This triad idea is so huge. I find that making lists can be helpful in studies like this one but there is a point where you realize and say, 'Wow, This is going to be a very long complicated list.'
Here is one gem I found this morning that I hope is a blessing.
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16 KJV
"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." - 1 John 5:6-8 KJV
Three things that are not of the Father but then there are three that are witnesses here on Earth and in Heaven.
Lust and pride involve self-orientation apart from God. They are three very deep things that came with the fall of mankind. God didn't design creation and include those things. They are a dynamic added after Adam exited the garden of Eden.
The three witnesses on Earth came after the fall also but center in on Christ Himself. They are Christocentric witnesses involving His incarnation. God becoming a man produced three visible witnesses that can speak to us.
Who will we listen to? Will it be lust or will it be redemption? They both call to us and pull us in different directions.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." - Romans 12:2 KJV
The good, acceptable and perfect will of God is that we take heed to the three witnesses we have been given.
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Showing posts with label The Spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Spirit. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
A Quote From A Booklet
A quote from the booklet I am reading this morning...
'The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, revealed in the love of God and the grace of God. Zechariah 12:10 calls Him 'the spirit of grace.' Galatians 4:4 speaks of the Spirit of the Son. Philippians 1:19 speaks of the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15 says we have received the Spirit of adoption. Romans 5:5 says that God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:32 reveals the spirit of forgiveness, while Isaiah 11:2 and 3 refer to Him as the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, and of knowledge and reverence toward God. In Romans 1:4-5, when we received Christ, we received the Spirit of holiness for obedience, and we have the same Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13). When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we are walking in God's life. We have amazing protection, indescribable provision, unfathomable wisdom, perfect peace, and divine guidance, Romans 8:14. Romans 8:2 tells us about the law of the Spirit of life that overcomes the law of sin and death. John 10:10b calls it abundant life.' (What Spirit Are You Of? by Carl H. Stevens Jr)
Wow. Fill us with Your Spirit today God. Speak to us. Guide us. Thank You God.
--
'The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, revealed in the love of God and the grace of God. Zechariah 12:10 calls Him 'the spirit of grace.' Galatians 4:4 speaks of the Spirit of the Son. Philippians 1:19 speaks of the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15 says we have received the Spirit of adoption. Romans 5:5 says that God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:32 reveals the spirit of forgiveness, while Isaiah 11:2 and 3 refer to Him as the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, and of knowledge and reverence toward God. In Romans 1:4-5, when we received Christ, we received the Spirit of holiness for obedience, and we have the same Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13). When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we are walking in God's life. We have amazing protection, indescribable provision, unfathomable wisdom, perfect peace, and divine guidance, Romans 8:14. Romans 8:2 tells us about the law of the Spirit of life that overcomes the law of sin and death. John 10:10b calls it abundant life.' (What Spirit Are You Of? by Carl H. Stevens Jr)
Wow. Fill us with Your Spirit today God. Speak to us. Guide us. Thank You God.
--
Friday, April 7, 2017
Dealing With People With Opposing Ideas - Part 2
In 2 Samuel chapters 15 and 16 David is facing an impossible situation. His son Absolom is conspiring against him. He loves his son and the people of Jerusalem and decides that a strategic retreat is the best option (see 2 Samuel 15:14).
This is a kobayashi maru scenario for David. It is a no win situation that reveals the man's character.
On his way out he meets different people with different motives. The way he deals with each of them is very interesting and educational for us but what caught my eye was how he dealt with Shimei. Here was a man with 'opposing ideas'...
"When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he cursed, 'Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.' Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, 'Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.' But the king said, 'What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?' And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.' So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself." - 2 Samuel 16:5-14 ESV
Was Shimei right? No. He wasn't but David was available to hear from God. He wasn't insecure. His men felt helpless and wanted to act. His men felt protective of their 'anointed one' and wanted to smash the opposition but David had ears to hear and knew God loved him in spite of the situation. David saw a future blessing. He didn't internalize the negative accusations but He also didn't shut down the opposing point of view. Interesting and instructive.
"Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." - Matthew 5:25-26 NKJV
The adversary here is the Holy Spirit. Wow. Here is an alternate translation.
"Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." - Matthew 5:25-26 ESV
The prison there is a mental one. Our divine adversary is thinking grace thoughts... pure grace thoughts. The natural mind has earthy dusty thinking but God has wisdom from above. His view is often in opposition to ours. We won't arrive at grace by a natural means. God must impart it to us.
Some teach this passage as a 'conviction of sin' but I don't see that at all. It is not in the context of the passage. God convicts us of grace to restore relationships.
When David's back was against the wall he was available to hear from God. We will find ourselves in those places as well. Our own thinking can become a prison unless we receive the grace of God.
David could have declared Shimei an enemy. It would have been easy to do. Instead, David gave grace to an angry man. What a lesson that is for us.
--
This is a kobayashi maru scenario for David. It is a no win situation that reveals the man's character.
On his way out he meets different people with different motives. The way he deals with each of them is very interesting and educational for us but what caught my eye was how he dealt with Shimei. Here was a man with 'opposing ideas'...
"When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And Shimei said as he cursed, 'Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! The LORD has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.' Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, 'Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.' But the king said, 'What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the LORD has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?' And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, 'Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the LORD has told him to. It may be that the LORD will look on the wrong done to me, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing today.' So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself." - 2 Samuel 16:5-14 ESV
Was Shimei right? No. He wasn't but David was available to hear from God. He wasn't insecure. His men felt helpless and wanted to act. His men felt protective of their 'anointed one' and wanted to smash the opposition but David had ears to hear and knew God loved him in spite of the situation. David saw a future blessing. He didn't internalize the negative accusations but He also didn't shut down the opposing point of view. Interesting and instructive.
"Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." - Matthew 5:25-26 NKJV
The adversary here is the Holy Spirit. Wow. Here is an alternate translation.
"Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny." - Matthew 5:25-26 ESV
The prison there is a mental one. Our divine adversary is thinking grace thoughts... pure grace thoughts. The natural mind has earthy dusty thinking but God has wisdom from above. His view is often in opposition to ours. We won't arrive at grace by a natural means. God must impart it to us.
Some teach this passage as a 'conviction of sin' but I don't see that at all. It is not in the context of the passage. God convicts us of grace to restore relationships.
