"If you happen to think to yourself, These nations are greater than we are; how can we possibly possess their land? don't be afraid of them! Remember, instead, what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and all Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:17-18)
Most of us are far enough along in life that we have decades of experience with almost everything. Those of us fortunate enough to have known the Lord for most of this time could write a library of books about Father's actions on our behalf during most of these experiences. This means we have a wealth of testimonies to draw on when we need to encourage ourselves in the Lord during any valley moments.
We should, but often, in our panic, we forget where our salvation comes from. We forget who has never failed us. We forget who has all the resources. And we forget who loves us more than any other. No one can touch his wisdom. And no one is as intensely occupied with our success in this journey.
Like Israel, when we face giants, mountains and situations that are greater than we are, we need only remember our past experiences with Father and trust. He is forever the same. His love is a constant because he can't be any more or any less than himself. He is our rescuer. He is our provider. He is our teacher. He is our corrector. He is our guide. He is ... more than enough in every situation.
Trust.
"Don’t be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me." (John 14:1)
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
A Holy God, Removing Evil And Revealing How To Do It Right
"You will destroy all the peoples that the LORD your God is handing over to you. Show them no pity. And don't serve their gods because that would be a trap for you." (Deut 7:16)
From our perspective today, in an age of grace, this is hard to read. We can judge Yahweh without understanding all the facts.
For example, did you know that Yahweh told Abraham that his descendants would spend 400 years in slavery in Egypt because Yahweh had to wait until the evil of the Amalekites reached it maximum? Does this mean there was also a chance for repentance in that time as we read about with Nineveh?
By the time Israel had been released from slavery the area God was sending them into had descended into great evil. It had taken on the sense of a mystical land, filled with giants, witchcraft, human sacrifices, divination and everything that flew in the face of Yahweh's holiness.
Yahweh treated it like a disease that had to be surgically removed and Israel was warned to remove it all or they would become infected. Israel was Yahweh's judgement on these nations that refused to turn from their unacceptable choices, traditions, and culture. Yahweh also planned to demonstrate his glory through his great outpouring of blessings for Israel, a nation that had promised to model the correct way of living under the one true God.
Through Jesus the Church has also been raised up to model a life of blessings so the whole world would see and know Father. But so many of us refuse to receive these blessings and prefer to limit and reduce Yahweh down to our level.
From our perspective today, in an age of grace, this is hard to read. We can judge Yahweh without understanding all the facts.
For example, did you know that Yahweh told Abraham that his descendants would spend 400 years in slavery in Egypt because Yahweh had to wait until the evil of the Amalekites reached it maximum? Does this mean there was also a chance for repentance in that time as we read about with Nineveh?
By the time Israel had been released from slavery the area God was sending them into had descended into great evil. It had taken on the sense of a mystical land, filled with giants, witchcraft, human sacrifices, divination and everything that flew in the face of Yahweh's holiness.
Yahweh treated it like a disease that had to be surgically removed and Israel was warned to remove it all or they would become infected. Israel was Yahweh's judgement on these nations that refused to turn from their unacceptable choices, traditions, and culture. Yahweh also planned to demonstrate his glory through his great outpouring of blessings for Israel, a nation that had promised to model the correct way of living under the one true God.
Through Jesus the Church has also been raised up to model a life of blessings so the whole world would see and know Father. But so many of us refuse to receive these blessings and prefer to limit and reduce Yahweh down to our level.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Healthy Womb, Healthy Land and Healthy Body
"If you listen to these case laws and follow them carefully, the LORD your God will keep the covenant and display the loyalty that he promised your ancestors. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your wombs and the fruit of your fertile land." (Deut 7:12-13a)
"You will be more blessed than any other group of people. No one will be sterile or infertile - not among you or your animals. The LORD will remove all sickness from you." (Deuteronomy 7:14-15a)
He promised healthy wombs and healthy land and healthy bodies in the same way he said they would use abundance to have healthy relationship. He said earlier that there would be no poor in Israel because people must share their abundance.
