The Chambers Of Our Mind

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own," - 1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

Our body, or mind, is going to be a temple of something. Our imagination (the chambers of our imagery) is active and something is there. It is either holy and the spirit has free access to the rooms of our soul or it is closed off and filled with things that never see the light.

This next passage is an amazing picture of a person's thought life that is filled with idolatry. God sees it all but if we 'dig in the wall' it can be seen by us also.

"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.' So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. And he said to me, 'Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.' And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. Then he said to me, 'Son of man, dig in the wall.' So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. And he said to me, 'Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.' So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up." - Ezekiel 8:5-11 ESV

Don't get me wrong most of us have closed off rooms in our soul. They may be secrets we protect or places that are just too painful to enter. Abuse does that.

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth." - Luke 11:21-23 KJV

The Holy Spirit is the 'stronger man' who can take back that chamber, those chambers, God can cleanse His temple.

"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." - John 2:13-16 KJV

Yes. Passover is when God set Israel free from bondage. Jesus is 'freeing' his Father's temple here. Those money changers had rigged weights. They cheated people and gouged them. They bought 'sacrifices' that where made to God but that was not God's heart. He wanted people to have easy access to his house.

God wants easy access to your mind. He wants to cleanse your mind and mine so we can be clean and free and not in bondage to lies and systems that are false and dark.

If you and I are functioning as 'temples' people can have access to God when they are with us. If our mind is cleansed we will have thoughts, words and ideas that are nourishing and wholesome. God is the treasure and not the structure that He dwells in. An empty Church is just a building. Our mind can be a thriving place if God dwells there.

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Absalom's Sister

Just thinking about Absalom today. If you don't know about this man it would be good to read the accounts of Him in the scripture. He was King David's son. He rebelled against his father. Absalom's sister Tamar was raped by his older brother (from a different mother) Amnon. When no one did anything about the rape Absalom had his brother killed at a party that all of David's heirs attended. The news spread quickly but inaccurately to King David's ears that Absalom had killed all his other sons. It wasn't true but it must have wounded the king deeply. That was the method used to take power in those days. It must have looked for a moment like Absalom was power hungry and ruthless.

I don't know why I'm thinking of this today. Maybe because of all the talk lately of Joseph being falsely accused of rape. Joseph was innocent and it was wrong that he went to prison but it was also wrong that Ammon was almost able to get away with what he did and still be first in line to the throne. That scenario happens so much more often.

Absalom named his daughter Tamar that is how much He loved his dear sister.

I love my sisters also. I try to think of all women that way. They are my sisters. Don't hurt them. Don't use them or play with them or terrorize them.

My Savior is the Prince of Peace and murder isn't the answer. Holiness is the answer. That is only going to come in if people are introduced to a holy God.

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Needing To Be Noticed

Dressing or speaking to be noticed is an unholy desire.

Bam.

Unholy = not sactified

"I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness - with good works." - 1 Timothy 2:8-10 ESV

"Do not let your adorning be external - the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear - but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." - 1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV

Everyone wants (and needs) to be seen and heard. It isn't wrong that we want that. God sees us and hears us.

Perhaps men yell to be heard and sometimes women dress to be seen. It could be the other way around at times. Men dress to impress and women can need to have the last word.

I am speaking to myself this morning. I like to look good. I want people to read these posts and be blessed by them. When I speak I don't want to be ignored or disrespected but I am I operating out of some need? Do I hunger for some approval or respect? No, By God's grace I don't because God approves of me and loves me just as I am.

"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat." - Hebrews 13:9-10 ESV

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." - Psalm 23:5 ESV

The beautiful thing is that God does sometimes put people in our life who reflect His love. No matter what we say or how we look they will love us. If we are free we can be those people to someone else. Isn't that a great privilege?

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Sharing In The Holiness Of Our Father

"If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." - Hebrews 12:8-10 ESV

Meditating on fatherhood and sonship this morning and how it shapes the male psyche. God Is our father and in a way that is a crazy thought.

'...that we may share his holiness...'

Wow.

