Take a look with new eyes and you will see that all things have become new again.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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 5:17-21 ESV
People who have an identity crisis either crystalize or start over. This passage informs me that because of Christ I don't have to lose it all circumstantially in order to begin again.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:11 KJV
I like the KJV for this passage. We must say, 'What I do can not separate me from God. What Jesus has done has reconciled me to God forever.' and that gives a place for newness.
Celebrities reinvent themselves with new clothing, hairstyles, and altered styles but God has reinvented us in Christ with mercy. It happens again and again and we need it to happen over and over again for each day and each season. Our mind needs renewal.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 ESV
The pressures of life will push on us and can block the light we need to see. Depressions are caused by pressures. Renewal is needed.
"...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," - Ephesians 4:21b-23 ESV
What you want will kill you an inch at a time but what you have can renew you of you enter into the renewal that Jesus has won for you.
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Showing posts with label Newness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Newness. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2020
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Was Jesus Racist?
Was Jesus racist? Is God?
"And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly." Matthew 15:21-28 ESV
'Dog' was a racist slur but Jesus was putting this woman's faith on display. He was saying to his disciples and to the world, 'Do you think I have a 'us' and 'them' mentality like every other fallen man does? I don't!'
Yes. All the men following Him were Jewish but that was the first stage of God's plan. Jesus came to save the world.
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:27-29 ESV
"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Jesus noticed what race this woman was. He didn't ignore the difference like it didn't exist. He used the obvious difference to prove a point. God loves people.
He loves you. He loves me. He loves the person struggling with their gender identity. He loves those who don't know who they are and those that think they do.
In Him we find newness, healing and belonging. In Him we find salvation and life. He will dissolve our prejudices. He invites us to sit at the table with Abraham as a family member.
--
"And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying out after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly." Matthew 15:21-28 ESV
'Dog' was a racist slur but Jesus was putting this woman's faith on display. He was saying to his disciples and to the world, 'Do you think I have a 'us' and 'them' mentality like every other fallen man does? I don't!'
Yes. All the men following Him were Jewish but that was the first stage of God's plan. Jesus came to save the world.
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise." Galatians 3:27-29 ESV
"Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Jesus noticed what race this woman was. He didn't ignore the difference like it didn't exist. He used the obvious difference to prove a point. God loves people.
He loves you. He loves me. He loves the person struggling with their gender identity. He loves those who don't know who they are and those that think they do.
In Him we find newness, healing and belonging. In Him we find salvation and life. He will dissolve our prejudices. He invites us to sit at the table with Abraham as a family member.
--
Friday, November 2, 2018
Jeroboam And The Man Of God
New Mercies. They are our daily provision. We interpret situations with them. We bring them into each relationship. The believer has newness each and every day. The prophets in the Hebrew scriptures are a great example of this. They lived in the fresh word they received from God in the midst of an often perverse world and culture. They confronted the wrongs in Israel but if they were in their right mind they didn't 'return the way they came in' to the situation.
"And he gave a sign the same day, saying, 'This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: 'Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.'' And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, 'Seize him.' And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king said to the man of God, 'Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.' And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. And the king said to the man of God, 'Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.' And the man of God said to the king, 'If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.' ' So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel." - 1 Kings 13:3-10 ESV
We can't fellowship with the way of compromise. Jeroboam's brother Rehoboam had made bad decisions and those decisions split the Hebrews into two nations. People who were loyal to Jeroboam's family stayed with him but he could not worship in the 'right place' so he set up a new place of worship that God could not and did not endorse.
Still... God had new mercy for Jeroboam. All he had to do was ask for it.
Often times we can look at people in the Bible and see that God gives us an account of them to reveal a mindset or method. I see Jeroboam as the 'old me' who is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Others have made bad decisions and I have to live with the consequences and there are no easy answers. The prophet is the 'new man' or 'new me'. He enters with clarity and mercy and somehow exits another way like the wind.
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8 ESV
One nation became two. Then after many trials and finally captivities the remnant of this nation returned in unity again and rebuilt the wall and temple (see Nehemiah, Ezra and 2 Chronicles 36:22f). We start out innocent but then something happens. The world harasses us and eventually, we are taken captive but Jesus brings us back 'into the land' in newness. We become a remnant. A people that lives in and moves in mercy.
Today is a day where we might be tempted to fellowship with the old but we have a new option. We can enter in mercy and leave in new mercy because we see Jesus. Wow. Thank You God.
--
"And he gave a sign the same day, saying, 'This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: 'Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.'' And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, 'Seize him.' And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king said to the man of God, 'Entreat now the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.' And the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. And the king said to the man of God, 'Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.' And the man of God said to the king, 'If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, for so was it commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.' ' So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel." - 1 Kings 13:3-10 ESV
We can't fellowship with the way of compromise. Jeroboam's brother Rehoboam had made bad decisions and those decisions split the Hebrews into two nations. People who were loyal to Jeroboam's family stayed with him but he could not worship in the 'right place' so he set up a new place of worship that God could not and did not endorse.
Still... God had new mercy for Jeroboam. All he had to do was ask for it.
Often times we can look at people in the Bible and see that God gives us an account of them to reveal a mindset or method. I see Jeroboam as the 'old me' who is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Others have made bad decisions and I have to live with the consequences and there are no easy answers. The prophet is the 'new man' or 'new me'. He enters with clarity and mercy and somehow exits another way like the wind.
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8 ESV
One nation became two. Then after many trials and finally captivities the remnant of this nation returned in unity again and rebuilt the wall and temple (see Nehemiah, Ezra and 2 Chronicles 36:22f). We start out innocent but then something happens. The world harasses us and eventually, we are taken captive but Jesus brings us back 'into the land' in newness. We become a remnant. A people that lives in and moves in mercy.
Today is a day where we might be tempted to fellowship with the old but we have a new option. We can enter in mercy and leave in new mercy because we see Jesus. Wow. Thank You God.
--
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Negative Influences
Human beings use different language with different people. Some folks do it more than others. People may talk to parents one way but then use totally different language, words and phrases with a co-worker they barely know. It makes sense. We have all experienced it. We can say these are 'masks' and sometimes they are but it seems to go deeper than that. Children of divorce see it in parents that remarry people who have very different personalities than their original mate. Sometimes there are radical changes and that can be attributed partially to happiness levels. They were sad and frustrated in the first marriage but now they are happier so things have changed. Mood seems to be part of it but the bottom line is that for most people personality is plastic and it changes depending on who we spend time with. People 'bring out' aspects of who we 'are' or who we want to be.
