Yesterday the Lord spoke to me about fathers. This is a difficult subject since I am not a father and I do not want to counsel men on something I don’t know about. Yet, this morning the Lord continued on this subject and I feel a definite leading to share what He is saying.
This lesson began when the Lord reminded me of a dream I had long ago. In that dream a father who had children and grandchildren (you might call him the patriarch of the family) had Thanksgiving dinner at his house. He sat at the head of the table, enjoying all whom he saw. Then his granddaughter came in with her husband and baby. They had traveled there from a distant country, and were very, very skinny. The father was offended at their needs, and when dinner was served they were given nothing to eat.
This may seem like a very sad dream, but it is symbolic. Yesterday the Lord brought the dream to my mind and I heard the father say “How far do I go?” This is what God hears some men ask Him concerning their families. The man in the dream was only able to enjoy his family if they did not have pressing needs. But it was an offensive burden to him when their needs were apparent.
In the times we live in there are many needs amongst our grown children. Because of divorce, there are single mothers. It may seem like too great a burden for the patriarch to take them back under his wings and care for them. And if she is a niece or granddaughter, there may be a great distance between them. How far does a father go in his role as the head of his family? And what kind of protective covering does he offer them?
This morning the Lord had me look at two sets of scripture. In Genesis 18:19 I read about Abraham. This verse states that God knew Abraham would instruct his children and his household in the ways of the Lord. God also knew he would be faithful. Because of this God brought about all He had promised Abraham. From Abraham’s life we see that instruction in the ways of the Lord is highly valued by God. Perhaps in our society of free time and recreation we have lost some of the parental focus on instruction. The worldly viewpoint is that parents should have fun with their children, yet very little is said about instructing them in the ways of righteousness. Yet, the example set in the home will far outweigh that of teachers and Sunday School teachers.
The second scripture is found in Malachi 5:6, where we read that God will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children’s heart to their fathers, or else God will smite the earth with a curse. There are conditions God has set in the family that set the tone for all our society. Godly instruction from the fathers to their children will cause righteousness in the home, which will spread to the society we live in. It is so important that, without the faithfulness of the fathers, a curse will occur instead of a blessing.
I am seeing the hearts of children turn to their fathers. Many are open to instruction and fellowship. This is clearly the Lord’s doing and is a sign of the times we are living in. He will work in families to bring healing and righteousness. God is looking for faithful men. Before we look at the next project we will do for the Lord, let us all look at our families. God’s love, through fathers, is far-reaching, powerful, and sets the foundation for righteousness that future generations will experience. Amen
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Spiritual Ground
In Ephesians 6:13 Paul instructs us to “stand our ground. We put on our armor so that, in the day of evil, we can stand our ground. Have you ever wondered what our ground is? That’s what today’s lesson is about.
In the Old Testament we read about the land God gave the Israelites. It was their inheritance, and they defended their land against invaders. But for us in our times, God has given us each spiritual ground to defend. We live our lives out in a spiritual atmosphere, and how we live our lives determines the inheritance we obtain. Just as the Israelites searched out their boarders to know the extent of what they owned, we also need to search out what God has given us. If we don’t become familiar with what God has given us, then we won’t know what ground to defend, or stand for.
One example of spiritual territory is seen when God gives a man the talent to become a great composer. If that man is uncertain about his gift, it will be hard to convince him to stand against the forces that come against his gift in the circumstances of his life. He may give up composing music when he experiences conflict and opposition, unless he himself is convinced of his gift and calling. What, then, convinces Man of his spiritual territory?
In Acts 17:26-28 we read that God determined the times for us to live on the earth, and the exact locations, or boundaries around us. His purpose was that we would search for and know Him. It is this search that is the key to knowing our God and the ground He has given each one of us. Some men may be content with their surroundings and do not venture out. They are afraid of the unknown and seek to be comfortable with what they know. They find themselves defending their comfortable surroundings against God’s stirrings, for He disturbs them in order to get them to venture out. If a man does not fully inhabit what God has given him, he will build his own little kingdom and live only for himself because his heart does not search for anything better than what he can provide for himself.
A man with adventure in his heart will reach out for God, seeking to know Him in all the circumstances of his life. Because this man goes into the unknown parts of his land he will need the companionship and protection of God. And God will be there with him. The man will be given Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding because God knows he will need them in his ventures, and will use them. And he will be given gifts of the Spirit whereby he can better the lives of others. There will be much more in his territory, and much to defend. (At least this man will not find himself fighting against the intrusions of his God).
Today, let us venture out of what is comfortable to us and all that we know, seeking to find God in the circumstances of our day and to serve Him with the gifts He has called us with. If we meet our enemy, God will be standing with us to defend the ground He gave us. Amen.