Some Earthly Fathers are good at 'sharing their life' and have a great deal to share. Others are not so good. How much of a man's life is shaped by how he sees fatherhood or how he was fathered? Our Earthly fathers are only a reflection, no matter what they did or didn't do, of a deep relationship that Jesus had and has with His Father.

Grace is given so that the way would be forever open to share in a special identity. Holiness can also be translated as 'set-apartness'. A holy thing is a clean thing. It is eternal and forever untouched by anything base or defiling. Heavenly and holy overlap. Holiness is otherworldly.

God does what He does and we do what we do but do we understand His motivations? Do we know His heart?

I want to know my Father's heart. The new birth gives us spiritual DNA that resembles Him but do we know Him? I want to.

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Dissipation

I was listening to a news report about the drought in Cape Town, South Africa and it brought me to this passage.

"And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit," - Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

The word translated 'dissipation' here is asōtia (Strong's G810) and it speaks of an erosion or evaporation of integrity or wholeness.

This city had water but then the drought started. Things got worse and worse. Now water is precious and everyone is looking for new and better ways to reuse their 'gray water'. Soon the city may run dry and according to that broadcast, they would be the first modern metropolis that large that has done so.

If you have an abundance dissipation seems like no big deal but when you have very little that little bit becomes precious.

I am rich in Christ but proximity to Him reveals my poverty. I can no longer separate myself from the terrible things people do. I am just like them. Jesus died on the cross as us in full identification with the sins of the whole world. Innocent but poor beyond understanding. Stripped of everything in our place. I have an inheritance in Him. Believers are hidden in the person of this Savior. I am rich but if I am honest I am also as poor as the poorest person in true identification.

" 'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up." - 1 Corinthians 10:23 ESV

Many things are pleasurable but they dissipate and I just can't afford that. I feel like I imagine Cape Town must feel (if a city feels anything). Every drop of water has become important to the inhabitants of that city. It wasn't before but it is now.

"And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." - Matthew 26:27-29 KJV

One day we will raise a glass with Christ and it will be in true celebration. There will be no dissipation because that will be a thing of the past. I look forward to that day. Jesus is abstaining so I abstain with Him. Jesus identifies so I identify. Jesus is holy and I sit with Him in His holiness. That holiness is precious and important.

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Dunked Into The Name

I'm old enough to remember VCR tapes, cassette tapes and even fax lists as methods people used to spread ideas. The internet and social media have replaced those methods.

Someone would give you a tape and say listen (and/or) watch this and then say, 'Tell me what you think.' or you would get a fax from an unknown number and somewhere on it there would be a statement something like, 'Please send this to everyone you know.'

I don't know about you but my mailbox is still full of junk I have to sort through.

I love Jesus' prescribed method of spreading information to the masses...

"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.' " - Matthew 28:18-20 ESV

I like this translation very much the only thing I would change is that it says, 'baptizing them IN the name' but a better translation would be. 'baptizing them INTO the name'.

Jesus said dunk them into the culture of my name (which carries the idea of character and nature). People get the information but they get it with a simultaneous dose of fellowship that has the Savior who will never leave right there in the middle of it all.

I remember hearing the Gospel and thinking that the people who gave me the information were just well-meaning simpletons. My culture and even my ethnicity excluded me from buying what they were selling. My ancestors had been killed 'in the name of Jesus' but as a group, they had something that fascinated me. Then one day as they sung their songs at the start of Church I sensed something more... a purity... a holiness... a love. As vessels of clay, they had a treasure. It was God's name on display and I was dunked in it subjectively during the song service and then objectively in the clear message of redemption.

Later, still before my rational acceptance of the message, a man who came to Church with us began mocking the Pastor by imitating him and I remember getting so angry that I confronted Him in a brutal way that shut his mouth. Even as a heathen I instinctively knew that mocking God's man was wrong. I didn't yet have The Spirit making my spirit alive in a continual quickening.

There are many causes out there begging for our attention. Many are good and many are not what they seem to be. Nothing has changed my life like the Gospel of Grace has. Jesus' cause has become intertwined in my life. He took someone who was disqualified and baptized him into the name above all names.

