The other day during a worship service the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart “I want to make you a promise.” Waiting for a prophetic declaration, I was surprised when He began with “I will love you always.” As He proceeded, I felt like a bride hearing her groom say his wedding vows. The Lord spoke of His faithfulness as a provider and protector, and of giving me His name. His ending phrase was “I will delight in you, never tiring of your voice or who you are.” I was given the feeling that, even when I am old and gray, His love will burn bright for me. My Groom’s love made me feel secure.
How often do we think of God’s love as fragile, as if our weaknesses would cause Him to turn away from us, or those we care about? Last night while praying for a saint the Lord continued speaking about His own commitment. Here is what He said;
I value My vows to My people and do not easily turn away from them. My vows are as strong as My nature and do not solely depend on Man’s goodness. I cannot expect Man to be as good as I am, yet because of My constancy, some will change to become like Me. It is like a father who sows good seeds into his child, knowing that when he is old, he will not turn away from it. I sow My seeds in hope, for I am that Father.
Though we cannot see the work of the Father, yet He is watering the precious seeds He has sown in us all. If God can have hope, we can also. He is strongly committed to bringing a harvest of righteousness in His people, and a harvest of souls in this world. Perhaps we will never know the depth of His love towards us in this life, but it is real. His commitment to us as a Father and a Groom are earthly pictures of His heavenly love. He will not fail us, nor tire of who we are. He delights in His people and has chosen us just like a groom has chosen his bride. It is a forever commitment . . . one in which love and goodness grow and grow. Fragile? God is not capable of a fragile, easily offended love. He would not ask us to do something He cannot do but patterns earthly love after His love. God’s love is patient and kind . . . not selfishly seeking His own way but suffering wrong, bearing, hoping, and enduring all things for us. It never fails (from 1 Cor 13:4-8).
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
imagination
Man’s Image
God made Man in His image. He put His attributes in us to varying degrees. Because of the Fall we have lost touch with His nature in us. Through the operation of His Holy Spirit we find His nature again.
Imagination - The mind of Man has capabilities to envision, or imagine what does not exist in this world. We call this the imagination. It allows us to plan, piecing together from knowledge and past experiences what may become possible. Our imagination is a facility in our mind that enables us to have vision for what can be.
Our imagination can also be used for other things, such as entertainment. We call that “day dreaming”. Another thing we can do with our imagination is evaluate ourselves, which can be seen as “inflating our ego”, or seeing ourselves in a “bad light”. We begin to compare ourselves against other people (2 Cor 10:12) or evaluate others according to worldly standards (2 Cor 5:16).
The Bible mentions our capability to have “vain imaginations (Rm 1:21). This comes from seeing patterns (retrospect) and possibilities (real or imagined). The basis for vain imaginations can be pride or lust . . . they can be intellectual or sensual. Vain imaginations can also be spiritual and lead one to deception (Ez 13:2,17). Our ability to imagine can work to pollute our mind, or can be lit up by the Holy Spirit to enable us to see through the eyes of faith. This is what Paul referred to when he prayed that the “eyes of (our) understanding be opened”. The comprehension of our inheritance begins with our ability to “see” what Christ has done for us in the past, what He has for us currently, and what He is working in us and through us toward the future. This experience of being His child, filled with His light, is then coupled with this knowledge and helps us to perceive, imagine, and know small glimpses of what is to come. Strong’s Concordance – imagine; weave, contrive, conceive, invent. It is a function of the mind of Man.
How do we guard against the wrongful use of our imagination (vain imaginations)? We are warned that we will become deceived if we do not have a love of the truth (1 Cor 13:6, 2 Thess 2:10). King David prayed that the Lord would clear him of presumptuous sins (Psalm 19:13; see also Deut 18:22). Love of the truth is an operation of the heart. Guarding the mind against vanity is an operation of the Mind, coupled with the Word of God. Paul describes this as a war, instructing us to “pull down” pretenses that exalt themselves against the truth (2 Cor 10:3-5). Just as the Holy Spirit is the One Who brings truth to us, so we have a responsibility to guard and value that truth against the vanity of our fleshly imaginations.
Another instruction of Paul’s is to “put away childish things”, and he mentions thinking, reasoning, and talking (1 Cor 13:11). Childishness carries a lack of true estimation of our character and skill because it lacks experience needed. A child may hold great hopes and dreams in his heart, and can hear God’s Spirit speaking to him. But childish thinking lacks the ability to “see” the depth that God has for him. So, we are admonished to “grow up into Him”, Christ.
Godliness - God’s ways are based on His character. He has not changed. We read about His love of obedience and holiness, and hatred of evil and sin. He wants us to be like Him and so provided a way for this to happen. What He provides for is seen in His Word, and in His actions. Godliness is incorporating God’s ways into our lives. We see His provision for us when we receive our spiritual daily bread and so we in turn provide physical bread daily for our families or others. We receive His grace and mercy and so we give grace and mercy. These things are an outward show of godliness.
Young men may dream of being a super hero. Their courage remains in their imagination until tested against risks to their own safety. David passed these tests with the lion and bear. When accused by his brother of being vain or proud (boasting that he could defeat Goliath), David brought his past experiences of defeating wild beasts as his defense. These experiences were evidence that he wasn’t being vain in his imagination, and that he indeed had the skill to defeat Goliath. David’s skill, coupled with godliness (his indignation at the “uncircumcised Philistine”) caused his ability to enter into the realm of doing God’s will . . . accomplishing God’s purpose. David became a “super hero” of his time, and a hero of faith for all time.
Back to imagination; we let our imagination prepare us for what might be or what is coming up. Our thought-life reaches out to assess situations which might be risky, or glamorous. If we are not the “super hero” type, or even just a plain hero, fear may be guiding our imagination, and a desire to be safe will lead us away from faith. We will construct rules to protect ourselves and eventually rely on ourselves or other people deemed safe and more capable rather than rely on God. We will become skewed towards our perception of past experiences and lose our visionary capability. However, if knowledge is the basis of our imagination, we will search our past experiences for “success stories” in which to base our future actions. We can be like David and have an honest estimation of our past actions, or we can have a poor estimation of ourselves based on intimidations from others. Or, we can have pride; an inflated estimation of our capabilities. Again, the battle must be fought according to Paul’s instructions in 2 Corinthians (10:3-5) with the weapons of the Spirit. Instead of letting our own imaginations prepare us for what is to come, God wants to prepare us. God alone knows our heart and true capabilities (see 1 Cor 3). He alone can lead us to our first lion or bear, and He alone can appoint our giants. In our desire to know about and feel safe in our future events we must not allow our imaginations to lead us. The preparations of the Lord are faithful. He will give us the knowledge we need in His timing and help us to keep our hearts in trust of Him. Then our minds will become like the mind of Christ, and what we have imagined will become founded by faith and followed by action.