In the Old Testament we read about the land God gave the Israelites. It was their inheritance, and they defended their land against invaders. But for us in our times, God has given us each spiritual ground to defend. We live our lives out in a spiritual atmosphere, and how we live our lives determines the inheritance we obtain. Just as the Israelites searched out their boarders to know the extent of what they owned, we also need to search out what God has given us. If we don’t become familiar with what God has given us, then we won’t know what ground to defend, or stand for.
One example of spiritual territory is seen when God gives a man the talent to become a great composer. If that man is uncertain about his gift, it will be hard to convince him to stand against the forces that come against his gift in the circumstances of his life. He may give up composing music when he experiences conflict and opposition, unless he himself is convinced of his gift and calling. What, then, convinces Man of his spiritual territory?
In Acts 17:26-28 we read that God determined the times for us to live on the earth, and the exact locations, or boundaries around us. His purpose was that we would search for and know Him. It is this search that is the key to knowing our God and the ground He has given each one of us. Some men may be content with their surroundings and do not venture out. They are afraid of the unknown and seek to be comfortable with what they know. They find themselves defending their comfortable surroundings against God’s stirrings, for He disturbs them in order to get them to venture out. If a man does not fully inhabit what God has given him, he will build his own little kingdom and live only for himself because his heart does not search for anything better than what he can provide for himself.
A man with adventure in his heart will reach out for God, seeking to know Him in all the circumstances of his life. Because this man goes into the unknown parts of his land he will need the companionship and protection of God. And God will be there with him. The man will be given Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding because God knows he will need them in his ventures, and will use them. And he will be given gifts of the Spirit whereby he can better the lives of others. There will be much more in his territory, and much to defend. (At least this man will not find himself fighting against the intrusions of his God).
Today, let us venture out of what is comfortable to us and all that we know, seeking to find God in the circumstances of our day and to serve Him with the gifts He has called us with. If we meet our enemy, God will be standing with us to defend the ground He gave us. Amen.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The More Excellent Way
Today the Lord began answering one of my unspoken questions, or “wonderings”, namely, “Why in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 is the chapter on love sandwiched in between 2 chapters written about spiritual gifts.” Though all three chapters are rich with meaning, what was the purpose of speaking about gifts, then love, then gifts again? Some have supposed that love is the more excellent gift, but that’s not what is written. Paul writes that love is the “more excellent way” (1 Cor 12:31). Way of what?
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul teaches the church about the gifts of the Spirit and the functioning of those gifts in the body of Christ. Near the end of the chapter he states that the body is to have “equal concern for one another” (1 Cor 12:25). We are getting the picture that the body of Christ is supposed to serve each other in a concerned, or loving way. This segues into the “more excellent way” of serving one another, described in 1 Corinthians 13. Paul was careful to teach the church that how we serve God is important, and includes our treatment of one another. In speaking to the Galatians he wrote that the “thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6).
Paul begins 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with statements about serving God from the wrong motive. He tells us that the end result are that we are ineffective, do not benefit ourselves, and do not benefit others. Then Paul gives us a description of what love behaves like, for love is an expression, and not just a feeling.
1 Corinthians 13 verses 11-12 have been equally puzzling in their placement compared to those around them. They speak of being a child, and then maturing to manhood. A closer look shows that this ties in with how we think, or reason, about love. Herein lies the problem with our relationship with God and with our fellow man; if we are not mature in respect to love, we remain selfish. A child sees God’s love as one that does everything for him, and gives him everything he wants. But these thoughts should be done away with as we mature in God. Instead of having everything done for us, and handed to us, Paul instructs the Christian to “work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Eph 4:28). This is re-stated in other Epistles (1 Thess 4:11 & 2 Thess 3:10). So the childish ways progress to the mature ways, not only from play to work, but in things of the Spirit. This calls for a change in the way we think and reason, adding concern and love of our fellow Man.
It is only right, then, that Paul returns to his discussion about the gifts of the Spirit. He ends 1 Corinthians 13 telling us that three of the gifts, tongues, prophecy, and knowledge, are incomplete. After talking about going from childishness to maturity, Paul continues the theme of the incompleteness of these three gifts, showing that our knowledge is partial, as is our understanding. What makes our service to God and Man complete is love.
Paul wanted Christians to care for each other. We see this in his many passages which use the word “edify”, or “to build up”. He pointed out that prophecy was the most excellent gift because it was the best way to edify someone else. In chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians he instructs us that prophecy edifies the church, and that should be our objective (vs 4 and 12). As our reasoning matures about God’s love for us, it also matures concerning our love for others. We no longer expect God to shower His love and affection on us alone, but desire to share it with others. Our spiritual growth works its way into the things we say and do, including prophecy. Even our every-day speech shows self-discipline as we pare away “unwholesome” speech and seek to speak those things that will edify others (Eph 4:29).