It is Father's heart that we live a life of Kingdom abundance, that we would live a life of abundance, a life with much fruit, so that the world would know him. The resurrection should be manifested in a life lived properly in the Spirit.
The Kingdom still functions according to the commandments. We need the commandments and we need God's voice.
I am still chewing over the four offices Yahweh set up in Israel - the priest, the judge, the king and the prophet. Jesus fulfills all these offices but he also uses us in these offices. Many of us handle the priest (the commandments) but we often forget the authority of the King. The place of the judge will come later but also plays a role in the discernment in our lives. The one we neglect the most is the Prophet - the voice of God.
If we want to move in the abundance of the Kingdom we need to learn obedience to the Voice in our walk of righteousness.
Still thinking through most of this.
"You will be more blessed than any other group of people. No one will be sterile or infertile - not among you or your animals. The LORD will remove all sickness from you." (Deuteronomy 7:14-15a)
He promised healthy wombs and healthy land and healthy bodies in the same way he said they would use abundance to have healthy relationship. He said earlier that there would be no poor in Israel because people must share their abundance.
It is Father's heart that we live a life of Kingdom abundance, that we would live a life of abundance, a life with much fruit, so that the world would know him. The resurrection should be manifested in a life lived properly in the Spirit.
The Kingdom still functions according to the commandments. We need the commandments and we need God's voice.
I am still chewing over the four offices Yahweh set up in Israel - the priest, the judge, the king and the prophet. Jesus fulfills all these offices but he also uses us in these offices. Many of us handle the priest (the commandments) but we often forget the authority of the King. The place of the judge will come later but also plays a role in the discernment in our lives. The one we neglect the most is the Prophet - the voice of God.
If we want to move in the abundance of the Kingdom we need to learn obedience to the Voice in our walk of righteousness.
Still thinking through most of this.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
Even In The Law Obedience Was A Sign Of Love
"Know now then that the LORD your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves him and keeps his commands - even to the thousandth generation! He is the God who personally repays anyone who hates him, ultimately destroying that kind of person. The LORD does not waste time with anyone who hates him; he repays them personally." (Deuteronomy 7:9-10)
Not all scripture is comfortable. The fact is that Yahweh does not take kindly to the disloyal. These are the ones who have accepted Yahweh as God and have pledged themselves to him. For those who start off but turn their back, we have warnings such as:
"It’s scary to fall into the hands of the living God!" (Hebrews 10:31)
Even Jesus warned:
“No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.” (Luke 9:62)
But there is no way that anyone who has tasted of the Lord and the Holy Spirit could possibly deny him, could they? I really depends upon what we set our eyes and what thoughts we entertain. Following Jesus is not a simple matter. The righteousness of relationship between us and Father is definitely the work of Jesus. He did it on the cross. But we have also been called to a walk of righteousness, which is a journey of progress and depends on us seeking it and surrendering to it.
Jesus told us:
Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Although we are not held to the penalty of the Law, we have been adopted into a relationship of love. If our love is a sincere reflection of Father's love, then our great desire will be obedience to his will. Righteousness is living according to Father's heart. Jesus also told us:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)
Not all scripture is comfortable. The fact is that Yahweh does not take kindly to the disloyal. These are the ones who have accepted Yahweh as God and have pledged themselves to him. For those who start off but turn their back, we have warnings such as:
"It’s scary to fall into the hands of the living God!" (Hebrews 10:31)
Even Jesus warned:
“No one who puts a hand on the plow and looks back is fit for God’s kingdom.” (Luke 9:62)
But there is no way that anyone who has tasted of the Lord and the Holy Spirit could possibly deny him, could they? I really depends upon what we set our eyes and what thoughts we entertain. Following Jesus is not a simple matter. The righteousness of relationship between us and Father is definitely the work of Jesus. He did it on the cross. But we have also been called to a walk of righteousness, which is a journey of progress and depends on us seeking it and surrendering to it.
