Have you ever 'lost favor' with a person or group? One day you are the toast of the town and the next no one wants to give you the time of day. I have. It's an interesting situation.
Here is a passage from the Psalms...
"When I remember God, then I am disturbed; When I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. Selah. You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old,The years of long ago. I will remember my song in the night;I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit ponders: Will the Lord reject forever? And will He never be favorable again? Has His lovingkindness ceased forever? Has His promise come to an end forever? Has God forgotten to be gracious,Or has He in anger withdrawn His compassion? Selah. Then I said, 'It is my grief,That the right hand of the Most High has changed.' " - Psalm 77:3-10 NASB
The right hand of God represents His favor. It is the hand a dignitary raises to greet you and give permission for you to enter his presence. If the hand remains motionless then your audience is rejected.
People give favor because they see something special in a person. They take it away because they thought they were mistaken and are looking elsewhere.
The thing about God is that He is never mistaken. In our grief we think God is fickle like people are but that isn't true.
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:2-4 ESV
God has given everlasting favor to His Son. We have favor by association.
"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 10:32-33 ESV
That announcement is a one time thing. It doesn't fluctuate. The very first moment we believed in Christ and began to function by faith we also gained eternal favor. No one get gets crossed off God's list.
"Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." - Luke 10:19-20 ESV
Our favor with people may fluctuate. Things may be good well for awhile and then they may not but none of that is permanent.
"Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." - Psalm 16:9-11 ESV
Jesus forever sits at God's right hand and those who believe are hidden in that place of eternal favor. That favor will be manifested in the world again and again.
Every time we acknowledge Jesus to men we are making the confession that brought us into the place of favor again. Jesus has completed the work of salvation and has reconciled men to God. God is satisfied and our heart can live in that satisfaction also.
--
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Covering Sins And Exposing Evil
I've been thinking a great deal about God covering us and personal accountability. God covers our mistakes because of Christ. Even our intentional transgressions are covered.
God has other plans for ideologies that oppose Him. He deals directly with people who plan or conspire against Him and those He loves.
"Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool." - Proverbs 17:9-10 ESV
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 18:15-18 ESV
If God has an issue with us He comes alone first and if we will not listen He uses a representative. He is giving us His formula to apply. We proclaim what has been proclaimed in Heaven.
"If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven." - Numbers 15:27-28 ESV
The nation of Israel had an offering for 'unintentional sins.' Jesus has become our once and for all offering. We transgress in ways we can't imagine but God has covered our sin and cast it into the deepest sea (see Micah 7:19).
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:11-12 ESV
"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared." - Psalm 130:3-4 ESV
God has covered sin. Now He wants to break our sin cycles and expose evil plans.
"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out." - Numbers 32:20-23 ESV
"Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops." - Luke 12:2-3 ESV
If you look at these passages in context you see that God is speaking about individuals or groups of people that are planning or conspiring something. God delights in covering us but He also is glad to expose evil and it's intentions.
"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities." - Psalm 51:4-9 ESV
"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone' " - Luke 18:18-19 ESV
Yes. Yes. Yes. I am determined to live a life of transparency before God. Grace makes that easy because I know my performance is not the issue. God's goodness is the issue. Goodness isn't what I bring to the table... humility is all that I have. God forbid that my attitude should echo the attitude of God's enemies by living in a pre-planned cycle.
"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?...
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death... For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." - Romans 7:22-24, 8:1-2, 5 ESV
No condemnation! Shout that from the rooftops. That statement has the power to break any cycle of sin because of the power of the One who covers in the context of Christ's once and for all offering.
--
God has other plans for ideologies that oppose Him. He deals directly with people who plan or conspire against Him and those He loves.
"Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool." - Proverbs 17:9-10 ESV
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 18:15-18 ESV
If God has an issue with us He comes alone first and if we will not listen He uses a representative. He is giving us His formula to apply. We proclaim what has been proclaimed in Heaven.
"If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven." - Numbers 15:27-28 ESV
The nation of Israel had an offering for 'unintentional sins.' Jesus has become our once and for all offering. We transgress in ways we can't imagine but God has covered our sin and cast it into the deepest sea (see Micah 7:19).
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us." - Psalm 103:11-12 ESV
"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared." - Psalm 130:3-4 ESV
God has covered sin. Now He wants to break our sin cycles and expose evil plans.
