A one word title means I don't have to be as creative this early in the AM. :)
The Lord woke us very early/late last night. We took the time to pray which was nice. If you don't pray with your spouse you should start. I don't know if I've ever felt more intimate with her than when I pray with her. We didn't get back to sleep for some time, and so I'm a little groggy this morning. So bear with me would ya?
Hebrews 11. If you're interested in the power of Faith this chapter is for you. Heb 11:1-2 describes faith as the assurance of the things we hope for. It is the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality - to perceive them as real though they have not been revealed.
In the New Testament, God over and over again states that believers are saved by faith through grace (unmerited favor from the Lord). Hebrews 11:6 says it's impossible to please God without faith. For whoever draws close to Him must first believe He is real, and a rewarder of those who seek Him diligently.
As we read through Hebrews 11 we are given the "short form" of the lives of many of our great "faith heroes" in the Word. I am personally humbled when reading all these recounts of these great acts of faith by people of all walks of life. Heb 11:15-16 is particularly humbling to me. It says if they had been thinking of where they came from they would have found constant opportunity to return to it. However, they were thinking about where God was taking them instead. I have often found myself longing to return to my own Egypt. The lifeless cage that it was, was still familiar to me. There is false safety in the familiar. We may be damaged there, but believe we are aware of all the ways we are damaged and don't often wish to risk new or different damages. God never seeks to damage us believers, only to grow us.
The issue (as it seemingly always is for the believer) is sanctification, being separated from Sin. It's a progressive process. Encouragement for me comes in Heb 11:24-25 where the Word says when Moses had grown to maturity and became great he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He did this so as not to deny his lineage, and to avoid being treated "better" than his brethren. So he would not lead a life of sin. Now you could read this as when Moses grew up and became a man, however after reading the Pauline Epistles I'm reading this as the process of sanctification. When Moses was mature in his faith he was able to be obedient. As we grow closer to God, our faith grows stronger. It is evidence of our closeness to Him.
Heb 11:40 is the hammer verse in my opinion! What do all these great people of faith that Hebrews 11 recounts have in common? None of them witnessed the fulfillment of the promise of the Christ, Jesus. Why not? Why if these men and women had so much faith did He not send His Son to them at that time? Because He was thinking of us, and those that may come after us. He didn't send Christ to them because He didn't want them to come to perfection before we will. We will all attain perfection at the same time when we are bodily resurrected on the day of His return! This will happen when the full number has been saved, and not before.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
The Eternal High Priest Does Eternal Work
Christ Jesus is The High Priest now. He was well prepared for this position and works in it on our behalf. In the time before the coming of the Messiah, worshippers had High Priests who were men, fallen, sinning, human men who did temporary half works of cleansing. They washed sin away with the blood of animals, only cleaning the surface. This had to be redone often and left no lasting change in the worshipper who's sin had been forgiven. These men also worked in a copy of the TRUE Holy of Holies (the closed room of the tabernacle that only the High Priests could enter) that had been built by human hands. They passed on their ranks to their sons and proceeded to die. There was no lasting salvation from these men or their actions. If the worshipper is cleansed this week by one priest and then is seen the following week by the priest's successor will that successor remember the worshipper's being cleaned? If the man priests could clean a worshipper completely why did the acts have to be repeated so often and always?
Christ, who has and will eternally exist as a third of the Godhead came to bring a better agreement. A lasting salvation. Because Christ washes away sins with His perfect blood the worshipper is cleaned to his core. His very being is washed in it. Because He is eternal His work is eternal, if Christ cleans you today He will always be present to remember you have been cleaned. Because Christ is in the true Holy of Holies in the very presence of the Father His work is seen directly by the Father. Because Christ is sinless His work can not be brought into question.
The Eternal High Priest does eternal work! His salvation is forever and unchangeable. Rejoice all who believe! You are to be envied for your sins have been nailed to the cross and buried with Christ! He has risen to take you with Him! Glory be to God!
Christ, who has and will eternally exist as a third of the Godhead came to bring a better agreement. A lasting salvation. Because Christ washes away sins with His perfect blood the worshipper is cleaned to his core. His very being is washed in it. Because He is eternal His work is eternal, if Christ cleans you today He will always be present to remember you have been cleaned. Because Christ is in the true Holy of Holies in the very presence of the Father His work is seen directly by the Father. Because Christ is sinless His work can not be brought into question.
