Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communication. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
The Light Of The World
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16 KJV
Jesus is the illumination of God's love.
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." - Genesis 1:3 KJV
God wanted to make it possible for us to see things that were far away in this creation He was making so He illuminated it.
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." - John 8:12 KJV
Yes! Yes! Yes! He Is the light that lights every man and shows us the love of the Father. Love is invisible unless you show it... It is unknown unless you say it. God didn't hide His love. He showed us His love.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." - 2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV
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Friday, July 21, 2017
The Priestly Ministry
"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior," - 1 Timothy 2:1-3 ESV
This is so good. People need prayer and we need it also.
As communication has become easier criticism has also.
I can't hate someone I am praying for. Those kinds of things dissolve in the presence of a holy loving God. Leaders are easy to hate. They make impactful decisions and those decisions are going to affect a percentage of people negatively.
People do stupid, crazy, thoughtless and dangerous things. Let pray for the idiots in our life. They need it and we need it. It is part of the ministry of the believer priest.
Only the priests could enter into the holy places of the temple in Israel. Everyone else brought sacrifices and their access brought them to the brazen altar (which for us is the cross). The priests washed in the laver, a large polished bronze bowl that was filled with clean water. They saw their reflection in that hypnotic bowl. They were cleansed subjectively and objectively. They felt clean after they washed off the blood. They smelled the show bread and the oil burning clean in the menorah. (Exodus 30, Leviticus 24)
If we have no priestly ministry we never get past the cross.
We need the cleansing of the laver. We need to smell the smells of Heavenly thinking. The flicker of the light of the burning candlesticks give us hope like nothing else can. Those lights are forever. They never go out.
Let's pray for those in 'high positions'. They need it and we need to don the light linens of the priest. It will give us an oasis in a crazy merciless world. It will keep us sane.
--
This is so good. People need prayer and we need it also.
As communication has become easier criticism has also.
I can't hate someone I am praying for. Those kinds of things dissolve in the presence of a holy loving God. Leaders are easy to hate. They make impactful decisions and those decisions are going to affect a percentage of people negatively.
People do stupid, crazy, thoughtless and dangerous things. Let pray for the idiots in our life. They need it and we need it. It is part of the ministry of the believer priest.
Only the priests could enter into the holy places of the temple in Israel. Everyone else brought sacrifices and their access brought them to the brazen altar (which for us is the cross). The priests washed in the laver, a large polished bronze bowl that was filled with clean water. They saw their reflection in that hypnotic bowl. They were cleansed subjectively and objectively. They felt clean after they washed off the blood. They smelled the show bread and the oil burning clean in the menorah. (Exodus 30, Leviticus 24)
If we have no priestly ministry we never get past the cross.
We need the cleansing of the laver. We need to smell the smells of Heavenly thinking. The flicker of the light of the burning candlesticks give us hope like nothing else can. Those lights are forever. They never go out.
Let's pray for those in 'high positions'. They need it and we need to don the light linens of the priest. It will give us an oasis in a crazy merciless world. It will keep us sane.
--
Friday, January 20, 2017
Holy Discretion
The last few days have been interesting ones. I usually live a very transparent existence. I say what is on my mind and share what I am studying freely.
It is my conviction to have a purposeful life. If something is put down it is there for a reason. Words should have weight. If something is said it should be said with purpose. If it is withheld it also has a purpose.
Purposefully transparency is a great way to live but every season demands some variation and I have been convicted these last few days to withhold some of what I am thinking and not share all that I am studying because edification and growth is my ultimate purpose.
I hope that makes sense. This isn't a comfortable way to live but at times it is a necessary one that we don't speak about. Liars withhold until they are infected by their own lie and even begin to believe them. Many people withhold for the wrong reasons but there is also a right kind of withholding.
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." - Psalm 86:15 KJV
God endures in longsuffering.
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV
He has secrets that He doesn't share.
I find myself asking the question, 'Why do I feel compelled to withhold this or that?' because not sharing sometimes feels like a burden.
Embarrassment isn't a good reason to withhold nor is shame. Those are not spiritual motivations.
I think God shows us some things purely for our prayer life. We don't say anything about them to anyone but God and that is right and true because those 'spoken words' would not do anyone else any good.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 KJV
This is an amazing verse. Perhaps in the context of this topic we can look at others and realize that people carry things they can not or will not talk about and we can be prayerful for them knowing that we also have things we don't say or do because the timing just isn't right.
"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." - Luke 8:16-18 ESV
Yes.
Can God trust us? All will eventually be revealed but can we live in a holy confidentiality because we have a redemptive purpose?
God help us. Give us transparency in what might be embarrassing about ourselves but give us discretion in matters of edification. We are Yours and all that we do (or don't do) is Yours also. Keep us from false burdens. Help us to know when to be quiet and when to speak. Teach us Lord. Thank You God.
--
It is my conviction to have a purposeful life. If something is put down it is there for a reason. Words should have weight. If something is said it should be said with purpose. If it is withheld it also has a purpose.
Purposefully transparency is a great way to live but every season demands some variation and I have been convicted these last few days to withhold some of what I am thinking and not share all that I am studying because edification and growth is my ultimate purpose.
I hope that makes sense. This isn't a comfortable way to live but at times it is a necessary one that we don't speak about. Liars withhold until they are infected by their own lie and even begin to believe them. Many people withhold for the wrong reasons but there is also a right kind of withholding.
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." - Psalm 86:15 KJV
God endures in longsuffering.
"The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law." - Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV
He has secrets that He doesn't share.
I find myself asking the question, 'Why do I feel compelled to withhold this or that?' because not sharing sometimes feels like a burden.
Embarrassment isn't a good reason to withhold nor is shame. Those are not spiritual motivations.
I think God shows us some things purely for our prayer life. We don't say anything about them to anyone but God and that is right and true because those 'spoken words' would not do anyone else any good.
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 KJV
This is an amazing verse. Perhaps in the context of this topic we can look at others and realize that people carry things they can not or will not talk about and we can be prayerful for them knowing that we also have things we don't say or do because the timing just isn't right.
"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." - Luke 8:16-18 ESV
Yes.
Can God trust us? All will eventually be revealed but can we live in a holy confidentiality because we have a redemptive purpose?
God help us. Give us transparency in what might be embarrassing about ourselves but give us discretion in matters of edification. We are Yours and all that we do (or don't do) is Yours also. Keep us from false burdens. Help us to know when to be quiet and when to speak. Teach us Lord. Thank You God.
--
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Deaf And Dumb Spirits - Part 1
"And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' " - Mark 9:25 ESV
To the modern mind in a technological society passages like this are glossed over. The idea of a 'dumb spirit' is thought to be primitive. Psychology (or Pseudo-psychology) has become the everyday person's hobby. People diagnose instead of discern.