"But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out." - Numbers 32:20-23 ESV
"Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops." - Luke 12:2-3 ESV
If you look at these passages in context you see that God is speaking about individuals or groups of people that are planning or conspiring something. God delights in covering us but He also is glad to expose evil and it's intentions.
"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities." - Psalm 51:4-9 ESV
"And a ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone' " - Luke 18:18-19 ESV
Yes. Yes. Yes. I am determined to live a life of transparency before God. Grace makes that easy because I know my performance is not the issue. God's goodness is the issue. Goodness isn't what I bring to the table... humility is all that I have. God forbid that my attitude should echo the attitude of God's enemies by living in a pre-planned cycle.
"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?...
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death... For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." - Romans 7:22-24, 8:1-2, 5 ESV
No condemnation! Shout that from the rooftops. That statement has the power to break any cycle of sin because of the power of the One who covers in the context of Christ's once and for all offering.
--
Monday, November 16, 2015
High Value
We are just as valuable to God the Father as the Son of God is.
"And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." - John 14:21b ESV
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." - John 15:9 ESV
Jesus was and Is a representation of God the Father's love and we have become important by association. Believers are His entourage. Where He goes... we go also.
People might say, 'Isn't this true of everyone? Doesn't God love the whole world?'
Yes, God Is love... but God does not know the whole world.
"And someone said to him, 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?'
And he said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out." - Luke 13:23-28 ESV
I want to let people know that they are invited and that there is no limit to God's love but there is a time limit for how long that narrow way will be open. Once through that door there is identity, acceptance and fellowship. Outside of it there is weeping and 'gnashing of teeth.'
--
"And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." - John 14:21b ESV
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." - John 15:9 ESV
Jesus was and Is a representation of God the Father's love and we have become important by association. Believers are His entourage. Where He goes... we go also.
People might say, 'Isn't this true of everyone? Doesn't God love the whole world?'
Yes, God Is love... but God does not know the whole world.
"And someone said to him, 'Lord, will those who are saved be few?'
And he said to them, 'Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'
Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'
But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out." - Luke 13:23-28 ESV
I want to let people know that they are invited and that there is no limit to God's love but there is a time limit for how long that narrow way will be open. Once through that door there is identity, acceptance and fellowship. Outside of it there is weeping and 'gnashing of teeth.'
--
Friday, November 13, 2015
The Soul
We had a great conversation last night and the memory of the discussion got me thinking about and looking up verses about the soul.
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." - Genesis 2:7 KJV
"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." - Proverbs 27:9 ESV
The word translated 'soul' in Genesis 2 and the word translated 'earnest' in Proverbs 27 are both the Hebrew word nephesh (Strong's H5315). Our soul has a form or structure but unlike our body which is made and matter our soul is inter-dimensional. It is more like wind. It has substance and that substance is felt more like an odor or like a breeze is felt on your body or when you look out the wind at the trees and see the leaves move.
We are a soul that has a body. The body ages. The soul does not but the soul does have capacities and incapacitates. It has inter-dimensional form and structure.
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
The word translated 'fainthearted' is the Greek word oligopsychos (G3642) and it can be translated 'small souled'. People can have small souls. There can be damage in the structure of the soul or perhaps it is damage to the connection of the soul to the rest of the person that cuts off the flow. What we see is faintheartedness or as the KJV translates it... feeblemindedness.
A person with no (or little) soul can't cope. Processing reality is diminished or at a low level.
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." - Acts 20:32 KJV
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily," - Colossians 2:6-9 ESV
Words of grace are able to build up. Like nutrition is able to build up our body because it is solid. Grace is able to build up our soul which is timeless.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30 ESV
Yes. In Jesus our soul finds rest.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." - Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
I want to be concerned about a person's soul. I want to have a holistic approach to people and to myself. The body is important but so is the soul.
God please teach us to be mindful of invisible things.
"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." - Proverbs 27:9 ESV
Thank You for being our sweet friend.
--
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." - Genesis 2:7 KJV
"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." - Proverbs 27:9 ESV
The word translated 'soul' in Genesis 2 and the word translated 'earnest' in Proverbs 27 are both the Hebrew word nephesh (Strong's H5315). Our soul has a form or structure but unlike our body which is made and matter our soul is inter-dimensional. It is more like wind. It has substance and that substance is felt more like an odor or like a breeze is felt on your body or when you look out the wind at the trees and see the leaves move.