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.' Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you...' " - Genesis 17:1-6 NKJV
God wasn't saying, 'Walk before me and be on your best behavior'. He was saying, 'I am giving you a new name because when you are with me you are blameless. In the KJV the word is translated 'perfect'.
When we walk with God it doesn't 'bring out the best in us'. No. If that is what is happening we are missing something vital. We have a new identity of perfection that He puts in us and it only comes out when we are with Him.
I think I have heard the phrase, 'I am going to remove all the negative influences from my life.' about 10 times just this week and I just can't get onboard with it. People get annoyed with me because I don't express overwhelming support but it just makes me sad and a little sick inside when I hear people try to go for a 'godless' solution that only sounds good on paper. Somehow people think that if they get rid of everything bad then only the good is what will remain and be strengthened but that is just not how life works.
Some people and situations are toxic and I am all for dealing with that if it is possible but that is an extreme surgical procedure and it is not the answer to most of life's problems. Surgery often means irreplaceable loss. People throw others away because they don't like who they are when they are with them.
The answer is to walk before God and 'be perfect'. That will mean saying 'no' to things but we are saying 'no' to the old because we have something new not because we are trying to purge the old to make something happen.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 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?" - James 4:7-12 ESV
Negative influences will flee from you and if they don't you will have the power of a person who is exalted by God. If you say, 'All you people are sucking the life out of me and I deserve better.' you are one step closer to becoming a person who sucks the life out of others.
They are not the problem. They will be replaced by other imperfect people who will disappoint you in some other way. It is just a matter of time. If we walk with God He will bring people into our life we won't have to look. He will do it.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 KJV
I tried to use a more modern translation but they all take the word 'power' and translate it 'the right' and that just loses something. We have the 'power that authority gives us' to operate as children of God.
If we are stubborn and rigid people being around God brings out our new nature. If we are weak and wishy-washy we have a new life in God and His presence give us backbone.
God thinks you are perfect. Really. He thinks that because when you are with Him you are perfect. He gives that perfection as a gift to those who believe in His Son. If you are not 'with Him' you can't know who you really are but if you do walk with Him it won't matter what other people do or don't do... a kingdom will be walking with You.
--
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.' Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 'As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you...' " - Genesis 17:1-6 NKJV
God wasn't saying, 'Walk before me and be on your best behavior'. He was saying, 'I am giving you a new name because when you are with me you are blameless. In the KJV the word is translated 'perfect'.
When we walk with God it doesn't 'bring out the best in us'. No. If that is what is happening we are missing something vital. We have a new identity of perfection that He puts in us and it only comes out when we are with Him.
I think I have heard the phrase, 'I am going to remove all the negative influences from my life.' about 10 times just this week and I just can't get onboard with it. People get annoyed with me because I don't express overwhelming support but it just makes me sad and a little sick inside when I hear people try to go for a 'godless' solution that only sounds good on paper. Somehow people think that if they get rid of everything bad then only the good is what will remain and be strengthened but that is just not how life works.
Some people and situations are toxic and I am all for dealing with that if it is possible but that is an extreme surgical procedure and it is not the answer to most of life's problems. Surgery often means irreplaceable loss. People throw others away because they don't like who they are when they are with them.
The answer is to walk before God and 'be perfect'. That will mean saying 'no' to things but we are saying 'no' to the old because we have something new not because we are trying to purge the old to make something happen.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 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?" - James 4:7-12 ESV
Negative influences will flee from you and if they don't you will have the power of a person who is exalted by God. If you say, 'All you people are sucking the life out of me and I deserve better.' you are one step closer to becoming a person who sucks the life out of others.
They are not the problem. They will be replaced by other imperfect people who will disappoint you in some other way. It is just a matter of time. If we walk with God He will bring people into our life we won't have to look. He will do it.
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13 KJV
I tried to use a more modern translation but they all take the word 'power' and translate it 'the right' and that just loses something. We have the 'power that authority gives us' to operate as children of God.
If we are stubborn and rigid people being around God brings out our new nature. If we are weak and wishy-washy we have a new life in God and His presence give us backbone.
God thinks you are perfect. Really. He thinks that because when you are with Him you are perfect. He gives that perfection as a gift to those who believe in His Son. If you are not 'with Him' you can't know who you really are but if you do walk with Him it won't matter what other people do or don't do... a kingdom will be walking with You.
--
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Heart And Soul - Part 2
I have said a few times before that 'first mention' is an important tool. We learn a great deal from the first mention of a word or concept in the scriptures.
Here is the first mention for the word 'heart.'
"The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God." - Genesis 6:5-9 ESV
The Hebrew word here is leb (Strong's H3820). It is a noun referring to our central blood-pumping organ. Like in English, it also means 'central'. In Genisis 6 we see man's heart and God's heart. All of mankind has a heart problem but Noah finds grace and we get clues to why much later.
"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
Noah believed.
The heart is an organ pumping blood in one direction. It is an organ installed in a body but a soul is different. It touchs a body and a body gives it form but it is not an organ. The first mention of this word is here.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." - Genesis 2:7 KJV
Our soul is 'God breathed'. God holiest name is YAHWEH. It is translated in all uppercase in most places in the KJV of the Bible. It is so holy that the vowel markers were all but lost over time. Men who kept the scriptures would not say it out loud. Some translate it JEHOVAH substituting the vowels from another word. Either way this name is unique because in order to say YAHWEH you must exhale in a unique way. The word is a full exhale. The infinite God only exhales, gives, He never inhales, needs anything from anyone. He spoke words to create the universe but He exhaled His life in us.
Nephesh (Strong's H5315) is the word translated soul here and it is the substance of the mind. It is flowing air. It is God's continual outward flow flowing into us. Our body is like a glove. Our DNA gives our soul form. Decisions are like a mold for what we will be forever. This air has form that will exist when our body returns to dust.
You have a heart. You and I are a soul.
Without going too long I just want to give one last passage.
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:25-26 ESV
The wicked heart God saw that grieved Him so much was this stony heart. (You may find it helpful to go back and look at the definition given in Part 1). Noah believed and his center shifted. When we believe once in Christ we get, at that moment, a heart transplant. Love is circulating. We come alive.