Why is prophecy such a great gift? Because it has the power to edify the believer, and to bring understanding to the unsaved (1 Cor 14:24-25). Speaking the truth is likened to showing love in Proverbs 24:25; “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” The truth contained in prophecy actually reveals God to the unbeliever as the Lord speaks about the contents of his heart through someone who does not know him.
Paul continues to speak about prophecy in the church, but then states that the person who has a revelation should be heard and the one who is prophesying should stop (1 Cor 14:30). Revelation is knowing fully, and therefore supersedes prophecy. Prophecy supplies parts of the knowledge imparted by God: revelation puts all the pieces together. Therefore, the one having revelation can best edify the church.
Paul speaks of the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Wisdom helping the believer to know Jesus better (Eph 1:17). The Christian who is in a childish state grows into maturity by coming to know his Savior better. We know that carnal knowledge “puffs up” (1 Cor 8:1), but spiritual knowledge and wisdom leads to spiritual maturity. Just as in the temporal world we go to school to learn, so in the spiritual world we gain knowledge about God to “grow up”. The child has an incomplete knowledge about love and so must grow in understanding its use. The mature man has an increasing knowledge and a more complete ability to love because this nature of God lives in him (1 Jn 4:16-18). In fact, love begins to “constrain” those who submit to God’s Spirit (2 Cor 5:14-15). Love compels and guides us in a more defined way as we grow, maturing in Christ. We find that we no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ.
God has left instructions for us about how to love and what love is, as well as what the spiritual gifts are and how they should be used. I want to encourage you today to grow in the Lord and in your understanding of love. Love will dwell in us and show us how to love and edify others. Amen
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul teaches the church about the gifts of the Spirit and the functioning of those gifts in the body of Christ. Near the end of the chapter he states that the body is to have “equal concern for one another” (1 Cor 12:25). We are getting the picture that the body of Christ is supposed to serve each other in a concerned, or loving way. This segues into the “more excellent way” of serving one another, described in 1 Corinthians 13. Paul was careful to teach the church that how we serve God is important, and includes our treatment of one another. In speaking to the Galatians he wrote that the “thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal 5:6).
Paul begins 1 Corinthians chapter 13 with statements about serving God from the wrong motive. He tells us that the end result are that we are ineffective, do not benefit ourselves, and do not benefit others. Then Paul gives us a description of what love behaves like, for love is an expression, and not just a feeling.
1 Corinthians 13 verses 11-12 have been equally puzzling in their placement compared to those around them. They speak of being a child, and then maturing to manhood. A closer look shows that this ties in with how we think, or reason, about love. Herein lies the problem with our relationship with God and with our fellow man; if we are not mature in respect to love, we remain selfish. A child sees God’s love as one that does everything for him, and gives him everything he wants. But these thoughts should be done away with as we mature in God. Instead of having everything done for us, and handed to us, Paul instructs the Christian to “work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need” (Eph 4:28). This is re-stated in other Epistles (1 Thess 4:11 & 2 Thess 3:10). So the childish ways progress to the mature ways, not only from play to work, but in things of the Spirit. This calls for a change in the way we think and reason, adding concern and love of our fellow Man.
It is only right, then, that Paul returns to his discussion about the gifts of the Spirit. He ends 1 Corinthians 13 telling us that three of the gifts, tongues, prophecy, and knowledge, are incomplete. After talking about going from childishness to maturity, Paul continues the theme of the incompleteness of these three gifts, showing that our knowledge is partial, as is our understanding. What makes our service to God and Man complete is love.
Paul wanted Christians to care for each other. We see this in his many passages which use the word “edify”, or “to build up”. He pointed out that prophecy was the most excellent gift because it was the best way to edify someone else. In chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians he instructs us that prophecy edifies the church, and that should be our objective (vs 4 and 12). As our reasoning matures about God’s love for us, it also matures concerning our love for others. We no longer expect God to shower His love and affection on us alone, but desire to share it with others. Our spiritual growth works its way into the things we say and do, including prophecy. Even our every-day speech shows self-discipline as we pare away “unwholesome” speech and seek to speak those things that will edify others (Eph 4:29).
Why is prophecy such a great gift? Because it has the power to edify the believer, and to bring understanding to the unsaved (1 Cor 14:24-25). Speaking the truth is likened to showing love in Proverbs 24:25; “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.” The truth contained in prophecy actually reveals God to the unbeliever as the Lord speaks about the contents of his heart through someone who does not know him.
Paul continues to speak about prophecy in the church, but then states that the person who has a revelation should be heard and the one who is prophesying should stop (1 Cor 14:30). Revelation is knowing fully, and therefore supersedes prophecy. Prophecy supplies parts of the knowledge imparted by God: revelation puts all the pieces together. Therefore, the one having revelation can best edify the church.
