and pray, or adjust your music to a song that focuses you.
These small practices of pauses will put you in the mindset of pausing before you speak to difficult people, or before you face difficult situations.
Pausing is the key to your power, the power to choose, the power to decide.
If you choose to use this power, you will protect yourself from regret.
If you refuse to use this power, you will act without thought or prayer.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
The Reality of Bible Stories For Your Life
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you." Genesis 12:1
What comes to your mind when you imagine the verse above? Many times in church we read that verse, or verses like it, about "The Promised Land," and we start to symbolize and spiritualize it. We start to think about our "promised land." But we don't realize that for Abram, this was a literal historical event. Abram had a real country, and he was part of a real people. He had a real father, and was part of a real household. And the real God told him to leave all of this and go to a land He would show Abram. In other words, Abram had to really leave where he lived and go to a completely unknown land.
Now imagine the real God comes to you, to your real home, and tells you to leave and go somewhere that "He will show you." I'll do it for you. Now I'm supposed to give a months notice before I leave my apartment, but God is telling me to leave now. I haven't packed or planned. I haven't given my two weeks notice at my job. I don't know where God is telling me to go yet, so I don't know how much gas I'm going to need. All I know is that the Creator of heaven and earth is telling me to leave where I am and go where I don't know. And this is real. This isn't just a nice Sunday School lesson where I make up a symbolic or spiritualized application. God is telling me to leave my real house. And He could do the same thing with you.
In fact, He probably already has, or is about to.
Every new phase in your life is a very real time of God leading you into that new phase. Sometimes He may lead you gradually and according to the natural scheme of things, like giving a two week notice to your job, or a month notice before you move out of your apartment or house. But sometimes God by passes the natural order of things and tells you to simply follow Him, like Jesus did with His apostles. Peter, Andrew, James, and John simply got up and left their fishing businesses. No two weeks notices. No plan. They just left. And this was not a Sunday School Story for them.
The reality of the Bible stories in your life is that God is still the same God who requires real acts of faith and obedience from us today.
God may say to you what He said to Abram. Jesus may simply say, "Follow Me," and if you hesitate, He will consider you unworthy to be called His disciple. Commit right now to see Bible stories as real, historical, literal. Don't symbolize or spiritualize them. They really happened, and are still happening, because God is real in your life.
If you agree with the prayer below, pray it with me:
"God of Abram, Lord Jesus who calls me to follow You, I acknowledge you as real. All that has happened in the Bible is real. Not just symbols. You are my God just as You were Abram's God, and You have the authority to command me to leave where I am and go wherever You say. Lord Jesus, You can command me to leave my job and life just as You did with the apostles. I give my life to You to literally do whatever You want me to, and to go wherever You want me to go. Amen."
Now get ready!
You may be leaving today.
What comes to your mind when you imagine the verse above? Many times in church we read that verse, or verses like it, about "The Promised Land," and we start to symbolize and spiritualize it. We start to think about our "promised land." But we don't realize that for Abram, this was a literal historical event. Abram had a real country, and he was part of a real people. He had a real father, and was part of a real household. And the real God told him to leave all of this and go to a land He would show Abram. In other words, Abram had to really leave where he lived and go to a completely unknown land.
Now imagine the real God comes to you, to your real home, and tells you to leave and go somewhere that "He will show you." I'll do it for you. Now I'm supposed to give a months notice before I leave my apartment, but God is telling me to leave now. I haven't packed or planned. I haven't given my two weeks notice at my job. I don't know where God is telling me to go yet, so I don't know how much gas I'm going to need. All I know is that the Creator of heaven and earth is telling me to leave where I am and go where I don't know. And this is real. This isn't just a nice Sunday School lesson where I make up a symbolic or spiritualized application. God is telling me to leave my real house. And He could do the same thing with you.
In fact, He probably already has, or is about to.
Every new phase in your life is a very real time of God leading you into that new phase. Sometimes He may lead you gradually and according to the natural scheme of things, like giving a two week notice to your job, or a month notice before you move out of your apartment or house. But sometimes God by passes the natural order of things and tells you to simply follow Him, like Jesus did with His apostles. Peter, Andrew, James, and John simply got up and left their fishing businesses. No two weeks notices. No plan. They just left. And this was not a Sunday School Story for them.
The reality of the Bible stories in your life is that God is still the same God who requires real acts of faith and obedience from us today.
God may say to you what He said to Abram. Jesus may simply say, "Follow Me," and if you hesitate, He will consider you unworthy to be called His disciple. Commit right now to see Bible stories as real, historical, literal. Don't symbolize or spiritualize them. They really happened, and are still happening, because God is real in your life.