When David's back was against the wall he was available to hear from God. We will find ourselves in those places as well. Our own thinking can become a prison unless we receive the grace of God.
David could have declared Shimei an enemy. It would have been easy to do. Instead, David gave grace to an angry man. What a lesson that is for us.
--
Monday, January 30, 2017
Convicting The World
"And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." John 16:8-13
Amazing.
The Spirit convicts. He does not condemn. He shows us truth. Jesus isn't here but people who have believed are given the righteousness of a Savior who sits in Heaven.
We can grieve The Spirit but He still won't condemn us. He will encourage us to believe and not align ourselves with a dark kingdom that is under judgement.
I think many times we confuse the sound of our conscience with the Holy Spirit and say, 'God said.' When in truth God is only going to declare Christ's righteousness. We sense He Is grieved and then jump to conclusions. We try to amend our behavior in a pleasing way but behavior can't please God. Only faith pleases God.
The Spirit points to Christ and says little about Himself. He urges us to believe and be detached from darkness. Will we listen or will we keep sweating on the treadmill of performance?
Our conscience needs to be cleansed of dead works.
--
Amazing.
The Spirit convicts. He does not condemn. He shows us truth. Jesus isn't here but people who have believed are given the righteousness of a Savior who sits in Heaven.
We can grieve The Spirit but He still won't condemn us. He will encourage us to believe and not align ourselves with a dark kingdom that is under judgement.
I think many times we confuse the sound of our conscience with the Holy Spirit and say, 'God said.' When in truth God is only going to declare Christ's righteousness. We sense He Is grieved and then jump to conclusions. We try to amend our behavior in a pleasing way but behavior can't please God. Only faith pleases God.
The Spirit points to Christ and says little about Himself. He urges us to believe and be detached from darkness. Will we listen or will we keep sweating on the treadmill of performance?
Our conscience needs to be cleansed of dead works.
--
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
The Spirit Has Been Given
God gave Jesus first and then He gave the Spirit. All of who God Is has been given to us. The Spirit is the 'last' person of God to be given. Father, Son and Spirit are all accounted for.
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." - Colossians 2:9-10 ESV
The fullness Jesus had is the fullness we have. There is more to learn but we have everything. We have everyone. Some meetings can't begin until all the members are accounted for but this meeting can commence.
Oh Lord... What do you have planned for today. No one is missing. I stand ready not as a qualified person but just as a person present at a full gathering. There are a few issues on my agenda but I lay them at Your feet. What is Your vision? What is Your heart? Jesus came to reveal You and now the Spirit Is here to reveal all that Jesus has done.
Thank You God!
--
"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." - Colossians 2:9-10 ESV
The fullness Jesus had is the fullness we have. There is more to learn but we have everything. We have everyone. Some meetings can't begin until all the members are accounted for but this meeting can commence.
Oh Lord... What do you have planned for today. No one is missing. I stand ready not as a qualified person but just as a person present at a full gathering. There are a few issues on my agenda but I lay them at Your feet. What is Your vision? What is Your heart? Jesus came to reveal You and now the Spirit Is here to reveal all that Jesus has done.
Thank You God!
--
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The Fire And The Water
Water washes things. Fire changes things.
"...you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:12 ESV
"...when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning." - Isaiah 4:4 ESV
We have a gas stove. I like cooking with gas. The heat seems easier to control. Perhaps there is better technology out there but I and fond of gas stoves.
When the knob is turned the gas in released and something ignites it. It might be a pilot light that is always burning or it might be a sparker of some kind that makes a clicking noise when the knob is in a certain place.
Fire, water and abundance. That is the order. Fire cooks changing raw ingredients into food but intense fire purges. Water washes the grime away. Then God gives abundance.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken - that is, things that have been made - in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:22-29 ESV
It makes me think of holiness. The Spirit of Grace is also the Spirit of burning. Grace changes us and purges us.
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." - 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 ESV
Holiness is what I want. Heat is required and a spark is required to turn that gas into flame so that the change can happen. If the materials are right the change is a melting change. Gold, silver and precious stones are not consumed... they are molded and set into place.
I look around and I see flammable culture and when people talk about wanting to exit a potential bonfire before it explodes into flame I understand that feeling.
When we know God's character and nature we have great respect for His power and we don't live in fear of His fire. It is controlled and His timing is always perfect. He is for us and never against us even if He turns something we were once fond of into ashes that need to be washed away.
Let's build on a foundation that can't be moved with materials that melt but don't burst into flame and if the fire touches our life then let the water of the word come in to wash away the ashes and cool us down again so that blessing can be abundant in our life.
--
"...you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." - Psalm 66:12 ESV
"...when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning." - Isaiah 4:4 ESV
We have a gas stove. I like cooking with gas. The heat seems easier to control. Perhaps there is better technology out there but I and fond of gas stoves.
When the knob is turned the gas in released and something ignites it. It might be a pilot light that is always burning or it might be a sparker of some kind that makes a clicking noise when the knob is in a certain place.
Fire, water and abundance. That is the order. Fire cooks changing raw ingredients into food but intense fire purges. Water washes the grime away. Then God gives abundance.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken - that is, things that have been made - in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:22-29 ESV
It makes me think of holiness. The Spirit of Grace is also the Spirit of burning. Grace changes us and purges us.
"Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." - 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 ESV
Holiness is what I want. Heat is required and a spark is required to turn that gas into flame so that the change can happen. If the materials are right the change is a melting change. Gold, silver and precious stones are not consumed... they are molded and set into place.
I look around and I see flammable culture and when people talk about wanting to exit a potential bonfire before it explodes into flame I understand that feeling.
When we know God's character and nature we have great respect for His power and we don't live in fear of His fire. It is controlled and His timing is always perfect. He is for us and never against us even if He turns something we were once fond of into ashes that need to be washed away.
Let's build on a foundation that can't be moved with materials that melt but don't burst into flame and if the fire touches our life then let the water of the word come in to wash away the ashes and cool us down again so that blessing can be abundant in our life.
--
Friday, February 19, 2016
The Rocky And Thorny Ground
I'm still chewing on the parable of the sower in Luke chapter eight.
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." - Luke 8:11-15 ESV
Parables are interesting things. They are very good to chew on because the meaning of the parable is deep and lasting but if you play with them to much they will break because they have a central meaning and it can be lost if you focus on the wrong things.