--
Here is the first mention for the word 'heart.'
"The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.' But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God." - Genesis 6:5-9 ESV
The Hebrew word here is leb (Strong's H3820). It is a noun referring to our central blood-pumping organ. Like in English, it also means 'central'. In Genisis 6 we see man's heart and God's heart. All of mankind has a heart problem but Noah finds grace and we get clues to why much later.
"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
Noah believed.
The heart is an organ pumping blood in one direction. It is an organ installed in a body but a soul is different. It touchs a body and a body gives it form but it is not an organ. The first mention of this word is here.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." - Genesis 2:7 KJV
Our soul is 'God breathed'. God holiest name is YAHWEH. It is translated in all uppercase in most places in the KJV of the Bible. It is so holy that the vowel markers were all but lost over time. Men who kept the scriptures would not say it out loud. Some translate it JEHOVAH substituting the vowels from another word. Either way this name is unique because in order to say YAHWEH you must exhale in a unique way. The word is a full exhale. The infinite God only exhales, gives, He never inhales, needs anything from anyone. He spoke words to create the universe but He exhaled His life in us.
Nephesh (Strong's H5315) is the word translated soul here and it is the substance of the mind. It is flowing air. It is God's continual outward flow flowing into us. Our body is like a glove. Our DNA gives our soul form. Decisions are like a mold for what we will be forever. This air has form that will exist when our body returns to dust.
You have a heart. You and I are a soul.
Without going too long I just want to give one last passage.
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:25-26 ESV
The wicked heart God saw that grieved Him so much was this stony heart. (You may find it helpful to go back and look at the definition given in Part 1). Noah believed and his center shifted. When we believe once in Christ we get, at that moment, a heart transplant. Love is circulating. We come alive.
--
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
A Dark Moon Before The New Year (Rosh Hashanah 2017)
Today the moon is dark and not giving off any light and I am quiet in my soul. Soon a sliver of light will begin to shine. The trumpet will sound in Jerusalem and it will be a new year.
The end of an old year and the start of a new one.
I'm sure for many in Mexico city it has been a long sleepless night. That place and those people are heavy on my heart. Storms and fires rage. Life will never be the same for many of the people in those places because of what has happened in their neighborhoods over the last few weeks.
Quietly I rehearse some of God's promises.
"... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee..." - Hebrews 13:5b KJV
"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." - Isaiah 51:6 KJV
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." - Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18 NKJV
"...God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." - Psalm 46:1b-5 NKJV
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27 NKJV
God leaves peace with us.
Who knows what this week will bring? The trumpet will sound when the moonlight sliver is sighted and God will still be on His throne. The old year will be over and God will reign in the new one.
God, Help us to wrap up the details of this year. It seems strange to pray a prayer like this in September as an American growing up in the west but today we look up at You and the calendar You gave to Israel and take notice. Renew us in newness and help us to tie up any spiritual loose ends. Thank You God.
--
The end of an old year and the start of a new one.
I'm sure for many in Mexico city it has been a long sleepless night. That place and those people are heavy on my heart. Storms and fires rage. Life will never be the same for many of the people in those places because of what has happened in their neighborhoods over the last few weeks.
Quietly I rehearse some of God's promises.
"... I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee..." - Hebrews 13:5b KJV
"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." - Isaiah 51:6 KJV
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." - Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:18 NKJV
"...God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn." - Psalm 46:1b-5 NKJV
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:27 NKJV
God leaves peace with us.
Who knows what this week will bring? The trumpet will sound when the moonlight sliver is sighted and God will still be on His throne. The old year will be over and God will reign in the new one.
God, Help us to wrap up the details of this year. It seems strange to pray a prayer like this in September as an American growing up in the west but today we look up at You and the calendar You gave to Israel and take notice. Renew us in newness and help us to tie up any spiritual loose ends. Thank You God.
--
Thursday, February 2, 2017
The Touch That Gives Words
I find that I have certain 'pet doctrines'. They are things I like to talk about and I could go on endlessly about them.
But then I remember the old men at the nursing home with their practiced accounts. I would go and hear the same tales again and again. Sometimes with more embellishments and sometimes less. If I live that long I will be old like those men but I want to have words from God and not just polished accounts that I pull out again and again.
If we know God then we are ambassadors for Him. We don't retire from that role. That means we need to be up on current events. Our conversation must be engaging. We are people who 'have the power to make an offer of amnesty.'
We open God's book and find Jesus. In prayer we quiet our minds and listen. We bring issues to our sovereign about the the places we are sent to.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." - Jeremiah 1:8-9 KJV
No. I won't have pet doctrines that I give to people again and again. I need the touch that gives me words.
This body may grow old but the touch never grows old.
Those men in the nursing home do have wisdom. I love to listen to them... but I want what I have to be fresh.
--
But then I remember the old men at the nursing home with their practiced accounts. I would go and hear the same tales again and again. Sometimes with more embellishments and sometimes less. If I live that long I will be old like those men but I want to have words from God and not just polished accounts that I pull out again and again.
If we know God then we are ambassadors for Him. We don't retire from that role. That means we need to be up on current events. Our conversation must be engaging. We are people who 'have the power to make an offer of amnesty.'
We open God's book and find Jesus. In prayer we quiet our minds and listen. We bring issues to our sovereign about the the places we are sent to.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth." - Jeremiah 1:8-9 KJV
No. I won't have pet doctrines that I give to people again and again. I need the touch that gives me words.
This body may grow old but the touch never grows old.
Those men in the nursing home do have wisdom. I love to listen to them... but I want what I have to be fresh.
--
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
The Same Tired Pathways - Colossians - Part 51
Have you ever felt that you have 'trodden this territory before' and not just once but many times? I have gone over this book several times the last few weeks and as I approach the passage I thought, 'Haven't you written about this before? Should you just move on to something else?'
I think that is a common theme in life. I for one get tired of rehashed ideas. I get weary of walking the same walk from my car to work in the morning. I get tired of chicken cooked the same 10 ways.
But, The Bible is different because it is a living book. Yes, I may have read the passage before and studied it thoroughly but that doesn't mean I know it. We can take the same keys and unlock the same door in the same worn keyhole and come away surprisingly refreshed.
" 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch' (referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 2:21 - 3:4 ESV
There are several unique words here in verse 22 there is 'used' and verse 23 has 'self-made religion' (translated will worship in the KJV), 'severe treatment'and 'indulgence' all very interesting words.
