Have you ever heard of a trial of silence? Sometimes God gives us a trial of silence, not as the world gives silence, but as a Father who is bringing the best, and all the rest, out of his children.
Silence is disturbing. David writes “To you I call, O Lord my Rock; do not turn a deaf ear to me. For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.” (Ps 28:1). It is hard on us to not hear God’s comforting voice, nor to receive counsel from His Spirit readily. Why does God seem to hide Himself at times?
When we were young children our fathers and mothers often reminded us of their counsel and were there to lend a helping hand when we needed them. As we grew, they reminded less, and gave us more freedom. Eventually that freedom afforded us choices, and we either did what our parents taught us, or we did not. Children who need constant reminders have not committed their lessons to memory, nor written their parent’s lessons on their hearts. Immature children cannot be given much freedom for they will not choose wisely and may suffer great harm without their parent’s protection.
Our heavenly Father brings us up in maturity so that He can bestow freedom on us, and with our freedom, great adventures in His kingdom. But He must prove us first, not to frustrate us or cause us fear, but to ensure that His lessons are in our hearts. He does not want us to suffer harm. So, though it may seem He is far away from us, in reality He is watching very near.
When adult children are on their own, there are temptations to do things their parents wouldn’t approve of. Instead of using the good counsel of their father, they may experiment with the foul counsel of their enemy. Yet, without a person choosing of their own free will to obey their father’s lessons and to keep their parent’s values, they are only giving a show of obedience and are insincere in their heart. So silence sets a person free to do what is truly in their heart to do.
God wants us to love sincerely, and to obey from both love and respect of His Word. Some people have a counterfeit obedience, which comes from wanting to look good. They use their gifts to serve themselves and endear mankind to themselves. But the Lord is looking for authenticity. He has invested real riches in us and looks for a good yield on that investment. The counterfeit will prophesy their own words so as to have something to say before men. The authentic will wait, not speaking until God speaks, for their service is to Him.
Wisdom is the hallmark of an obedient son. The hallmark of obedient Christians is that they also grow in wisdom. Just as an earthly father would be proud to have his children follow in his footsteps, so God is glorified by His children’s wisdom (Eph 3:10-12). We must all go through a trial of silence in which our obedience matures us so that we might gain wisdom. Yet God never leaves our side. He proudly watches as we follow each step that he has set before us (Heb 12:1). Amen
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thanksgiving
During this Thanksgiving many of us will spend the day with family. Our traditions and our faith will bring an expression of gratitude that includes sharing feasts with those we love, and with friends. Just having a family to share with, and a home, are reasons to give thanks. Through our example, our children learn thankfulness.
This morning I am reminded of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Though he was not grateful for his family, he had a change of heart. What is interesting about this story is that the father had nothing to do with his son’s repentance. The father simply let his son go. This may seem like bad parenting, yet there comes a time in our adult children’s lives when we have to let go.
Though we trust the keeping of our children’s souls to God, lack of the evidence of their faith may make it seem like our errant children will not come back to their faith, nor to their families! The Lord reminded me that a parent’s thankfulness can reach towards the future, by faith, and believe for their prodigals to come back.
We may plant the seeds of His Word in our children’s heart, but it is God that waters them and watches over them to bring a harvest of righteousness in our children. We will one day see that God, as our heavenly Father, never lets go of our children. Today as we give thanks to God and share with our families, let us remember God’s faithfulness and trust our prodigals to Him. He is able to bring a great harvest of righteousness. Amen
This morning I am reminded of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Though he was not grateful for his family, he had a change of heart. What is interesting about this story is that the father had nothing to do with his son’s repentance. The father simply let his son go. This may seem like bad parenting, yet there comes a time in our adult children’s lives when we have to let go.
Though we trust the keeping of our children’s souls to God, lack of the evidence of their faith may make it seem like our errant children will not come back to their faith, nor to their families! The Lord reminded me that a parent’s thankfulness can reach towards the future, by faith, and believe for their prodigals to come back.
