"...for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV
This statement is said in the context of having trouble and seeking relief, answers and the covering we sense will be there when everything falls into place one day.
"For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened - not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee." - 2 Corinthians 5:4-5 ESV
Yes. The Spirit of God is our down payment.
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV
The puzzle pieces don't seem to all be there. We don't know what the future holds but we know Who holds the future.
God's Spirit is here with us. That means the Father and The Son are also present.
We can walk by faith knowing the goodness of God's character and nature.
We can walk in forgiveness by faith.
We can love by faith.
We can read scripture by faith.
We can knock on a door by faith.
We can walk by faith. God is pleased when we walk by faith because God the connection we have with Him can become experiential instead of just remaining theoretical.
Whatever today might hold for us... today is a day we can walk by faith.
--
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Help Our Unbelief
"And someone from the crowd answered him, 'Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.'
And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.'
And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?'
And he said, 'From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.'
And Jesus said to him, 'If you can? All things are possible for one who believes.'
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " - Mark 9:17-24 ESV
Who doesn't identify with that father? This wasn't a new problem. This was an consistant scary problem right in the center of their family that involved one of their children.
Jesus didn't call that generation poor or ignorant. He called them faithless.
He healed the child. The disciples couldn't.
"And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." - Mark 9:29 KJV
We indulge ourselves and we have no power. While we do it we walk by sight and cease to have a deep prayer connection.
Jesus used His liberty to draw near to God.
There is no condemnation for you or for me.
Healing is sovereign. The disciples didn't help anyone. God did. We don't heal anyone... not really. We might help by removing the thing that causes injury. We might help by introducing things that assist in the healing process. God designed our bodies to heal themselves if the conditions are right.
This morning I cry out to God and say, 'I believe; help my unbelief'
God can do many things today. He often chooses to use believing people who are available. The issues people have are so deep inside them... so hidden... so impossible. Jesus is the only one who could ever walk by and actually do something.
" ' ...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." - Matthew 28:20b NKJV
This scripture says 'Amen' and we say, 'Amen' to what the scriptures says.
--
And he answered them, 'O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.'
And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, 'How long has this been happening to him?'
And he said, 'From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.'
And Jesus said to him, 'If you can? All things are possible for one who believes.'
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " - Mark 9:17-24 ESV
Who doesn't identify with that father? This wasn't a new problem. This was an consistant scary problem right in the center of their family that involved one of their children.
Jesus didn't call that generation poor or ignorant. He called them faithless.
He healed the child. The disciples couldn't.
"And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting." - Mark 9:29 KJV
We indulge ourselves and we have no power. While we do it we walk by sight and cease to have a deep prayer connection.
Jesus used His liberty to draw near to God.
There is no condemnation for you or for me.
Healing is sovereign. The disciples didn't help anyone. God did. We don't heal anyone... not really. We might help by removing the thing that causes injury. We might help by introducing things that assist in the healing process. God designed our bodies to heal themselves if the conditions are right.
This morning I cry out to God and say, 'I believe; help my unbelief'
God can do many things today. He often chooses to use believing people who are available. The issues people have are so deep inside them... so hidden... so impossible. Jesus is the only one who could ever walk by and actually do something.
" ' ...and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." - Matthew 28:20b NKJV
This scripture says 'Amen' and we say, 'Amen' to what the scriptures says.
--
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Liberty That Is Produced And Maintained By Christ
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' " - John 8:31-32 ESV
The freedom that knowing Christ produces is contained in the framework of the truth and a willing submission to Christ as a teacher. This freedom is produced and contained by Christ's true words. With Christ at the center the freedom is contained. This is as true for the individual as it is for a society. Without Him the very freedoms Christianity made possible will beat the society or person to pieces.
It is like building a water tower and filling it with water. If you destroy the structure the water will eventually leak, eroding what it is dripping on, or come pouring out and cause damage to whatever is in it's path.