On vacation we walked into a casino to get cash out of a cash machine and you could sense the spirit in there. Dry. Stale. Maniac. Self-deception and escapism hung in the air like a cloud. Unclean. Deaf. Dumb. Lambs shambling in to be fleeced with a dull blade.
I find this passage interesting because Jesus saw the confusion and discerned something. Here is the context of the passage.
"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.' And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.' And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, 'From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.' And Jesus said to him, ''If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' " - Mark 9:17-25 ESV
I read a wonderful post recently by a mother with a special needs child. She was adamant about challenging her child with creative communication. She hasn't sat idly by let her child be withdrawn. She lovingly rebukes the barriers that block communication. If her child can't 'hear' a concept she creatively communicates in a dozen other ways to bring the idea patiently across. That child is blossoming under her patient gracious care.
Jesus stepped into the confusion with faith and gracious truth.
And Jesus said to him, ''If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes.'
Yes! That is the voice of reason. That is what a hopeless and faithless person needs to hear but they may be deaf and dumb from atmosphere they have lived in all their lives. People may need gentle creative repetition for the truth to cut through the gloom. They may need time for the sun to burn off the stale mist that has covered their lives.
A good Bible college is a place where that can happen. A living church that meets more than once a week on Sundays. A wholesome group that does things together and talks about God over coffee.
That father said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'. He was tired and confused. He tried everything he could think of but was barely able to keep his child alive. It's that us sometimes?
Don't settle for a stale psychology! There are forces that seek to block redemptive communication. The mob needs confusion to exist. A meek spiritual person who has been with Jesus can discern and speak and walls come down. They are riding a wave of objective power. The are sent and have the authority of the One who sends them infused in words that reflect Biblical truth.
So, confusion may be the mindset of the day but let us be ones that rest in truth and have our feet planted on the rock. As ministers of reconciliation we can reach out our hand and other can join us in the oasis of calm. It is a big rock. No one can say there is no room there.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." - John 3:16-17 KJV
Yes, God. Make us intelligent discerners. Give us redemptive meditations today. Make us individuals that reflect your Son. You are the King. Give us words that affect the atmosphere of any room we enter. Disarm confusion. We bring You into our largest problems and You rebuke the spirits that block hearing and speaking. You are the light in our darkness. You are the hope of our generation. Praise You Lord. Thank you Jesus.
--
To the modern mind in a technological society passages like this are glossed over. The idea of a 'dumb spirit' is thought to be primitive. Psychology (or Pseudo-psychology) has become the everyday person's hobby. People diagnose instead of discern.
On vacation we walked into a casino to get cash out of a cash machine and you could sense the spirit in there. Dry. Stale. Maniac. Self-deception and escapism hung in the air like a cloud. Unclean. Deaf. Dumb. Lambs shambling in to be fleeced with a dull blade.
I find this passage interesting because Jesus saw the confusion and discerned something. Here is the context of the passage.
"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.' And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.' And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?' And he said, 'From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.' And Jesus said to him, ''If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes.' Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.' " - Mark 9:17-25 ESV
I read a wonderful post recently by a mother with a special needs child. She was adamant about challenging her child with creative communication. She hasn't sat idly by let her child be withdrawn. She lovingly rebukes the barriers that block communication. If her child can't 'hear' a concept she creatively communicates in a dozen other ways to bring the idea patiently across. That child is blossoming under her patient gracious care.
Jesus stepped into the confusion with faith and gracious truth.
And Jesus said to him, ''If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes.'
Yes! That is the voice of reason. That is what a hopeless and faithless person needs to hear but they may be deaf and dumb from atmosphere they have lived in all their lives. People may need gentle creative repetition for the truth to cut through the gloom. They may need time for the sun to burn off the stale mist that has covered their lives.
A good Bible college is a place where that can happen. A living church that meets more than once a week on Sundays. A wholesome group that does things together and talks about God over coffee.
That father said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!'. He was tired and confused. He tried everything he could think of but was barely able to keep his child alive. It's that us sometimes?
Don't settle for a stale psychology! There are forces that seek to block redemptive communication. The mob needs confusion to exist. A meek spiritual person who has been with Jesus can discern and speak and walls come down. They are riding a wave of objective power. The are sent and have the authority of the One who sends them infused in words that reflect Biblical truth.
So, confusion may be the mindset of the day but let us be ones that rest in truth and have our feet planted on the rock. As ministers of reconciliation we can reach out our hand and other can join us in the oasis of calm. It is a big rock. No one can say there is no room there.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." - John 3:16-17 KJV
Yes, God. Make us intelligent discerners. Give us redemptive meditations today. Make us individuals that reflect your Son. You are the King. Give us words that affect the atmosphere of any room we enter. Disarm confusion. We bring You into our largest problems and You rebuke the spirits that block hearing and speaking. You are the light in our darkness. You are the hope of our generation. Praise You Lord. Thank you Jesus.
--
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Pearls Before Swine
I'm going on outreach today but I had a quick thought I've been meditating on as I think and pray about talking to people today.
Have you ever been frustrated or perplexed about something and spoken to someone only to find yourself more frustrated and perplexed afterwards? I have. Perhaps the person you spoke to wanted to help but it was just the wrong time to talk or the person had a frame of reference that was not helpful.
If someone comes to me and they need to talk I want to be ready.
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:6-8 ESV
I guess what I am saying is that I don't want to be a swine when someone is sharing things that matter to them. I need to go to God first and cast my care on Him and get his mind on something... anything He wants to give me. Whatever crumbs He wants to give are more than good enough. If I knock and have a thought from Heaven to chew on then I can be in the flow for all the things He has ever given me to rise to the surface of my mind. Then when I run into someone who is at a crossroads the door into eternal perspective will already be clearly in sight by faith.
"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
Yes. The maker of all things also has a resolution for all perplexities. Will we be dogs or grace and mercy people who carry seed that will produce an eternal harvest?
--
Have you ever been frustrated or perplexed about something and spoken to someone only to find yourself more frustrated and perplexed afterwards? I have. Perhaps the person you spoke to wanted to help but it was just the wrong time to talk or the person had a frame of reference that was not helpful.
If someone comes to me and they need to talk I want to be ready.
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:6-8 ESV
I guess what I am saying is that I don't want to be a swine when someone is sharing things that matter to them. I need to go to God first and cast my care on Him and get his mind on something... anything He wants to give me. Whatever crumbs He wants to give are more than good enough. If I knock and have a thought from Heaven to chew on then I can be in the flow for all the things He has ever given me to rise to the surface of my mind. Then when I run into someone who is at a crossroads the door into eternal perspective will already be clearly in sight by faith.