Someone could say, 'We are not farmers. Does He want us to be farmers? Is farming a more spiritual profession?'.
Whole groups of people have gone in directions like this. Jesus used Earthy illustrations and so people surmised that Jesus preferred rural activities and therefore they must be more spiritual but that is a stretch. Grace is white collar and blue collar. Grace is God's method for dealing with all people.
Robertson McQuilkin calls a parable one of the 'figures of comparison' in his book 'Understanding and Applying The Bible'. Figures of comparison are a distinct form of literature. Like a question or a command it has a primary usage and that must be known in order for it to be understood correctly.
The disciples understood that what they were hearing was a riddle of some kind. Jesus goes deeper and explains...
"And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' " - Luke 8:9-10 ESV
So, I want to avoid how 'others' would interpret Jesus' words about the seed and the ground and find the way that is 'given'. The grace way. The gift way.
On the wayside the seed gets trodden down before it takes root. On the rocky ground things begin in joy but never progress. If there are thorns the plant grows to a certain point but never produces fruit. Only the good ground has fruit.
We talked about wayside ground but today I'm looking at rocky and thorny ground. Rocky ground is shallow and thorny ground has three aspects in the Gospel of Luke.
"...they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." Luke 8:14b
That is distilled further in Matthew.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
Grace understanding is good soil. The seed is given and the understanding is given.
If our understanding is shallow we will like what we hear but it won't take root because we have a system underneath that is incompatible with growth and maturity.
Thorns are unlike rocks. They are allowed to grow. They happen and they have benefits attached with them. Those benefits are deceitful ones but pleasurable for a season.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." - Jeremiah 8:20 ESV
It is a sad lament. Jeremiah said this of Israel. Opportunities were wasted in their window of opportunity and there was no spiritual food to satisfy the hunger that was to come upon them.
God has good seed but do we have good soil?
Grace. Grace. Grace. That is what is needed.
My effort will fix nothing. God's grace is everything. Truth is given as a gift. I don't want to be shallow or distracted. There is to much at stake. The harvest season is only so long and what is planted today is needed for tomorrow.
God help us. Help us to handle the truth with care. Cause us to receive the truth with depth. Teach us grace. We want the principles to turn into application in our lives. We want to live the message. We want the fruits of the Holy Spirit to abound in our lives. Thank You God. You are the farmer and we are your field. Thank You God.
--
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience." - Luke 8:11-15 ESV
Parables are interesting things. They are very good to chew on because the meaning of the parable is deep and lasting but if you play with them to much they will break because they have a central meaning and it can be lost if you focus on the wrong things.
Someone could say, 'We are not farmers. Does He want us to be farmers? Is farming a more spiritual profession?'.
Whole groups of people have gone in directions like this. Jesus used Earthy illustrations and so people surmised that Jesus preferred rural activities and therefore they must be more spiritual but that is a stretch. Grace is white collar and blue collar. Grace is God's method for dealing with all people.
Robertson McQuilkin calls a parable one of the 'figures of comparison' in his book 'Understanding and Applying The Bible'. Figures of comparison are a distinct form of literature. Like a question or a command it has a primary usage and that must be known in order for it to be understood correctly.
The disciples understood that what they were hearing was a riddle of some kind. Jesus goes deeper and explains...
"And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, 'To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' " - Luke 8:9-10 ESV
So, I want to avoid how 'others' would interpret Jesus' words about the seed and the ground and find the way that is 'given'. The grace way. The gift way.
On the wayside the seed gets trodden down before it takes root. On the rocky ground things begin in joy but never progress. If there are thorns the plant grows to a certain point but never produces fruit. Only the good ground has fruit.
We talked about wayside ground but today I'm looking at rocky and thorny ground. Rocky ground is shallow and thorny ground has three aspects in the Gospel of Luke.
"...they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature..." Luke 8:14b
That is distilled further in Matthew.
"As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." - Matthew 13:22 ESV
Grace understanding is good soil. The seed is given and the understanding is given.
If our understanding is shallow we will like what we hear but it won't take root because we have a system underneath that is incompatible with growth and maturity.
Thorns are unlike rocks. They are allowed to grow. They happen and they have benefits attached with them. Those benefits are deceitful ones but pleasurable for a season.
"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved." - Jeremiah 8:20 ESV
It is a sad lament. Jeremiah said this of Israel. Opportunities were wasted in their window of opportunity and there was no spiritual food to satisfy the hunger that was to come upon them.
God has good seed but do we have good soil?
Grace. Grace. Grace. That is what is needed.
My effort will fix nothing. God's grace is everything. Truth is given as a gift. I don't want to be shallow or distracted. There is to much at stake. The harvest season is only so long and what is planted today is needed for tomorrow.
God help us. Help us to handle the truth with care. Cause us to receive the truth with depth. Teach us grace. We want the principles to turn into application in our lives. We want to live the message. We want the fruits of the Holy Spirit to abound in our lives. Thank You God. You are the farmer and we are your field. Thank You God.
--
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The Treacherous Path
"Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard." - Proverbs 13:15 KJV
This is so true.
All the modern translations of this verse seem to take away what this verse says in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew it says that the path of the transgressor is washed out like a strong river washing out a road during a storm making it 'hard' or treacherous to pass.
Passion that runs outside it's channel ruins the path.
Good understanding opens the path of favor.
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." - 2 Timothy 2:21-26 ESV
Yes. Here we are back at this passage.
Wisdom does not quench our passion. Discouragement can do that. Shame can direct our passions in unhealthy ways but knowledge of the truth harnesses passion so that it is useful. Grace tames the savage beast by restoring the equipment that was lost at the fall. Adam died spiritually but Jesus is the second Adam.
"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 ESV
Our spirit is quickened by God's Spirit and made alive in a new economy of Grace.
As P Schaller said this weekend in Baltimore. This new man has 'likability' and favor with God. His path is a grace path.
Is your path hard because your passions are not under control. You are not alone and it doesn't have to be that way. Damming up the river doesn't have to be the answer. It also doesn't have to ruin your life in cycles. God has a way for your river to flow that won't make your way treacherous.
It is called grace and it can only be found in Jesus Christ.
--
This is so true.
