It is not easy to get a sense of where we are in the Lord. Men tend to assign value to quantity of works, and the number of successful projects they have completed. We measure ourselves against each other, and often come up short. But God does not esteem our works the way we do.
Two famous men of faith were not well-positioned to receive their calling; they were sheep herders. When Moses found the Lord in the burning bush there was no indication that he was any more faithful then the days before. In fact, shepherding is a boring and isolating occupation. Other than his care of the sheep, who did Moses minister to? He had a family, but no fellowship with anyone in God’s current religious system. What had Moses accomplished? Yet at God’s appointed time, He revealed His will to Moses, calling Him to save His people from the Egyptians.
What Moses had going for him in the deserts of Midian while he shepherded was his acquaintance with silence. He learned patience, and he learned to listen. He learned what was normal, and what was unusual. He learned what was safe for his sheep and for his family, and what was not. They were skills that qualified Moses to lead God’s people.
The second famous leader that was a shepherd was David. He had an equaling boring and isolating occupation as Moses. His father did not even mention him when Samuel came to the family home to select the next king. There is no indication that David had been doing something that day which positioned him to be the chosen one. Yet David had been faithful to protect his father’s sheep against bears and lions. He also had been in a place to learn patience, and being accustomed to silence, to listen. We do not see that David had a relationship with the current religious system, but he did, however, sing to the sheep. All David’s ministry was done where no one could see him, out of the sight of those who could recommend him.
Both Moses and David were sincere, being who they really were before the Lord’s eyes. Do not feel discouraged that you are in a silent and isolated place, as if you will never be given a calling from the Lord. It is not the position of having done many works that qualifies you. It is not the position of well-known people that can recommend you for ministry that will make ministry happen for you. It is the Lord. In His right time, He will call. Let the silence work listening in you, and the isolation, a sincere heart that is content to be just who you are in the Lord’s eyes. He is faithful and will not pass you over. Be encouraged. Amen
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The power of prophecy
The Lord often draws us to Himself when we are least positioned to be in His presence. He knows that our carnal nature is rebellious for He did not create it to be indwelled with His goodness. But God does not keep His anger nearby, to act upon His every disappointment in us. Instead, He draws us to Himself through acts motivated by His love of Man, so that whosoever would come to Him will know Him as He is. It is for His sake, and not out of pity for us, that God does this. He has great desire for Man.
“From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say ‘Yes, I knew of them.’ You have not heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open.” (Is 48:6b-8a).
In the carnal nature of the mind, men think incorrectly that they know far more than they actually know. Lack of knowing is uncomfortable to Man and his mind is an ever busy tool to supply his own understandings. So God hides His mysteries from the understanding of men until the time for opening it up. By God’s spoken word he entices men to His mysteries, though they cannot know them by their own mind. God speaks beforehand so that He can make Himself known on that day when He opens His mysteries up and brings them to the light. He watches the hearts of men to find those who delight in understanding Him. For those who remember that He spoke the word, a great light dawns in their hearts (2 Pet 1:19) . . . they have touched upon their God as He reached out to bring their understanding. That is how powerful prophecy is.
God’s word waits in the hearts of men for that season in which it will be revealed. It is like that light shining in the darkness of the mind until the day dawns and the morning star rises in their hearts (1 Pet 1:19). God delights in the relationship born through understanding, and fellowships with these men to bear a good yield from His word. Wisdom and justice, and all that is in God’s nature will come from the fellowship of understanding what He has spoken (Mt 13:23).
We are the desire of God and He joys in drawing us to Himself. In these confusing times we live in, He offers the comfort of His Word (Rom 15:4). Whether it be spoken prophecy or scripture, it is given for our benefit. Let us delight in the Light of our minds and wait for the dawning of understanding, for God’s desire is to fellowship with us. Amen.
“From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say ‘Yes, I knew of them.’ You have not heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open.” (Is 48:6b-8a).