Paul speaks of the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Wisdom helping the believer to know Jesus better (Eph 1:17). The Christian who is in a childish state grows into maturity by coming to know his Savior better. We know that carnal knowledge “puffs up” (1 Cor 8:1), but spiritual knowledge and wisdom leads to spiritual maturity. Just as in the temporal world we go to school to learn, so in the spiritual world we gain knowledge about God to “grow up”. The child has an incomplete knowledge about love and so must grow in understanding its use. The mature man has an increasing knowledge and a more complete ability to love because this nature of God lives in him (1 Jn 4:16-18). In fact, love begins to “constrain” those who submit to God’s Spirit (2 Cor 5:14-15). Love compels and guides us in a more defined way as we grow, maturing in Christ. We find that we no longer live for ourselves, but for Christ.
God has left instructions for us about how to love and what love is, as well as what the spiritual gifts are and how they should be used. I want to encourage you today to grow in the Lord and in your understanding of love. Love will dwell in us and show us how to love and edify others. Amen
Saturday, September 12, 2009
opposing our enemy
Often times the Lord has given my husband or I a prophetic dream of great significance, but we have not fully understood it. We wonder if we are just dense, or if God is shielding the full meaning from our eyes until an appointed later time. This happened 5 years ago when the Lord have me a dream about soldiers guarding toddlers that were mine. There were about 12 children, and each time I went to pick one up a soldier would intervene, stepping in with his rifle and preventing me from holding my child. When I awoke from my dream I was grieved, and cried. Though I do not have 12 children, I have had many works done in the Spirit which had not come to fruit. I had brought these works to the point of near completion, but it seemed I was repeatedly blocked from raising them to the point of giving them to the church.
Living with so much “fruitlessness” made me very introspective, wondering if I was opposed by God Himself because of pride. I spent endless hours confessing every sin I could find or imagine in myself, but nothing changed. People in the church who initially came along side me to further my works would suddenly lose interest and drop what they were doing. I would have given up altogether, except the Lord encouraged me repeatedly that these works were, in fact, from Him.
Knowing I was doing God’s works, yet seeing them incomplete and blocked, put me in a strange place with God. Do I accuse Him of not doing what He can to complete the works . . . open the doors, send the funds . . . Do I “let go and let God”, laying everything down until He does something . . . or is there something I haven’t thought of that I should do? Recently I have been struggling to complete a project with the same uncanny results of the good help offered being dropped by the friend that offered it. I was stuck. I couldn’t go on and meet the deadline in front of me, and the Lord was verifying that, indeed, it was His deadline. Then the Spirit brought the dream I had 5 years ago to mind, saying “Helen, these are not My soldiers. It is satan’s job to oppose you, but that doesn’t mean he has to win.” I was almost incensed as this reality sunk in; I can fight the soldiers, and win! Why hadn’t I known this before?
When God gave me this dream 5 years ago I was battling a terrible illness that has just begun to go away last year. The Lord pointed out that, as in the dream, sometimes our enemies are too strong for us (Ps 18:17). Since I originally thought God might be opposing me, it was difficult to see that the soldiers were definitely from satan. But over the years God has strengthened me physically with healing, and spiritually with encouragement to finish my works. I came to a crossroads last year, deciding to pursue the completion of 2 of these works, standing in faith that God was with me.
Looking back, I see that the opposition of the enemy can cause us to become bitter at God, or it can bring a strong resolve into our hearts to stand in faith and serve God. The second response took hold in my heart; stand in faith and serve God. It was the resolve of strong faith that I needed in order to put my enemy to flight. 2 days I go I began to resist satan’s soldiers, resolutely standing on the authority of Jesus’ name. Yesterday I received word that the one who had dropped helping me had picked it up again. Not only that, but this person found it much easier to finish the work than she had anticipated. The scope of the war began to broaden for me as I saw that not only was satan opposing God’s works, he was harassing those appointed to do them.
The Lord shared with me that when we take authority over our enemy who opposes our good works, we overcome him. This is spoken about in Revelation 2:27. The Lord gave the overcomers the Rod of Iron. It is an authority to pray against satan’s opposition not just for ourselves, but on a national scale. I see now that our dedication to bringing our works to fruit needs to extend to our brother’s works also. First we need to overcome the enemy who opposes us, not becoming bitter against God but developing a resolve in our hearts to complete what God has given us to do. Then we need to have this same determination that our brothers and sisters will complete their works of God, opposing the enemy who opposes and harasses them. This is the authority God gives to those who are determined to complete His works, who will not be dissuaded by enticements to quit, who will not use the concept of trust to lay down what they do for God thinking that laying down everything is trusting God to do what we ourselves cannot do. God has given us an active role in this warfare, and we will not win if we do not have great resolve in our hearts to do so. When the battle is won in the heart, then the battle will be won around us. Strong enemies test our hearts, but that doesn’t mean they have to win. Amen.
