We are looking for the Kingdom of God. I don’t know a believer who does not wish that God’s Kingdom were already here on the earth in all its glory and power. This morning I began reading about Jesus’ first coming, beginning in Isaiah 53. What I read stopped me; “Who has believed our message?” (vs 1). The apostle John repeats this in John 12:38, telling us that the prophecy of Isaiah was about the unbelief of the Jews. Grief comes into my heart when I think about a people waiting for the kingdom of God, and their king, and yet they did not believe Jesus was Who they were waiting for. They had the scriptures. Why didn’t they recognize Him?
John tells us that some of the leaders did believe in Jesus but they would not confess their beliefs because they feared that the Pharisees would put them out of the synagogue, and they loved the praises of men more than the praises of God (Jn 12:42-43). It would cost them something to walk with the King in the Kingdom of God, and they weren’t willing to pay the price.
The rest of the people who did not believe in Jesus as the King of the Kingdom of God simply did not recognize Him. They were familiar with the scriptures that depicted their King as an eternal ruler, but not familiar with the scriptures that told of their own unbelief (Is 6:10). Though God sent a great Light to them, they did not perceive Him as the Light of the world. They loved their own ways and understandings better than the Light that was standing before them (Jn 3:19). Concerning the leaders who loved the praises of men and feared the Pharisees, their understanding had become padded with their own preferences and purposes, and this clouded the purposes and provision of God. For one reason or another, most of the people who lived when Jesus did simply did not recognize Him as bringing the Kingdom of God.
To have God’s Kingdom we must recognize that it is more valuable than all our understandings, aspirations, and achievements. It is more valuable than the sum total of our lives and the comfort by which we live. Jesus tells us that the Kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field, and like a pearl of great price (Mt 13:44-46). Once we recognize the Kingdom, we must “sell out” to obtain it. Our cost for obtaining the Kingdom is laying down our life and our thoughts about how to live it in preference for His. Without setting aside the “padding” on our understanding of what God’s Kingdom is, we will not perceive it, though it is right in front of us. We will be looking for what we want it to be, instead of all that it is.
When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God He described for us what it would be like. This is like a training manual for us, giving us the entrance requirements, or a standard by which we obtain the Kingdom. The purpose for His instructions was that we not repeat the same mistakes of those who did not recognize Him. Further, in the book of Revelation Jesus tells us about the failings of several 1st century churches. He describes where they missed His requirements, and where they met His requirements. These letters to the seven churches are also part of our instruction manual on the Kingdom of God. In addition we are told that all the scriptures are written as an example to us, so that we would believe and enter into God’s Kingdom (1 Cor 10:11-12).
The question is, will we hold onto an image of the Kingdom of God that is contrived by all we want it to be, instead of all that it is? If we do not want to pay the cost of laying down our lives for His Life in us, we will not recognize the Kingdom. We can meet all the requirements of entering into the Kingdom of God only after we recognize it. And we can recognize it only after esteeming that its worth is greater than our own life. Yet those who do so gain Life itself, and walk in the Kingdom of God. Today let us value all that God has intended for us to be and have above all we have ever wanted. Amen.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Complete Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Last week when I was reading the 23rd Psalm the Lord spoke deeply to my soul about restoration. He uses the quiet times, the down times to comfort us. When we are in a place of complete dependence to Him Who holds our very life in His hands, there He reveals Himself as the Comforter.
In the Hebrew text, comfort means “breathe strongly, as in pity or sorrow; console.” And the word “comforter” means “to bend beside, lean over (so as to peer within, look into, stoop down.)” This kind of intimate knowing comes from those times of vulnerability and trust, walking with our God in the hard times, and the quiet times. Yes, He already knows us. But in these times we are known for how we bear life’s hardness. We are known, not in a judgmental way, but in a way where the Comforter can walk alongside of us, helping and succoring us. God’s goal is that we make it, successfully.