God made Man in His image. He put His attributes in us to varying degrees. Because of the Fall we have lost touch with His nature in us. Through the operation of His Holy Spirit we find His nature again.
Imagination - The mind of Man has capabilities to envision, or imagine what does not exist in this world. We call this the imagination. It allows us to plan, piecing together from knowledge and past experiences what may become possible. Our imagination is a facility in our mind that enables us to have vision for what can be.
Our imagination can also be used for other things, such as entertainment. We call that “day dreaming”. Another thing we can do with our imagination is evaluate ourselves, which can be seen as “inflating our ego”, or seeing ourselves in a “bad light”. We begin to compare ourselves against other people (2 Cor 10:12) or evaluate others according to worldly standards (2 Cor 5:16).
The Bible mentions our capability to have “vain imaginations (Rm 1:21). This comes from seeing patterns (retrospect) and possibilities (real or imagined). The basis for vain imaginations can be pride or lust . . . they can be intellectual or sensual. Vain imaginations can also be spiritual and lead one to deception (Ez 13:2,17). Our ability to imagine can work to pollute our mind, or can be lit up by the Holy Spirit to enable us to see through the eyes of faith. This is what Paul referred to when he prayed that the “eyes of (our) understanding be opened”. The comprehension of our inheritance begins with our ability to “see” what Christ has done for us in the past, what He has for us currently, and what He is working in us and through us toward the future. This experience of being His child, filled with His light, is then coupled with this knowledge and helps us to perceive, imagine, and know small glimpses of what is to come. Strong’s Concordance – imagine; weave, contrive, conceive, invent. It is a function of the mind of Man.
How do we guard against the wrongful use of our imagination (vain imaginations)? We are warned that we will become deceived if we do not have a love of the truth (1 Cor 13:6, 2 Thess 2:10). King David prayed that the Lord would clear him of presumptuous sins (Psalm 19:13; see also Deut 18:22). Love of the truth is an operation of the heart. Guarding the mind against vanity is an operation of the Mind, coupled with the Word of God. Paul describes this as a war, instructing us to “pull down” pretenses that exalt themselves against the truth (2 Cor 10:3-5). Just as the Holy Spirit is the One Who brings truth to us, so we have a responsibility to guard and value that truth against the vanity of our fleshly imaginations.
Another instruction of Paul’s is to “put away childish things”, and he mentions thinking, reasoning, and talking (1 Cor 13:11). Childishness carries a lack of true estimation of our character and skill because it lacks experience needed. A child may hold great hopes and dreams in his heart, and can hear God’s Spirit speaking to him. But childish thinking lacks the ability to “see” the depth that God has for him. So, we are admonished to “grow up into Him”, Christ.
Godliness - God’s ways are based on His character. He has not changed. We read about His love of obedience and holiness, and hatred of evil and sin. He wants us to be like Him and so provided a way for this to happen. What He provides for is seen in His Word, and in His actions. Godliness is incorporating God’s ways into our lives. We see His provision for us when we receive our spiritual daily bread and so we in turn provide physical bread daily for our families or others. We receive His grace and mercy and so we give grace and mercy. These things are an outward show of godliness.
Young men may dream of being a super hero. Their courage remains in their imagination until tested against risks to their own safety. David passed these tests with the lion and bear. When accused by his brother of being vain or proud (boasting that he could defeat Goliath), David brought his past experiences of defeating wild beasts as his defense. These experiences were evidence that he wasn’t being vain in his imagination, and that he indeed had the skill to defeat Goliath. David’s skill, coupled with godliness (his indignation at the “uncircumcised Philistine”) caused his ability to enter into the realm of doing God’s will . . . accomplishing God’s purpose. David became a “super hero” of his time, and a hero of faith for all time.
Back to imagination; we let our imagination prepare us for what might be or what is coming up. Our thought-life reaches out to assess situations which might be risky, or glamorous. If we are not the “super hero” type, or even just a plain hero, fear may be guiding our imagination, and a desire to be safe will lead us away from faith. We will construct rules to protect ourselves and eventually rely on ourselves or other people deemed safe and more capable rather than rely on God. We will become skewed towards our perception of past experiences and lose our visionary capability. However, if knowledge is the basis of our imagination, we will search our past experiences for “success stories” in which to base our future actions. We can be like David and have an honest estimation of our past actions, or we can have a poor estimation of ourselves based on intimidations from others. Or, we can have pride; an inflated estimation of our capabilities. Again, the battle must be fought according to Paul’s instructions in 2 Corinthians (10:3-5) with the weapons of the Spirit. Instead of letting our own imaginations prepare us for what is to come, God wants to prepare us. God alone knows our heart and true capabilities (see 1 Cor 3). He alone can lead us to our first lion or bear, and He alone can appoint our giants. In our desire to know about and feel safe in our future events we must not allow our imaginations to lead us. The preparations of the Lord are faithful. He will give us the knowledge we need in His timing and help us to keep our hearts in trust of Him. Then our minds will become like the mind of Christ, and what we have imagined will become founded by faith and followed by action.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Adornment
Sometimes our heavenly Father shows us how to better relate to him by focusing on our relationships on earth. We understand our earthly relationships by the responses we get back during times of interaction, and by long-term growth. As a married woman I have often noticed that I treat the Lord and my husband the same. For instance, when I feel that things aren’t going in a fair way at home, I also think that the Lord is being unfair with me. Last month the Lord began a lesson with me on just such a topic; wife-to-husband correlating with my relationship with the Lord. My purpose in sharing this lesson is to encourage all women in their relationships both with the Lord and with the ones they love here on the earth. May we all grow in the things of love that we adorn our heart with. Here's the lesson;
As a Christian, I thought that putting things in my hair would be considered extravagant. Paul suggested that women should not adorn themselves outwardly, but with good deeds (1 Tim 2:9,10). Peter said that a wife’s beauty should come from a gentle and quiet spirit, and not from outward adornment (1 Pet 3:3,4). This morning as I reflected on the fact that I used to have more encounters with the Lord than recently, He said, “I still walk with you, Helen. You just have not surrounded yourself with the things of love.” My first impression was seeing a bride, with beautiful ribbons in her hair. You can imagine my surprise. I was given the understanding that the Bridegroom’s presence would be drawn to the provision we, as a Bride, make for Him out of the love in our hearts. But what were the “things of love” that I needed to surround myself with?