The Eternal High Priest does eternal work! His salvation is forever and unchangeable. Rejoice all who believe! You are to be envied for your sins have been nailed to the cross and buried with Christ! He has risen to take you with Him! Glory be to God!
Monday, October 24, 2005
Milk
Hebrews 5:12-13 encourages us who have been believers for some time to grow up and move on to solid food. He who feeds on milk is inexperienced and like an infant, so he cannot teach as he should.
Hebrews 6:1 Tells us to stop laying the foundation of repentance, turning from dead works and faith in God. Now this doesn't mean these things are to be forgotten. It means we are to take care of these and then move on to bigger and better things such as completeness and perfection in spiritual maturity. As believers we don't have to keep coming back to these topics and re-learning them. We are saved, and should move on to walking in the Holy Spirit.
This is all well and good you say, but what's this milk He's talking about?
According to Hebrews 6:2 the following are "milk";
Purification
Laying on of hands
Resurrection of the dead, and
Eternal Judgment and Punishment
Well that's a list isn't it? If all we do is go to church on Sunday morning and listen to a preacher for 40 mins and then go home these topics are likely as simple as Quantum Mechanics is to most of us.
We NEED to be studying and praying. We need to move forward. A thing that scares me is most Christians I speak with have a hard time understanding that we are saved by Grace (unmerited favor)and not our good works let alone resurrecting the dead! As I look at the above list I know I'm still stuck on much milk as well.
Want some encouragement? OK, I guess if I have to.... ;)
As I have shown here before, Christ was a student in His early life as a man. Luke 2:40-52 So lets go on to more than just that bit of learning and understand the reason why Christ had to come here as a man. He came here as a man because He had to be prepared for His position as intercessor on our behalf to the Father. Check out Hebrews 2:10
As Christ learned, and was prepared for His position so must we learn and be prepared for ours. If you want to be of great use to the Lord, you'll need to be greatly prepared!
Lets get cracking!
Hebrews 6:1 Tells us to stop laying the foundation of repentance, turning from dead works and faith in God. Now this doesn't mean these things are to be forgotten. It means we are to take care of these and then move on to bigger and better things such as completeness and perfection in spiritual maturity. As believers we don't have to keep coming back to these topics and re-learning them. We are saved, and should move on to walking in the Holy Spirit.
This is all well and good you say, but what's this milk He's talking about?
According to Hebrews 6:2 the following are "milk";
Purification
Laying on of hands
Resurrection of the dead, and
Eternal Judgment and Punishment
Well that's a list isn't it? If all we do is go to church on Sunday morning and listen to a preacher for 40 mins and then go home these topics are likely as simple as Quantum Mechanics is to most of us.
We NEED to be studying and praying. We need to move forward. A thing that scares me is most Christians I speak with have a hard time understanding that we are saved by Grace (unmerited favor)and not our good works let alone resurrecting the dead! As I look at the above list I know I'm still stuck on much milk as well.
Want some encouragement? OK, I guess if I have to.... ;)
As I have shown here before, Christ was a student in His early life as a man. Luke 2:40-52 So lets go on to more than just that bit of learning and understand the reason why Christ had to come here as a man. He came here as a man because He had to be prepared for His position as intercessor on our behalf to the Father. Check out Hebrews 2:10
As Christ learned, and was prepared for His position so must we learn and be prepared for ours. If you want to be of great use to the Lord, you'll need to be greatly prepared!
Lets get cracking!
Friday, October 21, 2005
Patients, it's all about trusting God.
The Word talks about being patient quite a bit. This could indicate I should actually be patient. I'm not going to rush in to it though. ;)
How does patients and trusting God get tied together? Well normally I'd be tying verses from several books or at least different chapters of the same book, but today this was made clear to me in one chapter of one book. We'll be looking at Hebrews 6:12-17 (see the Link as I'm at work and cannot edit the HTML of this post on this computer)
We're called to be patient as Abraham was patient waiting for a child to come of his wife's barren womb. He had been given a promise (an oath) from God Himself that he would be blessed and multiplied through a son with his wife. The blessing was the Christ Child, and the multiplication was all the nations of the earth (Jews through blood, and Gentiles through faith - being graphed into His and Abraham's family).