If the Holy Spirit is the Great Helper, Come-Alongsider, and knows us during our most vulnerable moments, then what example do we see in Jesus, the essence of God in the flesh of Man? In Isaiah 53:3 we read about Jesus that He was a man “acquainted with our sorrows.” The Hebrew word for acquaint is “to know (to ascertain by seeing) . . .” Here again with have the visual image of the One Who stoops down and peers within our very being during those times when we may be most withdrawn due to sorrow. Jesus carries our sorrows, not only knowing us in them, but bearing them by His Spirit. He is not indifferent, but cares deeply for us. He wants us to know Him as He Who Cares Deeply.
When God walks with us, He has our victory in mind. But it is necessary to build an intimate relationship with us in order that we can receive His care. There is a care that can only be given in complete dependency on God. It is letting Him do what we formerly did ourselves. It is letting Him nurture us in ways we have not been nurtured in since we were children. In Psalm 41:3 we read that God makes our bed when we are ill. The word “makes” is translated from the Hebrew term that means “turn about, change, convert.” God changes things when we are dependent on Him. We are converted to His way of thinking, learning not only that He cares deeply about us, but what other things He cares deeply about. We become more like Him in His comforting nature . . . and this is His design. This “becoming like Him” nature is deposited in us only in times of intimacy. But our knowing of His ways follows out of the valley of the shadow of death (or other sorrows) and lives in us to comfort others (2 Cor 1:4). And the comfort wherewith we comfort others leads them to know God more intimately also. We find that God will use us in the ministry of the Comforter, just as He uses us in other aspects of the Holy Spirit’s functions. We may speak in tongues and prophesy when He moves that way, or He may allow us to peer inside our aching brother’s heart and minister to him in his sorrow. We become a people who appreciate our brother, even if he can do no service for God or Man. We can appreciate his worth because God appreciated us, and walked with us through those times of stillness and inactivity. We can covet that our brother know Jesus during his hard times because we have trusted our souls to the One Who brought us through ours.
Since this is the nature of the Holy Spirit, to Comfort us in the most vulnerable times of our lives, we might ask why we should take on this behavior also. It is often awkward to step into someone’s troubled life, yet when the Holy Spirit does this He builds an intimate relationship with people. Jesus told an interesting parable in which we see that it is God’s intention for us to take on the nature of the Comforter. The parable begins “When the Son of Man comes in His glory . . .” (Mt 25:31-46). We should take note of this parable for Jesus is about to tell us what is important to Him. He proceeds to tell us that His angels will separate the goats from the sheep. Since the sheep receive God’s kingdom, their inheritance, what did they do differently than the goats, who are punished? Jesus tells the sheep “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The sheep became acquainted with the trials their brethren were going through, and served them.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit to our brethren should increase as we grow in the nature of Jesus. When we covet the gifts of the Spirit, let us also desire to be like the Spirit. We will only know God’s will in difficult times if we have been made like Him, the Comforter, during our troubles. If we covet only the gifts without the Giver we will not become like Him (see Mt 7:21-23). He seeks to complete us through all His gifts, and by His very nature living in us. Amen.
In the Hebrew text, comfort means “breathe strongly, as in pity or sorrow; console.” And the word “comforter” means “to bend beside, lean over (so as to peer within, look into, stoop down.)” This kind of intimate knowing comes from those times of vulnerability and trust, walking with our God in the hard times, and the quiet times. Yes, He already knows us. But in these times we are known for how we bear life’s hardness. We are known, not in a judgmental way, but in a way where the Comforter can walk alongside of us, helping and succoring us. God’s goal is that we make it, successfully.
If the Holy Spirit is the Great Helper, Come-Alongsider, and knows us during our most vulnerable moments, then what example do we see in Jesus, the essence of God in the flesh of Man? In Isaiah 53:3 we read about Jesus that He was a man “acquainted with our sorrows.” The Hebrew word for acquaint is “to know (to ascertain by seeing) . . .” Here again with have the visual image of the One Who stoops down and peers within our very being during those times when we may be most withdrawn due to sorrow. Jesus carries our sorrows, not only knowing us in them, but bearing them by His Spirit. He is not indifferent, but cares deeply for us. He wants us to know Him as He Who Cares Deeply.