Revelation 21 came to mind, where I read that the Bride adorned herself with her jewels (21:3). I could now see jewels and perfume added to my picture of the bride with ribbons in her hair. We are the fragrance of Christ, and His beloved (us) has perfume (Song of Songs 1:12). “These are the ‘things of love’ a bride does to let her groom know He is special,” came the Holy Spirit’s thoughts. “They represent time set aside in affectionate thought towards the one who is loved.” What seemed to linger were the words “time set aside” and “affectionate thought.”
A woman who loves a man spends time in thought about him. She learns his likes and dislikes, and speaks, acts, and dresses to please him. In looking at our relationship with Jesus, my thoughts went to time spent in worship, prayer, and devotionals. I expected the Lord to add something to this list, when He turned my attention to Dave, my husband. “What would the inner adornment of your heart look like for him?” the Holy Spirit said. “The ribbon would be______________ and the jewels ___________________. The fragrance ____________________.” With each symbolic adornment, the Lord brought to mind an adornment of my heart which was personal for my husband. What Dave would like is
• Time alone to process his thoughts
• Shared contemplative conversation after processing time
• Space to sort through his physical stuff
• Support and encouragement to be who he is
• Faith to see him as the man he will become
• Calling him a “good man” and assigning the motives of his heart to righteousness
• Letting my words be reminders of past strengths and victories
Being sensitive to Jesus is the beginning of having a heart to reach out and share His love with others. In a marriage, or any love relationship, we learn to share a personal love with the other person. It brings out the good in them by showing their worth. Listening, noticing small things, and remembering significant meaningful details are some of the ways we can make another persona feel valuable.
Last night I watched an action film with my hubbie. Movies are one way he stirs his mind up to think about life. He is contemplative afterwards and we have great conversations, if I make myself available. It takes a greater sensitivity to be present when my mind would rather do other things. That’s when “affectionate thought” comes into play. The Strong’s Concordance defines affection as “inward affection + tender mercy”, and “bowels”. I remember times when I just didn’t have it “in” me to watch a movie that I wasn’t interested in, and perhaps it hasn’t always been necessary to do so. But to have that deep affection in us . . . so deep that we call it our “bowels”, is important. This kind of affection is not critical, judging the harm of an action or the necessity of doing more important things. It is merciful, and comes along-side the person we love in kindness, adorning our hearts with the ministry of the “things of love.”
I see this as a partial list that will grow with time . . . time spent in affectionate thought. It is a lesson in valuing the person I say I love most on this earth. And the nice thing about learning to love our husbands is that we will also learn how to be adorned with the “things of love” for our Bridegroom, Jesus.
I remember wondering what the “things of love” were that I had forgotten, concerning the Lord. Since this lesson began I have put some things back into place that I know He treasures. The ribbon in my hair is time spent responding to His call spontaneously, when it is inconvenient to me. My perfume is preferring His counsel over the counsel of my heart. And the jewels I am adding are the precious words He has spoken in the past, placed in the setting of my own faith that God will surely be faithful towards all He has spoken. Seeing God as valuable, superior, and having the greatest of integrity has helped me to also see these attributes in my husband. I believe this lesson will travel in ever-widening circles, and hope it does the same for you. God bless, Helen
As a Christian, I thought that putting things in my hair would be considered extravagant. Paul suggested that women should not adorn themselves outwardly, but with good deeds (1 Tim 2:9,10). Peter said that a wife’s beauty should come from a gentle and quiet spirit, and not from outward adornment (1 Pet 3:3,4). This morning as I reflected on the fact that I used to have more encounters with the Lord than recently, He said, “I still walk with you, Helen. You just have not surrounded yourself with the things of love.” My first impression was seeing a bride, with beautiful ribbons in her hair. You can imagine my surprise. I was given the understanding that the Bridegroom’s presence would be drawn to the provision we, as a Bride, make for Him out of the love in our hearts. But what were the “things of love” that I needed to surround myself with?
Revelation 21 came to mind, where I read that the Bride adorned herself with her jewels (21:3). I could now see jewels and perfume added to my picture of the bride with ribbons in her hair. We are the fragrance of Christ, and His beloved (us) has perfume (Song of Songs 1:12). “These are the ‘things of love’ a bride does to let her groom know He is special,” came the Holy Spirit’s thoughts. “They represent time set aside in affectionate thought towards the one who is loved.” What seemed to linger were the words “time set aside” and “affectionate thought.”
A woman who loves a man spends time in thought about him. She learns his likes and dislikes, and speaks, acts, and dresses to please him. In looking at our relationship with Jesus, my thoughts went to time spent in worship, prayer, and devotionals. I expected the Lord to add something to this list, when He turned my attention to Dave, my husband. “What would the inner adornment of your heart look like for him?” the Holy Spirit said. “The ribbon would be______________ and the jewels ___________________. The fragrance ____________________.” With each symbolic adornment, the Lord brought to mind an adornment of my heart which was personal for my husband. What Dave would like is
• Time alone to process his thoughts
• Shared contemplative conversation after processing time
• Space to sort through his physical stuff
• Support and encouragement to be who he is
• Faith to see him as the man he will become
• Calling him a “good man” and assigning the motives of his heart to righteousness
• Letting my words be reminders of past strengths and victories
Being sensitive to Jesus is the beginning of having a heart to reach out and share His love with others. In a marriage, or any love relationship, we learn to share a personal love with the other person. It brings out the good in them by showing their worth. Listening, noticing small things, and remembering significant meaningful details are some of the ways we can make another persona feel valuable.
Last night I watched an action film with my hubbie. Movies are one way he stirs his mind up to think about life. He is contemplative afterwards and we have great conversations, if I make myself available. It takes a greater sensitivity to be present when my mind would rather do other things. That’s when “affectionate thought” comes into play. The Strong’s Concordance defines affection as “inward affection + tender mercy”, and “bowels”. I remember times when I just didn’t have it “in” me to watch a movie that I wasn’t interested in, and perhaps it hasn’t always been necessary to do so. But to have that deep affection in us . . . so deep that we call it our “bowels”, is important. This kind of affection is not critical, judging the harm of an action or the necessity of doing more important things. It is merciful, and comes along-side the person we love in kindness, adorning our hearts with the ministry of the “things of love.”
I see this as a partial list that will grow with time . . . time spent in affectionate thought. It is a lesson in valuing the person I say I love most on this earth. And the nice thing about learning to love our husbands is that we will also learn how to be adorned with the “things of love” for our Bridegroom, Jesus.