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery... You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness... A little leaven leavens the whole lump... For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another... For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." - Galatians 5:1, 4-5, 9, 13, 17-18 ESV
Rules can't contain or produce freedom. Neither can humanistic man centered values. Left to himself man ruins things. History reveals that fact clearly enough.
If the Christian God produced the freedom why would we think we could maintain or contain it? Because we are proud people.
When liberty begins to fail it is replaced with associations with like-minded people who compliment us while excluding those who don't. We become conditional to protect ourselves.
When we exclude God or add to the message of grace until it is not grace anymore (only a pinch or leaven and time are needed to do that) then we are creating a vacuum that our flesh or some other tyrant will gladly come and fill.
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel... But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:3-6, 11-12 KJV
The society or person that lives in the free gift God has given will be free and will grow progressively in freedom because this message truly is from Heaven and the freedom it produces is regulated by Heaven.
We are naive to think that we can't be drawn away. If it happened in the early Church it can happen to us. Jesus must be our focus and His grace must be our method. Then what He produces has a container that is also maintained by Him.
--
The freedom that knowing Christ produces is contained in the framework of the truth and a willing submission to Christ as a teacher. This freedom is produced and contained by Christ's true words. With Christ at the center the freedom is contained. This is as true for the individual as it is for a society. Without Him the very freedoms Christianity made possible will beat the society or person to pieces.
It is like building a water tower and filling it with water. If you destroy the structure the water will eventually leak, eroding what it is dripping on, or come pouring out and cause damage to whatever is in it's path.
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery... You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness... A little leaven leavens the whole lump... For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another... For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." - Galatians 5:1, 4-5, 9, 13, 17-18 ESV
Rules can't contain or produce freedom. Neither can humanistic man centered values. Left to himself man ruins things. History reveals that fact clearly enough.
If the Christian God produced the freedom why would we think we could maintain or contain it? Because we are proud people.
When liberty begins to fail it is replaced with associations with like-minded people who compliment us while excluding those who don't. We become conditional to protect ourselves.
When we exclude God or add to the message of grace until it is not grace anymore (only a pinch or leaven and time are needed to do that) then we are creating a vacuum that our flesh or some other tyrant will gladly come and fill.
"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel... But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." - Galatians 1:3-6, 11-12 KJV
The society or person that lives in the free gift God has given will be free and will grow progressively in freedom because this message truly is from Heaven and the freedom it produces is regulated by Heaven.
We are naive to think that we can't be drawn away. If it happened in the early Church it can happen to us. Jesus must be our focus and His grace must be our method. Then what He produces has a container that is also maintained by Him.
--
Friday, September 4, 2015
Reassignments
Spaces have uses and the person who has power over the space determines the use of the space. When multiple parties are involved things get interesting. If the person or people with greater power or ownership determine that one occupying the space are not using it as they should or they want other people to use the space they initiate a process to make that happen. The most drastic of these processes is eviction. When eviction happens people are removed by force.
Most of us would probably like to live our life and never be evicted from anywhere or ever have to evict anyone from anywhere. It is drastic thing and if you have ever gone through it you know how hard it can be.
God is the first landlord to evict anyone. He gently evicted Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. Death is an individual eviction that was caused by the fall but was initiated by God. God would rather is be a reassignment or promotion but He Is prepared to evict us eventually if necessary. The space we are presently occupying will eventually be needed for something else. That is how a fallen world works.
You might be reading this and getting evicted from your comfort zone. In one way I am sorry about that because I don't want to cause anyone discomfort but at the same time I think it is necessary for us at times. I need to leave my comfort zone or else I will not grow. I need to visit places I'd rather not go.
I was thinking this morning about grace and eviction.
Earlier I mentioned 'reassignment' and looking at the scriptures it seems clear to me that God wants to reassign us but He will evict us if necessary. He also sees the injustice and brutality of unjustified evictions.