When God walks with us, He has our victory in mind. But it is necessary to build an intimate relationship with us in order that we can receive His care. There is a care that can only be given in complete dependency on God. It is letting Him do what we formerly did ourselves. It is letting Him nurture us in ways we have not been nurtured in since we were children. In Psalm 41:3 we read that God makes our bed when we are ill. The word “makes” is translated from the Hebrew term that means “turn about, change, convert.” God changes things when we are dependent on Him. We are converted to His way of thinking, learning not only that He cares deeply about us, but what other things He cares deeply about. We become more like Him in His comforting nature . . . and this is His design. This “becoming like Him” nature is deposited in us only in times of intimacy. But our knowing of His ways follows out of the valley of the shadow of death (or other sorrows) and lives in us to comfort others (2 Cor 1:4). And the comfort wherewith we comfort others leads them to know God more intimately also. We find that God will use us in the ministry of the Comforter, just as He uses us in other aspects of the Holy Spirit’s functions. We may speak in tongues and prophesy when He moves that way, or He may allow us to peer inside our aching brother’s heart and minister to him in his sorrow. We become a people who appreciate our brother, even if he can do no service for God or Man. We can appreciate his worth because God appreciated us, and walked with us through those times of stillness and inactivity. We can covet that our brother know Jesus during his hard times because we have trusted our souls to the One Who brought us through ours.
Since this is the nature of the Holy Spirit, to Comfort us in the most vulnerable times of our lives, we might ask why we should take on this behavior also. It is often awkward to step into someone’s troubled life, yet when the Holy Spirit does this He builds an intimate relationship with people. Jesus told an interesting parable in which we see that it is God’s intention for us to take on the nature of the Comforter. The parable begins “When the Son of Man comes in His glory . . .” (Mt 25:31-46). We should take note of this parable for Jesus is about to tell us what is important to Him. He proceeds to tell us that His angels will separate the goats from the sheep. Since the sheep receive God’s kingdom, their inheritance, what did they do differently than the goats, who are punished? Jesus tells the sheep “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” The sheep became acquainted with the trials their brethren were going through, and served them.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit to our brethren should increase as we grow in the nature of Jesus. When we covet the gifts of the Spirit, let us also desire to be like the Spirit. We will only know God’s will in difficult times if we have been made like Him, the Comforter, during our troubles. If we covet only the gifts without the Giver we will not become like Him (see Mt 7:21-23). He seeks to complete us through all His gifts, and by His very nature living in us. Amen.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
silence
This morning in my quiet time I heard the Lord say “One of the most stifling things of the Church is the silence satan demands there. No complaints against injustice are allowed there, no guidance of discernment . . . just the evil betrayal of truth under the guise of friendship and fellowship. While the martyr’s blood cries out for its long-awaited vindication Christians shrink back at the fear of being thought less of because of their words. Is it so great a thing to be accepted in the eyes of fellow brethren that you would break fellowship with those bound by truth . . . those predecessors of your faith who preserved Christ’s words for you?”
Often the Lord contrasts what is good with what is not. Using the martyr’s example of steadfastness in the face of true persecution shows us God’s gold-standard of holding Truth in high esteem. Truly unity is to be desired, yet it is accomplished by yielding to the Holy Spirit, that Spirit of Truth Who brings such sweet fellowship into the minds of Man. Silence is only a thin veneer over rotting wood (fear of men), appearing lustrous until the structure itself gives way to the decay within.
God builds structures that last, eternally. He builds with truth, written and spoken. He champions His cause through men and women . . . even children . . . who do not value others above Himself. And herein lies a dividing line; will we seek after those who promise acceptance for the price of our silence, who with their words seek to put our faith in a safe and peaceful place? Or will we follow the voice of One who knits us together with brethren by the Life of His Spirit, spanning the boundaries of Time and borders of countries to form one body, His Bride?