So how on Earth could Abraham actually patiently await a child to be born of his wife's barren womb? She was old, well beyond child baring age. He challenged God on this and God told Him to be patient, that it would happen. How could he trust God? Well God gave His word as an oath. In the world men swear by something higher (God, the Bible and so on) when they swear an oath. God swore on Himself because there is no one, nor anything higher than He. When someone swears an oath we take it as truth, how much more assured can we be of truth when God is taking an oath on Himself - the Highest? This was enough for Abraham, as it should be for us as well.
Abraham was patient, faithful and believing. After his obedience he received Isaac who was born as a pledge of Christ who would come. Because Abraham was patiently obedient and faithful, believing our Father the world was blessed with the greatest blessing. Christ, and salvation through faith in Him, his physical death, His burial, His physical bodily raising from the grave, and His ascension to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on our (pre-elect believers) behalf.
Because Abraham trusted God he was able to be patient, and received great blessing. Being patient is an outward sign of our belief and trust in our Heavenly Father and therefore in His Holy Son, Christ Jesus. Our gifts such as faith and patients are works of the Holy Spirit and are given to those who love Him, whom He loved before the foundations of the Earth were laid. For we love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. I couldn’t resist going somewhere else in the Word with this post today.
How does patients and trusting God get tied together? Well normally I'd be tying verses from several books or at least different chapters of the same book, but today this was made clear to me in one chapter of one book. We'll be looking at Hebrews 6:12-17 (see the Link as I'm at work and cannot edit the HTML of this post on this computer)
We're called to be patient as Abraham was patient waiting for a child to come of his wife's barren womb. He had been given a promise (an oath) from God Himself that he would be blessed and multiplied through a son with his wife. The blessing was the Christ Child, and the multiplication was all the nations of the earth (Jews through blood, and Gentiles through faith - being graphed into His and Abraham's family).
So how on Earth could Abraham actually patiently await a child to be born of his wife's barren womb? She was old, well beyond child baring age. He challenged God on this and God told Him to be patient, that it would happen. How could he trust God? Well God gave His word as an oath. In the world men swear by something higher (God, the Bible and so on) when they swear an oath. God swore on Himself because there is no one, nor anything higher than He. When someone swears an oath we take it as truth, how much more assured can we be of truth when God is taking an oath on Himself - the Highest? This was enough for Abraham, as it should be for us as well.
Abraham was patient, faithful and believing. After his obedience he received Isaac who was born as a pledge of Christ who would come. Because Abraham was patiently obedient and faithful, believing our Father the world was blessed with the greatest blessing. Christ, and salvation through faith in Him, his physical death, His burial, His physical bodily raising from the grave, and His ascension to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes on our (pre-elect believers) behalf.
Because Abraham trusted God he was able to be patient, and received great blessing. Being patient is an outward sign of our belief and trust in our Heavenly Father and therefore in His Holy Son, Christ Jesus. Our gifts such as faith and patients are works of the Holy Spirit and are given to those who love Him, whom He loved before the foundations of the Earth were laid. For we love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19. I couldn’t resist going somewhere else in the Word with this post today.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Brotherly Love
1 John 4:12 "No Man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is brought to completion in us!"
Though we have not seen the Father, we can see Him "in" us if we love one another.
http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:5-7;&version=45;
1 John 4:20 "If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother (in Christ), he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, can not love God, Whom he has not seen."
1 John 4:21 "And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother (in Christ) also."
If we don't love the man in whom we see God then we can't possibly love God Himself.
Check out 2nd Peter 5-7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:5-7;&version=45;) and you'll find that Christian love, love of each other, is the highest goal on the path of sanctification.
If you're finding it hard to love your brethren in Christ, pray for it. Prayer is the solution. We only lack things because we fail to ask for them. James 4:2 makes this clear where the Word states "you do not have, because you do not ask." James is teaching about jealousy here, but the point is the same. See also 1 John5:14-15 http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=I%20John%205:14-15;&version=45;
Though we have not seen the Father, we can see Him "in" us if we love one another.
http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:5-7;&version=45;
1 John 4:20 "If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother (in Christ), he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, can not love God, Whom he has not seen."
1 John 4:21 "And this command (charge, order, injunction) we have from Him: that he who loves God shall love his brother (in Christ) also."
If we don't love the man in whom we see God then we can't possibly love God Himself.
Check out 2nd Peter 5-7 (http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:5-7;&version=45;) and you'll find that Christian love, love of each other, is the highest goal on the path of sanctification.