Jesus told us:
Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33)
Although we are not held to the penalty of the Law, we have been adopted into a relationship of love. If our love is a sincere reflection of Father's love, then our great desire will be obedience to his will. Righteousness is living according to Father's heart. Jesus also told us:
“Whoever loves me will keep my word. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them." (John 14:23)
Why Did Jesus Save Us?
"It was not because you were greater than all other people that the LORD loved you and chose you. In fact, you were the smallest of peoples! no, it is because the LORD loved you and because he kept the solemn pledge he swore to your ancestors that the LORD brought you out with a strong hand and saved you from the house of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh, Egypt's king." (Deut 7:7-8)
It is going to take me a few posts to cover Deuteronomy 7.
Yahweh has many attributes. Attributes are not character because character is something that is developed or diminished. An attribute is who he is, or small glimpses of who he is that he has allowed us to see. God does not have a character of love; he is love. He can't be any more love and he can't be any less love, because he is love.
He did not choose Israel because of anything they had to offer. They had no great qualities. He chose them because he loved them. They were not a great nation. They were not rich. They were not intelligent, or at least not more than any other nation. The only reason they were chosen was because Yahweh loved them. That can be hard to get our mind around and is the reason we need to allow our heart to explain it to our intellect. (Hebrews 11:3)
This is a big reveal for us because it allows us a glimpse the Father's heart. What was true then is true now. We have nothing out of the ordinary to offer Jesus. We have no special gift or ability. It is not because we are good. It is not because of some great faith. It is simply because he loves us. No other reason.
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"You didn’t choose me, but I chose you ..." (John 15:16)
This love, an attribute, is the basis of everything, even of our love for him:
"We love because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
And should be the basis of our understanding that we have received salvation, not because we deserve it, but just because he loves us:
"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
And this love is more sure than the air we breathe and the ground on which we stand:
"But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created." (Romans 8:37-39)
And the truth of all this is revealed in the books of the Law. Amazing when we can see the Father's heart from cover to cover.
It is going to take me a few posts to cover Deuteronomy 7.
Yahweh has many attributes. Attributes are not character because character is something that is developed or diminished. An attribute is who he is, or small glimpses of who he is that he has allowed us to see. God does not have a character of love; he is love. He can't be any more love and he can't be any less love, because he is love.
He did not choose Israel because of anything they had to offer. They had no great qualities. He chose them because he loved them. They were not a great nation. They were not rich. They were not intelligent, or at least not more than any other nation. The only reason they were chosen was because Yahweh loved them. That can be hard to get our mind around and is the reason we need to allow our heart to explain it to our intellect. (Hebrews 11:3)
This is a big reveal for us because it allows us a glimpse the Father's heart. What was true then is true now. We have nothing out of the ordinary to offer Jesus. We have no special gift or ability. It is not because we are good. It is not because of some great faith. It is simply because he loves us. No other reason.
"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"You didn’t choose me, but I chose you ..." (John 15:16)
This love, an attribute, is the basis of everything, even of our love for him:
"We love because God first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
And should be the basis of our understanding that we have received salvation, not because we deserve it, but just because he loves us:
"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
And this love is more sure than the air we breathe and the ground on which we stand:
"But in all these things we win a sweeping victory through the one who loved us. I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created." (Romans 8:37-39)
And the truth of all this is revealed in the books of the Law. Amazing when we can see the Father's heart from cover to cover.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
A King, A High Priest, A High Judge, A Prophet
"Go to the levitical priests and to the head judge in office at that time and look into things there. They will announce to you the correct ruling. " (Deut 17:9)
"You can indeed appoint over you a king that the Lord your God selects." (Deut 17:15a)
"I'll raise up a prophet for them from among their fellow Israelites - one just like you,. I'll put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command." (Deut 18:18
There are plenty of references for the establishment of the priesthood and the high priest, but many people are ignorant of the other offices that were established by God through Moses.