Why does silence have such a hold over Christians, and why does this have its root in our very being? Many are silent because they do not want to sin by slander. Yet slander has its root in the heart that seeks to do wrong. Speaking against evil and error has its root in a heart that wants to do right. We see that Jesus upheld the persistent widow who was wearing the indifferent judge out with her complaints against the injustice done to her (Lk 18:2-8). Her vindication came because she actively, verbally pursued it. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the Master took action to correct the evil servant because his fellow-servants complained against him (Mt 18:31). In the Old Testament we see that God took action against Sodom after hearing the complaints against the city (Gen 18:20). And in Ezekiel the prophet was shown a vision of an angel who marked those who “grieved and lamented” over the detestable things done . . . these were spared judgment (Ez 9:4).
While we don’t want our hearts to grow evil against those in error and sin, we also do not want to be found accepting their wrong ways under the pretense of unity or love. Silence creates a sameness between unclean and clean, truth and error, and right and wrong. Our churches are becoming stifled by the demands silence makes, and the culture that creates smooth relationships for the purpose of being accepted by one another. Today, let us be honest in our hearts about those things that are offensive to the Spirit of God within us. Though it may seem to be a bold move on our behalves, let us seek to create an honesty within our congregations that gives birth to discernment. And let us pray for wisdom to work out God’s counsel, once received. I believe God would heartily attend all such gatherings, bringing growth and true unity to the body. Amen.
Often the Lord contrasts what is good with what is not. Using the martyr’s example of steadfastness in the face of true persecution shows us God’s gold-standard of holding Truth in high esteem. Truly unity is to be desired, yet it is accomplished by yielding to the Holy Spirit, that Spirit of Truth Who brings such sweet fellowship into the minds of Man. Silence is only a thin veneer over rotting wood (fear of men), appearing lustrous until the structure itself gives way to the decay within.
God builds structures that last, eternally. He builds with truth, written and spoken. He champions His cause through men and women . . . even children . . . who do not value others above Himself. And herein lies a dividing line; will we seek after those who promise acceptance for the price of our silence, who with their words seek to put our faith in a safe and peaceful place? Or will we follow the voice of One who knits us together with brethren by the Life of His Spirit, spanning the boundaries of Time and borders of countries to form one body, His Bride?
Why does silence have such a hold over Christians, and why does this have its root in our very being? Many are silent because they do not want to sin by slander. Yet slander has its root in the heart that seeks to do wrong. Speaking against evil and error has its root in a heart that wants to do right. We see that Jesus upheld the persistent widow who was wearing the indifferent judge out with her complaints against the injustice done to her (Lk 18:2-8). Her vindication came because she actively, verbally pursued it. In the parable of the unforgiving servant, the Master took action to correct the evil servant because his fellow-servants complained against him (Mt 18:31). In the Old Testament we see that God took action against Sodom after hearing the complaints against the city (Gen 18:20). And in Ezekiel the prophet was shown a vision of an angel who marked those who “grieved and lamented” over the detestable things done . . . these were spared judgment (Ez 9:4).
While we don’t want our hearts to grow evil against those in error and sin, we also do not want to be found accepting their wrong ways under the pretense of unity or love. Silence creates a sameness between unclean and clean, truth and error, and right and wrong. Our churches are becoming stifled by the demands silence makes, and the culture that creates smooth relationships for the purpose of being accepted by one another. Today, let us be honest in our hearts about those things that are offensive to the Spirit of God within us. Though it may seem to be a bold move on our behalves, let us seek to create an honesty within our congregations that gives birth to discernment. And let us pray for wisdom to work out God’s counsel, once received. I believe God would heartily attend all such gatherings, bringing growth and true unity to the body. Amen.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The Heart of Man is God's dwelling place
Jesus likes to make our heart His home. He told His disciples that He and His Father would come and reside inside of them (Jn 14:23). And Paul further tells us that our bodies are a holy temple (1 Cor 6:19). You and I are the dwelling place of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, out of their desire. This was God’s design, and is His preference. We could make Him a house, a church, or a temple . . . but His desire is to live inside our hearts.