"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
Yes. The maker of all things also has a resolution for all perplexities. Will we be dogs or grace and mercy people who carry seed that will produce an eternal harvest?
--
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The Word Of God Works Wonders
Can we handle the idea that a perfect God uses imperfect men to communicate His message?
"For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 ESV
This is a great passage for any communicator of the Gospel and I have been thinking about it as I've looked at Abraham, Moses, Ezekiel and Jonah. They are all such different men but God used them.
"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in [both of] which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts," - 2 Peter 3:1-3 NKJV
The 1 Thessalonians 2 passage continues like this...
"For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved" - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16a ESV
Paul and Peter were amazed that God would use them in a similar way to the men who had gone before them in the Hebrew scriptures. They saw patterns forming as they continued in ministry. Suffering was cross-cultural. Opposition to the Gospel was also.
They saw people that hindered the communication of grace as people who displeased God and hindered all mankind.
Grace Communication. How different it is? Flawed men who teach grace also reflect grace. But there are many who teach something else.
"You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " - Matthew 15:7-9 ESV
Men with ideas and people with theories and philosophies apart from the cross of Christ abound but something is missing from their words. They point to a way to live but they don't have words that give life.
The Apostles saw the Gospel do a work in individuals and groups. Patterns formed in front of their eyes. We can see them also if we are patient. God will do what He has always done.
""For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
I never want to be a critic of the Church of God. It is with fear and trembling that I speak words of grace. The Church is God's responsibility and there is much more happening then I can see with my eyes. I might find out later that I opposed God by making His Church a target of my petty criticism. I have been charged with a message of good news. I am not speaking to backslidden Israel like some men of God did before the cross. My message is one that seeks to save that which is lost and it is effective to do it.
"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." - Romans 14:4 ESV
Yes. But I want to have a clear message. I need to have an unhindered connection to God. If I have found a place that promotes that connection then I want to nurture it and be a part of it. Many groups that call themselves christian don't have the message that will give life.
We need grace words. We need them to grow. We need them to branch out. We need them to process the hard parts of life. We need people of all kinds and varieties to speak them.
Accusation wants to shut your mouth. Don't let it. Just be clear about what needs to be said and who needs to be lifted up. Then speak because this generation needs people who have something to say that transcends the doctrines of men. This generation, like ever generation, needs grace words and mercy people.
--
"For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 ESV
This is a great passage for any communicator of the Gospel and I have been thinking about it as I've looked at Abraham, Moses, Ezekiel and Jonah. They are all such different men but God used them.
"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in [both of] which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts," - 2 Peter 3:1-3 NKJV
The 1 Thessalonians 2 passage continues like this...
"For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved" - 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16a ESV
Paul and Peter were amazed that God would use them in a similar way to the men who had gone before them in the Hebrew scriptures. They saw patterns forming as they continued in ministry. Suffering was cross-cultural. Opposition to the Gospel was also.
They saw people that hindered the communication of grace as people who displeased God and hindered all mankind.
Grace Communication. How different it is? Flawed men who teach grace also reflect grace. But there are many who teach something else.
"You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " - Matthew 15:7-9 ESV
Men with ideas and people with theories and philosophies apart from the cross of Christ abound but something is missing from their words. They point to a way to live but they don't have words that give life.
The Apostles saw the Gospel do a work in individuals and groups. Patterns formed in front of their eyes. We can see them also if we are patient. God will do what He has always done.
""For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." - Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV
I never want to be a critic of the Church of God. It is with fear and trembling that I speak words of grace. The Church is God's responsibility and there is much more happening then I can see with my eyes. I might find out later that I opposed God by making His Church a target of my petty criticism. I have been charged with a message of good news. I am not speaking to backslidden Israel like some men of God did before the cross. My message is one that seeks to save that which is lost and it is effective to do it.
"Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand." - Romans 14:4 ESV
Yes. But I want to have a clear message. I need to have an unhindered connection to God. If I have found a place that promotes that connection then I want to nurture it and be a part of it. Many groups that call themselves christian don't have the message that will give life.
We need grace words. We need them to grow. We need them to branch out. We need them to process the hard parts of life. We need people of all kinds and varieties to speak them.
Accusation wants to shut your mouth. Don't let it. Just be clear about what needs to be said and who needs to be lifted up. Then speak because this generation needs people who have something to say that transcends the doctrines of men. This generation, like ever generation, needs grace words and mercy people.
--
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Two Small Copper Coins
I want to express love to people while I have the opportunity to do so. When we are in "survival mode" that priority drops lower. We have less and so it seems we have less to give but it is important to resist that resistance.
"And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.' " - Mark 12:42-44 ESV
This passage seems to be about money but it has a deep message. Of all the people giving large sums Jesus noticed this person who was loving in a risky way.
One passage from my reading yesterday stuck with me. Perhaps it seems unrelated but it holds great meaning for me.
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." - Luke 12:49-53 ESV
Is this the fire of judgement. No. I believe it is this fire.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11 ESV
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 ESV
The fire that Jesus wanted to already be kindled is the fire of Love. It is the fire of His Spirit which is not separate from Him. The Father, The Son and the Comforter are individual but One.
The fire would bring separation because paradoxically that is what God's Love can bring. Sentimental human love allows for mixed allegiances because it is shallow. God's love is different. It leaves no room for garbage.
If love remains unexpressed divisions can grow wider. If love is expressed there is the possibility that divisions will disappear.
Oh God... please help us... Help me... Help us to communicate love in creative ways... We want affection and hospitality to flow even if all that we have are two small copper coins... give us the courage to be kind... give us words to say and ways to love... Thank You God for loving us... You love us from the richness of Heaven just as you loved us from the poverty of the cross... thank you... thank you... thank you... You are the awesome God... thank you.
--
"And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.' " - Mark 12:42-44 ESV
This passage seems to be about money but it has a deep message. Of all the people giving large sums Jesus noticed this person who was loving in a risky way.
One passage from my reading yesterday stuck with me. Perhaps it seems unrelated but it holds great meaning for me.
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." - Luke 12:49-53 ESV
Is this the fire of judgement. No. I believe it is this fire.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11 ESV
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 ESV
The fire that Jesus wanted to already be kindled is the fire of Love. It is the fire of His Spirit which is not separate from Him. The Father, The Son and the Comforter are individual but One.
The fire would bring separation because paradoxically that is what God's Love can bring. Sentimental human love allows for mixed allegiances because it is shallow. God's love is different. It leaves no room for garbage.
If love remains unexpressed divisions can grow wider. If love is expressed there is the possibility that divisions will disappear.