Perhaps this blog is my VCR tape and you are my fax list but this is no impersonal communication to get you to change your mind and funnel resources my way. This is just me talking in awareness of the great 'I AM' hoping your day will be touched by holiness from above. My God wants 'whosoever will' to taste and see that He Is good so that He can be a covering.

"...Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by." - Psalm 57:1b ESV

The 'shadow of His wings' is a refuge for you in your personal storm. May you be safe under them today and all of this week.

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The Impeccable Life

Last night we spoke about 'the doctrine of impeccability'. Jesus was both God and man... fully human and fully divine... God by nature is not sinful so on one side of the coin of the incarnation Jesus would not sin. Satan did however tempt Christ and in full identification with us Jesus made choices and chose not to sin. He was and is impeccable. Both sides of the coin reveal the fullness of Christ's divine person.

The result of that impeccable life has been placed on the account of people who believe in Christ.

"And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption," - 1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

We can say 'yes' or 'no' or we can walk in a powerful liberty that has been given as a free gift.

"As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us," - 2 Corinthians 1:18-21 ESV

Every promise God has made you and I is given through Christ and in Christ. The perfect life of God is found in Him.

All the 'should's of life have been accomplished in Christ. It is finished! Now we have the liberty to live in a 'Yes and amen' life in Christ.

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Filthy Language - Colossians - Part 52

The next unique word used in Colossians is the Greek word aischrologia (Strong's G148) and it used here as 'filthy language'...

"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth." - Colossians 3:8 NKJV

It is a good translation. The word it comes from means filth related to shame. That is an interesting concept. Filth is something that is thought of as preventable so people brought up around cleanliness often associate filth with shame. Company can't come over unless the house is spotless.

Filthy language is littered with curse words and obscene ideas. Littered is the operative word. It is speech that is preventable in clean society.

Let's move to the verses that follow.

"Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." - Colossians 3:9-15 NKJV

Wow. The shame economy is gone.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." - John 15:1-3 ESV

We don't clean up our act. God does. That is profound.

Jesus bears fruit is us and through us. There is no division. Everyone who believes is clean. Our feet get dirty but we have been washed clean.

If we are self-regulating our words then our source of strength is our self. God will give us words if our minds are set on things that are above (see Colossians 3:1)

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Ontological Perfections - Part 1

I was up at 3am with one word on my mind. 'Ontological'

As you can imagine It's not a word I often think of. I might not have enough time to go into the whole concept. It is a 'God Proof' word. The 'Ontological Argument' is a proof of God's existence that uses man's ability to think as a proof instead empirical evidence. I am no philosopher but here is the basic idea.

A am a little Greek boy who believes in Zeus. I believe he has all power over my life. He can have children just by thinking about it. He can change himself into an old man and fool me. He can change me into an animal or throw me into eternal torment at his whim.

All power is a 'perfection'. As a little Greek boy I can hold this perfection in my mind. A perfection is an ultimate idea. It is a great-making property. As a little boy I can only jump from here to there but I can conceive of someone who is not limited as I am. I think Zeus can jump where ever he wants to jump. There is nothing higher or greater possible than that.

Zeus is imperfect in other ways though. He gets angry. He doesn't know everything. He does love even half as well as some of the mothers in my village. He is impatient with mortals.

Then there is another child in the village who talks to me about his idea of perfect knowledge. His God knows everything. My little world suddenly gets larger and smaller at the same time.

The 'Ontological Argument' states that if we as limited human being can conceive of beings that have perfections then there must be a being that exists who is an embodiment of these perfections.

We aren't priests living in monasteries. We live in a world full of fictions. Science fiction. Horror. Fantasy. Worlds have been created by us that only existed in the mind and have been given a platform in the movie theater but they are not perfect worlds. Our characters are not perfect characters.

The Christian God is a God of all perfections. He is holy, eternal and can do everything that can be done. He loves and knows all that can be known.

If broken limited beings can conceive of such things imperfectly then He must exist and be better than we think.

Knowing He exists is a first step. Logic can't connect us to Him. Jesus is the one who connects us to Him.