If you're finding it hard to love your brethren in Christ, pray for it. Prayer is the solution. We only lack things because we fail to ask for them. James 4:2 makes this clear where the Word states "you do not have, because you do not ask." James is teaching about jealousy here, but the point is the same. See also 1 John5:14-15 http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?search=I%20John%205:14-15;&version=45;
Saturday, October 15, 2005
A Strange Secret Place
It's another rainy Saturday in Nova Scotia. I woke up with my wife this morning and watched as she got ready for her workday with a sense of no particular purpose for my day. She had a ride into work and so I didn't even have to take a shower if I didn't want to. So of course I didn't. The Lord didn't get me out of bed to study, which is odd as He has every morning (other than two) for the last 7 weeks. After a kiss good-bye and the closing of the front door I didn't take long to fall asleep on one of the couches. 2 Hours later I awoke, still with no real "get up and go".
Figuring this was just a test of my diligence I decided I'd use my own will to get into the Word and study a bit. Nearing the end of 2nd Peter it just wasn't "happening". I started to think about Scott Holtz's description of the "secrete place". He has these places he goes to where he can connect with the Holy Spirit and hear clearly from Him. I've been praying about this idea, wondering if it was just some flakey idea or if there really was something to it. So in the most casual of ways I start praying. I turn on the radio to my fav station CJLU (Christ Jesus Loves You www.cjlufm.com I'm listening right now via their listen online function), and wouldn't you know it theres a person talking about "the secrete place". I decided that since I didn't have a big "logical" plan for the day so I could afford to be what I call "flakey" (so spirit led that you seem to just drift everywhere). As it turns out there was nothing flakey about my purpose for the day.
I showered, got presentable, and headed out in my car. After some debate and prayer I found myself in a strange spot. The last spot you'd think to go to hear clearly from the Holy Spirit. I parked my car in a small parking lot near a park where men meet for homosexual sex. As I had been driving up to it I was a bit confused and then it hit me that it was perfect. I could be there in a dark place reading the Bible and praying for those poor souls.
As I sat in my car I finished 2nd Peter and then started in James . I was learning, but better yet as men drove into the parking lot I would pray for them. Pray they would be released from their burdensome sin. They would come park and then leave. I didn't see anyone "connect". After about 40 mins there were no more cars! I got a clear sense or inspiration that I had done what the Father had asked me to do and I should leave. As I left I saw one SUV pull into the parking lot. I offered a quick prayer for the man but I knew it was time for me to carry on with my day.
I don't know how to tell you how you can determine if something is flakey or is actually of the Spirit. What I can suggest is this - what do you have to lose if it is flakey? Nothing but your pride. I know for sure God wants us not to be full of pride. He's surely beaten the pride out of me. Remember to test all spirits with the Word. Beyond that just do it! (sorry Nike it's a good phrase)
Figuring this was just a test of my diligence I decided I'd use my own will to get into the Word and study a bit. Nearing the end of 2nd Peter it just wasn't "happening". I started to think about Scott Holtz's description of the "secrete place". He has these places he goes to where he can connect with the Holy Spirit and hear clearly from Him. I've been praying about this idea, wondering if it was just some flakey idea or if there really was something to it. So in the most casual of ways I start praying. I turn on the radio to my fav station CJLU (Christ Jesus Loves You www.cjlufm.com I'm listening right now via their listen online function), and wouldn't you know it theres a person talking about "the secrete place". I decided that since I didn't have a big "logical" plan for the day so I could afford to be what I call "flakey" (so spirit led that you seem to just drift everywhere). As it turns out there was nothing flakey about my purpose for the day.
I showered, got presentable, and headed out in my car. After some debate and prayer I found myself in a strange spot. The last spot you'd think to go to hear clearly from the Holy Spirit. I parked my car in a small parking lot near a park where men meet for homosexual sex. As I had been driving up to it I was a bit confused and then it hit me that it was perfect. I could be there in a dark place reading the Bible and praying for those poor souls.
As I sat in my car I finished 2nd Peter and then started in James . I was learning, but better yet as men drove into the parking lot I would pray for them. Pray they would be released from their burdensome sin. They would come park and then leave. I didn't see anyone "connect". After about 40 mins there were no more cars! I got a clear sense or inspiration that I had done what the Father had asked me to do and I should leave. As I left I saw one SUV pull into the parking lot. I offered a quick prayer for the man but I knew it was time for me to carry on with my day.