Oh God... please help us... Help me... Help us to communicate love in creative ways... We want affection and hospitality to flow even if all that we have are two small copper coins... give us the courage to be kind... give us words to say and ways to love... Thank You God for loving us... You love us from the richness of Heaven just as you loved us from the poverty of the cross... thank you... thank you... thank you... You are the awesome God... thank you.
--
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Effortless One On One Communication
I once asked a man how he became such a good listener and conversationalist and he said it was from years of confrontational evangelism. He had been rejected by hundreds of people and he had learned to be a good listener. He had abandoned formulas and learned to love the lovely and unlovely alike.
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," - 1 Peter 3:13-15 ESV
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus," - Philippians 2:4-5 ESV
There is something about purposefully conversations where personal agendas are absent.
When you extend yourself in love you also learn how to listen. Introvert or extrovert it doesn't matter. Your world may be inside yourself or outside of yourself but in purity Christ becomes the focus and there is a way to be with people that is absent of anxiety or fear because God is supplying a peace that passes understanding.
I see people relate to each other based on sexuality and it is a sad substitute for intimacy. A false identity that is built on attraction is just a distraction. It is a mask for insecurity.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." - Romans 12:9-11 ESV
When God is our King we are not seek to please people. God is already pleased with us because of Jesus. People are no longer objects or sources pleasure, prestige, provision or even comfort. God has met those needs in us. We know that whatever need we are experiencing in any given moment has a provision that is on it's way from God. Our souls are weaned and know that they will be fed in due season by the God who loves us.
Jesus could (and did) befriend fishermen, scholars, prostitutes and traitors alike. Mary Magdalene met a man she could not beguile who loved her in purity and had words from Heaven. Nicodemus came at night to talk to Jesus but concepts and theories weren't the basis of the conversation. Jesus loved Nicodemus and gave him an eternal perspective that could not come from any book.
Think about who makes you nervous. The idea of that person is exerting a power over you. If you pray for them and think in purity that power can be broken over time or in a moment because it is a false power feeding off of a personal agenda to be loved, wanted or powerful. When our souls are fending for themselves fear is always an underlying influence.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:10-12 ESV
I post these things on social media but the bottom line is that I don't really care if you like what I have to say or not. I don't care much about if you like me or not either. I care about your soul. The message I have from day to day isn't my message. I hope to have strong relationships with all kinds of people... I'm just not going to compromise to get them.
We can go toe to toe and speak face to face with people who hate us. We are able to stand there loving them as we speak and listen. We don't have to harden our hearts like inmates in a tough prison block. It is a supernatural freedom that is only acquired in a faith relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ but anyone can have this freedom.
"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... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-32, 36 ESV
--
"Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect," - 1 Peter 3:13-15 ESV
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus," - Philippians 2:4-5 ESV
There is something about purposefully conversations where personal agendas are absent.
When you extend yourself in love you also learn how to listen. Introvert or extrovert it doesn't matter. Your world may be inside yourself or outside of yourself but in purity Christ becomes the focus and there is a way to be with people that is absent of anxiety or fear because God is supplying a peace that passes understanding.
I see people relate to each other based on sexuality and it is a sad substitute for intimacy. A false identity that is built on attraction is just a distraction. It is a mask for insecurity.
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." - Romans 12:9-11 ESV
When God is our King we are not seek to please people. God is already pleased with us because of Jesus. People are no longer objects or sources pleasure, prestige, provision or even comfort. God has met those needs in us. We know that whatever need we are experiencing in any given moment has a provision that is on it's way from God. Our souls are weaned and know that they will be fed in due season by the God who loves us.
Jesus could (and did) befriend fishermen, scholars, prostitutes and traitors alike. Mary Magdalene met a man she could not beguile who loved her in purity and had words from Heaven. Nicodemus came at night to talk to Jesus but concepts and theories weren't the basis of the conversation. Jesus loved Nicodemus and gave him an eternal perspective that could not come from any book.
Think about who makes you nervous. The idea of that person is exerting a power over you. If you pray for them and think in purity that power can be broken over time or in a moment because it is a false power feeding off of a personal agenda to be loved, wanted or powerful. When our souls are fending for themselves fear is always an underlying influence.
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:10-12 ESV
I post these things on social media but the bottom line is that I don't really care if you like what I have to say or not. I don't care much about if you like me or not either. I care about your soul. The message I have from day to day isn't my message. I hope to have strong relationships with all kinds of people... I'm just not going to compromise to get them.
We can go toe to toe and speak face to face with people who hate us. We are able to stand there loving them as we speak and listen. We don't have to harden our hearts like inmates in a tough prison block. It is a supernatural freedom that is only acquired in a faith relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ but anyone can have this freedom.
"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... So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-32, 36 ESV
--
Monday, October 19, 2015
Wholesome Words In The Ark Of God
"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." - Hebrews 11:7 ESV
"For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers." - 1 Thessalonians 2:3-10 ESV
God's Love becomes a refuge from events as yet unseen.
There are men who use the truth to take. But then there are those who labor to give. They labor to give gently.
"The word of the LORD came to me: 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.' " - Ezekiel 34:1-5 ESV
God has given us an ark. He has sent His Son. His Son Is our ark. We labor against the idea that God wants to take something away. Sometimes the labor is to undo the work that shepherds who feed their belly have done.
God wants people to be in the ark He has prepared because they will be safe there. The storm can still be a bruising affair. Even in the ark we get tossed around but it is nothing like what it's like to be outside.
We can have great physical needs and yet we go to God and He becomes our strong tower. He becomes a place of safety and perspective.
We often go through needy times where if we don't get help from people and from God we might not make it. There is no shame in that. Those times create humility. Those times remove sentimentality. We either become people who use others as a lifestyle or we find the ark and become people who labor to be gentle create an atmosphere where people are safe so that they will choose to enter the ark that has been revealed to us.
"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 4:28-32 ESV
Yes. I was a thief. But grace transforms thieves into people who give grace.
--
"For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers." - 1 Thessalonians 2:3-10 ESV
God's Love becomes a refuge from events as yet unseen.
There are men who use the truth to take. But then there are those who labor to give. They labor to give gently.
"The word of the LORD came to me: 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.' " - Ezekiel 34:1-5 ESV
God has given us an ark. He has sent His Son. His Son Is our ark. We labor against the idea that God wants to take something away. Sometimes the labor is to undo the work that shepherds who feed their belly have done.
God wants people to be in the ark He has prepared because they will be safe there. The storm can still be a bruising affair. Even in the ark we get tossed around but it is nothing like what it's like to be outside.
We can have great physical needs and yet we go to God and He becomes our strong tower. He becomes a place of safety and perspective.