I remember wondering what the “things of love” were that I had forgotten, concerning the Lord. Since this lesson began I have put some things back into place that I know He treasures. The ribbon in my hair is time spent responding to His call spontaneously, when it is inconvenient to me. My perfume is preferring His counsel over the counsel of my heart. And the jewels I am adding are the precious words He has spoken in the past, placed in the setting of my own faith that God will surely be faithful towards all He has spoken. Seeing God as valuable, superior, and having the greatest of integrity has helped me to also see these attributes in my husband. I believe this lesson will travel in ever-widening circles, and hope it does the same for you. God bless, Helen
Sunday, February 14, 2010
preparation
We see God through the things He says and does. As people created in His image, we want to relate to Him through the ways we know Him about Him. His Word tells us that knowledge of His glory will one day cover the earth like the waters cover the seas (Hab 2:14). It’s God intention that He give us this knowledge. He daily gives us messages, or manna, to teach us His ways. This Word is revealed to our spirits by the Holy Spirit and causes the listener to know a little more about God each day.
Besides being instructed in God’s character, we are instructed in God’s ways. He involves us in works, which He has predestined for us to walk in (Eph 2:10). To find these works, we need to know where He wants us to go. We need signposts along the road to mark the validity of our way and tell us when to turn. God provides both instruction and direction in the messages He gives us daily. These prepare us to be more like His character, and to find the works we are to do in our lives. In order for us to know how to relate to God we study His Word. In order to know how to relate to the events in our lives, we study His Word also; His daily revealed Word.
God’s daily revealed Word prepares us. You might say that it is like the day of Preparation which the Hebrews observed before the Sabbath. It’s our Friday. In Hebrews 3 and 4 we read about the Sabbath rest which God appointed to His children. The admonition is, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Heb 3:15). His voice, and obedience to what He tells us, is the preparation for entering His rest.
God’s intention is to teach us His ways and His Character. He wants to bring us understanding, wisdom, and discernment from the everyday events in our lives. To gain understanding from an event, we need to know how to relate it to what God has already taught us. What we know is a frame of reference for what we are learning. In order for God, as our Father, to teach us discernment and understanding, He first must give us a framework, constructed of pieces of knowledge. All abstract concepts need a framework, a setting by which we gain understanding. And anything unknown remains abstract until we can know and utilize it.
Jesus pointed out to the Hebrew leaders of His day that they knew how to interpret the appearance of the sky in order to have understanding of the weather (Mt 16:2-4). But they did not know how to interpret the signs of the times; Jesus, their Messiah was in their midst. Why didn’t they know what His appearing meant? They had missed the messages, the Voice of God, which were the components of the framework God had been sending them.
The Jewish leaders had not been prepared during their day of preparation. This was evidenced when Jesus said that they were a “wicked and adulterous generation”. They did not have the preparation that their Father sent them; repentance. John went to this generation as a fore-runner to prepare the way of the Lord by bringing the message of repentance, and they had not truly heard him. So they had no understanding by which to interpret Jesus’ appearing.
Frameworks are built a component at a time. It is line upon line, and precept upon precept (Is 28:10). Each message, or lesson, builds with the others and they relate to each other. The result allows one to see how things in our lives correlate to His Word, and we gain understanding of the overall lesson God is trying to teach us.
Let us look at Isaiah 28 again. The prophet is telling the Israelites that they did not learn line upon line, precept upon precept. Therefore, God was going to speak to them “with foreign lips”, or in a way they did not understand. This happens to us as children in school. If we have not done our math homework, we find that we have little understanding of the next day’s lesson. We might say “It’s Greek to me”, or that it’s as if the teacher were speaking in another language.
In verse 12 of Isaiah 28 the Lord gives the Israelites the framework by which to understand their lesson. He tells them that they are in His resting place. The problem was that they did not listen. And the result was that God’s messages did not become a framework by which they could gain understanding; the messages therefore became a snare which captured them for judgment (vs 13). The Israelites had taken the message of being God’s chosen people as one of security, bringing a permanent position before God and man, and eternal life. Somehow, though, they had not understood justice and righteousness to be a part of this framework. The One God was bringing would institute these missing components. Jesus would put the pieces of the framework back together again.
If we look back at the passage in Matthew 16 we read Jesus’ warning that the Jewish leaders sought a sign. People who don’t do their homework are lost in a math class, and people who follow God can become lost if they do not obey the former lesson He has sent them by His Voice. Sometimes the lost ones even doubt that the Teacher knows what He is doing. Lost people need signs because they have no sense of direction. When Christians lose their sense of direction they’ve often missed what God has been saying “little-by-little” (see Is. 28). All those messages that would have formed a framework for their life were not listened to. Therefore they are not formed by the Word of God into His image, neither do they know how to relate to the circumstances of their lives.
These lost people tend to wait on other people to tell them what to do. Coincidences become signs, and they are tossed on the ocean of their lives behind every vessel that passes by. It doesn’t have to be this way. If a man would hold as valuable each Word God speaks to him and obey it, he would be prepared by the framework these words form. He would gain understanding of the times and appearance of things. He would “see” the works of the Father and know what to do. And He would understand that it is God’s nature to give him knowledge, therefore he can trust God to provide the knowledge he needs to walk through this life, doing the works he was predestined to do. It is God’s nature to prepare His people. This is our day of preparation, our Friday. If we listen and obey, we will walk in all His ways. Amen.
Besides being instructed in God’s character, we are instructed in God’s ways. He involves us in works, which He has predestined for us to walk in (Eph 2:10). To find these works, we need to know where He wants us to go. We need signposts along the road to mark the validity of our way and tell us when to turn. God provides both instruction and direction in the messages He gives us daily. These prepare us to be more like His character, and to find the works we are to do in our lives. In order for us to know how to relate to God we study His Word. In order to know how to relate to the events in our lives, we study His Word also; His daily revealed Word.
God’s daily revealed Word prepares us. You might say that it is like the day of Preparation which the Hebrews observed before the Sabbath. It’s our Friday. In Hebrews 3 and 4 we read about the Sabbath rest which God appointed to His children. The admonition is, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” (Heb 3:15). His voice, and obedience to what He tells us, is the preparation for entering His rest.
God’s intention is to teach us His ways and His Character. He wants to bring us understanding, wisdom, and discernment from the everyday events in our lives. To gain understanding from an event, we need to know how to relate it to what God has already taught us. What we know is a frame of reference for what we are learning. In order for God, as our Father, to teach us discernment and understanding, He first must give us a framework, constructed of pieces of knowledge. All abstract concepts need a framework, a setting by which we gain understanding. And anything unknown remains abstract until we can know and utilize it.
