Moving from 1 Corinthians chapter 12 into chapter 13

1 Corinthians 12:1 ESV - "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed."

Today I'm taking a deep dive into this chapter and using it to 'interpret' 1 Corinthians chapter thirteen (known as the love chapter).

That first verse really is fitting. The chapter does explain 'spiritual gifts' in a unique way. There is so much here. The body parts listed... perception (ear, eye, the sense of smell)... action (hand and foot)... Head (is high up, deciding and perceiving)... every proposed dynamic is a real potential dynamic that gets addressed in chapter thirteen in some way.

1 Corinthians 12:15 ESV - "If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body."

One kind of role seemingly 'lower down' could and might envy the one 'higher up' with a different kind of tangible 'output'.

"And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body." - 1 Corinthians 12:16 ESV

A person may want to perceive things the way another person does and feels left out. An eye sees light.

Also, there is the dual nature of eyes, ears, hands and feet. We have two. The 'hearing' group might be tempted to envy the 'seeing' group or feel 'less than'.

"The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." - 1 Corinthians 12:21 ESV

Perception without application. Administration without implementation.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV

The body theme is continued... love resolves the differences.

Perception needs Love

Action must be based in Love

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:7-12 ESV

We only see our 'place' dimly. We see glimpses of what other people contribute but later we will see more. Unity with diversity.

We love 'by faith' not understanding or seeing it all now... but later we will see more.

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The Only Other Choice

We think we are choosing between Christ and our own moral value system...

.. or Christ and Buddhism

.. or Christ and academia as the ultimate solution

.. or Christ and the evolution of man into a higher state

but we are not... It is Jesus or Barabbas

Mark 15:6-7 ESV — Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.

Barnabas was dangerous. He was a wild man. Society wanted him locked up and for good reason.

Mark 15:9-13 ESV — And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.”

Those were not the choices they wanted but that is the real choice.

Barabbas is let loose and chaos ensues. If we don't want God. If we don't the want the truth contained in the scriptures. In particular, if we don't want Jesus to mess up our convenient little system... Barabbas... a person we know should be locked up... gets let loose.

Antichrist will be a Barabbas. It might be us. If we shake off the shackles of truth we might just become the thing we hate.

People blame God because the world isn't what it should be but humanity has chosen the wild man again and again.

Choose Jesus today. Not everyone else is or will but your choice makes a difference.

1 John 4:2-4 ESV — By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

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Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious

This phrase was stuck in my head today 'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt'... it sounds like a command to me... 'be gracious'... but it isn't... the Greek is actually really interesting.

There are many times in the Bible where 'be gracious' is used like a command or better yet a prayer. Man is often asking God to 'be gracious'... that happens over 20 times in the Hebrew scriptures... but the scriptures don't show us people commanding other people in this way. In fact Paul seems very careful in how he phases this and even asks for prayer about how to communicates to people... Here is the context:

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." - Colossians 4:2-4 ESV

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." - Colossians 4:5 NASB20, 4:6 ESV

That, 'Let your...' is so important.

You can't command graciousness.

Still, graciousness is the wise way to deal with outsiders. Seeing your communication as an opportunity (which is how a person interested in evangelism thinks) is also wise.

How do you answer each person? Graciously, that is how.

What is the gracious answer? It involves the mystery of Christ. That a believer is hidden in Christ and that the Holy Spirit is indwelling the believer... somehow and in some way what is said can reveal God if it is said the right way and has the right content.

Wow!

"Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:2 ESV

Ok. Knowing that...

'Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt'

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Great Parking Spaces

I get good parking spaces. Not all the time but often. People in my car tease me about it because it is shocking sometimes.

At one point in my life I was a passenger in the car with a man of God i respected at the time... and still respect. He told me that he often prayed for a good parking space and then just drove up the area where he wanted to park. As a passenger I saw this man get great parking spaces right in front of where we were going.

I remember sitting there and making a decision. That provision was not just for him. It was for me also. I started doing it. I dealt with it like it was an adventure. It was an opportunity to see God do something. It was a game we could play together. It is a time I can concentrate on Him.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" - Romans 8:31-32 ESV

"... but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." - Hebrews 4:2b KJV

Years later I drove with that same man of God. This time i was driving and I told him what I did with parking and he said something like, 'Wow, I should start doing that again.'

At some point He had stopped believing God in that area of his life. He had stopped mixing faith with 'God is for me' in regards to parking. He had stopped driving to the area he wanted to be and just started settling for where he thought it would be 'practical' for him to find a space.

I don't think less of this person. He is a giant as far as I'm concerned and I'm not worthy to untie his shoelaces but It says something to me about the nature of grace and promises. They are mystical. They can slip through our fingers. We can forget because it isn't what we are seeing day to day in the world. We can neglect the favor that God wants to give us.

I apply this principle (pray then drive to the front) in some areas of my life but not all areas. Parking spaces are 'low stakes' things. It isn't going to cost me money... just some time. I won't lose my life if that day I have to park somewhere else. Still because i live this way there are the moments when I do seem to 'walk on water' in high stakes areas. Not on a stormy lake but in life.

This last week I prayed and drove to NYC to visit a few relatives and God met me there. He really did.

I saw a man of God park his car and it changed my life. He did it as a believer and I became one in a moment. I already was a believer in Christ but I suddenly became one for something new. I became one in practice.

I pray God would use us as a catalyst for someone's faith this week. I pray God would use us... weak but willing... faith mixers... believers.

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Fallen But Filling In The Gaps Ourselves

Lies. I'm thinking about lies. Why we lie. How often we lie. Who do we lie to. All of it.

As you may have guessed I believe mankind is fallen. I didn't always believe that but I do now because the Bible states it and proves it. Anthropology also brings this out.

Lies, to me, are an evidence of the fall.

I know... people who believe in evolution or some other scenario where man is 'progressing' also have an explanation for lies and lying but 'wow'... the fall just puts it right into perspective for me.

Fallen people have gaps in knowledge and they try to fill them in ways that are beneficial. We do it to survive and to dodge guilt and shame but the thing is... we all do it. Some just make it into a lifestyle.

'Gaps' are a result of the fall.

I see three things that are just part of the human experience but to me they provide evidence that mankind is fallen and needs Heavenly intervention.
- The fact that we lie (gaps in knowledge)
- The reality that people age, get sick and then die (gaps in our biology)
- That we kill each other (gaps in love... we see the need to remove a person who would just die anyway later because it benefits us in some way)

Jesus came to deal with all of these things and He has.