We often go through needy times where if we don't get help from people and from God we might not make it. There is no shame in that. Those times create humility. Those times remove sentimentality. We either become people who use others as a lifestyle or we find the ark and become people who labor to be gentle create an atmosphere where people are safe so that they will choose to enter the ark that has been revealed to us.
"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 4:28-32 ESV
Yes. I was a thief. But grace transforms thieves into people who give grace.
--
Monday, October 12, 2015
A Prophetic Thought Progression
Last night after service in the cafe P Butch hit us with a principle from his apologetics class (He was my apologetics instructor in the 90's when I went to Bible College). He reminded us that we can see certain progressions in the scriptures of how the prophets communicated messages from God.
They often put an attitude or event in context, then communicated divine viewpoint and lastly they gave a starting point for the listener to act. It isn't a formula but it is one of the organic progresses of communication we see in the scriptures.
We see Jesus doing this with Mary and Martha when He went to raise Lazarus from the dead.
"...and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' " - John 11:19-23 ESV
Mary communicates her disappointment. This family had a close relationship with Jesus. Jesus had rushed off to heal others. He had spoke a word with a soldier He didn't know and that soldiers servant was healed that laid far away in a bed somewhere else but now she is mourning the death of Her brother. She was wondering why these recent events had transpired.
Jesus doesn't apologize. He takes from what she said (or in this case implied) and gives that truth back to her by confirming to her that her brother will be raised from the dead.
We use this in apologetics when speaking to people. People have strange ideas about God. Some of them come right from the culture or fiction and others are unique patchworks developed over time. We use the Bible's descriptions of God's actions or nature to put what they are saying in context. We find a point of agreement (if possible) and start from that common ground.
"Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.'
Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' " - John 11:24-26 ESV
Then Jesus gives her divine viewpoint and a starting point for application. He reveals to her who He Is in a fresh way. She knew He could heal her brother but that knowledge only added to her grief because it made Jesus seem powerful but uncaring.
Knowledge about God divorced from grace does that. We are left confused by circumstances because our expectations are not met.
Human viewpoint was that Jesus was a kind man destined to be Messiah who had the power to Heal. Divine viewpoint shows us that Jesus is the finger of God that pierces the veil of eternity. He Is eternal, sovereign and powerful. He is loving but not predictable in our framework. His consistency is just that... His. He does not act the way we think He will based on experience but He also does not disappoint.
Then Jesus gave Martha an opening to make an application of the truth just presented by asking her if she believed. He challenged her, gently, to mix faith with truth. After speaking to Mary and weeping Jesus gave the whole group another opportunity to apply truth.
"Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.'
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out.' The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.' " - John 11:39-44 ESV
We can communicate this way also. We can put situations in context then reveal to people the divine viewpoint that has been revealed to us. Lastly... we can challenge them to believe.
If they believe they can see the glory of God for themselves just as we have gotten glimpses of that glory when we believed.
--
They often put an attitude or event in context, then communicated divine viewpoint and lastly they gave a starting point for the listener to act. It isn't a formula but it is one of the organic progresses of communication we see in the scriptures.
We see Jesus doing this with Mary and Martha when He went to raise Lazarus from the dead.
"...and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' " - John 11:19-23 ESV
Mary communicates her disappointment. This family had a close relationship with Jesus. Jesus had rushed off to heal others. He had spoke a word with a soldier He didn't know and that soldiers servant was healed that laid far away in a bed somewhere else but now she is mourning the death of Her brother. She was wondering why these recent events had transpired.
Jesus doesn't apologize. He takes from what she said (or in this case implied) and gives that truth back to her by confirming to her that her brother will be raised from the dead.
We use this in apologetics when speaking to people. People have strange ideas about God. Some of them come right from the culture or fiction and others are unique patchworks developed over time. We use the Bible's descriptions of God's actions or nature to put what they are saying in context. We find a point of agreement (if possible) and start from that common ground.
"Martha said to him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.'
Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?' " - John 11:24-26 ESV
Then Jesus gives her divine viewpoint and a starting point for application. He reveals to her who He Is in a fresh way. She knew He could heal her brother but that knowledge only added to her grief because it made Jesus seem powerful but uncaring.
Knowledge about God divorced from grace does that. We are left confused by circumstances because our expectations are not met.
Human viewpoint was that Jesus was a kind man destined to be Messiah who had the power to Heal. Divine viewpoint shows us that Jesus is the finger of God that pierces the veil of eternity. He Is eternal, sovereign and powerful. He is loving but not predictable in our framework. His consistency is just that... His. He does not act the way we think He will based on experience but He also does not disappoint.
Then Jesus gave Martha an opening to make an application of the truth just presented by asking her if she believed. He challenged her, gently, to mix faith with truth. After speaking to Mary and weeping Jesus gave the whole group another opportunity to apply truth.
"Jesus said, 'Take away the stone.' Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, 'Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.' Jesus said to her, 'Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?' So they took away the stone.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, 'Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.'
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out.' The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth.
Jesus said to them, 'Unbind him, and let him go.' " - John 11:39-44 ESV
We can communicate this way also. We can put situations in context then reveal to people the divine viewpoint that has been revealed to us. Lastly... we can challenge them to believe.
If they believe they can see the glory of God for themselves just as we have gotten glimpses of that glory when we believed.
--
Monday, June 15, 2015
Experiencing The Relationship
How easy it is for us to be isolated from the present reality of a relationship through a lack of communication.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:7-9 ESV
"For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." - Hebrews 9:13-14 ESV
Yesterday at the service by the river P Veader made a great statement when he spoke about the work of the blood of Christ cleansing us. He said in effect (I'm not quoting him directly) that we need confession because we need to experience forgiveness and forgiveness is not real to us unless we experience it.
That is so true.
" 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?"
And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.'
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching," - Matthew 7:21-28 ESV
People will know of Jesus but not know Him. We 'know of' people but don't know them but when there is communication then we can know them and have a relationship. As we live in transparency before people we extend a hand to them and relationships are possible. Sure, people can speak many words and hide their true selves. Folks do that all the time but eventually the masks fall away in the light of truth. Grace makes them obsolete. The blood of Christ nullifies the need for those defense mechanisms. The cross kills that old identity. People are raised with Christ in their experience when they participate in true fellowship.
"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
I think the people were astonished because Jesus was offering them an intimacy with God that they didn't think was possible to have. There are very few people who are open enough to talk to us this way in life. They didn't expect God would be a person like that.
We can get isolated and isolation is the enemy. When things start to build up in our minds it can distort our perception of how God sees us. As far as God is concerned the blood of Christ has cleansed us from all sin. Our agreement just puts us on the same page with God in His thinking and two can't walk together unless they agree (see Amos 3:3).
