Out Into A Dry Place

Faith in Christ does not bring us into the promise land right away. It bring us into the desert first. That is where we unlearn bondage responses and need an interventional God and He does intervene when we cry out but He gives us a 'serpent on a pole' deliverance where we need to look at Jesus again and again to deal with the serpents (fears) that assault us.

Believing God 'for others' is looking at that brazen serpent, loving people and pointing them to Christ at the same time. Knowing God has a promised land for them also.

If you truly believe God is not interventional then you are going wander in the desert and die there or get to a river you can not cross (Jordan). All of Exodus was bringing them to that river. They ran out of Eygpt but walked into the promised land because of what they learned about God's character in the desert.

What happened to Israel also happened to Jesus. He got dunked by John the babtizer and went right out into the desert to be tempted. Then His ministry began in power. We get delivered and then the 'fire' comes to burn up what is flammable. From those ashes we get to minister a deliverance we ourselves have experienced firsthand.

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One Peace But Many Wars

We were at war with God but Jesus made peace in that conflict.

I look out and see groups defending themselves against other groups. Groups go on the offense against others groups... race, color, economic status, this block against that block... it makes sense... if THEY wants to hurt us WE must band together and do something or it will just continue or get worse... we want revenge or we want justice or we want safety.

Some still feel that way about God. He must be against us or surely He doesn't notice us or how can we make Him see us as equals.

Jesus ended that war for humanity as a group but as individuals we need Him to personally end it for us.

As a Jewish boy growing up I was taught to remember who I was because, 'If you forget THEY will still remember.'

Now this is what I teach...

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." - Ephesians 2:13-22 ESV

It doesn't seem realistic at times but whose side am I on? Do I side with my group or do I leave that 'country' to seek a city not made with hands and follow Christ... forsaking all affiliations to walk with the gentle Peacemaker?

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Freedom To Speak

'Freedom of Speech' is very important. It is a key to mental health in a society and in an individual. The Bible promotes liberty and healthy boundaries. It define profitable and unprofitable speech but it doesn't 'shut us down' with spoken or unspoken rules.

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses." - Matthew 18:15-16 ESV

The Bible doesn't say, 'Just forgive them, forget about it and never talk about it.' It gives a proper channel that honors all parties involved. There is a time and place. One that isn't libelous (written defamation) or slanderous (verbal defamation). Some things never need to be said but others must be said and faced.

Perhaps you were brought up in a home where certain subjects were 'out of bounds' and if you ever brought them up you would get a sharp negative response... maybe even a violent response. Like most abuse.. the victim might just grow up and become the abuser if there is no healing of the wound. You feel that way about certain subjects and you can't even pinpoint why.

God wants to heal you of that and every other wound that has damaged your soul. God will listen. The scripture will give definition on how God thinks so our mind can be changed if we have a wrong perspective.. which results in wrong dealings with others.

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." - Ephesians 4:29 KJV

Notice the emphasis on self-governance. It does not say 'their mouth'. It says 'your mouth'.

I want my speech to be a 'faith confession' because that is profitable but I pour out my heart to God and nothing is off limits. At the same time I want to end the 'conversation' with His point of view. The poison gets purged and life-giving words fill that place in my heart and mind. Healing happens.

Yes. Freedom to speak is needed to have real freedom. Are you free?

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' " - John 8:31-32 ESV

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5782 Years

Today is Wednesday, January 5th, 2022. On the Hebrew calendar it is the 3rd of Sh'vat, 5782

That year represents a way of thinking that has been largely rejected by the modern world... a relatively recent creation. I hold to this belief. God 'made' man and all the other life on this planet a few thousand years ago. I don't believe the Earth is flat. I do believe that Adam and Eve were real people and that we descended from them. You may say, 'How can I believe what you believe about God if you see the world this way?' and I understand that. The old Earth view seems attractive. It leaves 'room' for many things. It gives humanity a long future and time to 'redeem' itself.

Recently we have seen 'science' used in funny ways to manipulate people's thinking. Macro evolution is an older lie. We see what approximates evolution on a micro scale but not on the larger scale.

5782 not millions...

"Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: 'Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth.' " - Romans 9:27-28 NKJV

Time is limited. We should use it wisely.

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The Music Of Proverbs 14

Taking a bath in Proverbs chapter 14 this morning...

Each verse is like a note in a beautiful song... rising up one by one and then down with unexpected changes.

Those who don't believe we have free will can't have gone deeply into this book. It is all about how things are, who we choose to be and what likely happens because of choices made.

Here is a taste...

"A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways." - Proverbs 14:5-14 ESV

Wash, rinse, repeat...

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