The 'progression' folks have strange convoluted answers for all three of these things but just look at them. They are cracks in our existence that we all suffer from. They are downward cycles with no escape.

The liar needs a savior.

Go ahead and tell a liar that their children's, children's children are going to outgrow lies and hatred. Not only is that a lie but it is no comfort to them.

We all need a perfect person who sees us just as we are and loves us just as we are. Some one who won't lie. Some one with no gaps. Some one to give us hope.

Jesus loved His lying disciples. He embraced murderous humanity as we killed Him. He carries those who grow old and die into His bosom and makes them young again.

Jesus is the solution but many still don't want Him. His way is a narrow way. For some it will take them realizing He isn't 'a' solution. He is the only solution. Still others would rather die lying to themselves and hold on to that false control of perception until it is too late.

I love the term 'believer' to describe someone who has trusted Jesus because a believer is someone who doesn't just settle for things as they are now 'by sight'. They trust in a higher better way and you can see glimpses of that higher better way in their lives. They touch the Holy One and light shines from that Holy One into a dark world.

"But that is not the way you learned Christ! - assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:20-32 ESV

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Jesus Spoke About Hell

This is our gentle savior speaking in this next passage about future events. He speaks about a place of eternal joy and one of eternal punishment.

" 'When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.' " - Matthew 25:31-46 ESV

There is no way to get around it. Hell is a place. People are going there. It is spoken of as a permanent place. People need to know this.

Jesus is loving beyond what you or i can understand. That is why He told people that this place exists.

The Bible says some things that are hard to hear and understand. It show us things we want to see like love, mercy and hope but it also shows us things we may not want to see. Hell is one of those things. We are afraid of that kind of thing and with good reason. The way to deal with fear is face it... not run from it or hide it.

Jesus speaks more about Hell than He does about Heaven.

I don't speak about this all the time. I don't bring it up with everyone but I do talk about it and I don't avoid the subject. People need to know about this. They need to know that the train they are on is going to crash and that there are only a few stops left where they can get off before that happens.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." - Revelation 3:20-22 ESV

Answering that knock on the door is the only way. Jesus is the only way off the train we are on as fallen people.

"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 ESV

Answer the door. Talk to Him. Believe in Him. He wants to be your lifeline.

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HE Is The Hero

Jesus is the real hero
Not me
I get the privilege of knowing HIM

Beware of theologies and philosophies that put you at the center and rely on your performance to progress. They are false.

"Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Philemon 1:1-3 ESV

Great perspective there...

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." - 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 ESV

We get to collaborate... co-labor

The Bible calls us stewards... we care for something because that is a role we have been given by the real hero of the story.

In this context i can define these words this way
Humility - I am not the hero. I can function in excellence because I know the excellent One
Meekness - I come under the authority of the hero so that I won't be deceived into functioning like a villain

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The Prayer Assignment

In Bible school one of my classes gave 'prayer assignments'. We were supposed to pray for a list of people, countries and churches. Then at the next class we had to check a box saying we did the assignment.

This challenged me greatly because I thought things like, 'Is God going to answer these prayers if we just did them to get a good grade?'... is that really how things work?

The big test came when I didn't do the assignment but there I was with my pen hovering over the check mark. I wanted to get a good grade. Was i willing to lie to do that? Was I willing to lie about PRAYING to do that?

I remember being tempted to check the box anyway. I don't remember if i ever did. I might have. I'm kind of a rascal... but aren't we all.

I'm praying right now for a few things and people. Am I doing it to check a box? I don't really know but I'm doing it by faith.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." - John 14:12-14 ESV

Jesus' name is big and unique to me. He Is God Himself who came to be a man. He is my Savior. He came to Earth because of love and healed everyone who came to Him for healing. He Is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. He Is sitting at the right hand of the Father. He knows me so much better than I know Him. God sees me and all that I do and don't do.

I'm a little nobody but I can name drop as well as anyone else and I plan to drop His name all over the place. I plan to pepper my prayers with His name. His name isn't a curse word to me. His name Is like an iceberg of divinity. His name Is weighty and wonderful. I'm going to use it and God help me if I misuse it because it is important and powerful.

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You Are Not Divine

Jesus is the only divine person (human being). We are not divine. We will not become divine. If we believe in Jesus we become a new creation but that newness and identity happens because we are hidden in Christ not because we are little Gods. Our new nature is linked to His nature and intertwined with the life of the Holy Spirit.

We are a creation. Jesus always was. We have a beginning but no end. Jesus has no beginning and no end. He always was.

"For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" - Psalm 139:13-17 ESV

We were an idea in God's mind. When he made the Earth He made it in such a way that He saw our physical bodies in the Earth at creation. The moment a man's sperm fertilizes the egg of a woman a thought becomes reality. The 'idea' that God saw in his mind becomes a person who will mature and 'come into' their personhood.

He 'foresaw' and 'foreknew' you and i.

New age or new thought teachings use Bible words but they don't use them the way the Bible does. Most of them hinge on personal divinity apart from Jesus. To them Jesus was an example of what you or I can be. They teach the seeds of divinity are in everyone. They teach things like 'the law of attraction', 'spiritual awakenings' and 'sending light and good thoughts'. You can do these things or be involved in such things because of your realized or unrealized divinity.

It sounds so good because they use words like love, mercy, grace, light, rebirth and other words with Biblical roots but ultimately these teachings put you in a performance program.

Religion is a program to get to God or please God which is false and impossible because you can't do either of those things. Jesus did those things already for us.

New Age or New Thought tricks you into a process to become or awaken your divinity. They will even quote Jesus and 'name' him but it isn't the same Jesus. Their Jesus Is what we would be if we only adopt the right program. He is a teacher or an example not GOD HIMSELF becoming a man. To them He was a man who became God.

People were created in God's image. Jesus is the only man who came from Heaven but because of Him many will go to Heaven. He did what no other man could do and His name is exalted above every other name forever.

"Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven." - Psalm 148:13 NKJV

"He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." - John 3:31 NKJV

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV

We have one life. It is often hard. Yes. There is greatness in each person. That greatness is NOT divine. It is human. You are not a god. You never will be. You don't need to be. You can just be you because that is who God wants. He wants to adopt you into His family because you are friend of His Son.