I don't know how to tell you how you can determine if something is flakey or is actually of the Spirit. What I can suggest is this - what do you have to lose if it is flakey? Nothing but your pride. I know for sure God wants us not to be full of pride. He's surely beaten the pride out of me. Remember to test all spirits with the Word. Beyond that just do it! (sorry Nike it's a good phrase)
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Mercy - Explained Further
Yesterday was full of powerful learning, however I left out some the teaching side of things.
Hosea 6:6 -
King James Version (KJV) For I have desired mercy and not sacrifice; Knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Amplified Version (AMP) For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings.
Matthew 9:13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).
Matthew 12:7 For if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
As my wife and I were studying this last night it became clear that while I understood what was happening in Hosea 6:6, I hadn't made it very clear to my wife. And, since I explained it the same way to her as I did in yesterday's post.. well I think I need to add a bit today.
As we try to get closer to God, to please Him, to be forgiven of our sins by Him we are eager to DO something. Prior to Christ's coming, man had been given the Law which showed us our sin and need for God. We were told to bring sacrifices to get closer to God, to atone for our Sin, to aid in our communication and fellowship with God. Even then God wanted our hearts, not our deeds. God wanted us to be like Him. Gal 3:23-24
Today He is good and just to forgive our sins (through our faith in the Gospel of Christ which includes confessing our sinful nature to Him). However, just like before Christ came, this isn't what God desires most of the believers (the already saved). What He desires is that we would be like Him. That we would have mercy like His. He has forgiven us (believers, those who are already saved), but if we were like Him there would be no further sins for Him to forgive of us.
See Matt 5:48 (check my post "Be Perfect" http://onmywalk.blogspot.com/2005/09/be-perfect.html)
So since God has forgiven us while we were still sinners working against Him, so should we forgive those who are working against us, even as they are in the thick of hating us.
Titus 1:2, 3:3-7
Col 1:21-23, 2:13-15, 3:13
There are more references to how God forgave us while we were still sinners. Have a read and see how many you can find! :)
Hosea 6:6 -
King James Version (KJV) For I have desired mercy and not sacrifice; Knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Amplified Version (AMP) For I desire and delight in dutiful steadfast love and goodness, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of and acquaintance with God more than burnt offerings.
Matthew 9:13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin).
Matthew 12:7 For if you had only known what this saying means, I desire mercy [readiness to help, to spare, to forgive] rather than sacrifice and sacrificial victims, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
As my wife and I were studying this last night it became clear that while I understood what was happening in Hosea 6:6, I hadn't made it very clear to my wife. And, since I explained it the same way to her as I did in yesterday's post.. well I think I need to add a bit today.
As we try to get closer to God, to please Him, to be forgiven of our sins by Him we are eager to DO something. Prior to Christ's coming, man had been given the Law which showed us our sin and need for God. We were told to bring sacrifices to get closer to God, to atone for our Sin, to aid in our communication and fellowship with God. Even then God wanted our hearts, not our deeds. God wanted us to be like Him. Gal 3:23-24
Today He is good and just to forgive our sins (through our faith in the Gospel of Christ which includes confessing our sinful nature to Him). However, just like before Christ came, this isn't what God desires most of the believers (the already saved). What He desires is that we would be like Him. That we would have mercy like His. He has forgiven us (believers, those who are already saved), but if we were like Him there would be no further sins for Him to forgive of us.
See Matt 5:48 (check my post "Be Perfect" http://onmywalk.blogspot.com/2005/09/be-perfect.html)
So since God has forgiven us while we were still sinners working against Him, so should we forgive those who are working against us, even as they are in the thick of hating us.
Titus 1:2, 3:3-7
Col 1:21-23, 2:13-15, 3:13
There are more references to how God forgave us while we were still sinners. Have a read and see how many you can find! :)
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
I Desire Mercy Not Sacrifice
*note I've updated this with an other post to complete the "teaching" http://onmywalk.blogspot.com/2005/10/mercy-explained-further.html
So I thought I was just going out for lunch.... :)
God had a plan today! Doesn't He always? I'm listening to the radio (CJLU Christ Jesus Loves You - FM in Halifax www.cjlufm.com) and trying to decide what I'm going to do.. I've just finished a McDonald's burger and fries.. which is way out of my normal diet. I had planned on going to a coffee shop but it just didn't seem like the thing to do. So off I go to Chapters. That's when I heard a preacher on the radio bring up Hosea 6:6 "I desire mercy more than sacrifice.." This is the very same verse Cory and I had been talking about a week ago.