If you agree with the prayer below, pray it with me:
"God of Abram, Lord Jesus who calls me to follow You, I acknowledge you as real. All that has happened in the Bible is real. Not just symbols. You are my God just as You were Abram's God, and You have the authority to command me to leave where I am and go wherever You say. Lord Jesus, You can command me to leave my job and life just as You did with the apostles. I give my life to You to literally do whatever You want me to, and to go wherever You want me to go. Amen."
Now get ready!
You may be leaving today.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Who Knows YOU?
So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land. Joshua 6:27
Wherever they are, God's people become famous. Jesus called them the "light of the world;" The Lord said they were "a town built on a hill" that "could not be hidden." They cannot be unknown. You cannot be unknown if you are a child of God. The Spirit of God is with you. Your fame should spread throughout the land just as Joshua's fame spread throughout the land. This was the case for all of God's people.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became famous because God was with them. The surrounding people always made this clear to them, saying things like, "We know God is with you. Now please show us favor."
Potiphar saw and knew that God was with Joseph because Joseph succeeded in everything he did.
The surrounding nations were afraid of Moses and Israel, because Israel had become famous for having the Only True God in their midst. Rahab the prostitute told the two spies sent by Joshua how Jericho melted in fear because of the fame of Israel.
This didn't stop in the Old Testament, or with Israel. It was true of the church as well. John the Baptist became famous, so did Jesus, so did the apostles and the church, so that people highly regarded the apostles and the church, yet dared not take them lightly.
What about you, child of God?
Do people see and know that God is with you?
Do they identify you as a son or daughter of God?
If not, here are the two things you need to do to glorify God in this way:
1. Live in such a way that it is impossible to not know you follow Jesus.
Your life must be so devoted to God, at home, in your neighborhood, and at your job or school, that when people think of you, they think of the Lord Jesus. For a believer, this should not be hard or something you have to force. You should be where you are because the Lord led you there. When people ask how you came to be where you are, you have a testimony. It's who you are. It's your life. They should see you thank God for your food, reading scripture during your breaks, saying things like "God willing," when you speak of your future plans. Your life should bear witness to Christ in very natural ways. And people should see and know that Jesus is your Lord.
2. Follow the Spirit of Jesus in everything you do.
When you follow the Spirit, people will experience the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit in your life. You will manifest the supernatural presence and power of God in your life, just as Joshua did, just as Moses did. We serve the same awesome God.
If you agree with the prayer below, pray it with me:
"Our Father in heaven, glorify your Son in my life by His Spirit, so that I may be known as your child, wherever I am. Amen."
Now think of two things you can deliberately do today, or continue to do, that point people directly to God. Find a way to naturally and genuinely honor God in your conversations at home, in your neighborhood, or at work. It's easy to do. If you're married, at some point you mention your spouse. If you have children, at some point you mention them. They are a significant part of your life, so you can't talk about your life without talking about, unless you are ashamed of them. In the same way, you can't talk for long without honoring God, if you live to honor God as the very meaning of your life. Do this deliberately and prayerfully, seeking every opportunity to acknowledge Him.
Wherever they are, God's people become famous. Jesus called them the "light of the world;" The Lord said they were "a town built on a hill" that "could not be hidden." They cannot be unknown. You cannot be unknown if you are a child of God. The Spirit of God is with you. Your fame should spread throughout the land just as Joshua's fame spread throughout the land. This was the case for all of God's people.
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob became famous because God was with them. The surrounding people always made this clear to them, saying things like, "We know God is with you. Now please show us favor."
Potiphar saw and knew that God was with Joseph because Joseph succeeded in everything he did.
The surrounding nations were afraid of Moses and Israel, because Israel had become famous for having the Only True God in their midst. Rahab the prostitute told the two spies sent by Joshua how Jericho melted in fear because of the fame of Israel.
This didn't stop in the Old Testament, or with Israel. It was true of the church as well. John the Baptist became famous, so did Jesus, so did the apostles and the church, so that people highly regarded the apostles and the church, yet dared not take them lightly.
What about you, child of God?
Is your fame spreading in your family, in your neighborhood, at your job?Do people see and know that God is with you?
Do they identify you as a son or daughter of God?