We may plant the seeds of His Word in our children’s heart, but it is God that waters them and watches over them to bring a harvest of righteousness in our children. We will one day see that God, as our heavenly Father, never lets go of our children. Today as we give thanks to God and share with our families, let us remember God’s faithfulness and trust our prodigals to Him. He is able to bring a great harvest of righteousness. Amen
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Faith in asking
We as Christians enjoy a special privilege. We can seek the Lord for His counsel. When we feel lost, He will give us direction. Recently I wrote that the answer God gives us, or His “word”, tries us. If our heart does not have faith towards God, we will not value God’s word.
“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.” (Prov 14:6). To mock is to scorn, scoff or deride. It seems at times we might place the counsel of God in lower value than the counsel of our own heart, or that of our friends. When God does give us His wisdom, we might not see it as valuable advice.
James tells us that God is glad to share wisdom with us, and will not upbraid us for asking (James 1:5). His thoughts and wisdom are different from our thoughts and the counsel of our own mind and heart. The Lord’s intention is not to make us feel inferior or put down, but to bring us up to His level by sharing wisdom with us. However, if we are proud and value our own thoughts more than his, we will set His counsel aside for our own. This is called being “unstable” (see James 1:6-8). Unstable people are tossed around in their thought-life, unable to anchor on any advice, good or bad. They love to moor in the harbors of their own familiar ways, eventually. The very act of seeking God’s counsel when they love their own makes them hypocrites.
Seeking God for advice can bring good direction to our lives, or, if we are hypocritical, it can uncover the hidden agendas of our hearts. God’s word is living and active, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12-13). When God speaks His word, it tries our hearts, laying bare the contents. If we have faith we will gain wisdom. If we have unbelief we will continue in the ways we have thought to be better than God’s ways. Our attitude towards God’s word determines our path in this life and our final destination. Today, let us value faith in God more than trusting in our own ways, and receive the direction we all need in our lives. Amen.
“The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.” (Prov 14:6). To mock is to scorn, scoff or deride. It seems at times we might place the counsel of God in lower value than the counsel of our own heart, or that of our friends. When God does give us His wisdom, we might not see it as valuable advice.
James tells us that God is glad to share wisdom with us, and will not upbraid us for asking (James 1:5). His thoughts and wisdom are different from our thoughts and the counsel of our own mind and heart. The Lord’s intention is not to make us feel inferior or put down, but to bring us up to His level by sharing wisdom with us. However, if we are proud and value our own thoughts more than his, we will set His counsel aside for our own. This is called being “unstable” (see James 1:6-8). Unstable people are tossed around in their thought-life, unable to anchor on any advice, good or bad. They love to moor in the harbors of their own familiar ways, eventually. The very act of seeking God’s counsel when they love their own makes them hypocrites.
Seeking God for advice can bring good direction to our lives, or, if we are hypocritical, it can uncover the hidden agendas of our hearts. God’s word is living and active, judging the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb 4:12-13). When God speaks His word, it tries our hearts, laying bare the contents. If we have faith we will gain wisdom. If we have unbelief we will continue in the ways we have thought to be better than God’s ways. Our attitude towards God’s word determines our path in this life and our final destination. Today, let us value faith in God more than trusting in our own ways, and receive the direction we all need in our lives. Amen.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Enlargement
The world has a different message than the Holy Spirit. This may seem obvious, however, at times the message of the world seems to make sense to followers of Jesus. For instance, there are a lot of demands on us all, and this creates stress. It seems wise to set priorities and simplify our lives so that we can give a quality effort to those things that are the most important. The world’s message is to simplify and not worry, and to enjoy ourselves. Even research underscores the need to be happy, for the body will self-destruct under a stressful life-style. Therefore, a busy life style is one most gladly shed.
God is not against happiness, and scripture tell us that we are not to worry (Mt 6:25). When talking to Martha, Jesus said she was “worried and upset over many things” because she fretted over the work she was doing (Lk 10:41). Though it is clear we should not worry, how do we discern between following the way of the world, and the way of the Holy Spirit in such matters as simplifying our lives? As always, we can judge a tree by its fruit. The consequences of following worldly advice will not bear the fruit of following Jesus. You see, those whose pleasure is of the world see things from a different viewpoint (1 Jn 4:5), therefore their ways are going to be different than God’s ways.