We do not hear too often about the head judge who would decide all the tough cases that could not be settled by the elders in each of the tribes.
Many also think that the introduction of a king during Samuel's time was an insult to God. Although he preferred to be their king, he had made provisions for the establishment of a king. It would appear that the king's purpose would be the head of the army and be responsible for the defense of the land. According to what God established, it would appear that this office was open to abuse so God placed limits on his power and wealth. He also made the study of the law a priority to keep everything in perspective.
There is also the establishment of the prophet. Although Moses fulfilled all these roles, the prophet is the one role that God specifically said would be like Moses. God would communicate through the prophet to the people. The priests carried out the requirements of the Law but it was the prophet who would speak for God. This is another office that would be open to abuse so God gave directions on how to detect a false prophet.
The one who truly fulfilled all these offices is Jesus. He is our high priest. He is our king. He is the judge. He came as a new order of prophets, speaking and doing what he heard and saw in Father.
"You can indeed appoint over you a king that the Lord your God selects." (Deut 17:15a)
"I'll raise up a prophet for them from among their fellow Israelites - one just like you,. I'll put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command." (Deut 18:18
There are plenty of references for the establishment of the priesthood and the high priest, but many people are ignorant of the other offices that were established by God through Moses.
We do not hear too often about the head judge who would decide all the tough cases that could not be settled by the elders in each of the tribes.
Many also think that the introduction of a king during Samuel's time was an insult to God. Although he preferred to be their king, he had made provisions for the establishment of a king. It would appear that the king's purpose would be the head of the army and be responsible for the defense of the land. According to what God established, it would appear that this office was open to abuse so God placed limits on his power and wealth. He also made the study of the law a priority to keep everything in perspective.
There is also the establishment of the prophet. Although Moses fulfilled all these roles, the prophet is the one role that God specifically said would be like Moses. God would communicate through the prophet to the people. The priests carried out the requirements of the Law but it was the prophet who would speak for God. This is another office that would be open to abuse so God gave directions on how to detect a false prophet.
The one who truly fulfilled all these offices is Jesus. He is our high priest. He is our king. He is the judge. He came as a new order of prophets, speaking and doing what he heard and saw in Father.
Friday, March 16, 2018
Not A Matter Of Theory Only
"These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. Tie them on your hand as a sign. They should be on your forehead as a symbol. Write them on your house’s door frames and on your city’s gates." (Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
The Bible is the revelation of God that God himself has given to us. It is not a book of theory but an explanation of what we experience with God. It is an explanation of how life works when we belong to him. It explains the condition of the world and what his plan is to reconcile the world to him. If the Bible remains a bunch of stories, explanations and theories, it is useless to us.
It was not just the commandments and instructions we were told to pass on to our children. In Deuteronomy 4 verse 9 we read the directive to pass on to the children everything they had seen and experienced. These are the things that the Bible gives explanation concerning, but they are meant to be experienced.
Faith is not a theory. Faith is a substance that God has given to us and it is applied when we experience moments that go beyond our intelligence. We experience faith when we are beyond our own strength, ability, finances. These are not times to run away from but to grab and experience. We do not strive to obtain faith but surrender to God in the experience so it can be activated. We need these difficult and challenging times so we can gain experience to know how faith works.
Even in our testimonies to our children, it is simply a help for them to understand what they are experiencing when they experience it so that they know to surrender and allow God to do what he does.
The Bible is the revelation of God that God himself has given to us. It is not a book of theory but an explanation of what we experience with God. It is an explanation of how life works when we belong to him. It explains the condition of the world and what his plan is to reconcile the world to him. If the Bible remains a bunch of stories, explanations and theories, it is useless to us.
It was not just the commandments and instructions we were told to pass on to our children. In Deuteronomy 4 verse 9 we read the directive to pass on to the children everything they had seen and experienced. These are the things that the Bible gives explanation concerning, but they are meant to be experienced.