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work." - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV

If you believe then you can be a vessel of honor that is fit to live in the house. A created thing treated like a son forever.

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Posting Helpful Things / Touching The Hem Of His Garment

I believe that if I can just touch Jesus then HE will sort things out...

"And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, 'If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.' Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, 'Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.' And instantly the woman was made well." - Matthew 9:20-22 ESV

I believe that for you also. I don't need to correct all your 'wrong' ideas. If I can just say something helpful that connects you to HIM. He Is going to sort it all out.

Connecting to Jesus can't be all subjective (Prayer, Silence, Meditation, talking it out, etc...). It must be objective also... The Bible. The subjective ways have an 'etc' but the objective one doesn't. The Bible is the ONLY way to get to know the real Jesus in an objective way.

God gave us this great Book so we could know Him.

He gave us each other so we could be His hands and feet and reveal that the Bible is the way to know Him. We can pray together and learn together and sing together. We can laugh and cry together. We can go together into all the world or just down the street and meet our neighbors.

I have over 1000 friends on facebook and I try to visit people's walls sometimes to see what they are posting. Some are great... pictures, funny things, helpful articles or videos. Then there are other folks who just seem to use facebook as a way to rant and vent... what they post has no likes and I can't like it either because it just isn't edifying... I try not to be judgmental but I do think... I hope this person has friends and has fun... I hope what is on this person's wall isn't a reflection of their moment to moment thought life and that this is just a back closet for them to throw all their junk.

Life is so short. I often need to find Jesus and touch the hem of His garment. I need to touch Heaven and i hope you find what I post here helpful. That is why I post it.

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Strength In Weakness

Seeing this next passage in a fresh way today... perhaps because I feel 'weakened' but at the same time I am 'content' or perhaps I should say, 'at peace'...

"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ESV

We think of this thorn as a thing... maybe it was... perhaps it was Paul's eyesight but maybe it was just a 'diminished capacity' linked to 'weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities'

The 'Messenger of Satan' can also be seen as a 'premise for receiving an accusation against myself'. The imagery is right there embedded in the words.

Paul was an Apostle and maybe he did have a demon tormenting him but isn't this for us also?

Go read it again with this focus...
thorn = diminished capacity
Messenger of Satan = a premise for receiving an accusation against myself

I wanted to 'be there more for people' this week but I just couldn't. I couldn't physically or logistically. A bunch of things happened all at once... it didn't rain... it poured... Practical things prevented me and i was just plain weak. I couldn't move Heaven and Earth. Riches might have helped a little but not much. One person was in a different state and didn't have their phone and I just couldn't contact them. My hands were tied.

Because of how I am wired that was a thorn in my flesh and it could have become a 'premise for me to beat myself up'.

My posts over the last few days have been about prayer... I have been doing a lot of that lately... Prayers like, 'Help God! I don't want to strive or be passive. I just want to be moved by YOU. Help God... these people need YOU not me but I am here Lord. Use me. I know a lot of things but I can't be a know-it-all here. I plan to act but I also throw myself at your feet and plan to stay here for a while.'

Then I got locked out, limited, blocked and I could have said, 'That was the Devil preventing me' but was it? I did what I could and said a few things here and there and was transparent about why I was limited without using it as an excuse and guess what... GOD WAS STILL GOD without me!

I love people for the sake of Christ but I also have peace because of Him and i choose not to beat myself up because of Him. I pray and give myself over again and again because His blood bought me to set me free and that is why I willingly return. I cast my cares on Him. I give Him all my broken dreams also and my shattered expectations of what i 'wanted to do'... but couldn't. I ask about what is on my schedule and 'pre-plan' to walk in His power not my own but not passively either.

I used to mock believers thinking they needed a crutch to get through life... they needed a white haired bearded father figure in the sky... so they just made one up.

Little did i know how hard life would really be.

I am so glad I can say, 'Abba... Father' to God. In my weakness He SHOWS HIMSELF to be strong. I can just be me.

Old me would not have survived this week. He would have caused more problems than he solved and all the blame would go somewhere it shouldn't have gone.

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Seeing God Move

Sunrises. How many do you see?
How many would you like to see?
What would it take for you to see more?

At this point you might say.
'Yes, I need to adjust my priorities.'

We all know that is true but is it that easy?
Where we live might make sunrises inaccessible. Do we get up and go somewhere? Do we move?
The job might be an issue.
Who will feed our children and get them going to where they need to be?
Now apply the same principle to being there when 'God is moving'.

How do we do that?
How is that arranged?
Could we adjust what is needed to make that happen if we tried?

The Christian Bible alludes to certain things that can assure that we will be there when God moves.
- Prayer
- Time in the scriptures
- Silence
- Gathering together
- Missions
- Evangelism

Sunrises happen at certain times and there are certain places where you can get a good view of them. Some days are cloudy and even if you are in the right place at the right time there might not be much to see.

God's movement is not so predictable as far as time goes but it is far more glorious than any sunrise and the things He gives us to find His moving actually start to arrange our lives in a way so that we can 'be there when the fire falls'.

God is moving today. I know that. I believe that. If you don't fine. Just watch more TV or spend some time on your exercise bike.

I want to be a spiritual storm chaser because that is where the action is. That is where the memories are made.

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Ask Now

Prayer is a right now kind of thing. Not a later thing. "Pray without ceasing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV My answer to 'Will you pray for me.' is often 'Yes, Lets pray together right now.'

There may be no later. You may forget. Pray now and later also. Great... It will be now again really soon.

If something is urgent and important when do you do it? Later? No, stuff you do later can wait. It isn't important enough to do now.

If your prayer is some religious exercise by all means.. do it later... much much later. If it is you touching Heaven because of love why wait? That can't wait. I want to run to him breathless asking for what only He can give.

"The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." - James 5:16b ESV

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit' - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." - James 4:13-17 ESV

"For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin." - Romans 14:23b ESV

Our good intentions mean nothing. Our words don't have power in and of themselves. Just try to tell someone else's dog to do something if you want to find out. Unless that dog is very well trained to listen to other people he or she isn't going to do what you say. If a dog won't listen to you why should God?

Everything God does, including answering prayer, glorifies Him.

I'm not saying God does things BECAUSE they glorify Him. I'm saying that what He does always has that result.