The basis of our faith is in the Word of God and His Spirit, testifying within us. Therefore, if we see ourselves following a different path than one stated in the Word and illustrated by the Spirit, we may be in error. Regarding simplifying our lives, we do not read parables where faithful servants have their lives diminished, but rather we read of enlargement. Our faithfulness, though dotted with the discouragements of this life, would not be rewarded by being diminished.
Jesus told a parable of a man giving his servants talents to use while he was away. When he returned he rewarded each servant’s faithfulness with being in charge of more responsibility. He set them over cities, to rule on his behalf (Lk 19:16 - 19). In Matthew’s account of this parable he adds “Come and share your master’s happiness” (Mt 25:21). In the parable of the faithful servant, the master put one servant in charge of the others while he is away, to give them their food allowance at the proper time. When the master returned, he put the faithful servant in charge of all his possessions (Lk 12:42-44). These are examples of the Lord expanding servants who are faithful, and not diminishing them.
Responsibilities beget responsibilities. But, at times, we want blessing instead of more responsibilities. We picture our reward as having access to all God’s household for our happiness. We see cities as places to enjoy ourselves and have fun traveling to. We are looking at an outward expansion which takes in the world instead of an inward expansion that holds the glory of God in all we do. The message of the world, to simplify, and the seeming wisdom to retire from hard work and enjoy our life are all the justification we may need to diminish our service to the Lord, and to our fellow man.
The unfaithful servants in both parables failed to see that their responsibilities would enlarge them inside. If they had loved doing their master’s business they would have seen tremendous growth taking place inside of them. One servant must have realized there was more work to do for his master, for he hid his talent (Lk 19:20-21). He didn’t invest in the work the master gave him because he didn’t want what the master wanted. As a servant of God, he didn’t see that God wanted to mold him into a type of Himself, overseeing people, lands and many other things. Perhaps he wanted earthly reward . . . we aren’t told why the servant thought that God was unfair.
In the second parable the unfaithful servant also failed to see his master’s plan. The servant eventually resented being the one left in charge. In making the servant responsible for His servants, God was giving him a space to grow in caring about his fellow servants the way He did. This assignment was to enlarge the servant’s heart, making it full of love like God’s heart. However, the servant wanted life on his own terms and did not learn to care about God’s people, but grew resentful of their needs and abused them (Lk 12:45-46).
We will not know what we are capable of doing if we feel God is unfair in what He asks us to do. And we will not like His work if the rewards we seek are for our worldly gain. Yet if we love and faithfully serve God, His enlargement of us on the inside will enable us to do all we are called to do in this life. You see, by growing in God’s nature, the things that are not part of God’s nature, such as stress and worry, will be replaced by trust and faith. By giving us responsibilities God is inviting us to become like Him. As we let Him carry the works He invites us into, we find His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mt 11:28-30). God has already simplified our lives by carrying the load with us. And God has provided us with happiness by inviting us into His. Amen.
God is not against happiness, and scripture tell us that we are not to worry (Mt 6:25). When talking to Martha, Jesus said she was “worried and upset over many things” because she fretted over the work she was doing (Lk 10:41). Though it is clear we should not worry, how do we discern between following the way of the world, and the way of the Holy Spirit in such matters as simplifying our lives? As always, we can judge a tree by its fruit. The consequences of following worldly advice will not bear the fruit of following Jesus. You see, those whose pleasure is of the world see things from a different viewpoint (1 Jn 4:5), therefore their ways are going to be different than God’s ways.
The basis of our faith is in the Word of God and His Spirit, testifying within us. Therefore, if we see ourselves following a different path than one stated in the Word and illustrated by the Spirit, we may be in error. Regarding simplifying our lives, we do not read parables where faithful servants have their lives diminished, but rather we read of enlargement. Our faithfulness, though dotted with the discouragements of this life, would not be rewarded by being diminished.
Jesus told a parable of a man giving his servants talents to use while he was away. When he returned he rewarded each servant’s faithfulness with being in charge of more responsibility. He set them over cities, to rule on his behalf (Lk 19:16 - 19). In Matthew’s account of this parable he adds “Come and share your master’s happiness” (Mt 25:21). In the parable of the faithful servant, the master put one servant in charge of the others while he is away, to give them their food allowance at the proper time. When the master returned, he put the faithful servant in charge of all his possessions (Lk 12:42-44). These are examples of the Lord expanding servants who are faithful, and not diminishing them.