"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

Father we ponder Your perfections today. You are the ultimate of everything. Thank you for noticing us. Thank You for loving us perfectly. Illuminate our minds today. Your word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. Guide us we ask. Thank You God.

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The Coal And The Cross

This morning I've been thinking about exclusive place like restaurants in airports or stadiums where you need a ticket to be in the area where the place is in order to go there. They don't stop you at the door because you have been prescreened.

In Isaiah chapter 6 Isaiah sat God enthroned in the temple but the angel cried, 'Holy, Holy, Holy' and used a name for God that revealed His command of angelic armies. Isaiah was filled with dread as smoke filled the temple. Isaiah verbally declared his own introspective disqualification and an angel took a coal from the altar and put it to Isaiah's lip.

Instead of burning him it healed him of his introspection. Suddenly he was inside instead of outside. He was privy to God speaking and overheard what He was saying.

The cross was painful but like that coal it isn't painful for us. It takes us from outside to inside. Now we can eat at God's table because we have been prescreened.

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Pray Like This

"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.' " - Matthew 6:9-13 ESV

The depth of this passage is truly amazing. It is prayer that shows us what to do as we are praying it. Here are a few things I see this morning:

- God Is holy. Let His name remain holy. Let it be restored to holiness in our thinking.
- God has a will and it can be established on Earth. It isn't a photocopy of our will flipped inside out. It is a holy will that is evident in Heaven and can be evident on Earth and prayer is part of that somehow.
- Daily bread is our right... no... it is given. It is grace given.
- The prayer teaches us to own our actions as forgiveness reigns in our life.
- We acknowledge our tempt-ability while seeking deliverance at the same time.

'Pray like this.', Jesus says.

Heaven is invisible. I dare say most of us haven't seen it yet and that parallels the knowledge of God's will. We know about Heaven by linking together passages of the Bible and forming a picture. We do that with God's will on Earth also.

At times we want things so badly but I don't see Jesus instructing us to pray for what we want in this prayer.

Yes, There are these passages.

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

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved." - Psalm 55:22 ESV

But Jesus' prayer is missing this element because He is teaching us to live life His way.

I see a focus that is greater than my needs here in His prayer.

I think it is very possible to live a life before God and still be bitter that 'our' will wasn't done. As fallen humans we easily impose our will on those around us... even God.

"And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' " - Genesis 1:28 ESV

Adam lacks a spiritual life so he sees every problem as a nail and uses the hammer God gave Him originally to try and solve it. We seek to subdue and have dominion over God's will but that only works on Earth. As spiritual people we want to see Heaven on Earth.

But then we return to the holiness of God's name. When that holiness is restored in our thought life we are made whole also. It doesn't give us answers but it does give us perspective and a desire to move forwarding relying on God's goodness.

Jesus lived this way. He taught His disciples and even today He functions just this way.One day the Earth will be subdued in a way Adam couldn't even dream of. Jesus Is Lord. That fact is known in every corner of Heaven. As we pray let the knowledge of that reality flood us.

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The Fire And The Water

Water washes things. Fire changes things.

"...you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:12 ESV

"...when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning." - Isaiah 4:4 ESV

We have a gas stove. I like cooking with gas. The heat seems easier to control. Perhaps there is better technology out there but I and fond of gas stoves.

When the knob is turned the gas in released and something ignites it. It might be a pilot light that is always burning or it might be a sparker of some kind that makes a clicking noise when the knob is in a certain place.

Fire, water and abundance. That is the order. Fire cooks changing raw ingredients into food but intense fire purges. Water washes the grime away. Then God gives abundance.

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken - that is, things that have been made - in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:22-29 ESV

It makes me think of holiness. The Spirit of Grace is also the Spirit of burning. Grace changes us and purges us.

"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." - 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 ESV

Holiness is what I want. Heat is required and a spark is required to turn that gas into flame so that the change can happen. If the materials are right the change is a melting change. Gold, silver and precious stones are not consumed... they are molded and set into place.

I look around and I see flammable culture and when people talk about wanting to exit a potential bonfire before it explodes into flame  I understand that feeling.