"The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works." - Psalm 145:17 ESV

"For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." - James 1:7-8 ESV

Does God withhold things because the double-minded man is a bad boy? No, God answers the prayers of bad people all the time. God isn't glorified by answering that prayer so He tells us beforehand that He isn't going to.

Wow!

Glory ishas two meanings which overlap. Brightness and the revealing of something to show it is amazing.

"... glorify God in your body." - 1 Corinthians 6:20b ESV

When I see people talking in public and suddenly one person takes the hand of another person and they both bow their heads... even if they are too far away for me to hear what they are saying I recognize something.

'These people are talking to God.'

That public act glorifies God. It puts the focus on Him. I see two people but I am mentally looking into Heaven to see the One they are talking to.

There are no formulas here. I'm not saying later is bad. I just want to give God fresh prayers that boil over not warmed up leftovers.

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Cast All Those Cares

Doing a bunch of 'care casting' today...

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." - 1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV

As a man I have responsibilities and the best way for me to be responsible is to to be 'carefree'... burdenless... buoyant.

I am throwing all the 'weights' I carry like someone out in right field throwing the ball to stop a runner from getting on base.

I'm aiming them at Jesus. I'm not telling Him to take away my responsibility. I'm just giving Him the weight of my responsibility and asking for guidance, direction, creativity and provision. Grace makes us float. It allows us to fly by riding the currents of God's mind.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV

That roaring lion wants you burdened down... afraid... isolated.

A firm faith keeps us light on our feet, nimble, smart and unpredictable.

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The King

Jesus is both lion and lamb... king and silent sacrifice. The lamb aspect is what we see now. An outsider. Living and traveling outside the 'camp'. He is never mainstream and if the name Jesus becomes mainstream it is a different Jesus. He must be altered to appeal to the masses.

We have only seen glimpses of the lion... a whip in His hand overturning the corrupt money changers. A flash in His eyes and a bite to His words as He talked about religious leaders who were leading people astray.

Today we know the lamb. One day we will see the lion and all the history we have with Him when He was on the 'outs' will be brought into a throne room.

"He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the LORD his God [is] with him, and the shout of a king [is] among them." - Numbers 23:21 KJV David's men shivered with him in a caves but they heard the shout of a King on the battle field.

Can you hear His voice?

"When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "IT IS FINISHED," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." - John 19:30 ESV

That is the shout of a King!

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Every Knee Will Bow

Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess...

"for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." - Romans 14:11 ESV

"I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth [in] righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath." - Isaiah 45:23 NKJV

Will it be God's power that brings everyone to their knees?
Will it be His mercy?
Will it be His goodness?

Maybe it is just the knowledge that He was true to His word and history turned out just the way He said it would.

Maybe it will be a quick review of our own life where see things clearly all of a sudden.

What will happen to open everyone's eyes so that they see something and surrender to the fact that God has been and is worthy of all praise?

Life is hard... very hard for some people... things can be unfair... still all those bitter disappointed people are going to drop to their knees and have the same confession that the blessed seemingly privileged people have.

Right now people question God's existence. Many question His goodness. Others say He is just unknowable.

The Bible says there will be a day when everyone will see enough about who He Is that they will bow the knee to Him. The most stubborn and the most passive.

We can put up a good fight and then surrender later or we can just start there.

"Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.' " - Matthew 21:42-44 ESV

Jesus is the stone that will bring us to our knees later. Why not cast ourselves on Him now?

I'm praying for people tonight. I trust God for them but still my heart aches. If they could just get a glimpse of whatever this is. If they could just see what I sometimes somehow see that causes me to worship and get overwhelmed with thankfulness. Just a glimpse of who Jesus really Is. Just a taste of grace and mercy.

Open our eyes God. Open the eyes of the blind. That is what you did here when you feet walked in the world among us. Please do it today and tomorrow and the next day. Please we want to see that happen to the people we love and interact with... both friend and enemy alike.

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Knocking On Doors

Knocking on doors with gospel tracts in your hand. I do that.

Some of my friends reading this might say, 'I do that too.'

Other friends might think, 'That is just crazy. I would never do that.'

Still others used to do it long ago for a season.

I get it.

I was just sitting here thinking about families. They all are a combination of function and dysfunction. I think one of the reasons why people like sitcoms is because people want to peek inside the lives of other families or groups of friends. "And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. As you enter the house, greet it. And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town." - Matthew 10:11-14 ESV

How do you 'find out who is worthy'?

I knock on their door. It is usually with someone who is very different from me. Some families have a person there who lets you 'in'. It might be the mother or the father or an adult son or daughter. Then you start talking and dysfunction can turn into function. Prayers get prayed. Jesus has a new home to live in. It is crazy really. I knock on some doors and shake off the dust because no one there wants us in their home. It can happen for many reasons but it happens and i imagine there is some mockery sometimes going on after we leave the doorstep. The thing is... it really isn't us they don't want. They don't want HIM. Still He Is patient and merciful and loving. Others may come on some future date with gospel tracts in their back pockets. We might come back weeks later, or months, or years later and someone might want HIM on that future day.

He sends us... strange imperfect us... odd folks who are just crazy enough to care and go knowing we are mocked... knowing that we don't really know what we are doing and have clashing personalities at times.

"And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." - Mark 16:15-16 ESV

Hardcore.

If you never go you just won't see that miraculous dynamic where dysfunction turns into function. To bad for you really. It is worth a little mockery. It really is.

---

Last Saturday we went door knocking in a neighborhood and after 4 or 5 doors I just didn't feel well so I went and sat in my car with the AC on. It was just too hot for me. My partner sat with me for a few minutes and then he got out and kept going. Two other men were on the other side of the street knocking on doors also. We were all there together. I sat there praying for them a little and just thinking about being in the car with them out there. A few minutes later, maybe 15 or 20, they came back all excited with cold water bottles in their hands that someone had given them. A family had invited them all in.

For a moment I thought, 'If i would have just stuck it out I would have been in that house.' but it was just fleeting. I was just glad to be there in my air conditioned car talking to these great people who saw God move. I got to see God move.

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The One Person You Need To Know

Jesus is a 'pivotal person'. You need to know Him. I can't stress this enough. It is good for us to know the people in our life... parents... siblings... children... friends... but in the moments after we die it is how well we knew Jesus that is going to matter the most.