As a friend we can refuse to impute sin to people. Or to put it another way we just don't put error or falling short on another person's account as a mark against them. Then in our communication we function that way. Our faith in God is on display because we trust that God has covered their sin as well as ours. We don't do this as naive people. If some one has a problem or a weakness we don't ignore it. We just don't treat them like they are their problem or focus on it as if it is associated with their identity. As we walk in the light we can have fellowship together.
I plan to walk with God today and if I fail I will confess to God that that failure is paid for. If and when others fail I will make a mental calculation that their sin is paid for also and treat them as justified people.
No isolation has to happen or be reinforced. We can be reconciled ones who have a ministry of reconciliation if we communicate in grace.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:7-9 ESV
"For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." - Hebrews 9:13-14 ESV
Yesterday at the service by the river P Veader made a great statement when he spoke about the work of the blood of Christ cleansing us. He said in effect (I'm not quoting him directly) that we need confession because we need to experience forgiveness and forgiveness is not real to us unless we experience it.
That is so true.
" 'Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?"
And then will I declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.'
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching," - Matthew 7:21-28 ESV
People will know of Jesus but not know Him. We 'know of' people but don't know them but when there is communication then we can know them and have a relationship. As we live in transparency before people we extend a hand to them and relationships are possible. Sure, people can speak many words and hide their true selves. Folks do that all the time but eventually the masks fall away in the light of truth. Grace makes them obsolete. The blood of Christ nullifies the need for those defense mechanisms. The cross kills that old identity. People are raised with Christ in their experience when they participate in true fellowship.
"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
I think the people were astonished because Jesus was offering them an intimacy with God that they didn't think was possible to have. There are very few people who are open enough to talk to us this way in life. They didn't expect God would be a person like that.
We can get isolated and isolation is the enemy. When things start to build up in our minds it can distort our perception of how God sees us. As far as God is concerned the blood of Christ has cleansed us from all sin. Our agreement just puts us on the same page with God in His thinking and two can't walk together unless they agree (see Amos 3:3).
As a friend we can refuse to impute sin to people. Or to put it another way we just don't put error or falling short on another person's account as a mark against them. Then in our communication we function that way. Our faith in God is on display because we trust that God has covered their sin as well as ours. We don't do this as naive people. If some one has a problem or a weakness we don't ignore it. We just don't treat them like they are their problem or focus on it as if it is associated with their identity. As we walk in the light we can have fellowship together.
I plan to walk with God today and if I fail I will confess to God that that failure is paid for. If and when others fail I will make a mental calculation that their sin is paid for also and treat them as justified people.
No isolation has to happen or be reinforced. We can be reconciled ones who have a ministry of reconciliation if we communicate in grace.
--
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Exaggeration
People exaggerate. We magnify our fears and our virtues. Humor involves exaggeration and observation. Drama is created by exaggeration. Horror is the worst kind of exaggeration because it magnifies what we fear.
Humorous horror is the fun house mirror of our day. People pay to laugh at what they are afraid of.
People struggle to be more. They pad their resumes and hide their fears behind an exaggerated smile. We have a moral sense that things should be portrayed just as they are but but at times fight the urge to magnify or minimize. It's what people do to cope.
God doesn't exaggerate... He uncovers or reveals. Glory is no exaggeration. Glory is the reality of God's involvement. Glory is the glow of His person. Worship is not making God bigger. Worship is when we approach how God really is with our words and our hearts ignite because of our proximity to that which is magnificent.
Sin is the major barrier that separates us from God but I think this defense mechanism is a mental mindset that reinforces that barrier. God seems so straight laced and serious. How can we relate to Him?
"I said in my haste, All men are liars." - Psalm 116:11 KJV
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." - 1 John 1:8-10 ESV
Simple agreement results in cleansing.
Jesus lived in reality when He went to the cross. He saw everything just as it was and not how He wanted it to be. Sin wasn't funny to Him. It still isn't.
Thank God it has been taken care of.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." - Galatians 1:3-5 ESV
Peace is the result when we witness glory. Grace is God's honest unhindered initiation to us. It is God being who He Is and approaching us as we are. God desires an unembellished response. Faith is just that.
Faith leaves exaggeration behind and enters into a fresh kind of humor. Joy is the result. We laugh like a little child laughs. We are are fresh and free when we believe. The burden is gone. We don't have to pretend it is heavier or lighter. Faith makes us honest because we can dare to be honest. We are accepted either way.
There is great joy in being loved just as we are. There is joy in being who we are when the glow of God's smile is shining on us. We live in the magic hour of perception. The sun is in just the right position to make everything look wonderful and bathed in flattering colors.
Walking before God makes it effortless to be ourselves.
--
Humorous horror is the fun house mirror of our day. People pay to laugh at what they are afraid of.
People struggle to be more. They pad their resumes and hide their fears behind an exaggerated smile. We have a moral sense that things should be portrayed just as they are but but at times fight the urge to magnify or minimize. It's what people do to cope.
God doesn't exaggerate... He uncovers or reveals. Glory is no exaggeration. Glory is the reality of God's involvement. Glory is the glow of His person. Worship is not making God bigger. Worship is when we approach how God really is with our words and our hearts ignite because of our proximity to that which is magnificent.
Sin is the major barrier that separates us from God but I think this defense mechanism is a mental mindset that reinforces that barrier. God seems so straight laced and serious. How can we relate to Him?
"I said in my haste, All men are liars." - Psalm 116:11 KJV
"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." - 1 John 1:8-10 ESV
Simple agreement results in cleansing.
Jesus lived in reality when He went to the cross. He saw everything just as it was and not how He wanted it to be. Sin wasn't funny to Him. It still isn't.
Thank God it has been taken care of.
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." - Galatians 1:3-5 ESV
Peace is the result when we witness glory. Grace is God's honest unhindered initiation to us. It is God being who He Is and approaching us as we are. God desires an unembellished response. Faith is just that.
Faith leaves exaggeration behind and enters into a fresh kind of humor. Joy is the result. We laugh like a little child laughs. We are are fresh and free when we believe. The burden is gone. We don't have to pretend it is heavier or lighter. Faith makes us honest because we can dare to be honest. We are accepted either way.
There is great joy in being loved just as we are. There is joy in being who we are when the glow of God's smile is shining on us. We live in the magic hour of perception. The sun is in just the right position to make everything look wonderful and bathed in flattering colors.
Walking before God makes it effortless to be ourselves.
--
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Truth Spoken In Love
"Rather, speaking the truth in love..." - Ephesians 4:15a ESV
Communicating care... not just truth and not just emotion. Real care nestled in real words that reveal details or dynamics about the actual situation.