Faith is not a theory. Faith is a substance that God has given to us and it is applied when we experience moments that go beyond our intelligence. We experience faith when we are beyond our own strength, ability, finances. These are not times to run away from but to grab and experience. We do not strive to obtain faith but surrender to God in the experience so it can be activated. We need these difficult and challenging times so we can gain experience to know how faith works.
Even in our testimonies to our children, it is simply a help for them to understand what they are experiencing when they experience it so that they know to surrender and allow God to do what he does.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Function According To DEsign
"Listen to them, Israel! Follow them carefully so that things will continue to multiply exactly as the LORD, your ancestors' God, promised you, in a land full of milk and honey." (Deuteronomy 6:3-5)
Somewhere along the way we lost the understanding that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. We were transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Such a transfer required a new birth, a transformation, and an ongoing transformation.
We grew up understanding how things work in the kingdom of darkness. It is the place where rebellion rules, where everything is deformed and fails to function as God designed it to function. It is governed by the false prince of this world. But the Kingdom of Light works on a different set of principles.
This is why Jesus taught concerning the old wineskin and the new.
Just as Yahweh gave Moses a set of laws that Israel must follow to function properly in the new land, Jesus gave us instructions so that we can function in the Kingdom, allowing for everything to flow in its proper manner, enabling growth.
The Kingdom is about multiplication but it requires us to work within our function as designed by Father. We need to let go of the old ways so that we can walk in the King's ways. Moses prayed that God would teach him God's ways so that Moses could know him. Do we dare pray the same thing?
Somewhere along the way we lost the understanding that we are citizens of the Kingdom of God. We were transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Such a transfer required a new birth, a transformation, and an ongoing transformation.
We grew up understanding how things work in the kingdom of darkness. It is the place where rebellion rules, where everything is deformed and fails to function as God designed it to function. It is governed by the false prince of this world. But the Kingdom of Light works on a different set of principles.
This is why Jesus taught concerning the old wineskin and the new.
Just as Yahweh gave Moses a set of laws that Israel must follow to function properly in the new land, Jesus gave us instructions so that we can function in the Kingdom, allowing for everything to flow in its proper manner, enabling growth.
The Kingdom is about multiplication but it requires us to work within our function as designed by Father. We need to let go of the old ways so that we can walk in the King's ways. Moses prayed that God would teach him God's ways so that Moses could know him. Do we dare pray the same thing?
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Idol Makers And The Majesty Of God
"So all of you, watch yourselves! Don't forget the covenant that the LORD your God made with you by making an idol or an image of any kind or anything the LORD your God forbids, because the LORD your God is an all-consuming fire. He is a passionate God." (Deuteronomy 4:23-24)
He certainly is passionate. The cross is evidence of his passion for me and he desires that I would be just as consumed with him, filled with passion for his heart.
Idol worship looks a bit different these days. No longer are there craftsmen plying their trade with stone and wooden objects meant to adorn the shrines of our home. Today we have idols of our own making. They look kind of like Jesus but not exactly. They are always less than what he is, a forgery of the true God.
For the most part, the followers of Jesus have lost their understanding of the majesty of the King. We call him Lord. We call him King. But somehow we do not obey him as such. There is a level of respect and awe that we must retain in our understanding of majesty. When we desire to obey him from love alone it somehow becomes an optional thing but when that love is added to our understanding of King then new life is breathed into our desire to live a life of obedience.
When we lose our sense of awe in the majesty of Jesus we begin to fashion a lesser image of our Lord. We tweak a little here and there to make our image of him a little more comfortable, a little easier to live with, a little more in line with our way of thinking and feeling. We create our god after our own image, which is a lot easier to live up to in this day and age. But that lesser image is an idol and our Father is not pleased.