That might sound fanatical... even offensive... but it is true.

He Is the bridge back to The God we are or were cut off from. Knowing Him is all important.

"But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ" - Philippians 3:7-8 ESV

If we know Him then we have something to give others beyond our place (friend, brother, son, father, etc...) and personality.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained." - Philippians 3:14-16 ESV

Jesus has what those who have lost everything need. A person can lose everything but it they have Jesus they will make it through the storm.

"We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." - Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV

Jesus keeps us anchored to Heaven. We stay connected. He Is the connection. This anchor holds. No force can knock it loose. Not even we can sever the connection. He makes us safe and sane.

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Survivorship Bias Or Real Results?

Survivorship bias is an interesting and important concept to understand. The 'survivors' are not the best judge of how good or true a practice is. You really have to look at both the survivors and the casualties to get an idea of how well something works.

If you say, 'We have a great college. there are 100 people in our graduating class this year and 85% of last year's class are gainfully employed.' That only gives part of the picture. How many students enrolled but then dropped out? How many came as healthy happy individuals but are now addicted to drugs and alcohol? How many suffered abuse or died on campus? How much debt was accrued?The brochure isn't going to have those numbers. Those numbers are needed to see if the institution is truly great.

At the same time we understand that all institutions, ideas and philosophies have casualties. That is the way of all human institutions. Good ones have better ratios and pump out very high quality work, people or results.

I saw this yesterday as I was reading John chapter 18 and it really spoke to me about Jesus' leadership.

"So he asked them again, 'Whom do you seek?' And they said, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus answered, 'I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.' This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: 'Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.' " - John 18:7-9 ESV

Jesus did not lose any of his disciples. None of them died before He did. None of them died before He rose from the grave.

"In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?" - John 14:2 ESV

He made 'a place' for those who died after He rose into Heaven. He didn't lose any of them. He NEVER loses anyone.

Churches lose people. Leaders fail. Philosophies have flaws. We make mistakes but because we 'survived' we think it was because of something we did. Wow. So many are so wrong about that. Then they teach their faulty programs to others and say, 'Look! That got me where i am now.'

No. Jesus is the one who did it right. He is the only one who has really done it all right.

If you embrace who He Is and what He did for you on the cross then you will become His. He won't lose you. He can't lose you. He has ever lost anyone yet... not really... people do walk away from Him but He never walks away.

"...for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' " - Hebrews 13:5b ESV

Never... no... never.

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The Comparison To God That Must Be Defined

"And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam..." - 1 Samuel 17:7a KJV

This is a simile. If I know nothing about a weaver's beam the sentence is meaningless. 'Weaver's beam' might as well be 'Fubdwd Polulvue' if I have never seen or heard of such a thing. I know less than I did because now a gap has opened.

Our mind stumbles. Our mental picture has a spear in it but we only know that some piece of knowledge is missing about the spear. The sentence made us dumber. If 'Weaver's Beam' is never defined we have a closed circle... a mystery with no end... a cliff hanger with no resolution.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth... For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." - John 1:14, 17 KJV

"Christ; ... Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" - Colossians 1:7b, 15 KJV

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 ESV

If Jesus isn't defined we can't know God. No math will bring us there. God is lost to us without understanding who Jesus Is. If what Jesus has done means nothing then we are cut off from understanding the first thing about God. But if we do know Jesus then we know the most vital things about God. A relationship is established on this common understanding. We become alive.

Without Jesus all we have is death because it is all we understand.

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The Lesson Of The Anointing

1 John 2:27 ESV - "But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie - just as it has taught you, abide in him."

Only a select group of people were anointed in the Hebrew scriptures. Kings and priests. It was very special. The recipe for the anointing oil was guarded and it was illegal to duplicate. The anointing oil in the scriptures points to the Holy Spirit. He is the true anointing.

I think it is the specialness that teaches us. We don't deserve to be annointed or to sense an anointing on others. The priests had their ears, a toe and a finger annointed for service. We can hear in the Spirit. Walk in the Spirit. Do things that are Spirit led things. We don't deserve that but still it us ours. It is a grace gift that the Holy Spirit will never leave us or forsake us and the knowledge of that reality teaches us. Knowing we have something we don't deserve makes us teachable in every situation.

I don't think it is a hyperspiritual sixth sense that is subjective. I think it is more like the state David must have been in after the prophet came to his fathers house and anointed him in secret. The prophet said David would be a king but David was just a boy. He must have looked back on that day and the knowledge that he was anointed must have informed his decisions. He could be brave knowing that he would not die. The prophet anointed him and what the prophet said had not yet come to pass.

We have that kind of information. If God has given us the Spirit then we have a purpose on the planet. Knowing we have a purpose teaches us a thing no one else can tell us but we can know with certainty.

You are special. God doesn't anoint everyone. Your ear can be touched by God. Your finger and toe can be sanctified for service.

I want this knowledge to inform me in ways no earthly teacher can. If I understand the anointing in me I have something precious that can't be taught in a classroom.

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Showing Us Where To Rest

People use this next passage about God's word in strange ways out of context but 'in context' we see that Bible words are a tool to show us where we are 'striving' or 'working' when we should be 'resting' in what Christ has already done.

"So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." - Hebrews 4:9-13 ESV

The Spirit uses 'Bible words', ideas and concepts to lay things open and make a division between soul (our personality) and spirit (our new identity in Christ).

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

The new believing you can rest... should rest... needs to be shown where to rest in places where there has never been rest or rest has been lost because of a lie.

People think the Bible is going to show them what to do but first and foremost it is to show us what God has done so we can rest in that. Then we will want to be part of what He Is doing because there is rest there also.

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Cities Of Refuge

I believe in every age God provides cities of refuge because there are always going to be runners who need a place to run to.

"The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities." - Numbers 35:6 ESV

"The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment." - Numbers 35:12 ESV

"And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession." - Numbers 35:25-28 ESV

I believe in this age these are places that name the name of Christ. Those places should be places where you are safe from your past. The runner running from guilt and shame should be able to rest there.

I'm not talking about freedom from the penalty of crimes. Murder is still murder. Stolen money or property still need to be repaid and have penalties above and beyond.

Jesus Himself is the true city of refuge. His blood blots out all our sin and He Is available day and night.

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Go In With Him

We get to go into the garden with Him.