When we know God's character and nature we have great respect for His power and we don't live in fear of His fire. It is controlled and His timing is always perfect. He is for us and never against us even if He turns something we were once fond of into ashes that need to be washed away.

Let's build on a foundation that can't be moved with materials that melt but don't burst into flame and if the fire touches our life then let the water of the word come in to wash away the ashes and cool us down again so that blessing can be abundant in our life.

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Water And Walls

Lately I have been relating to theology as a thinking environment. Grace thinking is buoyant thinking. You can float and swim in it. If water is to shallow it is difficult to swim but once you get into deeper water you can dive, swim and float.

"Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand, the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through." - Ezekiel 47:3-5 ESV

But doctrine is also a wall and the people who are filled with doctrine become a wall and that is what I was studying this morning.

"But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you." - Jeremiah 1:17-19 ESV

"And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him and said to him, "Run, say to that young man, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.' "" - Zechariah 2:3-5 ESV

Freedom with God's person and character as protection. God himself is our wall of fire and we become walls of bronze.

"In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: 'We have a strong city; he sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.' " - Isaiah 26:1 ESV

"On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth." - Isaiah 62:6-7 ESV

The watchmen would call to each other. They were not silent.

A river is a natural boundary. So is an ocean or a lake. The person on land must be prepared to cross or enter it. They need a boat or they must be prepared to get wet.

People talk about building bridges but I don't want to do that with this water. A person filled with doctrine will be like a bronze wall. I want people to get wet and experience grace thinking first hand without compromising holiness.

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Turning Aside

God will never be our accomplice. He won't be anyone's accomplice.

"One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand." - Exodus 2:11-12 ESV

"And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, 'I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.' When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.' " - Exodus 3:2-4 ESV

We must turn aside to meet God. Repentance is the act of turning to God and in our turn to examine the mystery of holiness we are also turning away from everything else.

It makes me think of this exchange...

"Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.' " - John 2:2-5 ESV

Jesus would not be Mary's accomplice and she seemed to know better then to impose her will on Him. She turned aside expressing the need she saw and God did things His way.

What a wonderful picture of what prayer can be like.

Then there is the picture of Peter denying Christ on the night of His crucifixion...

"And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, 'Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.' But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are talking about.' And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.' " - Luke 22:59-61 ESV

Jesus was in agony gazing at Peter from afar, loving Peter, but loving Him far away from Peter's sin. Jesus walked the road that would end in Him paying for all transgression. Not a sinner Himself. No never. But He became sin.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

People may blame God for the sins of men because He forgives what no one else could forgive but His hands are clean hands.

Sin cycles can break when we turn aside.

"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

We are not our sins. God does not know us after our sins. It is when we turn aside that we discover who we are. Mouthing words will not accomplish that. Only seeing Jesus makes that happen. He is the bush that burns and Is not consumed. I want people to see those flames reflected in my eyes.

This is important for us also. We need God to show us the line between advocate and accomplice so that we can remain advocates.

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Ripened To Perfection

Gracious eyes see us. That is amazing to think about.

"O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." - Psalm 139:1b-6 ESV

That thought is like warm sunshine on my face. I bask in the light of it with my eyes closed.

"A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities." - Psalm 130:1-8 ESV

This idea is a great place to start. When I have nothing to give I can return here and start a dialog with God.

Worship can begin to flow out when this truth dawns on us.

Moses met God at a burning bush. Jacob slept on a rock and saw a ladder with angel going up and down to Heaven. The disciple met Jesus as they were going about their lives. They became awere of God's eyes on them. They onserved God observing them. God wasn't judging them even though all of them were living in a kind of self judgement. God saw them but did not judge them.

We can get busy without this truth but I don't want to. I am very familiar with where I go and what I do also. What I do and where I go isn't enough. I need God to hem me in and direct my path. Awareness of grace gives me an unusal path to walk on. It is a highway of holiness. There is worship there. Nothing is mundane there. God's light brightens that path.

"Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:5-10 ESV

We don't have to be anybody or do anything. We can just bask in His love and awareness. His light will do His work. His light will ripen us to perfection.

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Motivated By Love To Take On The Role

Holiness - Justice - Love

God is all three. God won't compromise one quality to satisfy another. He is all three and many more things also but in order for Him to fellowship with fallen sinful man these three come to mind specifically.

Jesus took on roles because of love. He became a man because of love. He lived and died like a lamb because of love. He was and is holy and all that He did He did justly but it took a stretch, a reaching out or even a reaching beyond to accomplish the goal of reconciliation. He was really a King. The mount of transfiguration gave us a glimpse of who He is but for years that aspect of His nature was covered by a role He had to play in order not to compromise.

He was a man without sin but still at times He said things like, 'O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?' (see Luke 9:41) Patience and long-suffering are also two more of God's qualities. Qualities He has revealed amazingly over humanity's history.

If the God who is changeless can take on roles so can I. Why would I bother to do it? Love. Love is the reason.

Is it right? There may be many wrong ways but there is a right one. Will it change who I am? It doesn't have to. In humility it can reveal a different side not often seen.

Justice should be upheld. Holiness needed to be honored and recognized. Love provides the right reason and grace is the right attitude.

Some people are true caretakers. It is what they do. Others do it for a season because they must. Some men are fathers to everyone and others are a father to the children God has given them but are happy to shed that role as soon as the children come of age. Has the role changed them? Maybe. Perhaps it just revealed something that was already there... or something that wasn't.

I have met a few people in my life who have a real gift of evangelism. It is amazing to watch them. I may have a gift or I may not but today I am a soul winner. I take on the role with trembling knees. If I have the Spirit I am who God says I am... nothing more and nothing less. Grace is the right attitude and the mission to seek and save that which is lost is the right pursuit.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:16-17 ESV

Striving is one of the wrong ways. Passivity is also. Proactive resting is right. Going is right. Stretching is God's heart. Jesus took on the work of salvation and finished it. When we go by faith God manifests that reality. We are not going to accomplish something. We go because something wonderful has already been accomplished.

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Touch Not The Unclean Thing

I awoke this morning with a singular idea...

'Touch not the unclean thing.'

This was not a moral commandment. In the Hebrew scriptures it is primarily contact with things that made you unclean. It was not something you did that was wrong... it was exposure to something.

"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, 'I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.' " - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 ESV

I made separation between verses 14-15 and verses 16-18 because the first part is talking about contractual involvement and the second part is conceptual involvement. Contractual involvement may very well to lead to conceptual involvement because of continual exposure. These concepts are not moral in nature per se.

Jesus touched the leper but He did not fellowship with the lepers around their leprosy. He touched an unclean person and made that person clean the unclean thing never touched Him.

I don't want to touch the unclean thing. I hate idolatry because it it a substitute for intimacy. The lottery won't save me. God will deliver me. Pornography is a substitute for intimacy and I won't let my eyes touch it. How many people have been infected by that unclean thing. Liquor is an unclean thing to me. Why? Because at first it does what something else should do then changes and weakens a person. It is a mocker. These are idols, fake Gods, and very common ones among those who don't believe in the God of all grace. These are just things, like idols are just things, but God has come to dwell here with me. He is clean and holy and hates all that would interrupt my relationship with Him.

Modern day yokes are marriages or business partnerships. You may already be yoked to someone who does not see clean or unclean. Why would they if the holiness of God isn't convicting them. Unclean concepts seem useful. They do the job. They don't seem to be hurting anyone if used 'responsibly'. If you are linked long term in this way then you know how hard it is to get away from these concepts you hate. The row needs to be plowed and you are hooked in to someone whose need for God is hidden from them. They already have something to worship and something to put a momentary fleeting hope in. God has a way of escape for you inside each situation. God has mercy and a way for you to touch the person but not be touched by the idol.

For those who are not yoked this way yet... don't be. Righteous lot was vexed because of his long term exposure. He does not even appear to be righteous to us. We have to be told he is righteous (see 2 Peter 2:7).