If not, here are the two things you need to do to glorify God in this way:
1. Live in such a way that it is impossible to not know you follow Jesus.
Your life must be so devoted to God, at home, in your neighborhood, and at your job or school, that when people think of you, they think of the Lord Jesus. For a believer, this should not be hard or something you have to force. You should be where you are because the Lord led you there. When people ask how you came to be where you are, you have a testimony. It's who you are. It's your life. They should see you thank God for your food, reading scripture during your breaks, saying things like "God willing," when you speak of your future plans. Your life should bear witness to Christ in very natural ways. And people should see and know that Jesus is your Lord.
2. Follow the Spirit of Jesus in everything you do.
When you follow the Spirit, people will experience the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit in your life. You will manifest the supernatural presence and power of God in your life, just as Joshua did, just as Moses did. We serve the same awesome God.
If you agree with the prayer below, pray it with me:
"Our Father in heaven, glorify your Son in my life by His Spirit, so that I may be known as your child, wherever I am. Amen."
Now think of two things you can deliberately do today, or continue to do, that point people directly to God. Find a way to naturally and genuinely honor God in your conversations at home, in your neighborhood, or at work. It's easy to do. If you're married, at some point you mention your spouse. If you have children, at some point you mention them. They are a significant part of your life, so you can't talk about your life without talking about, unless you are ashamed of them. In the same way, you can't talk for long without honoring God, if you live to honor God as the very meaning of your life. Do this deliberately and prayerfully, seeking every opportunity to acknowledge Him.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
How God Sees MEN and WOMEN (Part 1)
A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. Deuteronomy 22:5
God sees your distinction as a man or woman. He loves this distinction and detests it's negation. You should embrace and emphasize your distinction as a man or woman to honor your Creator, whose image you reflect.
GOD SEES THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
In Deuteronomy 22:5, God assumes the Israelites knew what He meant. No matter what country or culture you are from, you know as God knows that men and women express themselves differently in how they dress. I know a girl who deliberately dresses like a boy. I also know a mother who deliberately dresses her boy in girlish clothes. Even in our American culture that blurs gender specific clothing, we know that the blurring is happening. We see and know the distinction between masculine and feminine. So does God, the one who made the distinction.
GOD LOVES THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.
It is written,
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:27
The masculine and feminine in creation are a picture of Christ and the His Bride, the church...the mystery of the heavenly and eternal intimacy that will exist between the one true God and those who believe in Him. (See Ephesians 5:32) This is a sacred picture of what God is like. The distinction between men and women should be honored because it honors the image of God.
click HERE for part 2
click HERE for part 2
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
True Disciples of Christ
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." John 14:15-17
Jesus Himself said He would send "another advocate." Notice the word "another." This means they had an advocate while He spoke to them: He Himself was their advocate while He was on earth. Jesus, their first Advocate, was about to leave; He was about to die, rise, and ascend into heaven. So He was going to send them another advocate "to help them and be with them forever." His Spirit is the other advocate: A Person, not a doctrine.
When Jesus called His followers, He didn't say, "Follow My doctrine." He said, "Follow Me."
The Spirit of Christ says the same thing to you and me:
"Follow Me."
If we allow follow the Spirit of Christ, our risen Savior and Lord, we will all agree on The Lord's doctrine, and there would be no need for "denominations." Our petty disagreements show that we are not following a Person, who knows His own doctrines in every situation. Jesus is alive! His Spirit in us and with us give undeniable proof, if we would only follow Him.
- True disciples of Christ don't follow a doctrine, they follow A Person.
- They follow the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the apostles followed Jesus when He walked on earth.
Jesus Himself said He would send "another advocate." Notice the word "another." This means they had an advocate while He spoke to them: He Himself was their advocate while He was on earth. Jesus, their first Advocate, was about to leave; He was about to die, rise, and ascend into heaven. So He was going to send them another advocate "to help them and be with them forever." His Spirit is the other advocate: A Person, not a doctrine.
When Jesus called His followers, He didn't say, "Follow My doctrine." He said, "Follow Me."
The Spirit of Christ says the same thing to you and me:
"Follow Me."
If we allow follow the Spirit of Christ, our risen Savior and Lord, we will all agree on The Lord's doctrine, and there would be no need for "denominations." Our petty disagreements show that we are not following a Person, who knows His own doctrines in every situation. Jesus is alive! His Spirit in us and with us give undeniable proof, if we would only follow Him.
- As true disciples of Christ, we don't follow a doctrine, we follow A Person.
- We follow the Spirit of Christ, just as the apostles followed Christ when He walked the earth.
Friday, March 14, 2014
What if It's Just YOU?