In the carnal nature of the mind, men think incorrectly that they know far more than they actually know. Lack of knowing is uncomfortable to Man and his mind is an ever busy tool to supply his own understandings. So God hides His mysteries from the understanding of men until the time for opening it up. By God’s spoken word he entices men to His mysteries, though they cannot know them by their own mind. God speaks beforehand so that He can make Himself known on that day when He opens His mysteries up and brings them to the light. He watches the hearts of men to find those who delight in understanding Him. For those who remember that He spoke the word, a great light dawns in their hearts (2 Pet 1:19) . . . they have touched upon their God as He reached out to bring their understanding. That is how powerful prophecy is.
God’s word waits in the hearts of men for that season in which it will be revealed. It is like that light shining in the darkness of the mind until the day dawns and the morning star rises in their hearts (1 Pet 1:19). God delights in the relationship born through understanding, and fellowships with these men to bear a good yield from His word. Wisdom and justice, and all that is in God’s nature will come from the fellowship of understanding what He has spoken (Mt 13:23).
We are the desire of God and He joys in drawing us to Himself. In these confusing times we live in, He offers the comfort of His Word (Rom 15:4). Whether it be spoken prophecy or scripture, it is given for our benefit. Let us delight in the Light of our minds and wait for the dawning of understanding, for God’s desire is to fellowship with us. Amen.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Power of the Restored Person
Never underestimate the power of the restored person. Though their former state may have been in ruins, God is greater than the destruction. And though He has displeasure over their sins, yet His compassion and love rules His heart.
When our lives seem to be barren, void of the fruit of God, it seems as if we are rejected. Not only do we think that about our own lives, but our brethren begin to think that as well. We are estranged from God, and helpless to do anything about it. We don’t know why He doesn’t intervene, if the chastisements are from Him (such as, discipline mentioned in Hebrews 12:10), or if they are warfare from our enemy.
We see the concept of estrangement illustrated in Isaiah 54. Though Israel sinned and caused the Lord to be angry, He only hid His face “for a moment” (Is 54:8). He is our Creator and knows that His prolonged anger would cause the “spirit of man (to) grow faint before Me” (Is 57:16). Instead of remaining angry, as many people do, or keeping a long list of our failings, as our enemy does, God has compassion and great love. His intention is to restore us. The restoration of the Lord is a wonderful thing to look forward to, for in it holds the answers to many of our “why’s”, and “who’s.
The first thing the Lord restores is our sense of who we are: our “self”. He establishes us in righteousness. When a person gets a sense of who he is in the Lord, then it is easier to have faith to bear fruit, and to identify the Lord’s hand, and the hand of the enemy. In the world of the unseen, a Christian most desperately needs to know who his “self” is.
After the Lord establishes us, he teaches our children. We begin to have a legacy that will travel through time . . . a witness to others of Who the Lord is. And God puts Himself personally in charge of teaching our children His way. He also adds to us spiritual children so that our restored life can be an example to others. This turns our gaze from “self” to Him.
The restored person’s heart will not entertain fear, for perfect love drives out fear (1 Jn 4:18). And the Lord will no longer let enemies tyrannically rule over he whom the Lord restores, for the Lord is teaching him to rule alongside Himself. Once the storm-tossed life of the Christian in trial clears itself of sorrow and fear, he will see clearly that the battle is common to all Christians and that the intention of the Lord is that he should overcome, and rule with Him (Rev 2:26-27). This turns the restored man towards the purposes of his life, which are hidden in Christ, in God.
The restored person knows that his life has value in the hands of God, and that his God will not leave him to the will of his enemies. No matter how impossible the odds, a man who is restored will gain victory. He has reconciled himself to the fact that God is teaching him to walk beside Him through his battles instead of holding his hand while He takes care of the enemy. God chooses this walk for us in order that we might become His sons and daughters, and not mere servants. This turns the heart of the restored man to God’s motives for him, and for others like him. If God intends us to win our battles (and He does), then He will equip us to do so.