Last week the wife of a friend wrote to my husband and I. Her husband is dying of cancer and according to the doctors he does not have long to live. I asked the Lord what I should write back, and I could hear the Holy Spirit say “Tell them that I love living in their hearts. They have made it nice for Me, and they have made life nice for others as well. Their lives are a sweet fragrance to Me, for they have served Me when it was not comfortable, going beyond human strength to do My works. Indeed, their works are like the fine linen, bright and clean, which clothes the Bride.” (Rev 19:7-8).
After I wrote to my friends I was left with the lingering thought, “I wonder how my own heart seems to God.” Is my heart nice to live in? Is my life a sweet fragrance for Him? I had considered my heart to be a place where worship takes place. However, being a place for Him to dwell in was becoming a larger concept for me. Before I could think about this, the Lord stepped in with a vision.
The living room – The Lord gave me a vision of a cozy living room with a fire in the fireplace, and me curled up on the love seat with my favorite book, the Bible. Then He began telling me about My heart. “You have made in comfortable for Me to talk with you.” The sweetness of our fellowship was everywhere in the room of my vision. The heat spoke of passion, and the love seat of the Comforter. “It matters as much to Me that you are comfortable in My presence as it does that you listen to Me.” I understood that it makes God feel terrible when we shrink back from Him, as if He is someone terrible. Yet, to relax and lose all track of time while simply fellowshipping with Him is the essence of our expression of love.
The kitchen – I then saw myself in the kitchen, singing as I cooked. The food preparation seemed easy and time was not a problem because of the joy in my heart. This preparation represented the synthesis of my fellowship with the Lord in Word and Spirit. I was preparing nourishing food for others (and myself) after having sat with My Lord. Then I was allowed to see Jesus peering over my shoulder while I peeled potatoes at the sink. Such pleasure was on His face at the mundane task I was doing. And His pleasure filled the room.
The bathroom – I then saw myself cleaning the bathroom, on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor. Instead of feelings, I was aware of thinking, for this was a place my thought-life entered in. I was assessing, noticing, and planning until everything was clean of offense. The bathroom was where issues were recognized, and taken care of. From the door the Lord could be seen, standing with a gaze of agreement and approval. He nodded His head as if to say “Well done . . . I see you noticed that defilement . . . thank you for eliminating the odor.” It took work, but the room was very clean when I finished and seemed like it sparkled. I had the sort of pride that comes with being thorough, and knowing that I had caught every thought, making them submissive to the Word of God (2 Cor 10:3-5). There was no condemnation for the filth. Just a knowing that filth comes, and needs to be cleaned . . . and then a sense of being accepted and favored as one who is covered in the righteousness of the One who gazes from the door.
That was the end of the vision. One thing I noticed was that there wasn’t one special room for worship, but that His presence and My “knowing” of Him was in all the rooms of My heart. Though I am not a perfect person, He makes me acceptable to Him through the cleansing of His Word and Spirit. He does so because He desires to live in the hearts of Man, yours and mine. This also makes our hearts nice for us to live in.
Years ago the Lord led me to Proverbs 24:3-4, which reads “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Through our fellowship with the Lord we build a place inside of us where wisdom, understanding and knowledge live. And there are “rare and beautiful treasures” waiting to be discovered during times of fellowship with Him whom we love. Our time with Jesus not only creates a place He loves to live in, but a place we love to live in. When we need to be cheered up and encouraged, we can go to the rooms of our heart and find that the Lord Himself has stored wonderful comforters in the closet, and will serve us with the finest china dinner set in the dining room. We will drink from a golden challis at the table and eat a feast He has prepared for us. The images of the goodness of God hidden in the heart of Man are endless as we see how He ministers and nurtures us from our times of fellowship with Him.
Do we make our hearts a nice place for Him to dwell in? Yes we do. And anything offensive He will help us to clean up, just so that our fellowship with Him will continue. He wants to live in every room of our hearts so that His love will reign there. Amen.