"And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.' And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. and when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow," - Luke 22:39-45 ESV

His disciple were sleeping but if you read that passage you just went in with Him. Read it again. You know what He said. The book records it so you could 'hear' it. The Bible has given you 'insider information'.

Look at Him in the garden. Are you looking?

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." - Colossians 3:2-3 ESV

'Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.'

Religious people quote it and theologians argue about it but I just want to be there hearing it and seeing Him say it... and we are... the Bible can take us there if we just mix faith with what is being said.

The Bible can show us a side of many things we could never see ourselves. God gave us this book, in part, so that could happen.

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Behold, New Things Have Come

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [this person is] a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB20

That is the most literal translation I have found of this passage.

The word 'behold' in the Greek is idou (Strong's G2400) which is the second person singular imperative middle voice of the root word εἴδω (G1492). Imperative means it is a command. The middle voice is something we do to our self. So it basically means 'look at yourself'. Visualize the old things then look at the new things take their place.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 ESV

The old things will pass away? No. They have.

New things are here but the only way to see them is in / by / though Christ. This new identity parallels what Jesus has done.

The world and everyone in it deserved to be cut off but Jesus came and made a way of reconciliation. If we have believed in Him we are now partakers of the gift and caught up in the dynamic of reconciliation.

Don't hide from the old things. Don't sweep them under the rug. Look at yourself and say, 'New things have come. Right now newness is available in the person of Jesus Christ.'

What He has done has put us on a new path of reconciliation.

We can say, 'That is not who i am anymore. I am who God has made me to be.'

A child of God
A new creature
A king and a priest
Sealed with the Spirit
Access to God is opened
Forgiven
Justified
Sanctified
Seated in Heavenly places with Christ
A citizen of Heaven
Free from condemnation
Complete in Him (Christ)
...
the list goes on...

These are new things not old things. These must be seen and believed as we mix faith with what the Bible says. Jesus did this. He made this possible. Our cycles, strongholds, wounds and walls fall as we see who we seem to be but declare who we are by faith.

We hear about these new things in the Bible and in a good Church that teaches the Bible. We hear them and it begins to sink in. We see the transformation in people. We talk to each other as if these things are true.

'...The old has passed away; behold, the new has come...'

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Instant Interaction And People You Have Known A Long Time

Here are two things that are very important for relationships with people from 2 Timothy chapter four. Paul is talking to a young leader here but we can all benefit from this...

'...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season...'
That means all the time from the start and all through the relationship. Preaching or just talking about honest, real eternal things.

'...reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching...'
This is not instant. That phrase 'complete patience' speaks of long investment times. Teaching means your have and are discussing real things with that person or those people. They know that you care and are invested and they also know that truth is something that is important to you and that you have something weighty to contribute to their life.

Rebuking a stranger may just make them angry and with good reason because who are you to them? Have you visited them in the hospital? Have talked things out? No. Their first, second or even third impression is a rebuke? A humble wise person might receive that rebuke but that is a lot to ask from anyone.

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching..," - 2 Timothy 4:1-3a ESV

I'd say that time is now but maybe part of the reason people won't hear sound teaching is because they have been rebuked with unsound and unkind words.

"We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church." - Ephesians 4:14b-15 NLT

Relationships can grow into something beautiful. Once they have deep roots they can withstand storms.

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A Royal Honor Code Of Love

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." - Matthew 7:12 ESV

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:34-35 ESV

There is a royal honor code. People have boundaries that other people should never cross. Respecting those lines is a way we love people.

Then there are lines that should be approached and only crossed if given permission.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20 ESV

"Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works." - 2 Timothy 4:14 NKJV

It is right to warn people about people if they are dangerous. That is also love. Not a rumor or gossip... a first hand account.

Knowing people is a great honor. Care can help someone out of a rut that they could not get out of themselves. Love can reveal a Risen Saviour. Carelessness can divide.

"A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. When wickedness comes, contempt comes also, and with dishonor comes disgrace." - Proverbs 18:2-3 ESV

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." - Psalm 19:14 ESV

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Plans And Problems

Does God see us or our behavior as a problem to be solved?

Just sitting here thinking about troubleshooting, problem solving, planning, God's will, response versus reaction and decision making in general.

Planning can be formulaic ( this + that = the expected outcome ) or it can be more experimental.

Troubleshooting is more problem or hindrance oriented.

These subjects may be things we have thought a lot about or not very much at all.

Does God have problems? What are His plans like as a being that lives outside of time with no beginning and no end? What is His will?

Yes, What is His will and how does that affect or involve us as individuals?

"...let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works," - Hebrews 10:22-24 ESV

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." - Jude 1:20-25 ESV

We can have a prayer life full of adoration, planning and problem solving.

We can be proactive planners who act on what we know and move constructively into a thought out future that is experimental but is also working towards real outcomes.

We can think with God. I said we can think with the God who Is outside of time.

"[Lamedh]
Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts. The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad." - Psalm 119:89-96 ESV

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King David's First Acts Of Leadership

I have my Bible open and I'm looking for King David's first acts of leadership. Correct me if you think otherwise but I think this is it...

"And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play [it] with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him." - 1 Samuel 16:23 NKJV

We are told about David here but that was the first thing he 'did'.

"And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him." - 1 Samuel 16:17-18 KJV

We also see David doing this...

"But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem." - 1 Samuel 17:15 KJV

and this...

"And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle." - 1 Samuel 17:20 KJV

David took responsibility for things.

He keep the sheep and looked after their needs. He watched the King and saw his state and then ministered to him.

I find it interesting that David was exposed to bad leadership before he became a good leader. Saul was a moody rascal.

Jesus' first act of leadership was this...

"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ... Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it." - John 2:1-2, 7-8 ESV

He turned water into wine at a wedding.

There was a need and Jesus took responsibility to act and minister.

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV

We can lead this way. We can 'provide leadership' this way.

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Three Dimensions Of Freedom

I have been set free before
I am free now
I will be set free in the future

You and i can take a look back at what God has done in our lives...

Then confess...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV

We can claim the freedom that is ours now...

What about the future?

"... He is faithful...." - 1 John 1:9b ESV

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war." - Revelation 19:11 ESV

He faithful to free us. We don't know how or when.

"And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.' " - Daniel 3:23-25 ESV

The fire that was supposed to kill these men burned away their bonds.