Grace creates an eviction-free zone for us. Oh, How wonderful. But at the same time it serves an eviction notice on everything that is carnal in our lives.
We will never be kicked out of Heaven. God will never leave us. Our place will never be taken away in His kingdom. There is however a different plan for things here on Earth. Redemption often requires rearrangement.
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 ESV
Jesus has met all the conditions for us to have an eviction free zone with God. The requirements have already been met and there is a whole provision packet involved.
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder," - 2 Peter 1:3-13 ESV
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 ESV
Yes... even the Earthly evictions we face become reassignments because God has a plan and that plan will result in good things.
Let's love one another. Comfort zones may get violated but let's love one another through it.
--
Most of us would probably like to live our life and never be evicted from anywhere or ever have to evict anyone from anywhere. It is drastic thing and if you have ever gone through it you know how hard it can be.
God is the first landlord to evict anyone. He gently evicted Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. Death is an individual eviction that was caused by the fall but was initiated by God. God would rather is be a reassignment or promotion but He Is prepared to evict us eventually if necessary. The space we are presently occupying will eventually be needed for something else. That is how a fallen world works.
You might be reading this and getting evicted from your comfort zone. In one way I am sorry about that because I don't want to cause anyone discomfort but at the same time I think it is necessary for us at times. I need to leave my comfort zone or else I will not grow. I need to visit places I'd rather not go.
I was thinking this morning about grace and eviction.
Earlier I mentioned 'reassignment' and looking at the scriptures it seems clear to me that God wants to reassign us but He will evict us if necessary. He also sees the injustice and brutality of unjustified evictions.
Grace creates an eviction-free zone for us. Oh, How wonderful. But at the same time it serves an eviction notice on everything that is carnal in our lives.
We will never be kicked out of Heaven. God will never leave us. Our place will never be taken away in His kingdom. There is however a different plan for things here on Earth. Redemption often requires rearrangement.
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." - Philippians 3:20-21 ESV
Jesus has met all the conditions for us to have an eviction free zone with God. The requirements have already been met and there is a whole provision packet involved.
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder," - 2 Peter 1:3-13 ESV
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 ESV
Yes... even the Earthly evictions we face become reassignments because God has a plan and that plan will result in good things.
Let's love one another. Comfort zones may get violated but let's love one another through it.
--
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Giving God Glory
"Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands." - Isaiah 42:11-12 KJV
Giving glory to God is illumination mixed with recognition.
I love this verse because it reveals different cultures all recognizing God. The city, the village, the island people and mountain people all can see God's illumination and respond with true recognition.
Some will dance and sing and others may have a tendency to be quietly in awe. Some will focus on the practical while another dwells more on the philosophical.
Grace has an appeal to all people of all cultures. Grace is God's chosen method of expression. It is the avenue the God's attributes will be revealed.
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." - Ephesians 1:6 KJV
Grace has been revealed and a recognition of acceptance is the result.
If you look at Jesus in the Gospels He Is every type of healthy personality. In one instance He appears to be an extrovert and in another He looks like an introvert. He relates and influences. He excites and Is strategic.
The island people can relate to Him and so can the mountain people. The wilderness person and the city dweller all can recognize Him and identify with Him in some way.
He Is grace and truth.
Let's give Him glory.
Let's recognize who He Is and not make Him into who we want Him to be. When we function in that which is contrary to His character we cease to give glory to God.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" - Hebrews 12:1-2a KJV
After we see Him we will have something to say. When we see Him as He really Is it will motivate us to action.
Then God will get His glory and we will be in sync with Heaven here on Earth.
--
Giving glory to God is illumination mixed with recognition.
I love this verse because it reveals different cultures all recognizing God. The city, the village, the island people and mountain people all can see God's illumination and respond with true recognition.
Some will dance and sing and others may have a tendency to be quietly in awe. Some will focus on the practical while another dwells more on the philosophical.
Grace has an appeal to all people of all cultures. Grace is God's chosen method of expression. It is the avenue the God's attributes will be revealed.