We are a soul that has a body. The body ages. The soul does not but the soul does have capacities and incapacitates. It has inter-dimensional form and structure.
"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
The word translated 'fainthearted' is the Greek word oligopsychos (G3642) and it can be translated 'small souled'. People can have small souls. There can be damage in the structure of the soul or perhaps it is damage to the connection of the soul to the rest of the person that cuts off the flow. What we see is faintheartedness or as the KJV translates it... feeblemindedness.
A person with no (or little) soul can't cope. Processing reality is diminished or at a low level.
"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." - Acts 20:32 KJV
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily," - Colossians 2:6-9 ESV
Words of grace are able to build up. Like nutrition is able to build up our body because it is solid. Grace is able to build up our soul which is timeless.
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30 ESV
Yes. In Jesus our soul finds rest.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." - Psalm 1:1-6 ESV
I want to be concerned about a person's soul. I want to have a holistic approach to people and to myself. The body is important but so is the soul.
God please teach us to be mindful of invisible things.
"Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel." - Proverbs 27:9 ESV
Thank You for being our sweet friend.
--
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Specific Wisdom
I was thinking this morning about specific reliance upon God... having real proactive reliance where we are seeking Him for specific answers and provisions in circumstances.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV
"This God - his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? - the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." - Psalm 18:30-36 ESV
Maybe we have been conditioned to mentally beat ourselves up or lament our inability but we can revenge that kind of thinking with faith obedience. We can live saying to God, 'God. Teach me how to do this. I am looking for your wisdom and I believe You will show me something today.'
Faith is the blameless way because faith has integrity and accountability.
"And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:8-10 ESV
The highway of holiness is the path of worship and faith reliance. It is walking in a life of expectation. Fools can be redirected there on that highway.
Hard tasks become easier when a professional shows you how to do something. If that coach stays with you until you get a handle on the technique and checks in on you from time to time you begin to look like an expert also.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you... These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:16-17, 25-26 ESV
The Greek word translated helper (or comforter) is parakletos (Strong's G3875). He is here indwelling us to be our coach and defense attorney. He never leaves us or forsakes us. If we lean on the Father in the name of the Son the Spirit will be our support. If we ask the Father in specifics the Spirit will reveal details and methods.
This kind of a mindset coupled with a willingness to open and explore the Bible is a powerful combination.
"You do not have, because you do not ask." - James 4:2b ESV
Thank You God. It is amazing what You have taught me over the years. Today I want to learn. I want to learn how to love. I want to learn how to communicate. Show me how to be a good steward. There are new challenges and I need specific wisdom. Help God. I ask and I know you will answer. Thank You God.
Please help all those who are reading this and asking for Your wisdom. Bless them richly with specifics today and in the weeks to come. Thank You God.
--
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world." - 1 Peter 5:6-9 ESV
"This God - his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? - the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip." - Psalm 18:30-36 ESV
Maybe we have been conditioned to mentally beat ourselves up or lament our inability but we can revenge that kind of thinking with faith obedience. We can live saying to God, 'God. Teach me how to do this. I am looking for your wisdom and I believe You will show me something today.'
Faith is the blameless way because faith has integrity and accountability.
"And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." - Isaiah 35:8-10 ESV
The highway of holiness is the path of worship and faith reliance. It is walking in a life of expectation. Fools can be redirected there on that highway.
Hard tasks become easier when a professional shows you how to do something. If that coach stays with you until you get a handle on the technique and checks in on you from time to time you begin to look like an expert also.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you... These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." - John 14:16-17, 25-26 ESV
The Greek word translated helper (or comforter) is parakletos (Strong's G3875). He is here indwelling us to be our coach and defense attorney. He never leaves us or forsakes us. If we lean on the Father in the name of the Son the Spirit will be our support. If we ask the Father in specifics the Spirit will reveal details and methods.
This kind of a mindset coupled with a willingness to open and explore the Bible is a powerful combination.
"You do not have, because you do not ask." - James 4:2b ESV
Thank You God. It is amazing what You have taught me over the years. Today I want to learn. I want to learn how to love. I want to learn how to communicate. Show me how to be a good steward. There are new challenges and I need specific wisdom. Help God. I ask and I know you will answer. Thank You God.