If our journey with Jesus in this mission he has called us to is easy and requires no sacrifice on our part, we had better check who or what we are worshiping. Our image of God is foundational to who we become. If that foundation is wrong then all the fruit that springs from it is wrong. Just look around at how much of the Church has adjusted their view of our Lord and how sin has now consumed them. They compromised the truth of God, they lessened his majesty, and now they are doing what they think is best according to the idol they have set in the place of the King. They worship an impostor.
We need to seek again a proper understanding of the majesty of our King, according to the revelation he has given of himself in the Bible,. The Spirit brings us to the deeper places but those deeper places are always revealed in the Word. Seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, not the idol you are creating to make it easier on yourself. Hint, the Kingdom will make you uncomfortable most of the time but will be marked by righteousness, peace and joy.
He certainly is passionate. The cross is evidence of his passion for me and he desires that I would be just as consumed with him, filled with passion for his heart.
Idol worship looks a bit different these days. No longer are there craftsmen plying their trade with stone and wooden objects meant to adorn the shrines of our home. Today we have idols of our own making. They look kind of like Jesus but not exactly. They are always less than what he is, a forgery of the true God.
For the most part, the followers of Jesus have lost their understanding of the majesty of the King. We call him Lord. We call him King. But somehow we do not obey him as such. There is a level of respect and awe that we must retain in our understanding of majesty. When we desire to obey him from love alone it somehow becomes an optional thing but when that love is added to our understanding of King then new life is breathed into our desire to live a life of obedience.
When we lose our sense of awe in the majesty of Jesus we begin to fashion a lesser image of our Lord. We tweak a little here and there to make our image of him a little more comfortable, a little easier to live with, a little more in line with our way of thinking and feeling. We create our god after our own image, which is a lot easier to live up to in this day and age. But that lesser image is an idol and our Father is not pleased.
If our journey with Jesus in this mission he has called us to is easy and requires no sacrifice on our part, we had better check who or what we are worshiping. Our image of God is foundational to who we become. If that foundation is wrong then all the fruit that springs from it is wrong. Just look around at how much of the Church has adjusted their view of our Lord and how sin has now consumed them. They compromised the truth of God, they lessened his majesty, and now they are doing what they think is best according to the idol they have set in the place of the King. They worship an impostor.
We need to seek again a proper understanding of the majesty of our King, according to the revelation he has given of himself in the Bible,. The Spirit brings us to the deeper places but those deeper places are always revealed in the Word. Seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, not the idol you are creating to make it easier on yourself. Hint, the Kingdom will make you uncomfortable most of the time but will be marked by righteousness, peace and joy.
Passing On The Story Of Your Family's Spiritual History
There is a reason why our Father gives us occasions to store away testimonies of what he has done; he knows we easily forget. We could be facing disaster today, call out to him and have testimony of his rescue. But next week something similar could happen and we are once again filled with fear and anxiety because we forget what he has already done for us.
Remembering is important in our developing relationship with our Father and in our growing understanding of how the Kingdom functions. He takes us through things so that we will develop, grow, mature and gain testimony to teach others.
"But be on guard and watch yourselves closely so that you don't forget the things your eyes saw and so they never leave your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren." (Deuteronomy 4:9)
We understand the importance of teaching the instructions of the Lord to our children and grandchildren but in this case it is the testimony that we are told to pass on. We are to tell our children and grandchildren about our story with God. We are suppose to tell them of what God has done, answered prayers, miracles, interventions, rescues, provision. They need to know more than theory, they need to hear the practical application of being a child of God.
It is more than the testimony of your salvation moment; it is your ongoing story of you and your Saviour. It is about your spiritual growth. It is about your increasing revelation. It is about the Lord's constant interaction and intervention in your history.
Yesterday I was in Walmart with my wife and I saw a baby's album for grandmothers. I scoffed at it at first because I thought it was an album for recording things about the baby. I figured it was just another thing to make money but when I looked inside I realized its true value. It wasn't the story of the baby but of the grandmother to pass on to the baby. It was all about the family history so the baby would understand his roots.