Responsibilities beget responsibilities. But, at times, we want blessing instead of more responsibilities. We picture our reward as having access to all God’s household for our happiness. We see cities as places to enjoy ourselves and have fun traveling to. We are looking at an outward expansion which takes in the world instead of an inward expansion that holds the glory of God in all we do. The message of the world, to simplify, and the seeming wisdom to retire from hard work and enjoy our life are all the justification we may need to diminish our service to the Lord, and to our fellow man.
The unfaithful servants in both parables failed to see that their responsibilities would enlarge them inside. If they had loved doing their master’s business they would have seen tremendous growth taking place inside of them. One servant must have realized there was more work to do for his master, for he hid his talent (Lk 19:20-21). He didn’t invest in the work the master gave him because he didn’t want what the master wanted. As a servant of God, he didn’t see that God wanted to mold him into a type of Himself, overseeing people, lands and many other things. Perhaps he wanted earthly reward . . . we aren’t told why the servant thought that God was unfair.
In the second parable the unfaithful servant also failed to see his master’s plan. The servant eventually resented being the one left in charge. In making the servant responsible for His servants, God was giving him a space to grow in caring about his fellow servants the way He did. This assignment was to enlarge the servant’s heart, making it full of love like God’s heart. However, the servant wanted life on his own terms and did not learn to care about God’s people, but grew resentful of their needs and abused them (Lk 12:45-46).
We will not know what we are capable of doing if we feel God is unfair in what He asks us to do. And we will not like His work if the rewards we seek are for our worldly gain. Yet if we love and faithfully serve God, His enlargement of us on the inside will enable us to do all we are called to do in this life. You see, by growing in God’s nature, the things that are not part of God’s nature, such as stress and worry, will be replaced by trust and faith. By giving us responsibilities God is inviting us to become like Him. As we let Him carry the works He invites us into, we find His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Mt 11:28-30). God has already simplified our lives by carrying the load with us. And God has provided us with happiness by inviting us into His. Amen.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Our identity
I have a painting on my wall that I did during intercession last year. It depicts a tower made of stones and is called “The Strong Tower.” Jesus is seen outlined by the stones, holding the Bible. Yes, the Word of God is a strong tower, and a tower of refuge. We can run to His Word for comfort, instruction, correction, and much more. Jesus is the Word of God.
Tonight I heard the Lord ask me a question. He asked “Shouldn’t I have faith that you will become what you are to become if you have to have that same faith? Do I require greater faith of you than I have?”
I have never thought of God has having faith before. He continued, “The Father and I come to live in those who obey My teaching (see Jn 14:23-24). True faith manifests itself in obedience. The Father and I have faith in those who walk in obedience. Because we have confidence in our own work, we can believe that those who submit will continue to obey. And in continuing to obey, they will continue to become who they were meant to become.
Many men present My plan as if it may not work. If that were the case, I would not be a secure place, like the Tower of Refuge. But I and My Father know that our plan will work. We have confidence in the lessons we teach you and the steps we ask you to take. They are sure and proven, for we have walked them before You. You are not learning arbitrary lessons, but truth.
It is satan’s job to ask ‘has God said?’ He will try to rob you of confidence in My Word. Then, lack of confidence will erode your faith and you will end up doubting Me.
A child trusts the decisions of his father. He follows his father and loves and admires him. So be like this child that you follow Me as One who knows what He is doing. Your obedience will cause us both to share the same faith that you will be whom you were meant to be. For your life is hid in Me, and I know it well.“ (Col 3:3) Amen.
Tonight I heard the Lord ask me a question. He asked “Shouldn’t I have faith that you will become what you are to become if you have to have that same faith? Do I require greater faith of you than I have?”
I have never thought of God has having faith before. He continued, “The Father and I come to live in those who obey My teaching (see Jn 14:23-24). True faith manifests itself in obedience. The Father and I have faith in those who walk in obedience. Because we have confidence in our own work, we can believe that those who submit will continue to obey. And in continuing to obey, they will continue to become who they were meant to become.