Rewind to last night's bedtime prayers. I was praying in the Spirit (not in tongues, just letting myself be led to pray what God wanted me to pray). I found myself praying for many of mine and the Lord's enemies throughout the world! I even told God how I find it hard to understand why I'm to pray for these people, but that it's just more proof of his incredible mercy and love.
Today as I heard Hosea 6:6 the Spirit gripped me and held my mind and heart still so I could hear. I found myself getting out of my car and walking into Chapters - albeit completely "out of it". The Spirit was talking to me. I could feel the stillness in me. People all around, not noticing my presence, and me in the grips of learning.
It was told to me that my own Sanctification is the work of the Spirit, not me. I am to do the things my Father has told me to do. I am to show mercy and love. I'm to forgive as I have been forgiven. I still have this sense of stillness about me as I write this post. It's almost (but not quite) like my body is heavy, and disconnected from the immediate world.
I'm SO not into any kind of "feeling" ministry. I believe God wants faith in Him not in some feeling you get because you're emotionally worked up.
So I forgive all these people. There are so many people who have "wronged" me in my life. I realize that God forgave me before I ever wronged Him the first time, and kept that forgiveness in His heart all the time I did wrong Him. He has loved me since before the world was formed. This is how I must forgive, not because of anything a person may say or do, but simply because my Holy Father has told me to do so.
If you're like me and you feel reasonably confident in your own mental prowess you may also experience God telling you the same thing over and over again.. only to find yourself shocked when you finally "get it".
Here's a couple other supporting verses;
Hosea 12:6 Matthew 9:13
So I thought I was just going out for lunch.... :)
God had a plan today! Doesn't He always? I'm listening to the radio (CJLU Christ Jesus Loves You - FM in Halifax www.cjlufm.com) and trying to decide what I'm going to do.. I've just finished a McDonald's burger and fries.. which is way out of my normal diet. I had planned on going to a coffee shop but it just didn't seem like the thing to do. So off I go to Chapters. That's when I heard a preacher on the radio bring up Hosea 6:6 "I desire mercy more than sacrifice.." This is the very same verse Cory and I had been talking about a week ago.
Rewind to last night's bedtime prayers. I was praying in the Spirit (not in tongues, just letting myself be led to pray what God wanted me to pray). I found myself praying for many of mine and the Lord's enemies throughout the world! I even told God how I find it hard to understand why I'm to pray for these people, but that it's just more proof of his incredible mercy and love.
Today as I heard Hosea 6:6 the Spirit gripped me and held my mind and heart still so I could hear. I found myself getting out of my car and walking into Chapters - albeit completely "out of it". The Spirit was talking to me. I could feel the stillness in me. People all around, not noticing my presence, and me in the grips of learning.
It was told to me that my own Sanctification is the work of the Spirit, not me. I am to do the things my Father has told me to do. I am to show mercy and love. I'm to forgive as I have been forgiven. I still have this sense of stillness about me as I write this post. It's almost (but not quite) like my body is heavy, and disconnected from the immediate world.
I'm SO not into any kind of "feeling" ministry. I believe God wants faith in Him not in some feeling you get because you're emotionally worked up.
So I forgive all these people. There are so many people who have "wronged" me in my life. I realize that God forgave me before I ever wronged Him the first time, and kept that forgiveness in His heart all the time I did wrong Him. He has loved me since before the world was formed. This is how I must forgive, not because of anything a person may say or do, but simply because my Holy Father has told me to do so.
If you're like me and you feel reasonably confident in your own mental prowess you may also experience God telling you the same thing over and over again.. only to find yourself shocked when you finally "get it".
Here's a couple other supporting verses;
Hosea 12:6 Matthew 9:13
We're in this thing together!
If someone puts a stumbling block in his brother's way he's helping his brother to possibly sin. We're to share each other's burdens. We are to help the weak (in faith). All of these boil down to one just one thing.
We're in this thing together.
So what's the big deal? The big deal is how I live my life affects how you live yours and vice-versa. We spend so much time worrying about keeping our lives "clean" so when we witness we can do so credibly. But honestly, we witness much more in living than we do in speaking. What does it matter if 5 people believe what we say, when hundreds might believe the way we act? What is the real effect if these two things are apposed to each other?
What does it matter if we have the right to do something of our own free will, if in doing what we wish we help a brother or sister stumble in to bondage?
Is our personal freedom worth putting chains on those we love?