Freedom may come that way. It may come in a moment. It may come from a word spoken and heard.

"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated." - Esther 7:10 ESV

The enemy that builds a way to trap and kill you may well end up hanging on their own gallows.

Are you free? Are you? You can be. You can remember. You can confess what God has done and you can rejoice in the fact that the God you worship is faithful.

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Peace And Full Assurance

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36 KJV

I spoke to a man yesterday who was worried about his eternal destiny. Something happened that took him by surprise and it rocked his world. Then the thought came, 'If I can be so wrong about this what if I'm wrong about my salvation?'

I asked him, 'Why are you saved? How did it happen? Was it you or Jesus that made that happen? Is it something you did or are doing or is it that Jesus died and rose again?'

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.' " - Mark 10:27 ESV

Jesus said,
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." - John 14:1 ESV

There are people who think they are going to Heaven but won't. They think something they did will get them there but it won't. Going to Heaven is impossible for man but God makes it possible though His Son.

A question like, 'Am I one of the elect or not?' can and has driven men crazy. It is just a bad question based on bad information.

Jesus is alive after dying a horrible death. That is impossible with men. Jesus and only Jesus can make you free indeed. If it is about Him in your mind. If it was only about Him just for a moment in your mind then a transfer has happened that is beyond you.

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:" - Colossians 1:12-14 KJV

One moment of trusting Jesus guarantees a transfer out from under a power we do not understand that binds us up into a kingdom that progressively sets us free.

Trust Him. Trust only Him. He can do the impossible by making a place for you at His table forever.

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The Finger Of God

Jesus is 'the finger of God'.

"And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." - Exodus 31:18 ESV

"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." - Luke 11:20 ESV

A finger touches one thing at one time in one place.

"And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean." - Mark 1:40-42 ESV

We need this touch to happen at specific times. It isn't general understanding. It is a visitation that happens in a moment.

If I'm in a hospital bed hurting and someone comes in and puts their hand on my shoulder that is special. That is more than a text message. It is weighty.

God reached out and touched the world two thousand years ago. A baby was born who changed the course of human events and opened Heaven to us.

Jesus Is sitting on a throne right now. That is His position and it is an important one for us.

"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" - Romans 8:34-35 ESV

God can't forget us because Jesus is right there 'reminding' God as our representative.

Thank you for doing that God. You sent Your Son and now He Is seating beside You. You look at Him and see us.

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Jumping To Doctrinal Conclusions

'Is that in the Bible or is it a conclusion that some person has come to?'

That is a question I often ask myself when hearing people speak or when I start coming to conclusions based on what I read.

No one knows who wrote the book of Hebrews. Perhaps the people around the time the book was written knew but we don't. The author is not mentioned in the book. Still, some teachers will come to a conclusion about who the author is and incorporate that conclusion into their teaching. We don't know. One day we will and we can wrestle with the question but we just don't know. A teacher who teaches, 'We don't know.' is one I can trust. They don't have to add to the scriptures. They have humility.

This morning I'm reading the Gospel of John... again. It is a book I am memorizing... slowly it seems.

"Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."" - John 1:48-51 ESV

Some authors say, 'Nathanael must have been reading, thinking about or talking to God about Genesis 28 under that fig tree!'

"And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!" - Genesis 28:12 ESV

Perhaps that is so but we don't know. The scripture just doesn't say. It fits but I have to jump to a conclusion to get to that idea. I'm not going to do that.

I do know that when Jesus spoke something resonated inside of Nathanael. It caused him to see Jesus' identity. The record of this exchange also shows us that God sees us when we think we are alone, takes note of important times and plans to reveal Himself to us when the time is right.

It is so easy to build doctrinal sand castles. Then when the water comes rushing in the mess that remains can make us and others doubt the real black and white truths that scripture provides us.

I want to be very careful how I handle God's book. It is of great value.

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Apples In The Kitchen

Let's say that you have two apples in your hand and there are seven apples inside the your house in the kitchen. The house is being painted and you can't get into the kitchen right now.

How many apples do you have? Do you have two or nine?

You can eat the two apples now. You can give both apples away. Those two apples are accessible and you have the hope of seven more.

God's promises are like those apples. We have some things now and we will have other things later but our decisions can be based on what we will have later by faith.

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 ESV

If Jesus died and is gone forever we only have two apples. Theft and abuse become viable options because we will starve unless we get more apples. Hope is only based on our 'apple getting' abilities.

"Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:1-8 ESV

Peter saw the 'apples in the kitchen' and lived an excellent life. God's 'precious promises' opened up a world to Him where there were apples waiting around every corner.

We can live this way and we will never be hungry for very long.

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Men Need To Move Things

Men need to affect the world around them. We either do it constructively or destructively and most of the time it is a combination of both. If we feel we are 'ineffective' we either mope or make ourselves and others around us pay for our inadequacy. Our 'sin cycles' become unbreakable.

We need a mission or a cause. If we don't have one some just invent one that is unhealthy in a different way.

"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:14-15 KJV

If Jesus had not have sent them they would be self obsessed people who are addicted to looking at their cell phones also. Sending them saved them and going saves us over and over again.

Otherwise the garbage of self occupation with past successes, or more likely, failures will start to pile up in the corners of rooms we are just spending to much time in.

Go. Go out... and since you're making the trip throw all that garbage out at the cross while you are out there.

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Objects Do Not Have Spiritual Power

The bible teaches us a view of reality where objects have physical properties but do not have spiritual power. No lucky or unlucky charms. Things don't channel spiritual energy. Areas are not better places to get spiritual 'reception'. Demons are sentimental and do attach themselves to things and people but God doesn't.

"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou [art] cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:" - Genesis 3:14 KJV

"For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth." - Psalm 44:25 KJV

The cross doesn't repel vampires. That whole idea has small 'viral' errors in it. There are no vampires. Darkness doesn't have that kind of animating power. The image isn't where the power is. The idea and historical fact of the cross is where the power is. The Love of the cross is where the power is. Jesus is the power. Knowing Him is this great unbreakable relationship and the cross shows us the ultimate example of His love.

Objects can become idols. Places can be restored when we worship God in Spirit and in Truth. New memories are formed. New shared memories.