All the modern translations of this verse seem to take away what this verse says in the Hebrew. In the Hebrew it says that the path of the transgressor is washed out like a strong river washing out a road during a storm making it 'hard' or treacherous to pass.
Passion that runs outside it's channel ruins the path.
Good understanding opens the path of favor.
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." - 2 Timothy 2:21-26 ESV
Yes. Here we are back at this passage.
Wisdom does not quench our passion. Discouragement can do that. Shame can direct our passions in unhealthy ways but knowledge of the truth harnesses passion so that it is useful. Grace tames the savage beast by restoring the equipment that was lost at the fall. Adam died spiritually but Jesus is the second Adam.
"Thus it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being'; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 ESV
Our spirit is quickened by God's Spirit and made alive in a new economy of Grace.
As P Schaller said this weekend in Baltimore. This new man has 'likability' and favor with God. His path is a grace path.
Is your path hard because your passions are not under control. You are not alone and it doesn't have to be that way. Damming up the river doesn't have to be the answer. It also doesn't have to ruin your life in cycles. God has a way for your river to flow that won't make your way treacherous.
It is called grace and it can only be found in Jesus Christ.
--
Friday, December 11, 2015
The Underground Work Of Grace
I love how God does His work quietly inside us.
"The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high... When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built." - 1 Kings 6:2, 7 ESV
"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" - Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
"if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:3-5 ESV
When people pick up the words of God and use them as a hammer everyone in earshot is disturbed by the noise. People feel beat up and get tired of living on a construction site where nothing is ever good enough.
Solomon was a wise king. He had the loud work done in secret.
There are moments when the Holy Spirit uses the word of God to break things up inside me and carve off my ego so that I will be the correct dimensions to slip right into place. But many times those are secret moments and not a spectacle with a crowd of witnesses.
"With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone." - Proverbs 25:15 ESV
The grace of God is a soft answer that does a powerful work inside a person and it does it without pounding them on the outside.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." - 1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV
Foolish men think they must see sparks fly and a cloud of dust in order for something to happen. Usually it is the opposite. God does his spiritual work quietly on the inside through investment on the outside.
--
"The house that King Solomon built for the LORD was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high... When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built." - 1 Kings 6:2, 7 ESV
"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" - Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
"if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:3-5 ESV
When people pick up the words of God and use them as a hammer everyone in earshot is disturbed by the noise. People feel beat up and get tired of living on a construction site where nothing is ever good enough.
Solomon was a wise king. He had the loud work done in secret.
There are moments when the Holy Spirit uses the word of God to break things up inside me and carve off my ego so that I will be the correct dimensions to slip right into place. But many times those are secret moments and not a spectacle with a crowd of witnesses.
"With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone." - Proverbs 25:15 ESV
The grace of God is a soft answer that does a powerful work inside a person and it does it without pounding them on the outside.
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." - 1 Corinthians 1:25 ESV
Foolish men think they must see sparks fly and a cloud of dust in order for something to happen. Usually it is the opposite. God does his spiritual work quietly on the inside through investment on the outside.
--
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Two Small Copper Coins
I want to express love to people while I have the opportunity to do so. When we are in "survival mode" that priority drops lower. We have less and so it seems we have less to give but it is important to resist that resistance.
"And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.' " - Mark 12:42-44 ESV
This passage seems to be about money but it has a deep message. Of all the people giving large sums Jesus noticed this person who was loving in a risky way.
One passage from my reading yesterday stuck with me. Perhaps it seems unrelated but it holds great meaning for me.
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." - Luke 12:49-53 ESV
Is this the fire of judgement. No. I believe it is this fire.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11 ESV
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 ESV
The fire that Jesus wanted to already be kindled is the fire of Love. It is the fire of His Spirit which is not separate from Him. The Father, The Son and the Comforter are individual but One.
The fire would bring separation because paradoxically that is what God's Love can bring. Sentimental human love allows for mixed allegiances because it is shallow. God's love is different. It leaves no room for garbage.
If love remains unexpressed divisions can grow wider. If love is expressed there is the possibility that divisions will disappear.
Oh God... please help us... Help me... Help us to communicate love in creative ways... We want affection and hospitality to flow even if all that we have are two small copper coins... give us the courage to be kind... give us words to say and ways to love... Thank You God for loving us... You love us from the richness of Heaven just as you loved us from the poverty of the cross... thank you... thank you... thank you... You are the awesome God... thank you.
--
"And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.' " - Mark 12:42-44 ESV
This passage seems to be about money but it has a deep message. Of all the people giving large sums Jesus noticed this person who was loving in a risky way.
One passage from my reading yesterday stuck with me. Perhaps it seems unrelated but it holds great meaning for me.
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." - Luke 12:49-53 ESV
Is this the fire of judgement. No. I believe it is this fire.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." - Matthew 3:11 ESV
"He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." - Acts 1:3-5 ESV
"And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:2-4 ESV
The fire that Jesus wanted to already be kindled is the fire of Love. It is the fire of His Spirit which is not separate from Him. The Father, The Son and the Comforter are individual but One.
The fire would bring separation because paradoxically that is what God's Love can bring. Sentimental human love allows for mixed allegiances because it is shallow. God's love is different. It leaves no room for garbage.
If love remains unexpressed divisions can grow wider. If love is expressed there is the possibility that divisions will disappear.
Oh God... please help us... Help me... Help us to communicate love in creative ways... We want affection and hospitality to flow even if all that we have are two small copper coins... give us the courage to be kind... give us words to say and ways to love... Thank You God for loving us... You love us from the richness of Heaven just as you loved us from the poverty of the cross... thank you... thank you... thank you... You are the awesome God... thank you.
--
Friday, September 18, 2015
Entering Into Spiritual Quickening
I don't know about you but I rely heavily on spiritual quickening.
I quote this one verse often to myself...
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11 NKJV
It is promise that I give back to God but it is only understood in context. God quickens our bodies in a whole spiritual dynamic that starts here...
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1-4 NKJV
We can't have spiritual quickening unless we have the Spirit. We have the Spirit because of what Jesus did.
Then the groaning moment comes.
"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." - Romans 8:22-23 NKJV
It is the moment when we are tired but more needs to done. It is the moment when a person is there who could hear but we have no words. All creation longs for redemption and we long with it. Jesus is dead. The healer isn't healing. He Is in the grave. The edifier is behind the stone. Wisdom is momentarily silenced. Then the Spirit quickens Him. Life comes into His body. The sunrise happens not only on the horizon but it happens inside the grave and that grave is not a grave anymore.