Oh, The truth spoken in love can really penetrate the defenses of a person.
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." - Proverbs 15:1 ESV
People don't just have physical needs. They have emotions needs.
Here is the phrase in context:
"Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:8-16 ESV
Jesus didn't ascend into Heaven alone. He took people with Him. Jesus came from Heaven so that He could bring us back with Him.
That is what the truth spoken in love does. That is what grace does. It takes people along and points them toward a throne that is above the Heavens. Leadership is only there to take people along. Structure is there to take people along. Doctrine is there to ground people in truth so that they can stick it out for the long haul and not be waylaid by something else.
People grow when the truth is spoken to them in love.
The truth can be hard to take. God is holy. Nothing but perfection will do. He does not compromise. Jesus is that perfection. Jesus absorbed the hardness that justice demanded and died on a cross to satisfy God's fury at everything human that fell short of perfection. That can be hard to hear. The fact that all our accomplishments mean nothing. That we are not and never will be good enough alone. Who wants to hear that? Only the One who has been loved can have a capacity to hear it.
Grace is truth. It isn't the facts alone. Those same facts are told in the context of arms that are reaching out to hold us and love us.
I never want to just handle the facts without love. That is dangerous for people and potentially manipulative. The facts can kill people. Grace gives life.
---
Communicating care... not just truth and not just emotion. Real care nestled in real words that reveal details or dynamics about the actual situation.
Oh, The truth spoken in love can really penetrate the defenses of a person.
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." - Proverbs 15:1 ESV
People don't just have physical needs. They have emotions needs.
Here is the phrase in context:
"Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' (In saying, 'He ascended,' what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." - Ephesians 4:8-16 ESV
Jesus didn't ascend into Heaven alone. He took people with Him. Jesus came from Heaven so that He could bring us back with Him.
That is what the truth spoken in love does. That is what grace does. It takes people along and points them toward a throne that is above the Heavens. Leadership is only there to take people along. Structure is there to take people along. Doctrine is there to ground people in truth so that they can stick it out for the long haul and not be waylaid by something else.
People grow when the truth is spoken to them in love.
The truth can be hard to take. God is holy. Nothing but perfection will do. He does not compromise. Jesus is that perfection. Jesus absorbed the hardness that justice demanded and died on a cross to satisfy God's fury at everything human that fell short of perfection. That can be hard to hear. The fact that all our accomplishments mean nothing. That we are not and never will be good enough alone. Who wants to hear that? Only the One who has been loved can have a capacity to hear it.
Grace is truth. It isn't the facts alone. Those same facts are told in the context of arms that are reaching out to hold us and love us.
I never want to just handle the facts without love. That is dangerous for people and potentially manipulative. The facts can kill people. Grace gives life.
---
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
What Should I Say?
What will we say when we don't know what to say? How will it be framed.
"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." - Ephesians 4:28-29 ESV
I don't want to steal from the situation. No. I did that for years. How will my words be words that add and not steal? Grace is how. Grace is not corrupt.
Here is the verse in context...
"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
"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." - James 3:18 ESV
A harvest of righteousness is reaped by the winner of souls. The peacemaker is making peace by winning the soul with grace.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." - 2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." - Romans 12:17-18 ESV
Is it possible to have words that promote peace? Not always. But if there is a way grace wants to find it because God has made His peace with man. The cross was God's answer to sin. That conversation is closed.
"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," - Ephesians 2:13-15 ESV
Yes. We stand close to God and grace goes out of it's way to break down the barrier and have words that draw someone else close to God also.
Oh God... give us words. We need silver tongues. We want to have nourishing words. Those are the words You have for us. That is what we want to have in our outer voice and our inner one as well.
---
"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." - Ephesians 4:28-29 ESV
I don't want to steal from the situation. No. I did that for years. How will my words be words that add and not steal? Grace is how. Grace is not corrupt.
Here is the verse in context...
"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
"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." - James 3:18 ESV
A harvest of righteousness is reaped by the winner of souls. The peacemaker is making peace by winning the soul with grace.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." - 2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." - Romans 12:17-18 ESV
Is it possible to have words that promote peace? Not always. But if there is a way grace wants to find it because God has made His peace with man. The cross was God's answer to sin. That conversation is closed.
"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," - Ephesians 2:13-15 ESV
Yes. We stand close to God and grace goes out of it's way to break down the barrier and have words that draw someone else close to God also.
Oh God... give us words. We need silver tongues. We want to have nourishing words. Those are the words You have for us. That is what we want to have in our outer voice and our inner one as well.
---
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Redemptive Communication In The Book of James
Looking at the subject of communication in the book of James. Fascinating.
James has so much so say about what we say, how we say it and if we say something. I am going to list just a few verses with the communication words in all capitals.
"For he who SAID, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So SPEAK and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:11-13 ESV
"But someone will SAY, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." - James 2:18 ESV
"Not many of you should become TEACHERS, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." - James 3:1 ESV (Teachers speak and instruct)
"So also the TONGUE is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the TONGUE is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The TONGUE is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." - James 3:5-6 ESV
"From the same MOUTH come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." - James 3:10 ESV
"This is not the WISDOM that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the WISDOM from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." - James 3:15-17 ESV
"What causes QUARRELS and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and QUARREL. You do not have, because you do not ASK. You ASK and do not receive, because you ASK wrongly, to spend it on your passions." - James 4:1-3 ESV
"Do not SPEAK evil against one another, brothers. The one who SPEAKS against a brother or judges his brother, SPEAKS evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 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 4:11-17 ESV
"Come now, you rich, weep and HOWL for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten." - James 5:1-2 ESV
"Do not GRUMBLE against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who SPOKE in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not SWEAR, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'YES' BE YES and your 'NO' BE NO, so that you may not fall under condemnation. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him PRAY. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing PRAISE. Is anyone among you sick? Let him CALL for the elders of the church, and let them PRAY over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the PRAYER of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, CONFESS your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The PRAYER of a righteous person has great power as it is working." - James 5:9-16 ESV
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he PRAYED fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he PRAYED again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit." - James 5:17-18 ESV
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone BRINGS HIM BACK, let him know that whoever BRINGS BACK a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." - James 5:19-20 ESV
Wow.
There is so much here isn't there?
It makes me want to be a person who communicates mercy because I am meditating on grace. God apparently wants a focused communication life... prayer directed at Him... praise for circumstances directed at Him... true communication between people... not keeping things hidden inside but expression focused by and through faith.
Will complaining bring back a wandering sinner (someone who has missed the mark in life)? Will negativity?
What will make it rain? The prayer of faith will.
What will seal a deal. A true 'Yes' or 'No' will.
