Yesterday I was thinking about 'being wounded from previous pressure'. Oppression makes a depression that stays after pressure is off like someone shaping a piece of clay.
"Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." - Jeremiah 18:3-4 KJV
I can't really say the refiner's fire 'is my heart's desire' all the time but I do want to be a person who 'doesn't see the heat when it comes.'
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." - Jeremiah 17:7-8 KJV
The old you got broken but God has formed a new you in Christ. This new person responds to heat and pressure differently when Christ is in view.
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
This transformation is one of growth and expansion. God is doing a new thing. I want to embrace this process and see God in each detail instead of flinching at and living in a wound that wounded my old self.
Today is going to be a great day! Let's look at Jesus and live in a transformation that will alter us from the inside out.
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Showing posts with label Wounds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wounds. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Egypt's Help Is Worthless
" 'Ah, stubborn children,' declares the LORD, 'who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who make an alliance, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; who set out to go down to Egypt, without asking for my direction, to take refuge in the protection of Pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation... Egypt's help is worthless and empty; therefore I have called her 'Rahab who sits still.' " - Isaiah 30:1-3, 7 ESV
Grace is an alliance with God's Spirit. To live in grace is to live in God's reality.
But people just return to Egypt and forget that it was a place of pain and contradiction. People are laughing and eating well in Egypt. They had things there that we don't have here. Maybe that is a better way? Maybe it isn't so bad there? It might be different this time then it was before.
For some it isn't that kind of identification. The wounds they received in Egypt ache and plague their thinking. Their identity becomes an identity based on what happened in past bondage.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
The word for law here is Torah (Strong's H8451) which references God's written instruction.
"Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:18-23 NASB
Yes. Instead of going back we can move forward. The Torah came as a flesh and blood man and came as the living word. The Torah is testifying of Him.
Let's acknowledge the slavery of the past but go forward to freedom. There is no quickening in Egypt. Quickening comes far away from the neon lights. Quickening comes when the historical resurrection becomes a present day reality to us and we live in a agreement with the Holy Spirit about the nature and character of the living word and what He has already accomplished on our behalf.
Grace is an alliance with God's Spirit. To live in grace is to live in God's reality.
But people just return to Egypt and forget that it was a place of pain and contradiction. People are laughing and eating well in Egypt. They had things there that we don't have here. Maybe that is a better way? Maybe it isn't so bad there? It might be different this time then it was before.
For some it isn't that kind of identification. The wounds they received in Egypt ache and plague their thinking. Their identity becomes an identity based on what happened in past bondage.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
The word for law here is Torah (Strong's H8451) which references God's written instruction.
"Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God." - 1 Peter 1:18-23 NASB
Yes. Instead of going back we can move forward. The Torah came as a flesh and blood man and came as the living word. The Torah is testifying of Him.
Let's acknowledge the slavery of the past but go forward to freedom. There is no quickening in Egypt. Quickening comes far away from the neon lights. Quickening comes when the historical resurrection becomes a present day reality to us and we live in a agreement with the Holy Spirit about the nature and character of the living word and what He has already accomplished on our behalf.
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Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Bandages In The Cupboard
I keep band-aids in my cabinet because I know I'm going to need them someday. I hope that I don't use them and that they get so old that I have to throw them out and get new ones.
I'm not planning to cut myself. As a matter of fact I'm planning to be careful not to cut myself. But I'm not structuring my whole life that way.
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?" - Jeremiah 8:22 ESV
God gave us plants and substances that have restorative properties because at times we need restoration.
Things break. Mistakes happen. Just like we plan not to injure ourselves if we are wise we also plan to have what we need just in case we do.
God has spiritual band-aids in his cupboard. Life gets rough at times.
"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." - 1 Peter 5:10 ESV
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Jesus took the deepest cut. Our mistakes cost Him everything. But He was confident that His Father had band-aids in His cupboard.
I am so grateful that God is more diligent than I am. He has had a plan to help me waiting all along. He knew I would need healing so He stocked the cupboard with just what was needed.