We seek above thing in what may be the mundane routines of life. The world, the flesh and the devil (the accuser) are our constant adversaries. They don't change but the do fade into the background unrecognized if familiarity sets in. We set our minds on Jesus who sits on the right hand (the place of approval and honor) and we are seated there with Him.
It makes me want to knock on the doors I knocked on a few years ago. Part of me says, 'Why go back? That is the past. Move forward or you will stagnate and die.' No. Evangelism is different. It is fresh and alive and the people behind those doors may have changed or they may be the same but more ready to hear the Gospel because of what the routine of life has done to them.
Joseph woke up in prison every morning for years and years. He ate the same food and saw the same faces. He was the son that his father loved and his brothers hated. He should of had a good life but the middle of his life was spent in prison. He was a young adult when he got there and a middle-aged man when he was finally promoted and made second in command of all of Eygpt.
How he spent those mundane years made all the difference.
Let's usher freshness in by looking at God. We rehearse we don't rehash. We return and preserve the old landmarks. We live in newness with God.
--
I think that is a common theme in life. I for one get tired of rehashed ideas. I get weary of walking the same walk from my car to work in the morning. I get tired of chicken cooked the same 10 ways.
But, The Bible is different because it is a living book. Yes, I may have read the passage before and studied it thoroughly but that doesn't mean I know it. We can take the same keys and unlock the same door in the same worn keyhole and come away surprisingly refreshed.
" 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch' (referring to things that all perish as they are used) - according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 2:21 - 3:4 ESV
There are several unique words here in verse 22 there is 'used' and verse 23 has 'self-made religion' (translated will worship in the KJV), 'severe treatment'and 'indulgence' all very interesting words.
We seek above thing in what may be the mundane routines of life. The world, the flesh and the devil (the accuser) are our constant adversaries. They don't change but the do fade into the background unrecognized if familiarity sets in. We set our minds on Jesus who sits on the right hand (the place of approval and honor) and we are seated there with Him.
It makes me want to knock on the doors I knocked on a few years ago. Part of me says, 'Why go back? That is the past. Move forward or you will stagnate and die.' No. Evangelism is different. It is fresh and alive and the people behind those doors may have changed or they may be the same but more ready to hear the Gospel because of what the routine of life has done to them.
Joseph woke up in prison every morning for years and years. He ate the same food and saw the same faces. He was the son that his father loved and his brothers hated. He should of had a good life but the middle of his life was spent in prison. He was a young adult when he got there and a middle-aged man when he was finally promoted and made second in command of all of Eygpt.
How he spent those mundane years made all the difference.
Let's usher freshness in by looking at God. We rehearse we don't rehash. We return and preserve the old landmarks. We live in newness with God.
--
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Spiritual Gravity
This morning My thoughts drift to the gravity of Heaven. Jesus was drawn into Heaven. His nature had a buoyancy.
"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." - Acts 1:7-9 ESV
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
This new creation has a buoyant nature. It is a new identity with new characteristics.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29 ESV
"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." - Colossians 1:18 ESV
The old nature had a different pull.
"O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." - Psalm 30:3 KJV
Even though we are new we can still live in the old. The new must be lived out by faith. The new finds it's identity in the one who came first. Grace is for the new. The old has no use for it really.
I feel the draw this morning. I don't want to die. I want to live and be among the living. What a privilege it is to be a Heavenly citizen!
God keeps us alive in spite of ourselves doesn't he? There will be a day when the time is just right and the frail sting that holds us to the Earth will be severed. Angels will guide us, help us, then the cloud will receive us just like it received Him. We will be drawn to the One who loves us... the One who wants us... the One who is complete in Himself but desires our companionship.
Thank You God. Help us through our days on Earth. Some days the cords that hold us feel like anchors. Be our buoyancy today. Thank You for loving us and all those who have gone before us. We long for You and know by faith You are always with us.
--
"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." - Acts 1:7-9 ESV
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
This new creation has a buoyant nature. It is a new identity with new characteristics.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29 ESV
"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." - Colossians 1:18 ESV
The old nature had a different pull.
"O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." - Psalm 30:3 KJV
Even though we are new we can still live in the old. The new must be lived out by faith. The new finds it's identity in the one who came first. Grace is for the new. The old has no use for it really.
I feel the draw this morning. I don't want to die. I want to live and be among the living. What a privilege it is to be a Heavenly citizen!
God keeps us alive in spite of ourselves doesn't he? There will be a day when the time is just right and the frail sting that holds us to the Earth will be severed. Angels will guide us, help us, then the cloud will receive us just like it received Him. We will be drawn to the One who loves us... the One who wants us... the One who is complete in Himself but desires our companionship.
Thank You God. Help us through our days on Earth. Some days the cords that hold us feel like anchors. Be our buoyancy today. Thank You for loving us and all those who have gone before us. We long for You and know by faith You are always with us.
--
Monday, April 4, 2016
The New Song
"Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise." - Psalm 33:3 KJV
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." - Psalm 40:3 KJV
"Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints." - Psalm 149:1 KJV
Really good new music is great isn't it?
Some people like old music best and we see different kinds of music make a comeback when there is a new audience that rediscovers it. Old music was new once wasn't it?
"All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 ESV
I know I have been at this place. The patterns all seem worn. Things seem predictable and stale.
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, 'What does this babbler wish to say?' Others said, 'He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities' - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, 'May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.' Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new." - Acts 17:16-21 ESV
They were 'new thing' junkies.
What Paul was bringing really was new. It is still new today. I see new people embrace the Gospel as God embraces them and the newness comes in fresh to me again and again.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:9-10 KJV
How can this be a 'new song' when the words were written 2,000 years ago. But it will be a new song.
We could start this day in tired oldness. The more days we have seen the more possible that is.
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' " - Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV
Yes, new mercies cause us to have a new song.
Thank you God. Let yesterday pass away from us and bring us into eternity with You in our minds and hearts. Give us a new song. Let the Gospel that was on Paul's lips be on ours also. Thank You God.
--
"And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." - Psalm 40:3 KJV
"Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints." - Psalm 149:1 KJV
Really good new music is great isn't it?
Some people like old music best and we see different kinds of music make a comeback when there is a new audience that rediscovers it. Old music was new once wasn't it?