Living with so much “fruitlessness” made me very introspective, wondering if I was opposed by God Himself because of pride. I spent endless hours confessing every sin I could find or imagine in myself, but nothing changed. People in the church who initially came along side me to further my works would suddenly lose interest and drop what they were doing. I would have given up altogether, except the Lord encouraged me repeatedly that these works were, in fact, from Him.
Knowing I was doing God’s works, yet seeing them incomplete and blocked, put me in a strange place with God. Do I accuse Him of not doing what He can to complete the works . . . open the doors, send the funds . . . Do I “let go and let God”, laying everything down until He does something . . . or is there something I haven’t thought of that I should do? Recently I have been struggling to complete a project with the same uncanny results of the good help offered being dropped by the friend that offered it. I was stuck. I couldn’t go on and meet the deadline in front of me, and the Lord was verifying that, indeed, it was His deadline. Then the Spirit brought the dream I had 5 years ago to mind, saying “Helen, these are not My soldiers. It is satan’s job to oppose you, but that doesn’t mean he has to win.” I was almost incensed as this reality sunk in; I can fight the soldiers, and win! Why hadn’t I known this before?
When God gave me this dream 5 years ago I was battling a terrible illness that has just begun to go away last year. The Lord pointed out that, as in the dream, sometimes our enemies are too strong for us (Ps 18:17). Since I originally thought God might be opposing me, it was difficult to see that the soldiers were definitely from satan. But over the years God has strengthened me physically with healing, and spiritually with encouragement to finish my works. I came to a crossroads last year, deciding to pursue the completion of 2 of these works, standing in faith that God was with me.
Looking back, I see that the opposition of the enemy can cause us to become bitter at God, or it can bring a strong resolve into our hearts to stand in faith and serve God. The second response took hold in my heart; stand in faith and serve God. It was the resolve of strong faith that I needed in order to put my enemy to flight. 2 days I go I began to resist satan’s soldiers, resolutely standing on the authority of Jesus’ name. Yesterday I received word that the one who had dropped helping me had picked it up again. Not only that, but this person found it much easier to finish the work than she had anticipated. The scope of the war began to broaden for me as I saw that not only was satan opposing God’s works, he was harassing those appointed to do them.
The Lord shared with me that when we take authority over our enemy who opposes our good works, we overcome him. This is spoken about in Revelation 2:27. The Lord gave the overcomers the Rod of Iron. It is an authority to pray against satan’s opposition not just for ourselves, but on a national scale. I see now that our dedication to bringing our works to fruit needs to extend to our brother’s works also. First we need to overcome the enemy who opposes us, not becoming bitter against God but developing a resolve in our hearts to complete what God has given us to do. Then we need to have this same determination that our brothers and sisters will complete their works of God, opposing the enemy who opposes and harasses them. This is the authority God gives to those who are determined to complete His works, who will not be dissuaded by enticements to quit, who will not use the concept of trust to lay down what they do for God thinking that laying down everything is trusting God to do what we ourselves cannot do. God has given us an active role in this warfare, and we will not win if we do not have great resolve in our hearts to do so. When the battle is won in the heart, then the battle will be won around us. Strong enemies test our hearts, but that doesn’t mean they have to win. Amen.
Friday, September 11, 2009
hardship
Last night I read a letter Paul wrote to Timothy in which he instructs Timothy to endure hardship as a good soldier (2 Tim 2:3-4). Paul went on to say that no soldier who wants to please his master gets entangled in civilian affairs. I remembered the scripture again this morning and thought “Hmm . . . that word hardship rings a bell. Where did I read about a servant and hardship before? Why, it’s the parable of the Talents” (Mt 25:14-30). There were 3 servants given talents, with the idea that when the Master returned he would reward these servants for their faithfulness, with authority. However, one servant thought his master was too hard, so he did nothing with his talent. It seems that the servant in the parable did not like hardship.
I thought about how often we find ourselves entertaining a similar mindset, wanting to avoid the hardness of the task set before us. Since the Bible says we use our talents (or gifts, as Paul calls them) according to the faith God has given us (Rom 12:6), it is apparent that using these gifts can be hard.
What do we have faith for? In our personal lives, it is easy to have faith for our lives to be easy. We have faith for God to provide for us, and faith for Him to open doors of opportunity. Since God is powerful, we can imagine that He could and would do anything for us. This kind of faith isn’t hard.