The restored person is wiser, having experienced the chastening of the Lord. He knows that trials and discipline come from His Father’s hand, as well as suffering and oppression from his enemy. Therefore, the restored person grows in discernment, and learns when to war against satan, and when to apologize to God. It is the restored person, whom brethren esteemed lowly in their own eyes, that will see the “distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not” (Mal 3:18) because they have learned to honor and fear the Lord (Mal 3:16). Having honor and fear of the Lord turns the restored person’s heart towards his relationship with God, and he maintains a protective shield over his heart to not accuse the Lord, neither to forget His goodness. And because he values his relationship with God, God entrusts him with spiritual discernment. This makes for true strategy, and battles do not seem foreboding anymore.
One of the last items mentioned in Isaiah 54 given to the restored person is the ability to refute their enemies. Because he no longer is tossed around by his poor self-image and confusion over his circumstances, the restored person has a clear picture of who is accusing him. He verbally proves his enemy wrong and comes in defense of God’s nature through praise, scripture, and words about his past victory. Large words of our victory are called the Word of our Testimony (Rev 12:11) and defeat satan. Why do we need to refute our enemy? Because God’s creative and declarative power comes through words, therefore, our victories cannot be silent. To verbally prove satan wrong is our heritage. When the restored person is able to refute his enemy, he has come to the realization that God’s intention was that we become as Christ was (1 Jn 4:17), and just as Jesus’ work was to destroy the devil’s work (1 Jn 3:8), so is ours. This man’s heart truly is united with God’s overall work for him. He will refute his enemies and take no thought of how it affects his own life (see again Rev 12:11).
Does your life seem tossed by storms? Is it enshrouded in silence, as if you were left alone? Then let me comfort you with these words . . . you have a lot of good things to look forward to. God’s character has not changed, and He intends good towards you who will learn to honor and fear Him. He is worthy of our praises, and our affirmations, even when things are at their darkest. Remember His good nature, for He remembers you and has restoration on His mind. Amen
When our lives seem to be barren, void of the fruit of God, it seems as if we are rejected. Not only do we think that about our own lives, but our brethren begin to think that as well. We are estranged from God, and helpless to do anything about it. We don’t know why He doesn’t intervene, if the chastisements are from Him (such as, discipline mentioned in Hebrews 12:10), or if they are warfare from our enemy.
We see the concept of estrangement illustrated in Isaiah 54. Though Israel sinned and caused the Lord to be angry, He only hid His face “for a moment” (Is 54:8). He is our Creator and knows that His prolonged anger would cause the “spirit of man (to) grow faint before Me” (Is 57:16). Instead of remaining angry, as many people do, or keeping a long list of our failings, as our enemy does, God has compassion and great love. His intention is to restore us. The restoration of the Lord is a wonderful thing to look forward to, for in it holds the answers to many of our “why’s”, and “who’s.
The first thing the Lord restores is our sense of who we are: our “self”. He establishes us in righteousness. When a person gets a sense of who he is in the Lord, then it is easier to have faith to bear fruit, and to identify the Lord’s hand, and the hand of the enemy. In the world of the unseen, a Christian most desperately needs to know who his “self” is.
After the Lord establishes us, he teaches our children. We begin to have a legacy that will travel through time . . . a witness to others of Who the Lord is. And God puts Himself personally in charge of teaching our children His way. He also adds to us spiritual children so that our restored life can be an example to others. This turns our gaze from “self” to Him.
The restored person’s heart will not entertain fear, for perfect love drives out fear (1 Jn 4:18). And the Lord will no longer let enemies tyrannically rule over he whom the Lord restores, for the Lord is teaching him to rule alongside Himself. Once the storm-tossed life of the Christian in trial clears itself of sorrow and fear, he will see clearly that the battle is common to all Christians and that the intention of the Lord is that he should overcome, and rule with Him (Rev 2:26-27). This turns the restored man towards the purposes of his life, which are hidden in Christ, in God.
The restored person knows that his life has value in the hands of God, and that his God will not leave him to the will of his enemies. No matter how impossible the odds, a man who is restored will gain victory. He has reconciled himself to the fact that God is teaching him to walk beside Him through his battles instead of holding his hand while He takes care of the enemy. God chooses this walk for us in order that we might become His sons and daughters, and not mere servants. This turns the heart of the restored man to God’s motives for him, and for others like him. If God intends us to win our battles (and He does), then He will equip us to do so.