Jesus pointed out to the Hebrew leaders of His day that they knew how to interpret the appearance of the sky in order to have understanding of the weather (Mt 16:2-4). But they did not know how to interpret the signs of the times; Jesus, their Messiah was in their midst. Why didn’t they know what His appearing meant? They had missed the messages, the Voice of God, which were the components of the framework God had been sending them.
The Jewish leaders had not been prepared during their day of preparation. This was evidenced when Jesus said that they were a “wicked and adulterous generation”. They did not have the preparation that their Father sent them; repentance. John went to this generation as a fore-runner to prepare the way of the Lord by bringing the message of repentance, and they had not truly heard him. So they had no understanding by which to interpret Jesus’ appearing.
Frameworks are built a component at a time. It is line upon line, and precept upon precept (Is 28:10). Each message, or lesson, builds with the others and they relate to each other. The result allows one to see how things in our lives correlate to His Word, and we gain understanding of the overall lesson God is trying to teach us.
Let us look at Isaiah 28 again. The prophet is telling the Israelites that they did not learn line upon line, precept upon precept. Therefore, God was going to speak to them “with foreign lips”, or in a way they did not understand. This happens to us as children in school. If we have not done our math homework, we find that we have little understanding of the next day’s lesson. We might say “It’s Greek to me”, or that it’s as if the teacher were speaking in another language.
In verse 12 of Isaiah 28 the Lord gives the Israelites the framework by which to understand their lesson. He tells them that they are in His resting place. The problem was that they did not listen. And the result was that God’s messages did not become a framework by which they could gain understanding; the messages therefore became a snare which captured them for judgment (vs 13). The Israelites had taken the message of being God’s chosen people as one of security, bringing a permanent position before God and man, and eternal life. Somehow, though, they had not understood justice and righteousness to be a part of this framework. The One God was bringing would institute these missing components. Jesus would put the pieces of the framework back together again.
If we look back at the passage in Matthew 16 we read Jesus’ warning that the Jewish leaders sought a sign. People who don’t do their homework are lost in a math class, and people who follow God can become lost if they do not obey the former lesson He has sent them by His Voice. Sometimes the lost ones even doubt that the Teacher knows what He is doing. Lost people need signs because they have no sense of direction. When Christians lose their sense of direction they’ve often missed what God has been saying “little-by-little” (see Is. 28). All those messages that would have formed a framework for their life were not listened to. Therefore they are not formed by the Word of God into His image, neither do they know how to relate to the circumstances of their lives.
These lost people tend to wait on other people to tell them what to do. Coincidences become signs, and they are tossed on the ocean of their lives behind every vessel that passes by. It doesn’t have to be this way. If a man would hold as valuable each Word God speaks to him and obey it, he would be prepared by the framework these words form. He would gain understanding of the times and appearance of things. He would “see” the works of the Father and know what to do. And He would understand that it is God’s nature to give him knowledge, therefore he can trust God to provide the knowledge he needs to walk through this life, doing the works he was predestined to do. It is God’s nature to prepare His people. This is our day of preparation, our Friday. If we listen and obey, we will walk in all His ways. Amen.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
What would Mark 17 look like?
Several times the thought has come to me “What would Mark 17 look like?” That’s an odd question, considering that Mark ends with chapter 16. But the more often this question comes to mind, the more I wonder what the Holy Spirit is really asking. This morning I had some time and followed this leading to look into Jesus’ instructions to His disciples, and to the 7churches in Revelation. I took notes from the gospel of John, reading what the Holy Spirit did in us and enabled us to do, and read each account of Jesus’ instructions after His resurrection. Then, looking in Revelation, I found a picture of what the churches had done with Jesus’ words and with the Holy Spirit’s enabling power and personal ministry to the saints. Do I know what Mark 17 should look like in our day and time? No. But I have a growing picture of what Jesus is looking for. If we all look into this subject I think we’ll see glimpses of Kingdom living. Below are some of my findings, and I want to encourage you to pray and share about what you find too.
Jesus told his disciples about the Holy Spirit before His death. Among other things, the Holy Spirit was called the Spirit of Truth, and is portrayed as One who teaches us truth. We are sanctified by truth, therefore our link with the Holy Spirit is a most valuable one. He reminds us of what Jesus said (Jn 14:17, 26) and by obedience to Jesus’ words we find that we can remain in God’s love, and the Father and the Son dwell in us. The Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostles and Prophets the mysteries our faith is founded on (Eph 3:4-6) and will also tell us of things to come (Jn 16:13). And it is by the Holy Spirit that we begin to know God, and to know His love. Therefore, our ability to love others comes from our relationship with God, revealed by the Holy Spirit.
This short list of verses gives us a peek into God’s intentions as He sent the Holy Spirit to empower the first Church and applies to the Church today. We are to
• Be filled with truth
• Know and obey Jesus’ words, both in scripture and heard personally in our spirit
• Pray to know about those things coming up which pertain to us, the Church, and all else we are personally involved in
• Know how to be loved, and how to love
This picture of the Christian was filled out more by the Apostles in their epistles. Some of the troubles addressed in these letters to the first churches were addressing people who taught or prophesied falsely, disobeyed Jesus’ teachings, lacked knowledge and wisdom about this life and those things coming up, and failure to love and care for the brethren. The epistles verified that Jesus’ instructions were being followed up by what the Holy Spirit spoke and wrote through the Apostles.
When looking at the accounts of Jesus’ resurrected life on this earth we find that, before His ascension He
• Gave the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive others (Jn 20:22-23)
• Asked the leaders to feed His sheep (Jn 21, Peter specifically)
• Empowered the believer with signs and wonders and commissioned them to do works of evangelism and preaching (Mk 16)
• Sent them out to make disciples of the nations (Mt 28:18-20)
With these instructions and the gifts of the Holy Spirit we can see that the love and forgiveness Jesus taught should abound in the church. The congregation should be cared for by the staff, and in turn should be doing works of ministry as faith grows in them.
In the book of Revelation we find that the glorified Jesus addressed problems that 7 churches were having, outlining a plan of overcoming for them so that they could receive spiritual reward in this life. Jesus uses far-reaching terminology such as calling the true believers “Jews” and the false believers as coming from the “synagogue of satan.,” (see Rev 2:9 7 3:9). He also uses terms that refer to the past wrongful use of prophecy in referring to Balaam (Rev 2:14). In using terms that refer to the Old Testament covenant Jesus is bringing forward a message; God never changes. Though His covenant changed He still desires a pure people, faithful unto Him (2 Cor 6:16-7:1). The Father will not accept wrongful use of His gifts or erroneous teaching. He judges our works, not by our intentions, but by our heart (see Ez 33:32 & Is 29:13). When Jesus talks about the judgment of Jezebel in His letter to Thyatira He states that it is for the purpose of all the churches knowing “that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds,” (Rev 2:23). When we see that Jesus Himself brings forward the nature of God from before the Cross, then we know surely that nature has not changed.