As we each live this day, I pray we would think about our actions and how they directly and indirectly affect the people around us. I pray that we would share our brother’s burden by changing the way we act to make his walk easier.
We're in this thing together.
So what's the big deal? The big deal is how I live my life affects how you live yours and vice-versa. We spend so much time worrying about keeping our lives "clean" so when we witness we can do so credibly. But honestly, we witness much more in living than we do in speaking. What does it matter if 5 people believe what we say, when hundreds might believe the way we act? What is the real effect if these two things are apposed to each other?
What does it matter if we have the right to do something of our own free will, if in doing what we wish we help a brother or sister stumble in to bondage?
Is our personal freedom worth putting chains on those we love?
As we each live this day, I pray we would think about our actions and how they directly and indirectly affect the people around us. I pray that we would share our brother’s burden by changing the way we act to make his walk easier.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Thanksgiving
Well it was a very nice weekend. It was Thanksgiving here in Canada and I was able to give thanks for many things. I was able to get out to a dear friend's home and play bass with a few fellows playing worship tunes into the night Sunday.
I've started thanking God for the "valley" or dark area of my life I'm in. Through adversity growth comes. As I was waking on Sunday morning an illustration came to mind.
Water flows in the valleys!
Oh Living Water of Life flow into and restore me! Let me turn from all old ways and live in the new life, which is Christ! Thank you Lord for having your hand on my life! Thank you for your devine purpose. For the love you have shown this child. Thank you for the blessing of revelation and growth!
I've started thanking God for the "valley" or dark area of my life I'm in. Through adversity growth comes. As I was waking on Sunday morning an illustration came to mind.
Water flows in the valleys!
Oh Living Water of Life flow into and restore me! Let me turn from all old ways and live in the new life, which is Christ! Thank you Lord for having your hand on my life! Thank you for your devine purpose. For the love you have shown this child. Thank you for the blessing of revelation and growth!
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Seeing Victory in the Victor
The Apostle Paul. He really got a pounding. He was working so hard and so effectively for God that Satan just kept at him. Paul starts off humble (after his conversion from Saul to Paul that is) and as his walk moves on he just gets more and more meek. He's one of the wisest men ever to have lived, but he calls himself witless and a fool. He constantly talks of having no power but that which comes from Christ. In 1 Thes 2:17-19 Paul is writing of his deep want to go to the Thessalonians. They are strong believers and have been living by the Spirit. Paul states that though his want to be with them is deep and on going, Satan has been impeding him. Then Paul pulls out the big guns and states (basically) that the joke is on Satan. While the Enemy can put road blocks in our lives he can not stop Christ Our Lord! Paul says that he sees victory in the Victor because we'll all (all believers) will be with the Lord at His return!! (The Rapture)
No matter what Satan throws at you, know that the Lord's will, shall be done. In that there is always victory!
No matter what Satan throws at you, know that the Lord's will, shall be done. In that there is always victory!
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Readily Forgive
We are told to forgive each other (brothers and sisters in Christ) as Christ did for us. This is important in that we shouldn't base our forgiveness on whether the brother deserves it or not. We should just simply do it of our own selves, no matter the state of our brother. For Christ forgave us while we were still sinners.
Eph 4:2 "[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness) with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another."
Col 3:13 "Be gentle and forbearing with one another and if one has a difference (a grievence or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]."
Eph 4:2 "[Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness) with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another."
Col 3:13 "Be gentle and forbearing with one another and if one has a difference (a grievence or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]."
The Tie That Binds
Ah the joy of having something revealed to you in the Word! A few weeks back I was reading in Ephesians about the Body of Christ (The Church). How we all are different parts, we are not all hands nor are we all feet. But we all come together to form the whole, which is the Body of Christ. The following verse stood out of the text and gave me joy.
Eph 4:16 "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love."
On reading it again I notice how it speaks of each part growing to full maturity and building itself up - which echoes so many other verses about individual growth and the growth of the Church being tied to each other.
But, what was giving me joy the last time I read it was how that which binds us together as one body is SUPPLIED. It does not come from us. We are held together by Christ! We can not fail to be brothers and sisters as (like everything else) that has nothing to do with US!
Col 3:14 makes this same point again. Colossians 3 is talking about wearing Christ as your new cloths now that you've stripped off the old self (the sinful flesh) and goes on to talk about traits of your personality you should "wear". The verse reads;
Col 3:14 "And above all these [put on]love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]."