The restored person is wiser, having experienced the chastening of the Lord. He knows that trials and discipline come from His Father’s hand, as well as suffering and oppression from his enemy. Therefore, the restored person grows in discernment, and learns when to war against satan, and when to apologize to God. It is the restored person, whom brethren esteemed lowly in their own eyes, that will see the “distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not” (Mal 3:18) because they have learned to honor and fear the Lord (Mal 3:16). Having honor and fear of the Lord turns the restored person’s heart towards his relationship with God, and he maintains a protective shield over his heart to not accuse the Lord, neither to forget His goodness. And because he values his relationship with God, God entrusts him with spiritual discernment. This makes for true strategy, and battles do not seem foreboding anymore.
One of the last items mentioned in Isaiah 54 given to the restored person is the ability to refute their enemies. Because he no longer is tossed around by his poor self-image and confusion over his circumstances, the restored person has a clear picture of who is accusing him. He verbally proves his enemy wrong and comes in defense of God’s nature through praise, scripture, and words about his past victory. Large words of our victory are called the Word of our Testimony (Rev 12:11) and defeat satan. Why do we need to refute our enemy? Because God’s creative and declarative power comes through words, therefore, our victories cannot be silent. To verbally prove satan wrong is our heritage. When the restored person is able to refute his enemy, he has come to the realization that God’s intention was that we become as Christ was (1 Jn 4:17), and just as Jesus’ work was to destroy the devil’s work (1 Jn 3:8), so is ours. This man’s heart truly is united with God’s overall work for him. He will refute his enemies and take no thought of how it affects his own life (see again Rev 12:11).
Does your life seem tossed by storms? Is it enshrouded in silence, as if you were left alone? Then let me comfort you with these words . . . you have a lot of good things to look forward to. God’s character has not changed, and He intends good towards you who will learn to honor and fear Him. He is worthy of our praises, and our affirmations, even when things are at their darkest. Remember His good nature, for He remembers you and has restoration on His mind. Amen
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Sent Ones
Earlier I posted a lesson about the Word in Flesh, Jesus Christ, and how we share in His sufferings as we become the Word in our flesh. I will continue with this lesson, which is based in part on Paul’s writings to the church in Colosse.
“. . . the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” (Col 1:26)
The Word of God in the flesh of men is one of the most powerful things that can ever happen on the earth. If words alone were enough, God would not have needed to keep the Gospel a mystery. But the world needed more than words; they needed to see the Life behind the words, living in flesh and blood.
God kept this mystery a secret until His Word was made Perfect in His Son, Jesus. And we, as His ambassadors, become perfected by that same Word that lives in the flesh of saints gone before us. “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Col 1:28) That powerful Life that lived in Paul worked through him to perfect others in Christ, reaching through the generations to us. (see also verse 29).
Jesus labored on earth to bring His disciples into the works of His Father’s kingdom. “As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (Jn 17:18). The mystery that waited for the Sent One was also waiting for His sent ones. Those sent ones revealed the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations before them. The revelation awaited both the Son of God and for those whom He would send. That’s how powerful the Word in flesh is.
The world needs more than words: they need to see God’s Word living in the flesh of the sent ones, us.
“. . . the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” (Col 1:26)
The Word of God in the flesh of men is one of the most powerful things that can ever happen on the earth. If words alone were enough, God would not have needed to keep the Gospel a mystery. But the world needed more than words; they needed to see the Life behind the words, living in flesh and blood.
God kept this mystery a secret until His Word was made Perfect in His Son, Jesus. And we, as His ambassadors, become perfected by that same Word that lives in the flesh of saints gone before us. “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” (Col 1:28) That powerful Life that lived in Paul worked through him to perfect others in Christ, reaching through the generations to us. (see also verse 29).
Jesus labored on earth to bring His disciples into the works of His Father’s kingdom. “As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world” (Jn 17:18). The mystery that waited for the Sent One was also waiting for His sent ones. Those sent ones revealed the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations before them. The revelation awaited both the Son of God and for those whom He would send. That’s how powerful the Word in flesh is.