"All things are full of weariness; a man cannot utter it; the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 1:8-9 ESV
I know I have been at this place. The patterns all seem worn. Things seem predictable and stale.
"Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, 'What does this babbler wish to say?' Others said, 'He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities' - because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, 'May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.' Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new." - Acts 17:16-21 ESV
They were 'new thing' junkies.
What Paul was bringing really was new. It is still new today. I see new people embrace the Gospel as God embraces them and the newness comes in fresh to me again and again.
"And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." - Revelation 5:9-10 KJV
How can this be a 'new song' when the words were written 2,000 years ago. But it will be a new song.
We could start this day in tired oldness. The more days we have seen the more possible that is.
"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' " - Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV
Yes, new mercies cause us to have a new song.
Thank you God. Let yesterday pass away from us and bring us into eternity with You in our minds and hearts. Give us a new song. Let the Gospel that was on Paul's lips be on ours also. Thank You God.
--
Monday, March 7, 2016
Be Transformed
Some one who is being conformed feels the responsibility to be different. A person who is transformed is different.
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." - Romans 12:1-3 ESV
I see people who try to conform and others who rebel against the idea. I have been both of those types of people. People feel the pressure in all kinds of circles. Both secular and sacred ones. Conforming is a middle voice action. English doesn't have the middle voice. Greek does. It is an action that people perform to themselves.
Conforming is like that. We try to reshape ourselves. This concept reminds me of this seemingly contradictory passage.
"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." - Matthew 5:28-32 ESV
The context of the passage above is marriage and commitment and it is brutal because divorce is brutal. Lust outside of commitment is torturous but people live in it. They live wanting something else and torn between two worlds.
Transformation is the only true release. Cutting off the old identity is what has to happen in order for there to be freedom.
The natural man feels the pressure to change and the lure of lust very keenly.
Paul speaks of the 'grace given to me' like it is his possession... and it is his. It is what gives him the disconnect to talk about these pressures as if he is outside of them and they are outside of him. He isn't trying to be anything. He is discovering again and again who Jesus Is and who Jesus has made him to be in his new identity.
Someone can explain this over and over but until grace becomes 'your grace' it isn't going to make sense. We can't change ourselves. We can't be what we need to be. But when grace is ours we realize that we are what God has made us to be.
"Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 ESV
Paul spent his youth untransformed. The other Apostles walked with Jesus and he was converted later. In a sense it gave him an advantage because he was unfamiliar with grace. It was a contrast to him in a profound way.
I see people who grew up in Church struggle to conform but God doesn't have any grandchildren. He only has children and they are born in transformation. The old identity must become old. Then to live day to day there must be an act of will that reckons that the old is old and must be replaced by grace.
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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 5:16-21 ESV
You can keep on being a good little girl or boy or you can keep running from God and every authority that reminds you of Him. The answer isn't ever going to come by you changing yourself. It can only come by you choosing Him.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV
I can talk about this but I can't cause anyone to experience it. Christ is the water. It is your choice. Are you thirsty enough? Are you tired of trying yet or do you want to spend a few more years trying to change what you can't ever change yourself?
For those of you out there who have experienced this and have tasted of the goodness and graciousness of God... isn't this a good reminder. The pressures from outside don't need to make their way inside. We can live in transformation and not even feel the heat when it comes. Hallelujah. Thank You Lord.
When water freezes and turns to ice it expands with a power that can crack those things that try to contain it. Please use us that way Lord. Thank You God. Just seeing You changes us. You are amazing.
--
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." - Romans 12:1-3 ESV
I see people who try to conform and others who rebel against the idea. I have been both of those types of people. People feel the pressure in all kinds of circles. Both secular and sacred ones. Conforming is a middle voice action. English doesn't have the middle voice. Greek does. It is an action that people perform to themselves.
Conforming is like that. We try to reshape ourselves. This concept reminds me of this seemingly contradictory passage.
"But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery." - Matthew 5:28-32 ESV
The context of the passage above is marriage and commitment and it is brutal because divorce is brutal. Lust outside of commitment is torturous but people live in it. They live wanting something else and torn between two worlds.
Transformation is the only true release. Cutting off the old identity is what has to happen in order for there to be freedom.
The natural man feels the pressure to change and the lure of lust very keenly.
Paul speaks of the 'grace given to me' like it is his possession... and it is his. It is what gives him the disconnect to talk about these pressures as if he is outside of them and they are outside of him. He isn't trying to be anything. He is discovering again and again who Jesus Is and who Jesus has made him to be in his new identity.
Someone can explain this over and over but until grace becomes 'your grace' it isn't going to make sense. We can't change ourselves. We can't be what we need to be. But when grace is ours we realize that we are what God has made us to be.
"Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:8-10 ESV
Paul spent his youth untransformed. The other Apostles walked with Jesus and he was converted later. In a sense it gave him an advantage because he was unfamiliar with grace. It was a contrast to him in a profound way.
I see people who grew up in Church struggle to conform but God doesn't have any grandchildren. He only has children and they are born in transformation. The old identity must become old. Then to live day to day there must be an act of will that reckons that the old is old and must be replaced by grace.
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 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 5:16-21 ESV
You can keep on being a good little girl or boy or you can keep running from God and every authority that reminds you of Him. The answer isn't ever going to come by you changing yourself. It can only come by you choosing Him.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ESV
I can talk about this but I can't cause anyone to experience it. Christ is the water. It is your choice. Are you thirsty enough? Are you tired of trying yet or do you want to spend a few more years trying to change what you can't ever change yourself?
For those of you out there who have experienced this and have tasted of the goodness and graciousness of God... isn't this a good reminder. The pressures from outside don't need to make their way inside. We can live in transformation and not even feel the heat when it comes. Hallelujah. Thank You Lord.
When water freezes and turns to ice it expands with a power that can crack those things that try to contain it. Please use us that way Lord. Thank You God. Just seeing You changes us. You are amazing.
--
Friday, January 22, 2016
Taking On The Identity Of A New Nature
This is a very loaded passage because there is a big difference between having a religious identity and 'learning Christ' in a new nature.
"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." - Ephesians 4:20-25 ESV
There is truth in Jesus that can't be had in a old identity. This truth is new identity truth. Jesus renamed Simon and called him Peter. He renames us also and in that new name we learn of him. We may answer to the name our parents gave us but we don't have to live in the nature that they gave us. We have a new nature.