Of course the perfectness being written of is Christ. Echoing the statement in Col 1:20 that all things are reconciled back to Him - whether it is done here on Earth or in Heaven. (I'd choose here on Earth by the way)
So I guess the point is, Christ is the Head of the Church (the Body) and it is by Him that we are built up together and individually so that we can all work together closely in harmony. Live in Christ, let Him be the life in you! It's much less work and it's what He wants of us!
Eph 4:16 "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love."
On reading it again I notice how it speaks of each part growing to full maturity and building itself up - which echoes so many other verses about individual growth and the growth of the Church being tied to each other.
But, what was giving me joy the last time I read it was how that which binds us together as one body is SUPPLIED. It does not come from us. We are held together by Christ! We can not fail to be brothers and sisters as (like everything else) that has nothing to do with US!
Col 3:14 makes this same point again. Colossians 3 is talking about wearing Christ as your new cloths now that you've stripped off the old self (the sinful flesh) and goes on to talk about traits of your personality you should "wear". The verse reads;
Col 3:14 "And above all these [put on]love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]."
Of course the perfectness being written of is Christ. Echoing the statement in Col 1:20 that all things are reconciled back to Him - whether it is done here on Earth or in Heaven. (I'd choose here on Earth by the way)
So I guess the point is, Christ is the Head of the Church (the Body) and it is by Him that we are built up together and individually so that we can all work together closely in harmony. Live in Christ, let Him be the life in you! It's much less work and it's what He wants of us!
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Walking, Walking, on my Merry Way
So how about an update on my walk? The last month has been a time of incredible growth. Adversity has a tendency to do that to you I guess. I'm coming to rely completely on Christ. You know it's no work at all when you simply do it... but it sure is a lot of work when you want to do it but you just can't seem to let go. Thankfully, I'm spending much more time actually doing it than I am just wanting to. The Lord continues to wake me up early in the AM for my study time.
As you know I've been seeking after my 'calling'. We are to seek after the higher gifts (callings). I've always wanted to be a Pastor, however I'm hardly qualified or worthy. This week past it seemed confirmed that I was to be a Teacher in the Body of Christ. Two days ago someone made quite a case of why I should be a Pastor. It's not a decision that I have to make, as what will be will be, but it is something I need to pray about. A Pastor does teach, but he does so much more. I have a few friends who are Pastors and they love their work. They are lovers of God and they get to spend all their time doing His work.
So the question remains how do you find out what your calling actually is? I'm sure (beyond doubt) that Teaching is in my future but is that all?
So here I am on my walk, as of today I'm believing in and trusting Christ. I'm seeking after the Father's face. I'm resting in His provision. I'm praying to be of service. I'm praying for the growth of my brothers and for revelation to the lost. Where are you on your walk today?
As you know I've been seeking after my 'calling'. We are to seek after the higher gifts (callings). I've always wanted to be a Pastor, however I'm hardly qualified or worthy. This week past it seemed confirmed that I was to be a Teacher in the Body of Christ. Two days ago someone made quite a case of why I should be a Pastor. It's not a decision that I have to make, as what will be will be, but it is something I need to pray about. A Pastor does teach, but he does so much more. I have a few friends who are Pastors and they love their work. They are lovers of God and they get to spend all their time doing His work.
So the question remains how do you find out what your calling actually is? I'm sure (beyond doubt) that Teaching is in my future but is that all?
So here I am on my walk, as of today I'm believing in and trusting Christ. I'm seeking after the Father's face. I'm resting in His provision. I'm praying to be of service. I'm praying for the growth of my brothers and for revelation to the lost. Where are you on your walk today?
Saturday, October 01, 2005
A Man
Just ONE man.. that's what God searched for in Jerusalem. The Isrealites had fallen into sin, and God was looking for a man who would live righteously. Just one man who would "build a wall and stand in the gap". One man who would follow God, one man who would pray, one man who loved God and would protect his city and family with prayer. Who would live for God.
Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none"
But (He) found none...
This is the message spoken at our "men's breakfast" today. It's a powerful one. What work God will do, what restoration, what holding off destruction will God do if just one (a) man will follow after Him?
Are you that man?
Ezekiel 22:30 "And I sought a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none"
But (He) found none...
This is the message spoken at our "men's breakfast" today. It's a powerful one. What work God will do, what restoration, what holding off destruction will God do if just one (a) man will follow after Him?
Are you that man?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)