Things have a purpose. We use things or decide not to use things but God is the source of all blessing. If there is any power He has it. Jesus didn't heal by means of some power He possessed. He was connected to God the Father. He Is still connected. The only time He was disconnected was on the cross and that happened for a short time for our sake.

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A Voice We Can Trust

Our inner voice is 'slippery' at best. Our mind wants to make sense of things and imposes sense on things. We can and do lie to stay safe. We lie to others and we lie to ourselves. Perhaps we just 'jump to conclusions' because we impose a pattern of events on things and forecast the future. If we are right a few times we start to trust the system we are using but it is flawed.

"For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. ... But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." - John 5:26-29, 36-40 ESV

This whole chapter is so good.

Who do you hear? What do you hear?

Jesus walked among us and there was no 'lie' in Him. He was unique in that respect. His 'works' bore witness to who He was. His book bears witness to what is real.

"Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice" - John 5:28 ESV

I love this passage so much. It is prophetic of this age and a great event in the future. On outreach those who 'are in the tombs' hear His voice because a 'work' of His is standing there speaking 'words' of Him and from Him.

"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." - John 3:19-21 ESV

If we function in our own 'imaginings' we are just hiding from the light. We have another option. We have another glorious option. We can look at Him and focus on what He has done and what He says.

The truth is much much better than any fiction.

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Two Sendings

Here are two places that God will always send us. There are more but here are two:

- Out into the unknown away from our security system (Abraham)

- Back into the thing we fear the most to set others free (Moses)

You can look at all the patriarchs and see a 'sending' that applies to your life. Those sendings apply to anyone who is following God.

"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." - Romans 11:29 KJV

God's calling isn't your vocation. He Is calling you to Himself and that is way out there and deep in here.

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," - Ephesians 1:18 KJV

This calling is not solitary. You need people. I need people. Lone rangers are going to live ignorant of many things. They will be poor. Those great gatherings, that have a mix of amazing and annoying people, house a glory found no where else. They have merciful eyes and words peppered with grace but there are also going to be novice traits and inappropriate saying said in those groups.

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;" - Ephesians 4:4 KJV

Oh. There is hope is your calling.

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." - John 10:9 KJV

Safety from the dangers 'out there' are not found by hiding. They are found in Him. Healings from the hurts within are not found out there. They are found in Jesus.

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" - 2 Timothy 1:8-10 KJV

Jesus is the burning bush. Look at Him. Draw near to His fire that warms but does not consume. He will send you and victory will be the result. You will be free of your past and others will be free also.

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Mix In Faith And Have A Good Day

I am reading Philippians chapter 4 and it is showing me how to have a good day today.

It is such a rich chapter...

"Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." - Philippians 4:1-23 ESV

The chapter does start with 'Therefore, my brothers...' so I feel compelled to add a great principle given in chapter 3 also since we need what is in the chapter that came before to really fully apply what is in chapter 4.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you." - Philippians 3:13-15 ESV

I long to 'enter into the partnership of giving and receiving' today. If I do that in the flow of these words with Jesus as my source and focus I am going to have a good day... you are going to have a good day and, '...if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you...' if you ponder the words in this book and decide to mix faith into what you are hearing you will have a momentum with God.

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Real Power

Power is all about who you know. All legitimate authority is delegated authority... at least that is what the Bible teaches.

There are no 'super powers' beyond that. That kind of power or 'energy' is fictional. Leverage is real. That is how physics works. That is how politics works and, Yes, that is also how spirituality works.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith - that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." - Phl 3:8-12 ESV

I know many smart people that are anti-social and essentially powerless in this life and in the one to come after our body goes into the ground.

"When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."" - Luke 18:22 ESV

One of the paradoxes of spiritual life is seeing wisdom in giving to those that can't help us.

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." - Matthew 10:28 ESV

You can't have influence with everyone. Who will you side with? God is the one who Is for you and for 'them' also. He Is the 'fount of every blessing'. His Love Is the Light that opens our eyes to see things as they are and not as we want them to be.

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31 ESV

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Wise As We Observe

"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." - Matthew 10:16 ESV

"For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil." - Romans 16:19 ESV

Let's take everything we see and hear and run them through this filter of an 'innocence that realizes that there is deception in the world'.

"Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear." - Isaiah 42:18-20 ESV

A deep passage... God had many messengers but Jesus is the ultimate example and He was blind and deaf to certain things... He had a single eye.. The religious people who opposed Him were 'blinded' but Jesus had 'blinders on'.

We can be like Jesus was and Is.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:" - Philippians 2:5 KJV

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12 ESV

I'm not saying we should shut everything out and live in a monastery. It is good to do that sometimes just to regain perspective but not always. We need to see what is happening around us but not be deceived by human goodness or human selfishness.

"Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house." - Proverbs 17:13 KJV

We live in a state of innocent awareness that comes from having divine perspective. We look to see what God is thinking and we find that in the Bible.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." - Revelation 20:12 KJV

Small and great... influencers and nobodys... all standing before God on an even plane... be careful who you choose as a hero and as a villian... they are just flesh and blood. We need to see beyond that and deal in compassion as innocent ones.

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Thriving Or Surviving

Woke up just surviving but now I'm thriving
Saw myself but then I looked away and saw a bush burning and burning
I've been to that bush before... It speaks... No... God speaks when I go there
I tell Him about my half broken things
He speaks about a new life... a new vision... a fresh provision
He gently brushes off my objections with His perfections

I'm thriving... the dust was on me but I've shaken it off and left it behind me

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" - Ephesians 5:14-18 KJV

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground." - Exodus 3:1-5 KJV

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Thrive with God... or wander in the dusty world

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." - Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ESV

That nation had a choice... we have a choice... you have a choice.. a new option... a way of escape.

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life.' " - John 14:6a ESV

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Today Is The Day Of Salvation

We 'hew out' our own capacity... the past compounds and affects the present but today is an important day...

"...for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." - Jeremiah 2:13 ESV

We want joy and peace but we watch 2 hrs of television and spend 15 minutes in our Bible or maybe no time at all. We lust and that lust digs out places where the water is going to pour out.

Just repent. Repent means to change your mind and set your eyes and face somewhere life-giving.

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4 ESV

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." - Hebrews 3:13 ESV

"Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ESV

Today.

Today is the day of salvation.

Turn to Him and weep and mourn if you must but then laugh and leap for joy because you have a fountain filled with living water to drink from.

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