God has come to be with us. He is our father and He wants to meet our needs. That is what I want today. I want mercy. I want love. I want intimacy. I want the power of an unending life (see Hebrews 7:16) to be on display and not hidden.

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The Nazarite Vow - Part 1

I have been away in another state most of last week caring for a relative having surgery. Things went well. They are not home yet but they are on the road to recovery. It was an interesting time... away from home and being set apart for a different purpose.

Since late Saturday night I have been thinking and reading about the Nazarite vow. The framework for this vow was laid out in Numbers chapter 6.

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, not even the seeds or the skins. "All the days of his vow of separation, no razor shall touch his head. Until the time is completed for which he separates himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. He shall let the locks of hair of his head grow long. All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body. Not even for his father or for his mother, for brother or sister, if they die, shall he make himself unclean, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he is holy to the LORD." - Numbers 6:2-8 ESV

No grapes, no razors and no association with death.

Three Biblical examples come to mind when we think of this vow, Samuel, Sampson and John the Baptist, but they are all extreme cases their parents committed them to the vow before birth for one reason or another. This vow was set up to be a voluntary one that a person did for a set period of time of their own choosing and scheduled with the temple so that the end of it could be accomplished by the preisthood of the day.

Every Nazarite would lose his or her hair at the end of the vow. Unlike Sampson who had his head shaved the Nazarite would willing do it to themselves.

"And the Nazarite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering." - Numbers 6:18 ESV

We can look at the three Biblical examples of the vow and see how being 'holy unto the Lord' shaped their lives. It is a good study... Samuel embraced it... Sampson lived in the contradiction of it... John lived in isolation because of it.

What about Jesus? This vow like the whole of the Hebrew scripture points to Him. His life as depicted in the Gospels contradicts the requirements of a lifelong Nazarite. No mention is made of His hair and He often seems to come in contact with grapes and death.

But the vow was designing to be for a period of time and not lifelong.

" 'I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.' And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." - Matthew 26:29-30 ESV

He says this at the end of the last supper... It is a declaration... a vow... He is readying Himself for the time to come when He will become the offering for all of mankind. That is one application.

Jesus now sits in Heaven on a throne. Still separated from the grape, the razor and death. He sits in intercession for us... set apart as a priest of a unique order forever but there will be a day at return when He will drink wine again with His disciples who became Apostles. It will be a great day.

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Seeing The Difference

Reading 1 Peter chapter 4 this morning. It is powerful. It describes a many great truths but the profound one that hits me this morning is 'Control born of loyalty and not legislation.'

Like every portion of scripture. I want to keep the main themes of the Bible before me as I read... redemption... the Finished Work... grace... mercy... love... forgiveness... God's sovereignty and holiness... most of all Christ Himself since He Is the bridge to all things eternal.

"Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." - 1 Peter 4:1-5 ESV

There are open arms that wait for us and there are doors that will shut and smiling faces that once invited us in that will now turn away to other people. It is hard, especially hard, because now unlike before we can truly love but some will no longer love us.

"For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does." - 1 Peter 4:6 ESV

What an interesting verse. If you love Jesus in time you see a difference between what people do and what He does. The sin that you once loved will begin to be revealed for what it really is and become less attractive or even repulsive. What does that do to a person when there is such a drastic value system change?

Some become militantly against what they used to participant in. For many that lasts only for a season... but for others it persists. They use scripture like a club to knock the bad fruit (that now suddenly offends them) out of every surrounding tree.

It is natural to judge people after the flesh that is how people are. God knows the right root will produce the right fruit. He isn't interested in making dead people behave. He wants people to be alive in the Spirit.

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers." - 1 Peter 4:7 ESV

Is the self control spoken here a resistance against sin or an adjustment to grace? Why would our soberness be for our prayer life's sake?

Perhaps we can spend our prayer times lifting up to God sin conscious prayers for ourselves and others that are cut off from God's mind. God cares for souls. He is extending Himself in patience and long suffering not to men men moral but to save.

"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:" - 1 Peter 4:8-10 ESV

Loving as stewardship of grace is is devoid of sin consciousness... it sees a difference and It does not compromise but does not magnify sin butcause sin is not the issue.

"whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 4:11 ESV

The new loyalty isn't just ceasing from the old... it is living in the new and the new life has an authority but it isn't the authority of legislation. It is the authority of a supply and a discernment.

There is a confidence in knowing that even though you might not have everything right in life there are things that you can rely on fully and give to others without reservation. Facts not opinions. God's words and not man's opinions.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." - 1 Peter 4:12-16 ESV

Our new identity is strong tower we can run into and hide. If we live by passion we may well end up guilty of 'crimes of passion'. It is often those who preach hard against certain sins that are later found to be participants in those same things to their own shame. The villagers have torches outside there door and with good reason. Are this hypocrites children of God? These verse suggest that they may well be. They just became sin sensitive instead of grace oriented.

Grace glorifies God in a sober way.

"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And 'If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?' Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good." - 1 Peter 4:17-19 ESV

Obeying the Gospel of God is living in the grace of God with new lips and new eyes. The righteous person can still fall all day long but they get back up again and even avoid pitfalls because they see them coming.

Today we can entrust our soul to the God of all grace. God didn't open our eyes to curse the blind. He opened our eyes so that we could see Him and have fellowship with Him. He is out there doing good. We can go with Him if we have eyes that can adjust to the brightness of His person.

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The Uzzah Conflict

Reading 2 Samuel chapter 6 this morning and looking at the life of David. In this chapter we see aspects of our individual relationships to God and his manifestation of His character to people. God's holiness, His grace and people's reactions... David in particular.

"David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark." - 2 Samuel 6:1-4 ESV

Happy. Happy. Everyone is happy but David uses the wrong method to transport the Ark.

"And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.

And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, 'How can the ark of the LORD come to me?'

So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite." - 2 Samuel 6:5-10 ESV

In one way David's reaction is shocking... and understandable... David had a relationship with God and this was a breach in that relationship. David's words are interesting.

'How can the ark of the LORD come to me?'

Indeed. What just happened? David knew God and yet what happened to Uzzah happened on David's watch.

"And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household. And it was told King David, "The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn." - 2 Samuel 6:11-15 ESV

David changed His method. Now the Ark was carried by people as it should be and David's relationship with God resumed but it is not clear that David was healed from what happened or understood it.

Then Michal, Saul's daugther, enters the picture. She is a great picture of a man made expectation of reward. Saul's 'gift' to David. David's Earthly claim to royalty apart from God's promise. A personification of his flirtation with ambition.

"As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart...

And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, 'How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!' " - 2 Samuel 6:16, 20 ESV

She neither understood David's conflict or his joy. The outward trapping of Christianity or spirituality never do.

I don't think David processed what happened to Uzzah until later.

This passage David wrote many years later comes to mind.

"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." - Psalms 51:2-5 ESV

In these verses we see the complete separation of our relationship to God and the one we have with everyone else.

Grace needs no man's hand to steady it. If the presence of God it carried by men (plural) in the method it was designed to be carried then there is a great capacity for joy and mobility. Blessing is the result of God's presence. David saw grace when Obed-Edom's house was being blessed. Blessed even though mistakes were made. Blessed even though David could not process God's holiness and God's dealings with people on an individual level.

No one can receive grace for us... It is a thing an individual must do one on one with God if it is going to happen at all.

Religion kills people. The vehicle is wrong even if the sentiment is right. Religion puts people in positions where the Ark looks like it needs help. God doesn't need our help.

Perceptions of how we need to look outwardly will only mock us and ignore our inner conflict. Spirituality exists alone before God but His presence is carried by more than one man... each one with an individual portion and perspective that is slightly different. They all see the Ark from a different angle. Same Ark but different vantage points.

Do you have an 'Uzzah Conflict'? I have had mine. There might be ones waiting for me down the road. The presence of God is waiting to be a blessing. That presence can only be approached and transported on the basis of grace. There is no other method.

By God's grace we can dance and sing before the moving work of God with understanding and great joy... let self awareness go out the window... clean and holy now as we dance alone and together in God's presence.

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