What we have faith for, or don’t have faith for, tells a lot about our hearts. If our friend is wounded, our faith for their healing seems a good thing. But do we have faith to help them through their day? If our sister is broke and without work it is good to pray with her and have faith that God will provide. But do we have faith to give her money ourselves? Are we ever critical of those in need, thinking that God would fix their problems if only they had more faith? Perhaps what we should ask ourselves is if our faith is convenient and self-serving, or do we have a faith that seeks to please our Master? In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he said that the soldier sought to please his Master.
Paul’s instructions to Timothy included another example of enduring hardship. It is the athlete who has trained to run the race (2 Tim 2:5). Paul states that the athlete will only receive the prize if he runs according to the rules. In this age of grace we often do not think about rules being attached to our faith. What would God be looking for, concerning our faith? What comes to mind is that faith works through love (Gal 5:6). The acts we perform out of faith should come from love. If we look at the nature of love we will see that it suffers a long time, and is kind (1 Cor 13:4a KJV). Suffering sounds like enduring hardship, doesn’t it? Other qualities of love are that love bears with the weak. It values the brother that strays or is offensive, enough to pull him out of the fire (Jude 1:22-23), or seek reconciliation and restoration (Mt 5:23-24). These are hard things to do, and unpleasant. But in faith, working through love, we can do them.
Paul’s third example to Timothy is of a hardworking farmer (2 Tim 2:6). The farmer has worked hard producing a good harvest. He is blessed in his reaping, and that makes the hard work worth it. Bearing good fruit is not only important to God, but to us also. It is the quality of our walk with Him Who created us for good works (Eph 2:10).
In thinking about the soldier, I am reminded that Paul said the soldier would not get entangled in civilian affairs, or “affairs of this life” (KJV). Does it seem to you that the affairs we get sidetracked on might be those activities that are more pleasant than the hard work of our faith? Let us take another look at hardship today, not seeing it as something to avoid, but as a way to use our faith by the enduring power of love. Amen.
I thought about how often we find ourselves entertaining a similar mindset, wanting to avoid the hardness of the task set before us. Since the Bible says we use our talents (or gifts, as Paul calls them) according to the faith God has given us (Rom 12:6), it is apparent that using these gifts can be hard.
What do we have faith for? In our personal lives, it is easy to have faith for our lives to be easy. We have faith for God to provide for us, and faith for Him to open doors of opportunity. Since God is powerful, we can imagine that He could and would do anything for us. This kind of faith isn’t hard.
What we have faith for, or don’t have faith for, tells a lot about our hearts. If our friend is wounded, our faith for their healing seems a good thing. But do we have faith to help them through their day? If our sister is broke and without work it is good to pray with her and have faith that God will provide. But do we have faith to give her money ourselves? Are we ever critical of those in need, thinking that God would fix their problems if only they had more faith? Perhaps what we should ask ourselves is if our faith is convenient and self-serving, or do we have a faith that seeks to please our Master? In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he said that the soldier sought to please his Master.
Paul’s instructions to Timothy included another example of enduring hardship. It is the athlete who has trained to run the race (2 Tim 2:5). Paul states that the athlete will only receive the prize if he runs according to the rules. In this age of grace we often do not think about rules being attached to our faith. What would God be looking for, concerning our faith? What comes to mind is that faith works through love (Gal 5:6). The acts we perform out of faith should come from love. If we look at the nature of love we will see that it suffers a long time, and is kind (1 Cor 13:4a KJV). Suffering sounds like enduring hardship, doesn’t it? Other qualities of love are that love bears with the weak. It values the brother that strays or is offensive, enough to pull him out of the fire (Jude 1:22-23), or seek reconciliation and restoration (Mt 5:23-24). These are hard things to do, and unpleasant. But in faith, working through love, we can do them.
Paul’s third example to Timothy is of a hardworking farmer (2 Tim 2:6). The farmer has worked hard producing a good harvest. He is blessed in his reaping, and that makes the hard work worth it. Bearing good fruit is not only important to God, but to us also. It is the quality of our walk with Him Who created us for good works (Eph 2:10).
In thinking about the soldier, I am reminded that Paul said the soldier would not get entangled in civilian affairs, or “affairs of this life” (KJV). Does it seem to you that the affairs we get sidetracked on might be those activities that are more pleasant than the hard work of our faith? Let us take another look at hardship today, not seeing it as something to avoid, but as a way to use our faith by the enduring power of love. Amen.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
City of God
Today the Lord asked me to write about the Kingdom, the City of God (Heb 11:10). What He told me isn’t a lesson but describes a vision. We can learn a little more about our inheritance, and God’s character when He shares about that which is perfect. Here is what He said;
“You must put all malice away from your heart to see My Kingdom; the City of God (Rev 22:14-15). I have been preparing you for it, for it is real. The government is different in My City. The objectives are different. Where there are projects, a spectrum of light surrounds them (the projects). This holds the knowledge, skill and vision of the project. A mesh connects the light into a sphere, and it contains wisdom, discernment and time . . . for man has not known how to use time. This is given as a gift, this sphere, to men whose calling and training is appointed to it Eph 2:10), and whose faith (Rom 12:6b) attracts them to the project-sphere.