I need to hear myself speak wisdom from above not below. People need grace words from merciful people and in order to be a merciful person I need to hear merciful word that are from God and to speak those words to myself.
We have been given grace but mankind quarrels and devours one another because no word of grace is heard and processed by the soul. The war in our soul can cease the moment we hear the gracious announcement of the finished work in application for our lives... that same word gives us a soft answer that can turn away wrath in others.
James has so much so say about what we say, how we say it and if we say something. I am going to list just a few verses with the communication words in all capitals.
"For he who SAID, 'Do not commit adultery,' also said, 'Do not murder.' If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So SPEAK and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment." - James 2:11-13 ESV
"But someone will SAY, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." - James 2:18 ESV
"Not many of you should become TEACHERS, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." - James 3:1 ESV (Teachers speak and instruct)
"So also the TONGUE is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the TONGUE is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The TONGUE is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." - James 3:5-6 ESV
"From the same MOUTH come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." - James 3:10 ESV
"This is not the WISDOM that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the WISDOM from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere." - James 3:15-17 ESV
"What causes QUARRELS and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and QUARREL. You do not have, because you do not ASK. You ASK and do not receive, because you ASK wrongly, to spend it on your passions." - James 4:1-3 ESV
"Do not SPEAK evil against one another, brothers. The one who SPEAKS against a brother or judges his brother, SPEAKS evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 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 4:11-17 ESV
"Come now, you rich, weep and HOWL for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten." - James 5:1-2 ESV
"Do not GRUMBLE against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who SPOKE in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not SWEAR, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your 'YES' BE YES and your 'NO' BE NO, so that you may not fall under condemnation. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him PRAY. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing PRAISE. Is anyone among you sick? Let him CALL for the elders of the church, and let them PRAY over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the PRAYER of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, CONFESS your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The PRAYER of a righteous person has great power as it is working." - James 5:9-16 ESV
"Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he PRAYED fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he PRAYED again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit." - James 5:17-18 ESV
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone BRINGS HIM BACK, let him know that whoever BRINGS BACK a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." - James 5:19-20 ESV
Wow.
There is so much here isn't there?
It makes me want to be a person who communicates mercy because I am meditating on grace. God apparently wants a focused communication life... prayer directed at Him... praise for circumstances directed at Him... true communication between people... not keeping things hidden inside but expression focused by and through faith.
Will complaining bring back a wandering sinner (someone who has missed the mark in life)? Will negativity?
What will make it rain? The prayer of faith will.
What will seal a deal. A true 'Yes' or 'No' will.
I need to hear myself speak wisdom from above not below. People need grace words from merciful people and in order to be a merciful person I need to hear merciful word that are from God and to speak those words to myself.
We have been given grace but mankind quarrels and devours one another because no word of grace is heard and processed by the soul. The war in our soul can cease the moment we hear the gracious announcement of the finished work in application for our lives... that same word gives us a soft answer that can turn away wrath in others.
---
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Secret Love
I was thinking about concealed or hidden affection... No one really wants love to be hidden but it often is. Why? Maybe because of a lack of certain communication skills or in seeming opportunity to warrant communication.
There can be blockages or funny masked methods that express love. Men kid each others in almost insulting ways saying things in humor. It is really affection of some kind but the signals can seem a little mixed. Strange how that is.
"Open rebuke is better than secret love." Proverbs 27:5 KJV
The verse above is a proverb and Hebrew proverbs have a few defined rules and if you know them it makes them easier to understand.
There are three kinds of parallelisms we see in the book of Proverbs. Truth is built using these parallelism that take short statements or nuggets of truth and builds them into a structure of wisdom. Here they are:
Synonymous Parallelism (Repetitious) - Repeating to reinforce a truth
Antithetic Parallelism (Contrastive) - Just as one side or concept is true the other opposite concept is also true
Synthetic Parallelism (Completive) - Expanding a truth with a new or reinforcing truth
Now let's look at the proverb above with the verse that accompanies it:
"Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV
What would we say about the proverb now? It is a little contrastive and a little completive.
Rebuke and love seem like opposites. Few people enjoy a good old fashioned rebuke. Maybe on some level the invisible person could like it better than being invisible.
What about the unloved person? I'm not talking about the person who has few people that love them. That is sad. But, I mean the person who does not love themselves... the person who does not know that God loves them in a deep way that penetrates the soul.
What good is our silent secret love? It is good for something but how much better would it be if it had a voice. Sure... there are barriers...
I think old me, who is in the twilight of his life reflecting back on what was, would tell younger me some things about this subject. He might have regrets about how silent I was... how un-creative I was in making opportunities happen to communicate love. Would he kid me about it? Or would he look me in the eyes and say, 'Listen. You need to get before God and let him love you. Let him love you until it overflows out of you. Then get out there and make opportunities with God to tell people the truth about His love that is now your love.'
No one will get hurt if we keep our mouths shut and mind our own business... or will they?
Silence is easier but is it better?
There can be blockages or funny masked methods that express love. Men kid each others in almost insulting ways saying things in humor. It is really affection of some kind but the signals can seem a little mixed. Strange how that is.
"Open rebuke is better than secret love." Proverbs 27:5 KJV
The verse above is a proverb and Hebrew proverbs have a few defined rules and if you know them it makes them easier to understand.
There are three kinds of parallelisms we see in the book of Proverbs. Truth is built using these parallelism that take short statements or nuggets of truth and builds them into a structure of wisdom. Here they are:
Synonymous Parallelism (Repetitious) - Repeating to reinforce a truth
Antithetic Parallelism (Contrastive) - Just as one side or concept is true the other opposite concept is also true
Synthetic Parallelism (Completive) - Expanding a truth with a new or reinforcing truth
Now let's look at the proverb above with the verse that accompanies it:
"Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV
What would we say about the proverb now? It is a little contrastive and a little completive.
Rebuke and love seem like opposites. Few people enjoy a good old fashioned rebuke. Maybe on some level the invisible person could like it better than being invisible.
What about the unloved person? I'm not talking about the person who has few people that love them. That is sad. But, I mean the person who does not love themselves... the person who does not know that God loves them in a deep way that penetrates the soul.
What good is our silent secret love? It is good for something but how much better would it be if it had a voice. Sure... there are barriers...
I think old me, who is in the twilight of his life reflecting back on what was, would tell younger me some things about this subject. He might have regrets about how silent I was... how un-creative I was in making opportunities happen to communicate love. Would he kid me about it? Or would he look me in the eyes and say, 'Listen. You need to get before God and let him love you. Let him love you until it overflows out of you. Then get out there and make opportunities with God to tell people the truth about His love that is now your love.'
No one will get hurt if we keep our mouths shut and mind our own business... or will they?
Silence is easier but is it better?
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