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Numbers 12:3
This is my dream: That before Jesus returns, there will be a people of God who finally get it right. A people distinguished by God's presence and power who remain faithful to Him until Christ returns in the sky. But I have no control over "the people of God." I only have control over myself. My dream has to be about me. I have to be a man, even if I'm the only man on earth, who is distinguished by the Presence of God.
What about you? What if it's just you? What if you alone are known on earth as a faithful follower of Christ? This is possible. At one point in time, Moses was "more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." One man. Moses. Distinguished from every one else on earth. This could be me, or this could be you. We have no control over anyone else. But we do have influence.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:8
Again, in the history of men and women, only one man on earth found favor in the eyes of the Lord at one point in time. There was a time when God regretted making us, but one man, one family, found favor with Him. The word of God says that Noah walked faithfully with Him, but it doesn't mention the character of Noah's wife, his three sons, or his sons' wives. Either they all were righteous in God's eyes, or God showed favor to them because of Noah, or both. Either way, only 8 people in all of the human population were pleasing in God's sight. 8 people. One man. One family. Three couples.
What if it's just you? What if your family is the only family that is pleasing to God at this point in history? It's possible. Of course, we hope this is not the case. But let's face it. What else can we do? What else can I do? All I can do is walk with God to the best of my ability, and to the best of my ability influence my family and all who encounter me. That's it.
I'm prepared for it to be just me?
What about you?
What if it's just you?
The Guarantee of God's Goodness In Your Life
The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25
To wait on God means you don't act without knowing His will. It means you don't want to act until you know His will. And when this is true, you have a guarantee of God's goodness in your life because you want the highest good: God's will for you. Whether for the future or today, if you're waiting for God, He will be good to you.
If you're waiting for God's future direction, where to move, what job to take, who to marry, you can know that God "knows the plans He has for you," according to Jeremiah 29:11. "Plans for good and not evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE." Because you're only seeking to do His will, you have a guarantee that He will reveal His will. That He wants to do this more than you do. He knows the plans he has for your future job or home or spouse. Good plans and not evils plans. Plans to give you the very future that you are seeking: to be in the center of God's will. But this doesn't just apply to your distant future. It applies today, when you wait on Him every step of your day. If your soul seeks Him, meaning you want Him to be with you every step of your day, He will be good to you when you wait for His Spirit to lead you.
There are going to be points in your day where you can wait on the Lord's leadership. You can seek His Spirit's guidance and wait before you speak or act. Certain conversations, interactions, or directions you can take have pauses in them. Time lapses where you can pray and seek the Lord. Take these pauses as opportunities to wait on the LORD, to let your soul seek Him. Go to the bathroom at your job, or in your home, and pray.
To wait on God means you don't act without knowing His will. It means you don't want to act until you know His will. And when this is true, you have a guarantee of God's goodness in your life because you want the highest good: God's will for you. Whether for the future or today, if you're waiting for God, He will be good to you.
If you're waiting for God's future direction, where to move, what job to take, who to marry, you can know that God "knows the plans He has for you," according to Jeremiah 29:11. "Plans for good and not evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE." Because you're only seeking to do His will, you have a guarantee that He will reveal His will. That He wants to do this more than you do. He knows the plans he has for your future job or home or spouse. Good plans and not evils plans. Plans to give you the very future that you are seeking: to be in the center of God's will. But this doesn't just apply to your distant future. It applies today, when you wait on Him every step of your day. If your soul seeks Him, meaning you want Him to be with you every step of your day, He will be good to you when you wait for His Spirit to lead you.
There are going to be points in your day where you can wait on the Lord's leadership. You can seek His Spirit's guidance and wait before you speak or act. Certain conversations, interactions, or directions you can take have pauses in them. Time lapses where you can pray and seek the Lord. Take these pauses as opportunities to wait on the LORD, to let your soul seek Him. Go to the bathroom at your job, or in your home, and pray.
- Wait on the Lord's Spirit to lead you before every step today.
- If you do this, you will have a guarantee of God's goodness.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
The ONLY Thing Necessary for YOU TODAY
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13
The only thing necessary for you today is to be recognized as one who has been with Jesus. Not what you know or don't know. Not your status in life. No matter where you are life, you will have power and boldness as His witness. Only start and continue your day with Him, letting His Spirit be recognized in your life. You do this in two ways, in the same two ways that Peter and John did them:
Do everything in Jesus name, and do everything by His Spirit.
DO EVERYTHING IN JESUS' NAME.