In the City there is rock, laid in layers pressed down through the ages. Those who have stood on the rock each generation have pressed it down until it becomes valuable and men dig for its value. It is given to men in My City to dig, discover, and build with this rich material. It is great truth, and is the Knowledge of God. The rock sparkles because it reflects the light after it is dug up. And so the City is full of light because of the Knowledge of God that men build with (Rev 21:23).
And this knowledge is varied for God cannot be known as one thing. There is the knowledge of His love, which is rose-colored, and knowledge of His sovereignty, which is royal blue. His love of creativity, yellow-green; His passion for truth, crystal white. Like a rainbow is the knowledge about God. Vermillion and chartreuse, Azure and salmon-colored (Rev 21:10-11). There are many colors the human eye has not seen, for there is much about God not known.
There is a road system in the City called “Patience”. On this road system a man is taken through steps carefully planned out, leading him to perfection (James 1:4). Each sign post is waiting to be named by that man’s decision, which is his glory and the glory of the City (the sign posts are at forks in the road). For all are righteous in the City of God and their thoughts are a culmination of experiences and circumstances, yielding decisions wrought in the mind of God. And God Himself loves to read what man has said on this road. He savors the sign posts constructed by the decisions of the men like a father loves a son who is in his own image,” (Mal 3:16-18).
I have inserted scriptures in the above prophecy, for the vision depicts them. May God bless us as we become more acquainted with our inheritance.
“You must put all malice away from your heart to see My Kingdom; the City of God (Rev 22:14-15). I have been preparing you for it, for it is real. The government is different in My City. The objectives are different. Where there are projects, a spectrum of light surrounds them (the projects). This holds the knowledge, skill and vision of the project. A mesh connects the light into a sphere, and it contains wisdom, discernment and time . . . for man has not known how to use time. This is given as a gift, this sphere, to men whose calling and training is appointed to it Eph 2:10), and whose faith (Rom 12:6b) attracts them to the project-sphere.
In the City there is rock, laid in layers pressed down through the ages. Those who have stood on the rock each generation have pressed it down until it becomes valuable and men dig for its value. It is given to men in My City to dig, discover, and build with this rich material. It is great truth, and is the Knowledge of God. The rock sparkles because it reflects the light after it is dug up. And so the City is full of light because of the Knowledge of God that men build with (Rev 21:23).
And this knowledge is varied for God cannot be known as one thing. There is the knowledge of His love, which is rose-colored, and knowledge of His sovereignty, which is royal blue. His love of creativity, yellow-green; His passion for truth, crystal white. Like a rainbow is the knowledge about God. Vermillion and chartreuse, Azure and salmon-colored (Rev 21:10-11). There are many colors the human eye has not seen, for there is much about God not known.
There is a road system in the City called “Patience”. On this road system a man is taken through steps carefully planned out, leading him to perfection (James 1:4). Each sign post is waiting to be named by that man’s decision, which is his glory and the glory of the City (the sign posts are at forks in the road). For all are righteous in the City of God and their thoughts are a culmination of experiences and circumstances, yielding decisions wrought in the mind of God. And God Himself loves to read what man has said on this road. He savors the sign posts constructed by the decisions of the men like a father loves a son who is in his own image,” (Mal 3:16-18).
I have inserted scriptures in the above prophecy, for the vision depicts them. May God bless us as we become more acquainted with our inheritance.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
God's hidden purposes
This morning I painted at church during the worship service. My subject was a “sunburst”, with streams of light pouring through the clouds, and a cross down below. The Lord helped me, but up close I couldn’t tell how I was doing. Later, at my seat, I looked at the painting from a different perspective. “Ah, those look like clouds,” I observed, and was content.
After the service I saw my friend Kathi who said she saw a man’s face in the clouds, and a dove above it. Kathi added, “I thought you must be a really good artist to have planned that.” Explaining that I hadn’t planned it, Kathi had to point out the face and dove to me. My husband also told me that he also had seen these things in the painting.
At lunch the Lord used this experience to illustrate a point to me. “Sometimes you are too close to what I’m doing to see the whole picture. You are so involved in your own part that you can’t see what else I am doing.” I believe that God plans our works out for us ahead of time, and if we learn to follow Him, we will do those works and bear good fruit. Could it be that our works include plans we do not see, even though we perform them?