Looking at the letters to these churches I find
• Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7) – Had forgotten the “height from which you have fallen.” This caused the saints to lose their first love. Though they had many deeds done for Christ, they lacked relationship because they had forgotten that they were forgiven. When we forget our own forgiveness it also makes our works unsatisfactory as we fail to forgive others.
• Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) – We learn that faithfulness is proven in poverty and other trials and is the only way to have real faith. Their faithful obedience was commended. Trials develop a deep reservoir in the believer for the kind of faithfulness that takes time to fill us up. The 7 foolish virgins did not have time to build up this kind of faith, therefore they were not recognized by Jesus. The time it takes to be in His image (the image He recognizes) takes time spent with Him during our bad times as well as our good times.
• Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17) – Compromise with the world and sin led to spiritual impurity and pollution of the gospel they taught. If we compromise with the word of God within us, we will speak a gospel of compromise. What is in our hearts comes out our mouths (Mk 7:20-23). Jesus is so against the pollution of the gospel that He promised to “fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
• Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29) – Rebuked for false prophecy, and spiritual and physical immorality. They were using a false authority. When a prophet speaks a true word from the Lord it turns people from their own ways and from sin, unto righteousness (Jer 23:22).
• Sardis (Rev 3:1-6) – Had a dead faith and incomplete works. They were poor stewards of what they had received. The righteous deeds of the saints are later symbolized as a white linen robe (Rev 19:8), and could only be obtained through their repentance and overcoming.
• Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) – Their deeds were good, they had kept His word and also didn’t deny Him when times got bad. His warning was to let “no one take your crown.” God wants us to value what we have in Him and does not want us to be godless, like Esau, who sold his inheritance (Heb 12:16).
• Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) -Being lukewarm created spiritual blindness. The church was described as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Because their works did not come from their relationship with God, then were not acceptable.
If we truly overcame the things found in the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation what sort of people would we be?
• We would eat from the Tree of life (Rev 2:7). This eternal life will never end, and will bring personal healing, and healing of relationships, even between nations.
• We would not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11), taking part in the 1st resurrection.
• We would eat hidden manna, and be given a white stone with our new name on it (Rev 2:17). The hidden truths God would share with us would reveal our identity in Him.
• We would receive authority over the nations, and the morning star ->the spirit of prophecy ( 2 Pet 1:19). See Rev 2:26-28. It is the spirit of prophecy which reveals the hand of the enemy for his defeat.
• We would be dressed in white (the righteous deeds of the saints – Rev 19:8). Jesus will acknowledge our names before God the Father and His angels (Rev 3:5). Becoming pure and having a good name in heaven is the best asset in our battle against evil.
• We would be a pillar in the temple of God, He will write the name of God and of the city of God on him, and also Jesus’ new name (Rev 3:11-12). There is a permanence in those whose ministry is set in place by God and He can entrust revealed truth to us.
• We will have the right to sit down with Jesus on His throne (Rev 3:21). The overcomer has a privilege to reign over those things brought by satan, and to hear closely what Jesus is saying.
As I re-read all the above scriptures I am reminded of one final verse; to earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude :3). It is not a time to sit back and think that Jesus will do everything for us. We must strive against evil and the world, and be found faithful in obeying His words to us. Yet, we have the Kingdom to gain in doing so. He is worth it. Amen
Jesus told his disciples about the Holy Spirit before His death. Among other things, the Holy Spirit was called the Spirit of Truth, and is portrayed as One who teaches us truth. We are sanctified by truth, therefore our link with the Holy Spirit is a most valuable one. He reminds us of what Jesus said (Jn 14:17, 26) and by obedience to Jesus’ words we find that we can remain in God’s love, and the Father and the Son dwell in us. The Holy Spirit revealed to the Apostles and Prophets the mysteries our faith is founded on (Eph 3:4-6) and will also tell us of things to come (Jn 16:13). And it is by the Holy Spirit that we begin to know God, and to know His love. Therefore, our ability to love others comes from our relationship with God, revealed by the Holy Spirit.
This short list of verses gives us a peek into God’s intentions as He sent the Holy Spirit to empower the first Church and applies to the Church today. We are to
• Be filled with truth
• Know and obey Jesus’ words, both in scripture and heard personally in our spirit
• Pray to know about those things coming up which pertain to us, the Church, and all else we are personally involved in
• Know how to be loved, and how to love
This picture of the Christian was filled out more by the Apostles in their epistles. Some of the troubles addressed in these letters to the first churches were addressing people who taught or prophesied falsely, disobeyed Jesus’ teachings, lacked knowledge and wisdom about this life and those things coming up, and failure to love and care for the brethren. The epistles verified that Jesus’ instructions were being followed up by what the Holy Spirit spoke and wrote through the Apostles.
When looking at the accounts of Jesus’ resurrected life on this earth we find that, before His ascension He
• Gave the Holy Spirit and the power to forgive others (Jn 20:22-23)
• Asked the leaders to feed His sheep (Jn 21, Peter specifically)
• Empowered the believer with signs and wonders and commissioned them to do works of evangelism and preaching (Mk 16)
• Sent them out to make disciples of the nations (Mt 28:18-20)
With these instructions and the gifts of the Holy Spirit we can see that the love and forgiveness Jesus taught should abound in the church. The congregation should be cared for by the staff, and in turn should be doing works of ministry as faith grows in them.
In the book of Revelation we find that the glorified Jesus addressed problems that 7 churches were having, outlining a plan of overcoming for them so that they could receive spiritual reward in this life. Jesus uses far-reaching terminology such as calling the true believers “Jews” and the false believers as coming from the “synagogue of satan.,” (see Rev 2:9 7 3:9). He also uses terms that refer to the past wrongful use of prophecy in referring to Balaam (Rev 2:14). In using terms that refer to the Old Testament covenant Jesus is bringing forward a message; God never changes. Though His covenant changed He still desires a pure people, faithful unto Him (2 Cor 6:16-7:1). The Father will not accept wrongful use of His gifts or erroneous teaching. He judges our works, not by our intentions, but by our heart (see Ez 33:32 & Is 29:13). When Jesus talks about the judgment of Jezebel in His letter to Thyatira He states that it is for the purpose of all the churches knowing “that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds,” (Rev 2:23). When we see that Jesus Himself brings forward the nature of God from before the Cross, then we know surely that nature has not changed.