We say grace and pray, and at the end we say, "In Jesus' name." But we don't realize what we are saying or why we are saying it. The apostles were strictly forbidden to teach or preach in Jesus' name. Evidently their enemies knew the significance of using Jesus' name, so much so that the first interaction with the apostles after a great healing was this:
"They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: 'By what power or what name did you do this?'" Acts 4:7
By what power they asked? By what name?
The name of Jesus on your lips, in your prayers, and in your life, means that you say and do everything under His authority and for His glory. To obey and display Him. When this is the case, people will recognize that you have been with Jesus. They will recognize His Spirit in you and with you.
DO EVERYTHING BY HIS SPIRIT.
It is written,
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
This is your birthright, your identity, your normality. If you believe in Jesus, you should do NOTHING unless the Spirit is leading you to do it. NOTHING. Jesus told the 120 followers to stay in Jerusalem until they had been "endued with power from on high." His apostles had been with Him for 3 years, even performing miracles. They saw Him risen and ascending into heaven, and all they really were supposed to do is go and tell people what they had seen and heard. Yet even they were forbidden to start their mission without the Spirit.
So are you.
Here you are. You're awake. You pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. You read the scriptures, or words based on scripture, as your spiritual food for today. The Spirit impresses on you the need to focus your mind on why Jesus came to earth: to seek and save the lost. He shows you that your number 1 priority for today is to be a witness of the Lord Jesus by imitating Jesus in all you do. You ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that you may imitate Jesus. You thank God for the power of His Spirit, because you know you've asked that which is God's will, and that God will grant prayers that agree with His will.
So you go. You imitate Christ to the best of your knowledge, at home, and when you leave, doing the one thing in your own mind that you know without doubt is an imitation of Christ. You feel the power of the Spirit giving you further insights into how Christ would speak or act in your exact situation. And people recognize that you have been with Jesus, because they know it is not your education level or status in life that gives you such boldness as a witness of the Lord Jesus. They see the same power and boldness in us that they saw in Peter and John.
The only thing necessary for you today is to be recognized as one who has been with Jesus. Not what you know or don't know. Not your status in life. No matter where you are life, you will have power and boldness as His witness. Only start and continue your day with Him, letting His Spirit be recognized in your life. You do this in two ways, in the same two ways that Peter and John did them:
Do everything in Jesus name, and do everything by His Spirit.
DO EVERYTHING IN JESUS' NAME.
We say grace and pray, and at the end we say, "In Jesus' name." But we don't realize what we are saying or why we are saying it. The apostles were strictly forbidden to teach or preach in Jesus' name. Evidently their enemies knew the significance of using Jesus' name, so much so that the first interaction with the apostles after a great healing was this:
"They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: 'By what power or what name did you do this?'" Acts 4:7
By what power they asked? By what name?
The name of Jesus on your lips, in your prayers, and in your life, means that you say and do everything under His authority and for His glory. To obey and display Him. When this is the case, people will recognize that you have been with Jesus. They will recognize His Spirit in you and with you.
DO EVERYTHING BY HIS SPIRIT.
It is written,
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
This is your birthright, your identity, your normality. If you believe in Jesus, you should do NOTHING unless the Spirit is leading you to do it. NOTHING. Jesus told the 120 followers to stay in Jerusalem until they had been "endued with power from on high." His apostles had been with Him for 3 years, even performing miracles. They saw Him risen and ascending into heaven, and all they really were supposed to do is go and tell people what they had seen and heard. Yet even they were forbidden to start their mission without the Spirit.
So are you.
Here you are. You're awake. You pray to the Father, in the name of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit. You read the scriptures, or words based on scripture, as your spiritual food for today. The Spirit impresses on you the need to focus your mind on why Jesus came to earth: to seek and save the lost. He shows you that your number 1 priority for today is to be a witness of the Lord Jesus by imitating Jesus in all you do. You ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that you may imitate Jesus. You thank God for the power of His Spirit, because you know you've asked that which is God's will, and that God will grant prayers that agree with His will.
So you go. You imitate Christ to the best of your knowledge, at home, and when you leave, doing the one thing in your own mind that you know without doubt is an imitation of Christ. You feel the power of the Spirit giving you further insights into how Christ would speak or act in your exact situation. And people recognize that you have been with Jesus, because they know it is not your education level or status in life that gives you such boldness as a witness of the Lord Jesus. They see the same power and boldness in us that they saw in Peter and John.
- We have no power as witnesses of Jesus without the Holy Spirit leading us.
- You and I have the same Spirit that Peter and John had, bearing witness to the same Jesus.
Enter your day in the name of Jesus, under His authority and for His glory.