We have that! Those who believe in Jesus have that.
Thank you God!... Really... Really... Thank You.
Musts aren't our motivation. Shoulds are swallowed in light. We fold our grave clothes neatly and leave them in a tomb we will walk away from. We have no plans to return there. We are quickened ones moving in a new dynamic. There is a life where we are not alive this way and then there is a life where we are made to be alive by The Spirit. It is Jesus' life. It is the life where all requirements have already been met.
What will it be today? More living like Cain where we grow a garden of unapproved vegetables. More going as far as our talent and ingenuity can take us. More avoiding what we don't like. More making things happen or living in regret because we couldn't make them happen.
It doesn't have to be any of that. We can remember a resurrection and be quickened by the indwelling Spirit. We can move in new life and fresh perspective. We can groan in identification and pass from death to burial and into resurrection.
For now our bodies will stay here on Earth quickened as our minds ascend and sit with Christ at the right hand of God's approval.
--
I quote this one verse often to myself...
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:11 NKJV
It is promise that I give back to God but it is only understood in context. God quickens our bodies in a whole spiritual dynamic that starts here...
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." - Romans 8:1-4 NKJV
We can't have spiritual quickening unless we have the Spirit. We have the Spirit because of what Jesus did.
Then the groaning moment comes.
"For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." - Romans 8:22-23 NKJV
It is the moment when we are tired but more needs to done. It is the moment when a person is there who could hear but we have no words. All creation longs for redemption and we long with it. Jesus is dead. The healer isn't healing. He Is in the grave. The edifier is behind the stone. Wisdom is momentarily silenced. Then the Spirit quickens Him. Life comes into His body. The sunrise happens not only on the horizon but it happens inside the grave and that grave is not a grave anymore.
We have that! Those who believe in Jesus have that.
Thank you God!... Really... Really... Thank You.
Musts aren't our motivation. Shoulds are swallowed in light. We fold our grave clothes neatly and leave them in a tomb we will walk away from. We have no plans to return there. We are quickened ones moving in a new dynamic. There is a life where we are not alive this way and then there is a life where we are made to be alive by The Spirit. It is Jesus' life. It is the life where all requirements have already been met.
What will it be today? More living like Cain where we grow a garden of unapproved vegetables. More going as far as our talent and ingenuity can take us. More avoiding what we don't like. More making things happen or living in regret because we couldn't make them happen.
It doesn't have to be any of that. We can remember a resurrection and be quickened by the indwelling Spirit. We can move in new life and fresh perspective. We can groan in identification and pass from death to burial and into resurrection.
For now our bodies will stay here on Earth quickened as our minds ascend and sit with Christ at the right hand of God's approval.
--
Monday, August 3, 2015
One Simple Solution
The problems we face in life are many and varied but the answer I return to is simple and singular.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 ESV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
Jesus is the answer.
We might say, 'How does that pay my bills? or 'How does that change my situation?' or 'How does that help me in this relationship?'
Jesus opens the door to the Father and sends the Spirit into our life.
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." - John 16:13-14 ESV
The Spirit glorifies the Son of God and produces fruit in our life. The fruit becomes a provision for us to have patience with people and peace that passes understanding. We become gentle at work and exhibit control and confidence as we do what is needed to make and manage money.
Many people out there seem to have natural capacities that help them compensate but human beings have limited resources. The Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (see Psalm 50:10).
"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, the founder and perfecter of our faith.." - Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV
That is my plan this week. It is a simple strategy that has worked for thousands before I was born who had much more complicated lives then I have. It is going to be a fruitful week.
--
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 ESV
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." - Galatians 5:22-25 ESV
Jesus is the answer.
We might say, 'How does that pay my bills? or 'How does that change my situation?' or 'How does that help me in this relationship?'
Jesus opens the door to the Father and sends the Spirit into our life.
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you." - John 16:13-14 ESV
The Spirit glorifies the Son of God and produces fruit in our life. The fruit becomes a provision for us to have patience with people and peace that passes understanding. We become gentle at work and exhibit control and confidence as we do what is needed to make and manage money.
Many people out there seem to have natural capacities that help them compensate but human beings have limited resources. The Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills (see Psalm 50:10).
"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, the founder and perfecter of our faith.." - Hebrews 12:1-2a ESV
That is my plan this week. It is a simple strategy that has worked for thousands before I was born who had much more complicated lives then I have. It is going to be a fruitful week.
--
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Scaling Issues
I read recently about the business concept of 'scaling'. It is when a business can increase it's revenues while keeping it's costs steady. Growth disproportionate to investment. Online businesses have great potential for this to happen.
A paper book takes work and materials to produce. If there is demand or a new edition more must be printed and distributed it takes resources. An online book has an initial investment but one million copies can be sold almost as easily as one hundred can and new editions are easy to distribute. The revenue potential is much higher. Of course people are willing to pay more for a paper book than they are for a digital one.
Increased revenue sounds great but if something 'scales' too fast there are pitfalls. Things become impersonal very quickly. The reliability of your distribution can come into question. How do you handle all the potential correspondence or complaints? etc...
Aside from business we see scaling issues in our own lives. Perhaps lonely people would love to have more friends like a new business owner would like to have more customers.
How does a great grandparent keep track of all their grandchildren? In growing families do you buy everyone presents or do you switch to a different method? Can a Pastor know each person in his growing assembly?
Jesus seemed to have these issues also. At times He seems to say statements designed to thin out the crowd but those that remained grew in intimacy with Him.
The Trinity had plans to build a Church and that would require something new...
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." - John 16:7 KJV
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:16, 26 KJV
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" - John 15:26 KJV
Is one of the reasons God sent the Holy Spirit to deal with scaling issues? It sure seems that way. Now God can be personal with each one of us. He can supply to all of us at once.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:22-25 ESV
"And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." - Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV
The Church is part of God's plan to cope with relationship scaling. Every relationship supplies something vital because the Holy Spirit is in the midst causing there to be a unique dynamic that can be found nowhere else.
God is good at everything. He is also a master businessman. He knows how to grow His startup business. We see that in the book of Acts. He also knows how to make his local startups a success and keep them personal and impactful.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." - James 4:8 ESV
The is a individual drawing near but that concept is also has a real world application that requires humility. Can we draw near to God's people?