Many men present My plan as if it may not work. If that were the case, I would not be a secure place, like the Tower of Refuge. But I and My Father know that our plan will work. We have confidence in the lessons we teach you and the steps we ask you to take. They are sure and proven, for we have walked them before You. You are not learning arbitrary lessons, but truth.
It is satan’s job to ask ‘has God said?’ He will try to rob you of confidence in My Word. Then, lack of confidence will erode your faith and you will end up doubting Me.
A child trusts the decisions of his father. He follows his father and loves and admires him. So be like this child that you follow Me as One who knows what He is doing. Your obedience will cause us both to share the same faith that you will be whom you were meant to be. For your life is hid in Me, and I know it well.“ (Col 3:3) Amen.
The Pearl of great worth
We all alike walk through this life looking for purpose and meaning. Everyone who is saved has come as merchants in search of good pearls. Finding one of great worth, we use all our savings to buy this pearl called Jesus, and enter into His Kingdom (Mt 13:45-46). Because we see the great worth of the pearl, we make the commitment to purchase it.
Our enemy, satan, spends his time trying to devalue the worth of the pearl. He holds up the world to us, just as he did to Jesus, and says “you can have all this if you bow down and worship me.” (Mt 4:9). There is no end to satan’s glorification of the world to us who have the pearl, for he wants us to feel discontent with what we have.
For those who desire to know the pearl, Jesus, they will see Him as far more valuable than any worldly gain. In valuing the pearl, they become more like Him daily. As their trials increase, they will continue to choose the pearl.
For those who chose the pearl for other reasons, such as acceptance and forgiveness, the worth of the pearl to them may lessen over time. For instance, when the acceptance of other men is presented to them, coupled with worldly gain, their coming trials may not bring them to choose Jesus. If the world and the acceptance of men are of greater value, they will avoid losing these things, even if it means walking a different path, a wider path.
We see that, though men make the same choice in the beginning and purchase the pearl, there are two different paths to walk on. The one chooses to have great worth and lets the hardness of the narrow way form him into the image of the pearl. The other chooses the world, not desiring any hardness, and will not be formed into the image of the pearl of great worth, for he rejected Him. What we value is important and will determine which path we will follow, and in whose image we will be formed. Today, as we examine our life for worth and meaning, let us be found desiring the true worth found in Jesus. Amen.
Our enemy, satan, spends his time trying to devalue the worth of the pearl. He holds up the world to us, just as he did to Jesus, and says “you can have all this if you bow down and worship me.” (Mt 4:9). There is no end to satan’s glorification of the world to us who have the pearl, for he wants us to feel discontent with what we have.
For those who desire to know the pearl, Jesus, they will see Him as far more valuable than any worldly gain. In valuing the pearl, they become more like Him daily. As their trials increase, they will continue to choose the pearl.
For those who chose the pearl for other reasons, such as acceptance and forgiveness, the worth of the pearl to them may lessen over time. For instance, when the acceptance of other men is presented to them, coupled with worldly gain, their coming trials may not bring them to choose Jesus. If the world and the acceptance of men are of greater value, they will avoid losing these things, even if it means walking a different path, a wider path.
We see that, though men make the same choice in the beginning and purchase the pearl, there are two different paths to walk on. The one chooses to have great worth and lets the hardness of the narrow way form him into the image of the pearl. The other chooses the world, not desiring any hardness, and will not be formed into the image of the pearl of great worth, for he rejected Him. What we value is important and will determine which path we will follow, and in whose image we will be formed. Today, as we examine our life for worth and meaning, let us be found desiring the true worth found in Jesus. Amen.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
God has dominion
This morning I was facing some pretty large giants. During prayer the Lord said to me “Those powers which trouble you, I made, and have dominion over (Col 1:16 & 2:15). Do not let your enemy worry you, but have faith in Me.”
Having faith in God as our Creator seems basic, but when we consider He is the Creator of our enemies, it puts their threat in a new perspective. Not only is God greater than our enemies, but they must bow to Him. We just have to remind them.
Having faith in God as our Creator seems basic, but when we consider He is the Creator of our enemies, it puts their threat in a new perspective. Not only is God greater than our enemies, but they must bow to Him. We just have to remind them.
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