Enter your day by following His Spirit, doing only what He leads you to do.
The only thing necessary for you today is to be recognized as one who has been with Jesus.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Your Greatest Connection to God
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Revelation 4:11
How could there be?
Could the creature create itself by it's own will?
Could the creation come up with a purpose that is greater than the purpose of it's Creator?
God the Creator had something in His imagination for each of His creations. For you. When He made you, even before He made you, He had something in mind. An idea. A feeling He wanted to express. A purpose.
So He makes you.
You wake up.
You are conscious.
You look at each other.
Your one desire is to please Him, to be what He had in mind.
Is there a greater connection between Creator and creation at this moment?
Is there a greater agreement between them?
Is there anything you want more than to simply be what God made you to be, or to simply do what God made you to do?
You have this guarantee: If you want this, so does God. And it will happen.
This is your greatest connection to God.
When a creature desires nothing more nor less than to be what it was created to be,
there is no greater connection between the Creator and His creation.
How could there be?
Could the creature create itself by it's own will?
Could the creation come up with a purpose that is greater than the purpose of it's Creator?
God the Creator had something in His imagination for each of His creations. For you. When He made you, even before He made you, He had something in mind. An idea. A feeling He wanted to express. A purpose.
So He makes you.
You wake up.
You are conscious.
You look at each other.
Your one desire is to please Him, to be what He had in mind.
Is there a greater connection between Creator and creation at this moment?
Is there a greater agreement between them?
Is there anything you want more than to simply be what God made you to be, or to simply do what God made you to do?
You have this guarantee: If you want this, so does God. And it will happen.
This is your greatest connection to God.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Your Two Witnesses
So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. Numbers 27:18-20
It is written,
"Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 Corinthians 13:1b
In the matter of your calling before God, you have at least two witnesses: One on earth, and one in heaven.
YOUR WITNESS ON EARTH
What better witness could Joshua have on earth than Moses, the servant of God? What better commission? Yet Moses was a man. In fact, when he commissioned Joshua, he was being disciplined by God for his disobedience. Even with this being so, no one could deny Moses as a man of God. And no one could deny the power of his commission as a witness to Joshua's calling.
In the same way, there is a man or woman of God who bears witness to you. Someone who is clearly filled with God's Spirit and honors Christ. Someone who comes to your mind right now. Let the thought of that someone encourage you today in your calling.
YOUR WITNESS IN HEAVEN
Joshua not only had Moses as a witness, but he had the testimony of "the spirit of leadership." What if when I said "someone comes to mind" for you as a witness on earth, no one came to your mind as your witness on earth?" What if you can't think of a godly and holy person that bears witness to your call or commission?
You still have two witnesses, one from earth, one from heaven, as it is written,
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Romans 8:16
Your primary calling in life is as a child of God. Even if you can't think of a man or woman of God like Moses who bears witness to this, The Spirit and your spirit bear witness. And these are enough.
Your two witnesses should encourage you today in your calling.
A man or woman of God bears witness with your spirit.
Or the Spirit Himself bears witness with your spirit.
You are called.
You are a child of God.
Amen.
It is written,
"Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 Corinthians 13:1b
In the matter of your calling before God, you have at least two witnesses: One on earth, and one in heaven.
YOUR WITNESS ON EARTH
What better witness could Joshua have on earth than Moses, the servant of God? What better commission? Yet Moses was a man. In fact, when he commissioned Joshua, he was being disciplined by God for his disobedience. Even with this being so, no one could deny Moses as a man of God. And no one could deny the power of his commission as a witness to Joshua's calling.
In the same way, there is a man or woman of God who bears witness to you. Someone who is clearly filled with God's Spirit and honors Christ. Someone who comes to your mind right now. Let the thought of that someone encourage you today in your calling.
YOUR WITNESS IN HEAVEN
Joshua not only had Moses as a witness, but he had the testimony of "the spirit of leadership." What if when I said "someone comes to mind" for you as a witness on earth, no one came to your mind as your witness on earth?" What if you can't think of a godly and holy person that bears witness to your call or commission?
You still have two witnesses, one from earth, one from heaven, as it is written,
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Romans 8:16
Your primary calling in life is as a child of God. Even if you can't think of a man or woman of God like Moses who bears witness to this, The Spirit and your spirit bear witness. And these are enough.
Your two witnesses should encourage you today in your calling.
A man or woman of God bears witness with your spirit.
Or the Spirit Himself bears witness with your spirit.
You are called.
You are a child of God.
Amen.
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