The world needs more than words: they need to see God’s Word living in the flesh of the sent ones, us.
sacrifice
“Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of His body, which is the church.” Col 1:24
This verse has puzzled many Christians. We see the sacrifice of Christ as being complete, so why does Paul mention what is “still lacking”? Indeed, Christ Jesus atoned for our sins, but this passage is not about that initial sacrifice. It is about what we remain in the world to do: “Present to you the word of God in its fullness” (verse 25b). We cannot be in this world, presenting the word of God to His people, without also presenting His sacrificial nature.
Jesus came as the Word of God in His flesh (Jn 1:14) and lived out the meaning of all that which God had spoken. It involved discomfort, unpopularity, and eventually, the hatred of those He came to redeem. Jesus’ sacrifice did not begin at the cross; it ended at the cross. And so, we bear crosses of personal suffering in this life also.
But more so, rather than looking at our discomfort and inconvenience as our suffering, we share in His sufferings (Rom 8:17 & 2 Cor 1:5). In order to present our lives to others as God’s Word in our flesh, there will be things we do that only Jesus in us would do. In other words, we would not choose to do them ourselves. Jesus mentioned some of these things in His teachings. He asked people to go beyond their sense of right and wrong, and beyond the dictates of the law. In all of His “you have heard . . . but . . .“ lessons, Jesus is laying out what love would do.
When Paul was filling up what was left over of Christ’s sufferings, he was walking in love. In his description of the nature of love, he states that it “suffers long, and is kind.”(1 Cor 13:4) Though Jesus is not in His flesh on this earth anymore to show the example of what love is, we are. We live in our flesh, loving, and suffering because we love, for the sake of presenting the word of God in its fullness to others. There is no other way to do it.
Though we may think ourselves a poor substitute for Jesus, we stand in His stead on this earth as God’s word in flesh. Corporately, we have become His body, with Jesus as our Head. This glorifies Jesus’ work on the earth and is a powerful testimony to those who see our lives. Though our light may personally seem dim compared to His, it is God’s intention that we “Let light shine out of darkness.” (2 Cor 4:6). For “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (verse 7).
People do not need to see super-people who do the unobtainable. They need to see ordinary people like you and me with superness inside . . . the Life of Christ. They do not need words to give change and meaning to their lives. They need the word to come alive through love, for love makes change possible by making the power of God’ spoken words come alive.
We are completing Christ’s sacrifice in this life through our lives. It is for others that we do what we normally wouldn’t choose to do. But it is the glory of God and His power that flows through our lives to others. It is worth it, isn’t it?
This verse has puzzled many Christians. We see the sacrifice of Christ as being complete, so why does Paul mention what is “still lacking”? Indeed, Christ Jesus atoned for our sins, but this passage is not about that initial sacrifice. It is about what we remain in the world to do: “Present to you the word of God in its fullness” (verse 25b). We cannot be in this world, presenting the word of God to His people, without also presenting His sacrificial nature.
Jesus came as the Word of God in His flesh (Jn 1:14) and lived out the meaning of all that which God had spoken. It involved discomfort, unpopularity, and eventually, the hatred of those He came to redeem. Jesus’ sacrifice did not begin at the cross; it ended at the cross. And so, we bear crosses of personal suffering in this life also.
But more so, rather than looking at our discomfort and inconvenience as our suffering, we share in His sufferings (Rom 8:17 & 2 Cor 1:5). In order to present our lives to others as God’s Word in our flesh, there will be things we do that only Jesus in us would do. In other words, we would not choose to do them ourselves. Jesus mentioned some of these things in His teachings. He asked people to go beyond their sense of right and wrong, and beyond the dictates of the law. In all of His “you have heard . . . but . . .“ lessons, Jesus is laying out what love would do.
When Paul was filling up what was left over of Christ’s sufferings, he was walking in love. In his description of the nature of love, he states that it “suffers long, and is kind.”(1 Cor 13:4) Though Jesus is not in His flesh on this earth anymore to show the example of what love is, we are. We live in our flesh, loving, and suffering because we love, for the sake of presenting the word of God in its fullness to others. There is no other way to do it.