Looking at the letters to these churches I find
• Ephesus (Rev 2:1-7) – Had forgotten the “height from which you have fallen.” This caused the saints to lose their first love. Though they had many deeds done for Christ, they lacked relationship because they had forgotten that they were forgiven. When we forget our own forgiveness it also makes our works unsatisfactory as we fail to forgive others.
• Smyrna (Rev 2:8-11) – We learn that faithfulness is proven in poverty and other trials and is the only way to have real faith. Their faithful obedience was commended. Trials develop a deep reservoir in the believer for the kind of faithfulness that takes time to fill us up. The 7 foolish virgins did not have time to build up this kind of faith, therefore they were not recognized by Jesus. The time it takes to be in His image (the image He recognizes) takes time spent with Him during our bad times as well as our good times.
• Pergamum (Rev 2:12-17) – Compromise with the world and sin led to spiritual impurity and pollution of the gospel they taught. If we compromise with the word of God within us, we will speak a gospel of compromise. What is in our hearts comes out our mouths (Mk 7:20-23). Jesus is so against the pollution of the gospel that He promised to “fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”
• Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29) – Rebuked for false prophecy, and spiritual and physical immorality. They were using a false authority. When a prophet speaks a true word from the Lord it turns people from their own ways and from sin, unto righteousness (Jer 23:22).
• Sardis (Rev 3:1-6) – Had a dead faith and incomplete works. They were poor stewards of what they had received. The righteous deeds of the saints are later symbolized as a white linen robe (Rev 19:8), and could only be obtained through their repentance and overcoming.
• Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13) – Their deeds were good, they had kept His word and also didn’t deny Him when times got bad. His warning was to let “no one take your crown.” God wants us to value what we have in Him and does not want us to be godless, like Esau, who sold his inheritance (Heb 12:16).
• Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) -Being lukewarm created spiritual blindness. The church was described as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Because their works did not come from their relationship with God, then were not acceptable.
If we truly overcame the things found in the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation what sort of people would we be?
• We would eat from the Tree of life (Rev 2:7). This eternal life will never end, and will bring personal healing, and healing of relationships, even between nations.
• We would not be hurt by the second death (Rev 2:11), taking part in the 1st resurrection.
• We would eat hidden manna, and be given a white stone with our new name on it (Rev 2:17). The hidden truths God would share with us would reveal our identity in Him.
• We would receive authority over the nations, and the morning star ->the spirit of prophecy ( 2 Pet 1:19). See Rev 2:26-28. It is the spirit of prophecy which reveals the hand of the enemy for his defeat.
• We would be dressed in white (the righteous deeds of the saints – Rev 19:8). Jesus will acknowledge our names before God the Father and His angels (Rev 3:5). Becoming pure and having a good name in heaven is the best asset in our battle against evil.
• We would be a pillar in the temple of God, He will write the name of God and of the city of God on him, and also Jesus’ new name (Rev 3:11-12). There is a permanence in those whose ministry is set in place by God and He can entrust revealed truth to us.
• We will have the right to sit down with Jesus on His throne (Rev 3:21). The overcomer has a privilege to reign over those things brought by satan, and to hear closely what Jesus is saying.
As I re-read all the above scriptures I am reminded of one final verse; to earnestly contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude :3). It is not a time to sit back and think that Jesus will do everything for us. We must strive against evil and the world, and be found faithful in obeying His words to us. Yet, we have the Kingdom to gain in doing so. He is worth it. Amen
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Father's Love
Just a note to mention that a verbal prophecy can be heard on the main website by clicking on "The Father's Love". Blessings, Helen
The Purposes of God
The Purposes of God
Though it is hard to see My purposes when strife and trouble, hardship and affliction come, yet these will be as a refiner’s soap in My hands. Not a drop of your life will be missing from you. And though persecution and blame seem like your constant oppressors, they will become My sewing needle. I will fasten your pieces into a fine and beautiful garment. On that day when I bring victory over your enemies I will wear you as My royal robe. The wounds of your friends will be forgotten in the pageantry that heaven displays, for you will overcome.
Hold fast to My word of promise for it is the most valuable thing I have given you. Yet there is more. I have vast riches, both spiritual and physical, in My storehouse, and your name is on them. I will not forget, for my joy is in remembering. I see your long suffering and tears and would have you know My heart and My mind. For My comfort is greater than your afflictions, and My pride in you is greater than the enemy’s accusations. If I be for you, tell Me My children, who can win their case against you? No, this is the hour I have chosen to make My case, to open the books in heaven and cast My lot for My saints, My bride. I will snare your enemy and wear My lovely robes in open triumph, displaying you, My lovely ones, as My victory.
Hold fast to My words, and wear them as a bride wears her precious jewels, knowing the beauty they are to her groom. Hold fast, for the sparkle of My own word, worn by My lovely ones, catches My eye . . . and you have caught My heart. Amen.
Though it is hard to see My purposes when strife and trouble, hardship and affliction come, yet these will be as a refiner’s soap in My hands. Not a drop of your life will be missing from you. And though persecution and blame seem like your constant oppressors, they will become My sewing needle. I will fasten your pieces into a fine and beautiful garment. On that day when I bring victory over your enemies I will wear you as My royal robe. The wounds of your friends will be forgotten in the pageantry that heaven displays, for you will overcome.
Hold fast to My word of promise for it is the most valuable thing I have given you. Yet there is more. I have vast riches, both spiritual and physical, in My storehouse, and your name is on them. I will not forget, for my joy is in remembering. I see your long suffering and tears and would have you know My heart and My mind. For My comfort is greater than your afflictions, and My pride in you is greater than the enemy’s accusations. If I be for you, tell Me My children, who can win their case against you? No, this is the hour I have chosen to make My case, to open the books in heaven and cast My lot for My saints, My bride. I will snare your enemy and wear My lovely robes in open triumph, displaying you, My lovely ones, as My victory.
Hold fast to My words, and wear them as a bride wears her precious jewels, knowing the beauty they are to her groom. Hold fast, for the sparkle of My own word, worn by My lovely ones, catches My eye . . . and you have caught My heart. Amen.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
word on healing from the 7 thunders
How Long Will You wait
3/24/06
On this morning there was a lightning, thunder, and heavy rain storm where we live. I went back to sleep and dreamt that I was reading the Elijah List, and a prophet spoke during the thunder, “How long will you wait?” There was thunder and lightning in between each word, and before and after, for a total of 7 thunders. This text is from Joshua’s message to the children of Israel who had not yet taken their inheritances in the promised land. The message in the dream is from the Seven Thunders, urging us to obtain our inheritances and not tarry.