Please help all those who are reading this and asking for Your wisdom. Bless them richly with specifics today and in the weeks to come. Thank You God.
--
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
What Does God Require?
What does God require of mankind? If we remove transgressions from the picture we are left with this.
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 ESV
But transgressions complicate things don't they? When we step over the line in life there are new requirement that get added. Fines. Penalties.
When Adam sinned death was added to the equation.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 ESV
When Jesus came to Earth He met all of God's requirements in every way. Then in His death He met all of our transgression born requirements also.
"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:10-11 ESV
God has only one demand from people. All other demands have been met. It is the lone requirement that takes sin out of the way so that a real relationship can form on His terms.
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' '... 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.' " - John 3:5-7, 16-17 ESV
We were all born of water. We spent nine months in someone's womb floating in that water. But we must be born of the Spirit by believing in the Son.
Man requires so many things in the name of God and what is right but God has one requirement and He wraps that requirement in a gift and holds that gift out to us and says, 'Please take what my Son has done for you. Take the gift and it will make you clean.'
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 ESV
Now the passage takes on fresh meaning when we have experienced God's grace and mercy. We walk with Jesus now are He knows all about these three things. He does justly. He loves mercy (kindness). He walks humbly and we walk with Him.
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"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 ESV
But transgressions complicate things don't they? When we step over the line in life there are new requirement that get added. Fines. Penalties.
When Adam sinned death was added to the equation.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23 ESV
When Jesus came to Earth He met all of God's requirements in every way. Then in His death He met all of our transgression born requirements also.
"For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." - Romans 6:10-11 ESV
God has only one demand from people. All other demands have been met. It is the lone requirement that takes sin out of the way so that a real relationship can form on His terms.
"Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' '... 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.' " - John 3:5-7, 16-17 ESV
We were all born of water. We spent nine months in someone's womb floating in that water. But we must be born of the Spirit by believing in the Son.
Man requires so many things in the name of God and what is right but God has one requirement and He wraps that requirement in a gift and holds that gift out to us and says, 'Please take what my Son has done for you. Take the gift and it will make you clean.'
"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8 ESV
Now the passage takes on fresh meaning when we have experienced God's grace and mercy. We walk with Jesus now are He knows all about these three things. He does justly. He loves mercy (kindness). He walks humbly and we walk with Him.
--
Monday, November 9, 2015
Two Mysteries
"Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." - 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 ESV
"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way." - 2 Thessalonians 2:7a ESV
There is a mystery that transforms but there is also a mystery that corrupts. The mystery of iniquity involves the emotions. The emotions can get corrupted to the point where people form ideas that go against reason. We see that happening in the world. People betray friendships. They abandon marriages and children. They hurt themselves and others because of hate. It is a mystery. They unite in a hopeless cause against what is good and right and call evil good and good evil.
Then there is the mystery of love and transformation. It is the mystery of redemption. In truth it is the mystery of the resurrection. Christ's resurrection was the first domino to fall in a long string of dominoes. Yet this great coming alive is hidden and misunderstood.
People can live their lives baffled by both of these things. Apart from God there is no explanation.
When Christ is revealed then these mysteries begin to be revealed also. These things don't baffle us. We may not like what we see but we know enough about it to identify it as spiritual and not just natural.
--
"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way." - 2 Thessalonians 2:7a ESV
There is a mystery that transforms but there is also a mystery that corrupts. The mystery of iniquity involves the emotions. The emotions can get corrupted to the point where people form ideas that go against reason. We see that happening in the world. People betray friendships. They abandon marriages and children. They hurt themselves and others because of hate. It is a mystery. They unite in a hopeless cause against what is good and right and call evil good and good evil.
Then there is the mystery of love and transformation. It is the mystery of redemption. In truth it is the mystery of the resurrection. Christ's resurrection was the first domino to fall in a long string of dominoes. Yet this great coming alive is hidden and misunderstood.
People can live their lives baffled by both of these things. Apart from God there is no explanation.
When Christ is revealed then these mysteries begin to be revealed also. These things don't baffle us. We may not like what we see but we know enough about it to identify it as spiritual and not just natural.
--
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