Let's draw near to where the message is proclaimed and people who believe are gathering. Let's have our mind renewed and be connected in ways that don't leave us lonely or that thin out our resources because we are trying to sustain too many relationships without the proper resources.
Let's go to Church and worship in the midst of other worshipers. God sent His Spirit to be with us there in a special way.
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." - Revelation 1:13 KJV
Where two or more are gathered He is there. God walks in the midst of His candlesticks, those assemblies that shine His light, and He is personal to each one of us there.
---
A paper book takes work and materials to produce. If there is demand or a new edition more must be printed and distributed it takes resources. An online book has an initial investment but one million copies can be sold almost as easily as one hundred can and new editions are easy to distribute. The revenue potential is much higher. Of course people are willing to pay more for a paper book than they are for a digital one.
Increased revenue sounds great but if something 'scales' too fast there are pitfalls. Things become impersonal very quickly. The reliability of your distribution can come into question. How do you handle all the potential correspondence or complaints? etc...
Aside from business we see scaling issues in our own lives. Perhaps lonely people would love to have more friends like a new business owner would like to have more customers.
How does a great grandparent keep track of all their grandchildren? In growing families do you buy everyone presents or do you switch to a different method? Can a Pastor know each person in his growing assembly?
Jesus seemed to have these issues also. At times He seems to say statements designed to thin out the crowd but those that remained grew in intimacy with Him.
The Trinity had plans to build a Church and that would require something new...
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." - John 16:7 KJV
"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever... But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." - John 14:16, 26 KJV
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" - John 15:26 KJV
Is one of the reasons God sent the Holy Spirit to deal with scaling issues? It sure seems that way. Now God can be personal with each one of us. He can supply to all of us at once.
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:22-25 ESV
"And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all." - Ephesians 1:22-23 ESV
The Church is part of God's plan to cope with relationship scaling. Every relationship supplies something vital because the Holy Spirit is in the midst causing there to be a unique dynamic that can be found nowhere else.
God is good at everything. He is also a master businessman. He knows how to grow His startup business. We see that in the book of Acts. He also knows how to make his local startups a success and keep them personal and impactful.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." - James 4:8 ESV
The is a individual drawing near but that concept is also has a real world application that requires humility. Can we draw near to God's people?
Let's draw near to where the message is proclaimed and people who believe are gathering. Let's have our mind renewed and be connected in ways that don't leave us lonely or that thin out our resources because we are trying to sustain too many relationships without the proper resources.
Let's go to Church and worship in the midst of other worshipers. God sent His Spirit to be with us there in a special way.
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." - Revelation 1:13 KJV
Where two or more are gathered He is there. God walks in the midst of His candlesticks, those assemblies that shine His light, and He is personal to each one of us there.
---
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Butter On Our Shoes
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." - Ephesians 5:18-21 ESV
The Greek word translated debauchery there is Asotia (Strong's G810) it is a negation of Sozo (G4982) a word for safety or salvation. Very simply put being drunk with wine does not save a person. It does the opposite. It puts them in danger. But just as a person drinks a glass of wine and then loosens up to have another and then another God want our life to be filled with the Spirit the same way. This drink is heady drink indeed. It intoxicates a person until they are drunk with thanksgiving and reverence.
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." - Proverbs 20:1 KJV
Wine or strong drink is a dangerous substitute. It mocks a person in it's Godless release leaving a person empty. Spirit filling does the opposite. It leaves a person full. It makes them poetic and melodic. There is an interchange of creative expression and of awe.
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding," - Colossians 1:9 ESV
Filled with the Spirit and filled with truth.
Here Job recounts his glory days.
"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square," - Job 29:2-7 ESV
God was bringing him to a deeper place. Job was to be a witness in the angelic contest but here we see a man who drank of God and churned the milky mixture straight from the source into butter in his thinking. His thinking would spill over into his walk like butter from the churn getting on our shoes.
We can be full of God today. We are placed in Christ at the moment of our salvation but have we opened the door for The Spirit to fill us? Are we drinking of the cup of salvation taking sip after sip until thanksgiving fills our hearts? We can. We can chew the cud of the Word of God. We can churn the butter until it gets all over our shoes and relinquish control of our lives to the Holy Spirit who thinks in love and honor towards people.
That is not dangerous it is glorious. That adds something eternal instead dissipating and dissolving. Those who are filled with the Spirit have their actions written in God's book instead of just photos with glasses lifted in smoky dark venues. It is not the raised glass that will get us through the dark times. It is the Word hidden in our heart and the butter on our shoes that directs our steps to God's safe pathway.
--
The Greek word translated debauchery there is Asotia (Strong's G810) it is a negation of Sozo (G4982) a word for safety or salvation. Very simply put being drunk with wine does not save a person. It does the opposite. It puts them in danger. But just as a person drinks a glass of wine and then loosens up to have another and then another God want our life to be filled with the Spirit the same way. This drink is heady drink indeed. It intoxicates a person until they are drunk with thanksgiving and reverence.
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." - Proverbs 20:1 KJV
Wine or strong drink is a dangerous substitute. It mocks a person in it's Godless release leaving a person empty. Spirit filling does the opposite. It leaves a person full. It makes them poetic and melodic. There is an interchange of creative expression and of awe.
"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding," - Colossians 1:9 ESV
Filled with the Spirit and filled with truth.
Here Job recounts his glory days.
"Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square," - Job 29:2-7 ESV
God was bringing him to a deeper place. Job was to be a witness in the angelic contest but here we see a man who drank of God and churned the milky mixture straight from the source into butter in his thinking. His thinking would spill over into his walk like butter from the churn getting on our shoes.
We can be full of God today. We are placed in Christ at the moment of our salvation but have we opened the door for The Spirit to fill us? Are we drinking of the cup of salvation taking sip after sip until thanksgiving fills our hearts? We can. We can chew the cud of the Word of God. We can churn the butter until it gets all over our shoes and relinquish control of our lives to the Holy Spirit who thinks in love and honor towards people.
That is not dangerous it is glorious. That adds something eternal instead dissipating and dissolving. Those who are filled with the Spirit have their actions written in God's book instead of just photos with glasses lifted in smoky dark venues. It is not the raised glass that will get us through the dark times. It is the Word hidden in our heart and the butter on our shoes that directs our steps to God's safe pathway.