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." - Colossians 3:9-10 ESV
This new self can speak the truth in love if it is taught to speak in love. The parent teaches the child to say 'please' and 'thank you'. When we learn Christ we learn honest in a new identity. We learn unity in holiness. We learn Agape (self sacrificing) love. It isn't automatic. The capacity is there but it must be taught.
Jesus and the disciples called Simon by his new name and gave him a new identity. People who didn't walk with Christ but knew this man only knew him by his old name. In time Simon became Peter in his experience even though it only took a moment for Jesus to give him his new name.
Anyone can get a new name in the world. Cults do it. Entertainers reinvent themselves every few years to showcase an old talent in a new light. Jobs call it a title. Universities give out degrees that add to your name. But when God does it in Jesus it is the description of a new nature that only He has the power to give. It isn't just a fresh start. It is a declaration of citizenship.
Jesus renamed Simon but he didn't do that with all the disciples. The new name was a tool to reveal a new nature to Peter. All the disciples had a new nature given to them. God is going to use these tools to show us what He has done but they are handcrafted to our experience.
We may answer to the name we have had since our youth but lets live learning Christ in the name He has named us. He calls us free and forgiven. He calls us family. Speaking the truth in love becomes the way we communicate as we live in this new life.
--
"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." - Ephesians 4:20-25 ESV
There is truth in Jesus that can't be had in a old identity. This truth is new identity truth. Jesus renamed Simon and called him Peter. He renames us also and in that new name we learn of him. We may answer to the name our parents gave us but we don't have to live in the nature that they gave us. We have a new nature.
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." - Colossians 3:9-10 ESV
This new self can speak the truth in love if it is taught to speak in love. The parent teaches the child to say 'please' and 'thank you'. When we learn Christ we learn honest in a new identity. We learn unity in holiness. We learn Agape (self sacrificing) love. It isn't automatic. The capacity is there but it must be taught.
Jesus and the disciples called Simon by his new name and gave him a new identity. People who didn't walk with Christ but knew this man only knew him by his old name. In time Simon became Peter in his experience even though it only took a moment for Jesus to give him his new name.
Anyone can get a new name in the world. Cults do it. Entertainers reinvent themselves every few years to showcase an old talent in a new light. Jobs call it a title. Universities give out degrees that add to your name. But when God does it in Jesus it is the description of a new nature that only He has the power to give. It isn't just a fresh start. It is a declaration of citizenship.
Jesus renamed Simon but he didn't do that with all the disciples. The new name was a tool to reveal a new nature to Peter. All the disciples had a new nature given to them. God is going to use these tools to show us what He has done but they are handcrafted to our experience.
We may answer to the name we have had since our youth but lets live learning Christ in the name He has named us. He calls us free and forgiven. He calls us family. Speaking the truth in love becomes the way we communicate as we live in this new life.
--
Monday, October 5, 2015
Clean Feet
It is not easy to trick a person who stands on principles. The person who lives for pleasure is easily drawn away.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." - 2 Timothy 3:1-2a, 4b-5 ESV
I want this to be a good week. I don't want to be taken for a ride this week. So, I'll focus on the 'good and perfect' gifts that come from God.
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:12-18 ESV
God gives true acceptance. God gives hope for the future. God has given us a cleansing provision that keeps us clean because it continually washes us as we walk in a sometimes dusty world.
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.' Peter said to him, 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.' " - John 13:3-8 ESV
We must let Him serve us. We can be kept experientially clean by grace. If we live by principles then we will not be easily drawn away by passions.
Thank you God for another week. Thank you for new opportunities. Give us creativity. Let us see temptation a mile away and help us to flee it's grip. You have made us 'the head' and not 'the tail' and we are believing that you will give us power to in your purity this week. Thank you God.
--
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." - Psalm 1:1-3 ESV
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self... lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." - 2 Timothy 3:1-2a, 4b-5 ESV
I want this to be a good week. I don't want to be taken for a ride this week. So, I'll focus on the 'good and perfect' gifts that come from God.
"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am being tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:12-18 ESV
God gives true acceptance. God gives hope for the future. God has given us a cleansing provision that keeps us clean because it continually washes us as we walk in a sometimes dusty world.
"Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, 'Lord, do you wash my feet?' Jesus answered him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.' Peter said to him, 'You shall never wash my feet.' Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.' " - John 13:3-8 ESV
We must let Him serve us. We can be kept experientially clean by grace. If we live by principles then we will not be easily drawn away by passions.
Thank you God for another week. Thank you for new opportunities. Give us creativity. Let us see temptation a mile away and help us to flee it's grip. You have made us 'the head' and not 'the tail' and we are believing that you will give us power to in your purity this week. Thank you God.
--
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Among The Stones Of Fire
When something is new it can be shaped in different ways by those who have access to it... children, corporations, governments are influenced and shaped in part by policies set forth in their formation.
There is value and potential danger in being at the ground floor of something. Founders often profit and/or lose the most from a new venture.
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you." - Ezekiel 28:13-18 ESV
The stones of fire here speak of lava or fires used to melt and cast metal. Satan was an eyewitness to God's creative work.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-7 ESV
It seems that all the angels were but Lucifer had unusual access. We don't know why Satan fell but we can see the other things that were different about him and come to some conclusions. There is a potential danger to being at the formation of something incredible and new. External decisions that create can also lead to internal decisions in witnesses that destroy them.
God called this place among the fiery stones an Eden. God thinks and acts in purity. He has no flaws but His decisiveness is based on knowledge that He alone possesses. An onlooker is put is a place where they will need to make a choice about what he or she is witnessing.
"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:9 ESV
God wants to do a new thing in people's lives and as witnesses to God's work we are put in an interested position. How we think and what we say can make or break us. Thinking in grace is vital.
Today is a new day but are we new people who are thinking in newness? We can be.
"You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.' You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel. "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last." - Isaiah 48:6-12 ESV
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV
Jacob will say, 'I have seen all this before.' but Israel is a new creature. We are new creatures. The old has passed away. If we have the privilege of standing near the stones of fire and seeing what is formed we want to have minds that befit the place and time. If we live in the purity of Eden then we must guard our heart and make sure that the pure water flows over us so our thinking does not get dusty.
Then we can also act decisively and those decisions formed in grace will glory God in Heaven.
--
There is value and potential danger in being at the ground floor of something. Founders often profit and/or lose the most from a new venture.