"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." - Ephesians 1:6 KJV
Grace has been revealed and a recognition of acceptance is the result.
If you look at Jesus in the Gospels He Is every type of healthy personality. In one instance He appears to be an extrovert and in another He looks like an introvert. He relates and influences. He excites and Is strategic.
The island people can relate to Him and so can the mountain people. The wilderness person and the city dweller all can recognize Him and identify with Him in some way.
He Is grace and truth.
Let's give Him glory.
Let's recognize who He Is and not make Him into who we want Him to be. When we function in that which is contrary to His character we cease to give glory to God.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" - Hebrews 12:1-2a KJV
After we see Him we will have something to say. When we see Him as He really Is it will motivate us to action.
Then God will get His glory and we will be in sync with Heaven here on Earth.
--
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Just As I Am... Now And Later
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.' Also he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.' And he said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.' " - Revelation 21:4-8 ESV
"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths." - Genesis 3:4-7 ESV
Over time my view of Heaven has changed.
Many writers write about Heaven as this cure all, fix all pie in the sky place... but we will still be the person we are right now inside. Maybe we don't want that.
"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." - 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 ESV
Adam woke up one morning and life was good and he went to sleep that night and life was bad because his thinking had changed. The fruit gave him forbidden knowledge that he used against himself, his wife and then ultimately God. Things started to decay from that moment on and sin began to add to sin causing ever worsening problems as time passed.
Jesus did something amazing when He redeemed us.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:28-31 ESV
If we have received Christ then God has given us an identity in Heaven and we are not spiraling up to meet that identity. We are that person. It is just hidden in a body that hasn't been redeemed yet.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 ESV
Adam hated himself. If we know God then we have no reason to live that way anymore. Adam blamed others for his actions. We have no reason to do that anymore because of what Jesus has done.
"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV
Yes. What a glorious day that will be. That day does give us hope.
Today we don't have to live hoping that day will come to change us and fix everything. We can live in the present reality of the new nature. Yes. There is still pain and sorrow to deal with.
Adam was grumbling before he left the garden and got much more to grumble about. We can praise God when we are still on the Earth expecting that it won't be long before we are surrounded by glory all the time.
Living in grace uncovers who people really are now. Heaven will make that which is invisible visible... death will harden the mold of the decisions we have made in this life forever.
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 12:2-3 ESV
Living in the truth now will add more light to what we see later.
--
"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.' So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths." - Genesis 3:4-7 ESV
Over time my view of Heaven has changed.
Many writers write about Heaven as this cure all, fix all pie in the sky place... but we will still be the person we are right now inside. Maybe we don't want that.
"But, as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." - 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 ESV
Adam woke up one morning and life was good and he went to sleep that night and life was bad because his thinking had changed. The fruit gave him forbidden knowledge that he used against himself, his wife and then ultimately God. Things started to decay from that moment on and sin began to add to sin causing ever worsening problems as time passed.
Jesus did something amazing when He redeemed us.
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:28-31 ESV
If we have received Christ then God has given us an identity in Heaven and we are not spiraling up to meet that identity. We are that person. It is just hidden in a body that hasn't been redeemed yet.
"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 ESV
Adam hated himself. If we know God then we have no reason to live that way anymore. Adam blamed others for his actions. We have no reason to do that anymore because of what Jesus has done.
"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." - 1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV
Yes. What a glorious day that will be. That day does give us hope.
Today we don't have to live hoping that day will come to change us and fix everything. We can live in the present reality of the new nature. Yes. There is still pain and sorrow to deal with.
Adam was grumbling before he left the garden and got much more to grumble about. We can praise God when we are still on the Earth expecting that it won't be long before we are surrounded by glory all the time.
Living in grace uncovers who people really are now. Heaven will make that which is invisible visible... death will harden the mold of the decisions we have made in this life forever.