--
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
An Advocate Forever
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans - I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live." - John 14:16-19 NLT
This advocate is with us forever. Jesus was here a short time and will return but the Spirit of God is with us forever... forever.
We are not orphans.
We are not without an instructor.
The person with us is not less than Jesus or more than Jesus. He is Sovereign God Almighty.
This is a bond that will not break. It will last forever.
Like the disciples had a history with Jesus we have a history with the Spirit... a fragrance of memory. We don't want to grieve Him or quench Him today. We don't have to to live in worry about that happening either. We have a grace relationship with Him. He is the Spirit of Grace.
The world at large sees something but it doesn't see Him. They hear something but not what He says.
Fills us God.. open our eyes and give us ears that hear 'It is Finished!' echoing through time.. let the words become life.. please move us through our day.
Thank You God!
--
This advocate is with us forever. Jesus was here a short time and will return but the Spirit of God is with us forever... forever.
We are not orphans.
We are not without an instructor.
The person with us is not less than Jesus or more than Jesus. He is Sovereign God Almighty.
This is a bond that will not break. It will last forever.
Like the disciples had a history with Jesus we have a history with the Spirit... a fragrance of memory. We don't want to grieve Him or quench Him today. We don't have to to live in worry about that happening either. We have a grace relationship with Him. He is the Spirit of Grace.
The world at large sees something but it doesn't see Him. They hear something but not what He says.
Fills us God.. open our eyes and give us ears that hear 'It is Finished!' echoing through time.. let the words become life.. please move us through our day.
Thank You God!
--
Friday, November 29, 2013
It Is Finished - Part 9
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." Romans 11:29 ESV
"But the anointing that you received from him abides in you..." 1 John 2:27a ESV
"...the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30b ESV
God does not regret what He has done by grace or what He is doing by grace... His many gifts and many initiations to us.
I was thinking about the anointing oil this morning. It was special unduplicatable oil poured on kings, priests and objects in the holy places.
"Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy." Exodus 40:9 ESV
" 'And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.' And they did according to the word of Moses." Leviticus 10:7 ESV
"He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD." Leviticus 21:12 ESV
The oil speaks of God's Holy Spirit. Once sealed with the Spirit we are considered inside the temple... a part of a holy structure. Just like oil does not sit on the skin and then is gone when washed away. Some gets absorbed into the skin and becomes one with the person.
When we received Christ we became one with Him and what He did. There can be no real and lasting separation. The priests were told not to leave. They could but they were told not to as a picture. We have a work of grace that never leaves us. We are in the temple and the temple is in us... by grace.
The moment the oil touched the man who would be king it sealed the transfer of power (see 1 Samuel 16:13 with David). He was destined to rule. The moment the oil touched the furniture or the priest it or he was made holy. It took shed blood and oil.
At the moment of our salvation... the moment we believed that the death, burial and resurrection was true and for us we were touched and sealed by the Spirit and all kinds of gifts and transfers were made and put on our account. Our destiny was set.
God is going to spend the rest of our lives initiating to us as He sees fit but it will be to open our eyes to what has already happened and based upon what is already finished. The oil is God's finishing touch. We are a finished work also. God loves us just as we are. Our growth and sanctification only changes us into the likeness of what we already have become.
"But the anointing that you received from him abides in you..." 1 John 2:27a ESV
"...the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30b ESV
God does not regret what He has done by grace or what He is doing by grace... His many gifts and many initiations to us.
I was thinking about the anointing oil this morning. It was special unduplicatable oil poured on kings, priests and objects in the holy places.
"Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy." Exodus 40:9 ESV
" 'And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.' And they did according to the word of Moses." Leviticus 10:7 ESV
"He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the LORD." Leviticus 21:12 ESV
The oil speaks of God's Holy Spirit. Once sealed with the Spirit we are considered inside the temple... a part of a holy structure. Just like oil does not sit on the skin and then is gone when washed away. Some gets absorbed into the skin and becomes one with the person.
When we received Christ we became one with Him and what He did. There can be no real and lasting separation. The priests were told not to leave. They could but they were told not to as a picture. We have a work of grace that never leaves us. We are in the temple and the temple is in us... by grace.
The moment the oil touched the man who would be king it sealed the transfer of power (see 1 Samuel 16:13 with David). He was destined to rule. The moment the oil touched the furniture or the priest it or he was made holy. It took shed blood and oil.
At the moment of our salvation... the moment we believed that the death, burial and resurrection was true and for us we were touched and sealed by the Spirit and all kinds of gifts and transfers were made and put on our account. Our destiny was set.
God is going to spend the rest of our lives initiating to us as He sees fit but it will be to open our eyes to what has already happened and based upon what is already finished. The oil is God's finishing touch. We are a finished work also. God loves us just as we are. Our growth and sanctification only changes us into the likeness of what we already have become.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
The Breath of Life
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." John 16:12-15 ESV
There is a person who makes words edify. Nothing is Holy without Him. He is the truth and breath of supply. He is someone who has always been and will always be. By grace he unlocks the treasures of Heaven and gives us what no man or creature could reach or conceive of.
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:4-5 KJV
We passively allow a treasure from God's storehouse to be ours. Life. Life as a gift that flows from the vine to the branch and produces fruit in the form of love. Christ is the doorway by which that treasure flows.
Words that bring an eternal gift are a gift.
The giving of the Spirit is in line with the mind of the Father and the mind of the Son. The Son Is God made flesh and given form according to the Father's plan. The Spirit unveils the invisible Father using the visible Son. Words become a vehicle for Life to be experienced.
"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. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
They are living words because of the person is behind them. The Spirit is like chemist using the periodic table of the alphabet. Letters are formed into words that have structure as vehicles of understanding. The words have someone who sees behind them. The phrases reveal what is seen.
There are other chemists that play with combinations. Their concoctions also have structures that dazzle. Words that are empty and words that are full of that which is not holy. The breath is another breath. Not the Spirit of grace and truth but something else. That Spirit is inhaled and exhaled but life is not it's source and not it's result. Those words are not a gift. They old and lifeless and eventually leave you gasping and dying for lack of air.