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you. In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God, and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you. By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you." - Ezekiel 28:13-18 ESV
The stones of fire here speak of lava or fires used to melt and cast metal. Satan was an eyewitness to God's creative work.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" - Job 38:4-7 ESV
It seems that all the angels were but Lucifer had unusual access. We don't know why Satan fell but we can see the other things that were different about him and come to some conclusions. There is a potential danger to being at the formation of something incredible and new. External decisions that create can also lead to internal decisions in witnesses that destroy them.
God called this place among the fiery stones an Eden. God thinks and acts in purity. He has no flaws but His decisiveness is based on knowledge that He alone possesses. An onlooker is put is a place where they will need to make a choice about what he or she is witnessing.
"Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:9 ESV
God wants to do a new thing in people's lives and as witnesses to God's work we are put in an interested position. How we think and what we say can make or break us. Thinking in grace is vital.
Today is a new day but are we new people who are thinking in newness? We can be.
"You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, 'Behold, I knew them.' You have never heard, you have never known, from of old your ear has not been opened. For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously, and that from before birth you were called a rebel. "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last." - Isaiah 48:6-12 ESV
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 ESV
Jacob will say, 'I have seen all this before.' but Israel is a new creature. We are new creatures. The old has passed away. If we have the privilege of standing near the stones of fire and seeing what is formed we want to have minds that befit the place and time. If we live in the purity of Eden then we must guard our heart and make sure that the pure water flows over us so our thinking does not get dusty.
Then we can also act decisively and those decisions formed in grace will glory God in Heaven.
--
Monday, August 17, 2015
The Light Of No Condemnation
"But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, 'Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.' " - Ephesians 5:13-14 NASB
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:1-5 ESV
The Greek word there for overcome is katalambano (Strong's G2638) and it speaks of a struggle to possess or best something.
The dark mind can not possess the light. Light must come in and illuminate the darkness. But if light does come in then things get revealed.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." - John 3:19 ESV
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." - John 3:16-17 ESV
The darkened mind can not come to this conclusion by itself. It must be told. Then when the light truly comes in that mind is illuminated. The light is the light of 'no condemnation'. It isn't just knowledge. It is love and a man who bore our sin for us so we could become the righteousness of God.
Grace coaxes us out of hiding. Grace is the gentle voice that awakens us from sleep by serving us. Rules and regulations just make us want to hide under the covers but grace invites us into the adventure of a new day.
--
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:1-5 ESV
The Greek word there for overcome is katalambano (Strong's G2638) and it speaks of a struggle to possess or best something.
The dark mind can not possess the light. Light must come in and illuminate the darkness. But if light does come in then things get revealed.
"And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil." - John 3:19 ESV
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." - John 3:16-17 ESV
The darkened mind can not come to this conclusion by itself. It must be told. Then when the light truly comes in that mind is illuminated. The light is the light of 'no condemnation'. It isn't just knowledge. It is love and a man who bore our sin for us so we could become the righteousness of God.
Grace coaxes us out of hiding. Grace is the gentle voice that awakens us from sleep by serving us. Rules and regulations just make us want to hide under the covers but grace invites us into the adventure of a new day.
--
Friday, August 7, 2015
Humility In The Face Of Accusation
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." - 1 Peter 5:6-11 ESV
How do you resist an accuser? The verse here speaks of The Devil which could also be translated The Slanderer. When a devil talks about people he always has the story wrong. He wants to devour something.
This passage starts and ends with God. God wants to lift up. Humbling ourselves before God places us in a position to be lifted by God's power. The accusation from the devourer is that God want to devour but God isn't hungry to devour men.
Most people that are against us are against us because they are hungry for something. It isn't personal.
When we humble ourselves before God we are starving out ambition. We are living in a new nature that was given to us the very first time we agreed with God about what Jesus did on the cross. When we believed God gave us the power to humble ourselves before Him willingly. That new nature has access to a peace that passes understanding.
God can't and won't bless pride. He Is looking for people He can bless. He has called us to 'eternal glory in Christ'.
So whatever our situation is today. We might be riding the wave or suffering the consequences of accusation in some way. Humility before God is the right course of action. He is the One who can make things right.
I know that I want to see some things restored, confirmed, strengthened and established. Don't we all. Prayer, humility, time and the knowledge that God wants to work in our lives and our world... that is where I find hope for the future.
--
How do you resist an accuser? The verse here speaks of The Devil which could also be translated The Slanderer. When a devil talks about people he always has the story wrong. He wants to devour something.
This passage starts and ends with God. God wants to lift up. Humbling ourselves before God places us in a position to be lifted by God's power. The accusation from the devourer is that God want to devour but God isn't hungry to devour men.
Most people that are against us are against us because they are hungry for something. It isn't personal.
When we humble ourselves before God we are starving out ambition. We are living in a new nature that was given to us the very first time we agreed with God about what Jesus did on the cross. When we believed God gave us the power to humble ourselves before Him willingly. That new nature has access to a peace that passes understanding.
God can't and won't bless pride. He Is looking for people He can bless. He has called us to 'eternal glory in Christ'.
So whatever our situation is today. We might be riding the wave or suffering the consequences of accusation in some way. Humility before God is the right course of action. He is the One who can make things right.
I know that I want to see some things restored, confirmed, strengthened and established. Don't we all. Prayer, humility, time and the knowledge that God wants to work in our lives and our world... that is where I find hope for the future.
--
Monday, April 20, 2015
Trained In Righteousness
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
Opinions are breathed out by man but scripture was and is spoken by God and it is good for fixing us and equipping us. Truth is eternal. It is very old but ever new at the same time.
Training is so vital. Anyone practicing a profession can get something out of a good training session. But, It must be a good training session. Experts will tire quickly of sessions that they could teach themselves taught by novices.
Scripture isn't written by a novice. Scripture has depth and well as width. It is the length and height of love. It is shaped like mercy. It is as beautiful as any mathematical equation is to a mathematician. We don't outgrow scripture. We grow into it.
Human beings crave newness. We can easily enter into, 'Oh, That again.'
Training in righteousness teaches us the loftiest of lessons. We learn to love. We learn to forgive. We are instructed on reaching out. A good lesson will teach me to be quiet and let my actions speak.
When I am Spirit taught my instructor leaves me in awe because He reveals what can't be seen by merely mortal eyes.