Last week the wife of a friend wrote to my husband and I. Her husband is dying of cancer and according to the doctors he does not have long to live. I asked the Lord what I should write back, and I could hear the Holy Spirit say “Tell them that I love living in their hearts. They have made it nice for Me, and they have made life nice for others as well. Their lives are a sweet fragrance to Me, for they have served Me when it was not comfortable, going beyond human strength to do My works. Indeed, their works are like the fine linen, bright and clean, which clothes the Bride.” (Rev 19:7-8).
After I wrote to my friends I was left with the lingering thought, “I wonder how my own heart seems to God.” Is my heart nice to live in? Is my life a sweet fragrance for Him? I had considered my heart to be a place where worship takes place. However, being a place for Him to dwell in was becoming a larger concept for me. Before I could think about this, the Lord stepped in with a vision.
The living room – The Lord gave me a vision of a cozy living room with a fire in the fireplace, and me curled up on the love seat with my favorite book, the Bible. Then He began telling me about My heart. “You have made in comfortable for Me to talk with you.” The sweetness of our fellowship was everywhere in the room of my vision. The heat spoke of passion, and the love seat of the Comforter. “It matters as much to Me that you are comfortable in My presence as it does that you listen to Me.” I understood that it makes God feel terrible when we shrink back from Him, as if He is someone terrible. Yet, to relax and lose all track of time while simply fellowshipping with Him is the essence of our expression of love.
The kitchen – I then saw myself in the kitchen, singing as I cooked. The food preparation seemed easy and time was not a problem because of the joy in my heart. This preparation represented the synthesis of my fellowship with the Lord in Word and Spirit. I was preparing nourishing food for others (and myself) after having sat with My Lord. Then I was allowed to see Jesus peering over my shoulder while I peeled potatoes at the sink. Such pleasure was on His face at the mundane task I was doing. And His pleasure filled the room.
The bathroom – I then saw myself cleaning the bathroom, on my hands and knees scrubbing the floor. Instead of feelings, I was aware of thinking, for this was a place my thought-life entered in. I was assessing, noticing, and planning until everything was clean of offense. The bathroom was where issues were recognized, and taken care of. From the door the Lord could be seen, standing with a gaze of agreement and approval. He nodded His head as if to say “Well done . . . I see you noticed that defilement . . . thank you for eliminating the odor.” It took work, but the room was very clean when I finished and seemed like it sparkled. I had the sort of pride that comes with being thorough, and knowing that I had caught every thought, making them submissive to the Word of God (2 Cor 10:3-5). There was no condemnation for the filth. Just a knowing that filth comes, and needs to be cleaned . . . and then a sense of being accepted and favored as one who is covered in the righteousness of the One who gazes from the door.
That was the end of the vision. One thing I noticed was that there wasn’t one special room for worship, but that His presence and My “knowing” of Him was in all the rooms of My heart. Though I am not a perfect person, He makes me acceptable to Him through the cleansing of His Word and Spirit. He does so because He desires to live in the hearts of Man, yours and mine. This also makes our hearts nice for us to live in.
Years ago the Lord led me to Proverbs 24:3-4, which reads “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” Through our fellowship with the Lord we build a place inside of us where wisdom, understanding and knowledge live. And there are “rare and beautiful treasures” waiting to be discovered during times of fellowship with Him whom we love. Our time with Jesus not only creates a place He loves to live in, but a place we love to live in. When we need to be cheered up and encouraged, we can go to the rooms of our heart and find that the Lord Himself has stored wonderful comforters in the closet, and will serve us with the finest china dinner set in the dining room. We will drink from a golden challis at the table and eat a feast He has prepared for us. The images of the goodness of God hidden in the heart of Man are endless as we see how He ministers and nurtures us from our times of fellowship with Him.
Do we make our hearts a nice place for Him to dwell in? Yes we do. And anything offensive He will help us to clean up, just so that our fellowship with Him will continue. He wants to live in every room of our hearts so that His love will reign there. Amen.
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