"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Luke 11:20 ESV
Jesus is the finger of God reaching in and clearing the air. The Spirit is the fresh wind that blows in from Heaven and banishes the haze so that light can shine on our minds. He fills our lungs so we can breath in sweet air.
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17 ESV
As believers we can inhale words made by the master chemist. Those words become a remedy... a doorway... revealing the lover of men's souls. Then we exhale again what we ourselves have breathed in.
God... Help us... fill us. Enlighten our minds with what you have done so that we bring the fresh breeze of clarity with us wherever we go. By your finger banish the clouds of our self life and the haze of the world. We want to be different even as we are different walking in the finished work of Christ and having words that communicate Life.
There is a person who makes words edify. Nothing is Holy without Him. He is the truth and breath of supply. He is someone who has always been and will always be. By grace he unlocks the treasures of Heaven and gives us what no man or creature could reach or conceive of.
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:4-5 KJV
We passively allow a treasure from God's storehouse to be ours. Life. Life as a gift that flows from the vine to the branch and produces fruit in the form of love. Christ is the doorway by which that treasure flows.
Words that bring an eternal gift are a gift.
The giving of the Spirit is in line with the mind of the Father and the mind of the Son. The Son Is God made flesh and given form according to the Father's plan. The Spirit unveils the invisible Father using the visible Son. Words become a vehicle for Life to be experienced.
"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. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV
They are living words because of the person is behind them. The Spirit is like chemist using the periodic table of the alphabet. Letters are formed into words that have structure as vehicles of understanding. The words have someone who sees behind them. The phrases reveal what is seen.
There are other chemists that play with combinations. Their concoctions also have structures that dazzle. Words that are empty and words that are full of that which is not holy. The breath is another breath. Not the Spirit of grace and truth but something else. That Spirit is inhaled and exhaled but life is not it's source and not it's result. Those words are not a gift. They old and lifeless and eventually leave you gasping and dying for lack of air.
"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Luke 11:20 ESV
Jesus is the finger of God reaching in and clearing the air. The Spirit is the fresh wind that blows in from Heaven and banishes the haze so that light can shine on our minds. He fills our lungs so we can breath in sweet air.
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17 ESV
As believers we can inhale words made by the master chemist. Those words become a remedy... a doorway... revealing the lover of men's souls. Then we exhale again what we ourselves have breathed in.
God... Help us... fill us. Enlighten our minds with what you have done so that we bring the fresh breeze of clarity with us wherever we go. By your finger banish the clouds of our self life and the haze of the world. We want to be different even as we are different walking in the finished work of Christ and having words that communicate Life.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
A Fixture in History
I am sitting and reading chapters in 2 Kings (specifically 8, 9 and 10) as God deals with Damascus and Israel. It is not a pretty picture and Elisha the prophet is woven through these books. At key moments this man of God is used by God as his representative.
In the beginning of chapter 8 we see the Shunammite woman whose son God had restored to life. God takes care of her and gives her a redemptive provision.
"And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, 'My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.' " 2 Kings 8:3-6 ESV
It is a redemptive happy account. But then the narrative shifts to Hazael and Jehu. Both men had dealings with the prophet or men sent by the prophet. These men are bloody men, rulers of that time, and Elisha deals with them but his tone is so different.
Here is his exchange with Hazael...
"So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, 'Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this sickness?' ' And Elisha said to him, 'Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover,' but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.' And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. And Hazael said, 'Why does my lord weep?' He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel...' " 2 Kings 8:9-12a ESV
Then he goes on to describe the horrible things that Hazael will do and Hazael spends his life going and doing them.
Jehu likewise spent his life using what God said through His prophet. Jehu is anointed king at the prophet's command but Jehu's heart is not God's heart. Jehu sees God's word as leverage for his own ambition.
We are not prophets. We are not like Elisha was. Believers in Christ have the same Spirit. The Spirit of God rested on the prophets but now He lives in us. We encounter many people as we walk along the road of life. Some like the Shunammite woman and some like Hazael and Jehu. We will laugh and be filled with joy when people embrace God and His grace and we will cry and stand and watch some use God for leverage not knowing that God is aware of what is in their heart and has a plan to work it out for good anyway.
Elisha is a fixture in history. This is our time to be a fixture. Not a judge but a beacon on the hill shining a light that shows God's character of grace and mercy. We can't change people. We can't even change ourselves.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:4-5
Grace did it in our lives. God knew all our natural tendencies but he gave us a new life and a new hope so that we could have His thoughts. God's thoughts can break the cycle of the old life and make us co-laborers with Christ. What a great privilege that is!
In the beginning of chapter 8 we see the Shunammite woman whose son God had restored to life. God takes care of her and gives her a redemptive provision.
"And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, 'My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.' " 2 Kings 8:3-6 ESV
It is a redemptive happy account. But then the narrative shifts to Hazael and Jehu. Both men had dealings with the prophet or men sent by the prophet. These men are bloody men, rulers of that time, and Elisha deals with them but his tone is so different.
Here is his exchange with Hazael...
"So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, 'Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, 'Shall I recover from this sickness?' ' And Elisha said to him, 'Go, say to him, 'You shall certainly recover,' but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.' And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. And Hazael said, 'Why does my lord weep?' He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel...' " 2 Kings 8:9-12a ESV
Then he goes on to describe the horrible things that Hazael will do and Hazael spends his life going and doing them.
Jehu likewise spent his life using what God said through His prophet. Jehu is anointed king at the prophet's command but Jehu's heart is not God's heart. Jehu sees God's word as leverage for his own ambition.
We are not prophets. We are not like Elisha was. Believers in Christ have the same Spirit. The Spirit of God rested on the prophets but now He lives in us. We encounter many people as we walk along the road of life. Some like the Shunammite woman and some like Hazael and Jehu. We will laugh and be filled with joy when people embrace God and His grace and we will cry and stand and watch some use God for leverage not knowing that God is aware of what is in their heart and has a plan to work it out for good anyway.
Elisha is a fixture in history. This is our time to be a fixture. Not a judge but a beacon on the hill shining a light that shows God's character of grace and mercy. We can't change people. We can't even change ourselves.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ - by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:4-5
Grace did it in our lives. God knew all our natural tendencies but he gave us a new life and a new hope so that we could have His thoughts. God's thoughts can break the cycle of the old life and make us co-laborers with Christ. What a great privilege that is!
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