Instruction like this prompts us to believe God. It takes our eyes off of ourselves and seeing people as sources of provision. We have all that we need when we believe in the One who can do all things.
We can mix faith with true Biblical instruction. We can be Spirit led and taught this week. It is not business as usual. God is here and anything is possible to those who believe (see Mark 9:23).
--
Opinions are breathed out by man but scripture was and is spoken by God and it is good for fixing us and equipping us. Truth is eternal. It is very old but ever new at the same time.
Training is so vital. Anyone practicing a profession can get something out of a good training session. But, It must be a good training session. Experts will tire quickly of sessions that they could teach themselves taught by novices.
Scripture isn't written by a novice. Scripture has depth and well as width. It is the length and height of love. It is shaped like mercy. It is as beautiful as any mathematical equation is to a mathematician. We don't outgrow scripture. We grow into it.
Human beings crave newness. We can easily enter into, 'Oh, That again.'
Training in righteousness teaches us the loftiest of lessons. We learn to love. We learn to forgive. We are instructed on reaching out. A good lesson will teach me to be quiet and let my actions speak.
When I am Spirit taught my instructor leaves me in awe because He reveals what can't be seen by merely mortal eyes.
Instruction like this prompts us to believe God. It takes our eyes off of ourselves and seeing people as sources of provision. We have all that we need when we believe in the One who can do all things.
We can mix faith with true Biblical instruction. We can be Spirit led and taught this week. It is not business as usual. God is here and anything is possible to those who believe (see Mark 9:23).
--
Friday, February 20, 2015
Clean Free Hands
His mercies are new this morning. They are right out of the oven mercy. Fresh. Warm. Wholesome. New.
"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' " - Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV
His quickening is real this morning.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11 ESV
The Word is sharp and alive as ever.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV
His faithfulness is not yesterday's news. It is today's reality.
"For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 117:2 ESV
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;" - Isaiah 59:1 ESV
God's ears are awake and His arm is strong.
"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 121:4-8 ESV
He isn't sleeping. He hasn't forgotten us. He has been awake this whole time.
"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;" - Psalm 130:3-5 ESV
New mercies mean new hope.
"A Song of Ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!" - Psalm 134 ESV
We let go of the old and lift holy hands. We don't want to hold on to that which is false and feed on ashes (see Isaiah 44:20).
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus" - Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV
Today we rise to drink the cup of salvation and rejoice in the freshness of who God Is and always will be. Today is a day to shake off the dust, cast all of our cares on Him and rejoice as we worship Him with clean free hands.
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"But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' " - Lamentations 3:21-24 ESV
His quickening is real this morning.
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11 ESV
The Word is sharp and alive as ever.
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 ESV
His faithfulness is not yesterday's news. It is today's reality.
"For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD!" - Psalm 117:2 ESV
"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;" - Isaiah 59:1 ESV
God's ears are awake and His arm is strong.
"Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." - Psalm 121:4-8 ESV
He isn't sleeping. He hasn't forgotten us. He has been awake this whole time.
"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;" - Psalm 130:3-5 ESV
New mercies mean new hope.
"A Song of Ascents. Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!" - Psalm 134 ESV
We let go of the old and lift holy hands. We don't want to hold on to that which is false and feed on ashes (see Isaiah 44:20).
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus" - Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV
Today we rise to drink the cup of salvation and rejoice in the freshness of who God Is and always will be. Today is a day to shake off the dust, cast all of our cares on Him and rejoice as we worship Him with clean free hands.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2015
New Wine Into New Wineskins
How many of us have been transformed because we were around a group of people that just wouldn't know us after our flesh... people who addressed us with God's mind and gave us God's heart.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV
People don't change naturally. They can refocus their energies but a leopard can't change it's spots. Grace does not address the old. It declares something new. A new energy that works in a new identity.
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved." - Matthew 9:17 ESV
Perhaps there is going to be spillage in our relationships and even in our own lives if we try to recycle the old.
We live in newness. We amplify newness. We declare the message that points to newness. We talk to people and pray for them knowing that newness can happen. The old is going to pass away. If the soil is right then newness will take root and produce fruit. We don't trust the soil. We trust the seed.
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
Old things are passing away.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:29-31 ESV
God already see those who believe as 'glorified'. We don't see it by sight but we see it by faith.
I want to be a person that sees people this way and treats them as if they are already justified. I want to water the seed.
Help me God. Open my eyes to see what you see and have words that represent your heart to people.
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"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV
People don't change naturally. They can refocus their energies but a leopard can't change it's spots. Grace does not address the old. It declares something new. A new energy that works in a new identity.
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved." - Matthew 9:17 ESV
Perhaps there is going to be spillage in our relationships and even in our own lives if we try to recycle the old.
We live in newness. We amplify newness. We declare the message that points to newness. We talk to people and pray for them knowing that newness can happen. The old is going to pass away. If the soil is right then newness will take root and produce fruit. We don't trust the soil. We trust the seed.
"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
Old things are passing away.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:29-31 ESV
God already see those who believe as 'glorified'. We don't see it by sight but we see it by faith.
I want to be a person that sees people this way and treats them as if they are already justified. I want to water the seed.
Help me God. Open my eyes to see what you see and have words that represent your heart to people.
--
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Healing In Newness
We can not undo what has been done anymore than we could restore a life once it is over or taken away. Wounds are wounds. They can heal but they can't be erased. Forward movement is the answer. Grace opens the way to move forward with the eternal judicial consequences erased so there is no reason to be looking over our shoulders with God.
We will always bring ourselves into each new situation. Grace and mercy brings a new person into each new day. God's love heals wounds and God's plan has new opportunities.
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 ESV
Jesus, the eternal God, woke up one day as a baby then He did that again and again each day for 30 years. He awoke to find Himself still a man, a new man, a righteous man.
"But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth," - Philippians 2:7-10 ESV
Every person that discovers the glory of this name also discovers a new humanity.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
We will always bring ourselves into each new situation. Grace and mercy brings a new person into each new day. God's love heals wounds and God's plan has new opportunities.
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." - Romans 6:3-4 ESV
Jesus, the eternal God, woke up one day as a baby then He did that again and again each day for 30 years. He awoke to find Himself still a man, a new man, a righteous man.
"But emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth," - Philippians 2:7-10 ESV
Every person that discovers the glory of this name also discovers a new humanity.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
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