Though we may think ourselves a poor substitute for Jesus, we stand in His stead on this earth as God’s word in flesh. Corporately, we have become His body, with Jesus as our Head. This glorifies Jesus’ work on the earth and is a powerful testimony to those who see our lives. Though our light may personally seem dim compared to His, it is God’s intention that we “Let light shine out of darkness.” (2 Cor 4:6). For “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (verse 7).
People do not need to see super-people who do the unobtainable. They need to see ordinary people like you and me with superness inside . . . the Life of Christ. They do not need words to give change and meaning to their lives. They need the word to come alive through love, for love makes change possible by making the power of God’ spoken words come alive.
We are completing Christ’s sacrifice in this life through our lives. It is for others that we do what we normally wouldn’t choose to do. But it is the glory of God and His power that flows through our lives to others. It is worth it, isn’t it?
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Word concerning the times we now live in
God has taken His hand off of restraining evil. Evil is coming out in our world all over the place, and in our movies. He no longer restrains it so that it may appear as it is; evil (2 Thess 2:7-8). The world has learned to put light for darkness and darkness for light. God is letting the world know just how dark dark can be by not restraining it any more. He knows one day Man will have to choose, and He is preparing Man to choose light.
Satan is influencing Man to trust in himself. Though there will always be false gods, Man is his own false god in this age. And so satan is influencing Man to trust in himself to fight the evil. All the movies show Man with super powers and virtues. But Man will come against his own mortality before he overcomes satan by his own powers.
The world is in a violent struggle between light and darkness. But the church is asleep, wanting to wish away evil and the power of darkness. Though the world is in error to teach Man to fight by his own power, yet still, it is teaching its children to fight in its movies and video games.
Satan is teaching the world that its enemy is Jesus (Rev 16:14), and works to gather them together against the Lord of Lords. Yet on that day, Jesus will overcome satan; He, and His saints with Him (Rev 17:14). Jesus is teaching His people to fight by the blood of the Lamb, with the word of their testimony, and to love not their lives.
This is an hour when the world is seeing the profile of its enemy, satan. It is an hour when false gods rule, and Jesus is scorned. It is also an hour when deceiving spirits are at work in the churches. Those who do not love the truth, and who are asleep, not knowing the times and the seasons, will be no help winning the war. They unknowingly aid the Deceiver by opposing the work of God, which is to prepare the saints for good works. But the faithful will stand with their Lord and say “For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” (Ps 86:10).
The time to choose is coming for saint and sinner alike. Is Jesus still an unspeakable word, or will He be the praise on your lips?
Satan is influencing Man to trust in himself. Though there will always be false gods, Man is his own false god in this age. And so satan is influencing Man to trust in himself to fight the evil. All the movies show Man with super powers and virtues. But Man will come against his own mortality before he overcomes satan by his own powers.
The world is in a violent struggle between light and darkness. But the church is asleep, wanting to wish away evil and the power of darkness. Though the world is in error to teach Man to fight by his own power, yet still, it is teaching its children to fight in its movies and video games.
Satan is teaching the world that its enemy is Jesus (Rev 16:14), and works to gather them together against the Lord of Lords. Yet on that day, Jesus will overcome satan; He, and His saints with Him (Rev 17:14). Jesus is teaching His people to fight by the blood of the Lamb, with the word of their testimony, and to love not their lives.
This is an hour when the world is seeing the profile of its enemy, satan. It is an hour when false gods rule, and Jesus is scorned. It is also an hour when deceiving spirits are at work in the churches. Those who do not love the truth, and who are asleep, not knowing the times and the seasons, will be no help winning the war. They unknowingly aid the Deceiver by opposing the work of God, which is to prepare the saints for good works. But the faithful will stand with their Lord and say “For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.” (Ps 86:10).
The time to choose is coming for saint and sinner alike. Is Jesus still an unspeakable word, or will He be the praise on your lips?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