There is a parallel to the warfare we are experiencing which deals with such enemies as sickness. This parallel is found in the wars appointed to the children of Israel upon entering the promised land. Moses received a covenant from the Lord which told the Israelites not to let any of their enemies remain. They were not to co-habitate with the Canaanites (Ex 34:10-16). They were not to make a treaty with them, but break down all their altars, and God would drive the enemies out of the land. If the Israelites did not obey the Lord in doing this, their enemies would become a snare to them, eventually leading the Israelites to prostitute themselves to the gods of their enemies.
One of the consequences of co-habitating with our enemies is that we begin to look for the good in them. This leads us dangerously close to calling what is evil good (Is 5:20). We can form a belief system which looks for evil circumstances to form us into the image of Christ, and eventually to believe this is God’s perfect will for our lives. If so, why the sacrifice of Jesus? Though God does work all things to our good, He does not intend us to believe that all things are His perfect plan.
The Israelites had great success in routing their enemies at first. But when Joshua was preparing to die, he asked the remaining tribes who had not pursued their enemies “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land . . . the Lord has given you?”(Josh 18:3). He encouraged them, saying that their strength was such that “One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you” (Josh 23;10). However, he also warned them that the Lord would not rout their enemies, but would leave them in the land, if the Israelites did not obey Him and fight. This eventually happened, and God stopped driving their enemies out. They had made covenants with their enemies (Jud 2:1-3), which resulted in thorns in their sides, and snares.
This story from the book of Joshua parallels the Church taking the kingdoms of the world, which include darkness, infirmity, and calamity. We are to make them the kingdoms of our Lord. God put the works of His hands under Man’s feet (Ps 8:6). Jesus gave us authority over sickness, demons, and more. The issue that He seems to be addressing is compromise; How long will we wait until we take possession of the land?
Jesus is about the business of putting every kingdom in heaven and on earth under His feet (1 Cor 15:27). Let us consider that the authorities and the gifts He has given us are for much more than forming us into His image. We are His body, His hands and feet on the earth. He still works through His people.
In Rev 11:15-17 we read about that triumphant moment when the kingdoms of this earth become the kingdoms of the Lord. He has put everything in subjection to Himself so that He may present it all to the Father. This is when the temple in heaven is opened and we see the arc of the covenant (vs 19). The original covenant of subduing the enemies of God and Man (Ex 34:10) is met in the final victory of Jesus and His Church.
Perhaps we have compromised by accepting things which our enemy has handed us, promising us that these hard things will make us a better Christian. If we find ourselves believing this, then we should also consider that God left the enemies of Israel in the promised land to test them and see if they would obey Him. I believe that the Lord will fight with us for our inheritance if we will stand against our enemies, not only in our lives, but for the lives of our brethren. I want to encourage you to develop your spiritual gifts in service to Him, and to stand, having done all. I strongly believe His hand will move with healings, deliverances and miracles in our meetings when we fight the good fight for our inheritance. Amen.
3/24/06
On this morning there was a lightning, thunder, and heavy rain storm where we live. I went back to sleep and dreamt that I was reading the Elijah List, and a prophet spoke during the thunder, “How long will you wait?” There was thunder and lightning in between each word, and before and after, for a total of 7 thunders. This text is from Joshua’s message to the children of Israel who had not yet taken their inheritances in the promised land. The message in the dream is from the Seven Thunders, urging us to obtain our inheritances and not tarry.
There is a parallel to the warfare we are experiencing which deals with such enemies as sickness. This parallel is found in the wars appointed to the children of Israel upon entering the promised land. Moses received a covenant from the Lord which told the Israelites not to let any of their enemies remain. They were not to co-habitate with the Canaanites (Ex 34:10-16). They were not to make a treaty with them, but break down all their altars, and God would drive the enemies out of the land. If the Israelites did not obey the Lord in doing this, their enemies would become a snare to them, eventually leading the Israelites to prostitute themselves to the gods of their enemies.
One of the consequences of co-habitating with our enemies is that we begin to look for the good in them. This leads us dangerously close to calling what is evil good (Is 5:20). We can form a belief system which looks for evil circumstances to form us into the image of Christ, and eventually to believe this is God’s perfect will for our lives. If so, why the sacrifice of Jesus? Though God does work all things to our good, He does not intend us to believe that all things are His perfect plan.
The Israelites had great success in routing their enemies at first. But when Joshua was preparing to die, he asked the remaining tribes who had not pursued their enemies “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land . . . the Lord has given you?”(Josh 18:3). He encouraged them, saying that their strength was such that “One of you routs a thousand because the Lord your God fights for you” (Josh 23;10). However, he also warned them that the Lord would not rout their enemies, but would leave them in the land, if the Israelites did not obey Him and fight. This eventually happened, and God stopped driving their enemies out. They had made covenants with their enemies (Jud 2:1-3), which resulted in thorns in their sides, and snares.
This story from the book of Joshua parallels the Church taking the kingdoms of the world, which include darkness, infirmity, and calamity. We are to make them the kingdoms of our Lord. God put the works of His hands under Man’s feet (Ps 8:6). Jesus gave us authority over sickness, demons, and more. The issue that He seems to be addressing is compromise; How long will we wait until we take possession of the land?
Jesus is about the business of putting every kingdom in heaven and on earth under His feet (1 Cor 15:27). Let us consider that the authorities and the gifts He has given us are for much more than forming us into His image. We are His body, His hands and feet on the earth. He still works through His people.
In Rev 11:15-17 we read about that triumphant moment when the kingdoms of this earth become the kingdoms of the Lord. He has put everything in subjection to Himself so that He may present it all to the Father. This is when the temple in heaven is opened and we see the arc of the covenant (vs 19). The original covenant of subduing the enemies of God and Man (Ex 34:10) is met in the final victory of Jesus and His Church.
Perhaps we have compromised by accepting things which our enemy has handed us, promising us that these hard things will make us a better Christian. If we find ourselves believing this, then we should also consider that God left the enemies of Israel in the promised land to test them and see if they would obey Him. I believe that the Lord will fight with us for our inheritance if we will stand against our enemies, not only in our lives, but for the lives of our brethren. I want to encourage you to develop your spiritual gifts in service to Him, and to stand, having done all. I strongly believe His hand will move with healings, deliverances and miracles in our meetings when we fight the good fight for our inheritance. Amen.
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