Thank you God. There is an overflow of mercy. More than enough for us and the whole world. I feel privileged to know it. I want the world to know that the cure for what ails them is waiting in Your Son. Help me get the word out. Thank You for your great care.
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I'm not planning to cut myself. As a matter of fact I'm planning to be careful not to cut myself. But I'm not structuring my whole life that way.
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?" - Jeremiah 8:22 ESV
God gave us plants and substances that have restorative properties because at times we need restoration.
Things break. Mistakes happen. Just like we plan not to injure ourselves if we are wise we also plan to have what we need just in case we do.
God has spiritual band-aids in his cupboard. Life gets rough at times.
"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." - 1 Peter 5:10 ESV
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Jesus took the deepest cut. Our mistakes cost Him everything. But He was confident that His Father had band-aids in His cupboard.
I am so grateful that God is more diligent than I am. He has had a plan to help me waiting all along. He knew I would need healing so He stocked the cupboard with just what was needed.
Thank you God. There is an overflow of mercy. More than enough for us and the whole world. I feel privileged to know it. I want the world to know that the cure for what ails them is waiting in Your Son. Help me get the word out. Thank You for your great care.
--
Monday, May 12, 2014
A Still Wounded Savior
"On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,
'Peace be with you.'
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' " - John 20:19-21 ESV
It is one thing to believe that God sent Christ into the World for a redemptive purpose to finish a work... It is another to believe the we are sent into the World to walk in that finished work.
But, Wait before you go. Have Peace. It starts with peace. God does not hit us with our calling first. Peace is first and then peace is second also because it is only from finished work peace that we can even begin to understand how the Father sent the Son and then be sent ourselves.
Peace. Then our eyes moves to his hands and his side. He is wounded but not bleeding. He is hurt but not bitter. It does not stop Him from fellowship. He eats and moves and loves. We are glad to see Him so whole and alive is spite of His wounds.
We are sent ones. We start out young and fresh but in time we are wounded by the wounds of ministry. Wounded in the house of our friends but peace is ours. Finished work peace is ours. People will see our wounds but they will not be our focus. As sent one we are sent with a message and a peace that passes understanding.
You may say, 'I am wounded and I am bitter.'... look at Jesus... look at His joy... Look at His exaltation... look at His power... look at what He has done... all the sin for all time has been paid for by Him. God has forgiven. We are His children and forgiveness is a power bestowed on us.
From a place of peace we can go in the great commission. I'm not going without it. Today it is available to anyone who believes. It is available to those who see Jesus and reckon on what His wounds really mean. By His stripes we are healed. Healed in our emotions and given a life that lives above and overcomes scarring pain.
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'Peace be with you.'
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' " - John 20:19-21 ESV
It is one thing to believe that God sent Christ into the World for a redemptive purpose to finish a work... It is another to believe the we are sent into the World to walk in that finished work.
But, Wait before you go. Have Peace. It starts with peace. God does not hit us with our calling first. Peace is first and then peace is second also because it is only from finished work peace that we can even begin to understand how the Father sent the Son and then be sent ourselves.
Peace. Then our eyes moves to his hands and his side. He is wounded but not bleeding. He is hurt but not bitter. It does not stop Him from fellowship. He eats and moves and loves. We are glad to see Him so whole and alive is spite of His wounds.
We are sent ones. We start out young and fresh but in time we are wounded by the wounds of ministry. Wounded in the house of our friends but peace is ours. Finished work peace is ours. People will see our wounds but they will not be our focus. As sent one we are sent with a message and a peace that passes understanding.
You may say, 'I am wounded and I am bitter.'... look at Jesus... look at His joy... Look at His exaltation... look at His power... look at what He has done... all the sin for all time has been paid for by Him. God has forgiven. We are His children and forgiveness is a power bestowed on us.
From a place of peace we can go in the great commission. I'm not going without it. Today it is available to anyone who believes. It is available to those who see Jesus and reckon on what His wounds really mean. By His stripes we are healed. Healed in our emotions and given a life that lives above and overcomes scarring pain.
--
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