God needs our hands to be His hands on the earth, but His purposes are hidden in His heart, ready to be revealed at the right time. An example of this is seen in Acts 10 & 11. God has given Peter a vision of reptiles and tells him to “Kill, and eat.” To Peter’s protests the Lord answers “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Peter is told then to take a journey with men he doesn’t know. Peter obeyed the Lord, not knowing God’s purposes. He was taken to Cornelius’ house, where he begins to preach the gospel, and the Holy Spirit falls on the household. Peter then understands that God’s purpose was to grant them salvation. But it wasn’t until Peter returns to the brethren in Jerusalem that the fullness of God’s purpose is discovered there: God has granted all the Gentiles salvation (Acts 11:18). “The original message of “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean,” was not given just to make Peter willing to go where he had not gone before, but show that the Gentiles were included in God’s plans.
We are a body, each member working individually yet all functioning together. Though we do our parts quite well, God has designed the body to work together. I might paint a starburst well enough, but God needs to bring a few more members of the body along to find all that was contained in God’s design. Likewise, one person may prophesy, and another give a Word of Knowledge, each serving the brethren with a piece of God’s message. But the thrill is in coming together with our gifts, whereby we receive the full revelation of what God is saying. Let us seek to see through each other’s eyes this week and perhaps we will discover God’s full purposes in what we do. Amen.
After the service I saw my friend Kathi who said she saw a man’s face in the clouds, and a dove above it. Kathi added, “I thought you must be a really good artist to have planned that.” Explaining that I hadn’t planned it, Kathi had to point out the face and dove to me. My husband also told me that he also had seen these things in the painting.
At lunch the Lord used this experience to illustrate a point to me. “Sometimes you are too close to what I’m doing to see the whole picture. You are so involved in your own part that you can’t see what else I am doing.” I believe that God plans our works out for us ahead of time, and if we learn to follow Him, we will do those works and bear good fruit. Could it be that our works include plans we do not see, even though we perform them?
God needs our hands to be His hands on the earth, but His purposes are hidden in His heart, ready to be revealed at the right time. An example of this is seen in Acts 10 & 11. God has given Peter a vision of reptiles and tells him to “Kill, and eat.” To Peter’s protests the Lord answers “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Peter is told then to take a journey with men he doesn’t know. Peter obeyed the Lord, not knowing God’s purposes. He was taken to Cornelius’ house, where he begins to preach the gospel, and the Holy Spirit falls on the household. Peter then understands that God’s purpose was to grant them salvation. But it wasn’t until Peter returns to the brethren in Jerusalem that the fullness of God’s purpose is discovered there: God has granted all the Gentiles salvation (Acts 11:18). “The original message of “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean,” was not given just to make Peter willing to go where he had not gone before, but show that the Gentiles were included in God’s plans.
We are a body, each member working individually yet all functioning together. Though we do our parts quite well, God has designed the body to work together. I might paint a starburst well enough, but God needs to bring a few more members of the body along to find all that was contained in God’s design. Likewise, one person may prophesy, and another give a Word of Knowledge, each serving the brethren with a piece of God’s message. But the thrill is in coming together with our gifts, whereby we receive the full revelation of what God is saying. Let us seek to see through each other’s eyes this week and perhaps we will discover God’s full purposes in what we do. Amen.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Growing in the Knowledge of God
I don’t change with Man’s understanding of Me. When a man learns more of My ways I don’t suddenly become what he has learned of Me. He has only entered into knowing Me better. When a man knows Me and My ways better then it’s time for him to look back and discover My foundations: My purposes for doing what I am doing. For all that I do comes from Who I Am.
A man should not say that I just suddenly began to move in the way he now understands Me. That is like a four year old discovering that his father does not like him to talk back, therefore he tells people that his father just suddenly became like that. If the four year old had not formerly been disrespectful to his father, he had no occasion to bring out his father’s displeasure. It will take many years for the boy to learn what pleases and what displeases his father.
I have many children in My house who try to define Me. They know very little of My heart, and therefore think I change with each new glimpse they have of My ways. But if they would be humble and admit that their understanding of Me has been flawed, then I would send them the spirit of understanding, of revelation, and of wisdom. Then the ignorant man would grow from glory to glory, not forgetting the knowledge of God, but being transformed by it. Amen
A man should not say that I just suddenly began to move in the way he now understands Me. That is like a four year old discovering that his father does not like him to talk back, therefore he tells people that his father just suddenly became like that. If the four year old had not formerly been disrespectful to his father, he had no occasion to bring out his father’s displeasure. It will take many years for the boy to learn what pleases and what displeases his father.
I have many children in My house who try to define Me. They know very little of My heart, and therefore think I change with each new glimpse they have of My ways. But if they would be humble and admit that their understanding of Me has been flawed, then I would send them the spirit of understanding, of revelation, and of wisdom. Then the ignorant man would grow from glory to glory, not forgetting the knowledge of God, but being transformed by it. Amen
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