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." - Daniel 12:2-3 ESV
Living in the truth now will add more light to what we see later.
--
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Birds In The Tabernacle Of God
In David's time there was no temple yet. There was a tabernacle. It was a kind of elaborate pitched tent. The tabernacle, unlike the temple, could be moved from place to place.
At the time this Psalm was written David was troubled and he went to go visit the tabernacle to find God. Once there he sees that birds have made their nest in the tabernacle and they are singing and enjoying themselves in simplicity.
"To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah" - Psalm 84:1-8 ESV
David is going through a valley but this demonstration of nature finding a refuge in God's house showed him a picture of the refuge we can find in His house.
The valley of weeping is a real place that we face as individuals. Locations can come to represent valleys. Places can have a spirit of defeat and sadness.
David went to find God and found God's place to be a place of birds singing.
The doctrine of God's grace is a place where our mind can go and find birds nesting. Jesus came as the embodiment of grace and truth. He healed all that he came in contact with... rich or poor... young or old... good or bad. He died on a cross and opened the doors of Heaven and gave men and women citizenship. He gives favor apart from merit. We can fail a thousand times and He will receive us as freely and openly as He did the first time we came to Him. Grace. Our mind can make a nest there and find shelter there.
"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." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
The thing about the tabernacle is that it can move. It isn't a fixed temple or mountain. The tabernacle can come to the valley and represent the mountain there. When grace teaching comes pools form from the springs of living water. Birds find the tabernacle and make their nest.
Oh, People need the tabernacle. Places need the tabernacle of fellowship. There are plenty of dead buildings in these valleys. No one needs another dead building but people need the refuge of grace. They need to retrace the steps of Christ and explore His mind. They need a safe place to come to on the Earth. A place free of judgement. A place to grow and raise their young.
Our valleys are real valleys. The tabernacle is the answer. Learning and remembering grace is the answer. Drawing near to people who live in grace is a real provision.
God help us. We can get so self absorbed that we abandon our provision. There is a whole world of places that need tabernacles out there. Help us God. Give us a vision and a provision to go out and sow the seed you have given us.
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At the time this Psalm was written David was troubled and he went to go visit the tabernacle to find God. Once there he sees that birds have made their nest in the tabernacle and they are singing and enjoying themselves in simplicity.
"To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!
Selah
Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah" - Psalm 84:1-8 ESV
David is going through a valley but this demonstration of nature finding a refuge in God's house showed him a picture of the refuge we can find in His house.
The valley of weeping is a real place that we face as individuals. Locations can come to represent valleys. Places can have a spirit of defeat and sadness.
David went to find God and found God's place to be a place of birds singing.
The doctrine of God's grace is a place where our mind can go and find birds nesting. Jesus came as the embodiment of grace and truth. He healed all that he came in contact with... rich or poor... young or old... good or bad. He died on a cross and opened the doors of Heaven and gave men and women citizenship. He gives favor apart from merit. We can fail a thousand times and He will receive us as freely and openly as He did the first time we came to Him. Grace. Our mind can make a nest there and find shelter there.
"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." - Hebrews 12:22-24 ESV
The thing about the tabernacle is that it can move. It isn't a fixed temple or mountain. The tabernacle can come to the valley and represent the mountain there. When grace teaching comes pools form from the springs of living water. Birds find the tabernacle and make their nest.
Oh, People need the tabernacle. Places need the tabernacle of fellowship. There are plenty of dead buildings in these valleys. No one needs another dead building but people need the refuge of grace. They need to retrace the steps of Christ and explore His mind. They need a safe place to come to on the Earth. A place free of judgement. A place to grow and raise their young.
Our valleys are real valleys. The tabernacle is the answer. Learning and remembering grace is the answer. Drawing near to people who live in grace is a real provision.
God help us. We can get so self absorbed that we abandon our provision. There is a whole world of places that need tabernacles out there. Help us God. Give us a vision and a provision to go out and sow the seed you have given us.
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