This is the idea of passing on your testimonies, what you have seen and experienced with God; your family's spiritual roots. Every family needs a book of testimony!
Remembering is important in our developing relationship with our Father and in our growing understanding of how the Kingdom functions. He takes us through things so that we will develop, grow, mature and gain testimony to teach others.
"But be on guard and watch yourselves closely so that you don't forget the things your eyes saw and so they never leave your mind as long as you live. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren." (Deuteronomy 4:9)
We understand the importance of teaching the instructions of the Lord to our children and grandchildren but in this case it is the testimony that we are told to pass on. We are to tell our children and grandchildren about our story with God. We are suppose to tell them of what God has done, answered prayers, miracles, interventions, rescues, provision. They need to know more than theory, they need to hear the practical application of being a child of God.
It is more than the testimony of your salvation moment; it is your ongoing story of you and your Saviour. It is about your spiritual growth. It is about your increasing revelation. It is about the Lord's constant interaction and intervention in your history.
Yesterday I was in Walmart with my wife and I saw a baby's album for grandmothers. I scoffed at it at first because I thought it was an album for recording things about the baby. I figured it was just another thing to make money but when I looked inside I realized its true value. It wasn't the story of the baby but of the grandmother to pass on to the baby. It was all about the family history so the baby would understand his roots.
This is the idea of passing on your testimonies, what you have seen and experienced with God; your family's spiritual roots. Every family needs a book of testimony!
Monday, March 12, 2018
You Have Only Begun To Show Me
Moses was a man who saw a lot. He had almost missed his destiny by trying to respond to his heart's desire in his own strength. Murder was not a vehicle to freedom. Even though he wanted to help his people, Yahweh had a bigger plan. Moses would become Yahweh's friend a chosen instrument to solidify the people into a nation God had chosen to reveal his glory to the world.
Moses got to speak with Yahweh. He represented him to Pharaoh. The great plagues of Yahweh were brought on Egypt through Moses. He had a front row seat for the divided sea, the manna, the quail, the water from rocks, the cloud representing Yahweh's presence, the giving of the Commandments, the meetings on the mountain, the meetings at the tent, the miraculous death of the rebellious, the budding of Aaron's staff, the correction of Miriam and all of the many things I probably left out. Yet, Moses knew there was even more:
You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. (Deuteronomy 3:24)
Moses wanted Yahweh to change his mind and allow him into the Promised Land because he knew there was a lot more yet to be manifested concerning Yahweh. He had tasted and seen that God is good, and he wanted more. After all he had experienced he wanted even more.
Today, many of God's children hardly know him. When we have experienced so little of our Lord, how can we have so little desire for more of him? Our Father wants us to know him intimately. He wants us to have the same passion for him as he has for us. So why do we limit what we are willing to have revealed to us about him.
One hour in church.
Sing a few songs.
Politely listen.
Pay our tithes.
For most that is all they experience of Father.
Moses saw the miracles, the provision, heard his voice, experienced a portion of his glory, and so much more and yet he wanted to experience even more.
There is something wrong here.
I am praying that Father will call to us. If he doesn't call we can't respond. It is the Father who calls us to the Son, and it is only by the Son that we can come to Father. I am praying that he calls us today so we have an undying hunger for more of him. I don't want to be satisfied. I don't want to sit down. I don't want to stop until there is no more of his air in my lungs. I want to live Moses' reality:
You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand.
Moses got to speak with Yahweh. He represented him to Pharaoh. The great plagues of Yahweh were brought on Egypt through Moses. He had a front row seat for the divided sea, the manna, the quail, the water from rocks, the cloud representing Yahweh's presence, the giving of the Commandments, the meetings on the mountain, the meetings at the tent, the miraculous death of the rebellious, the budding of Aaron's staff, the correction of Miriam and all of the many things I probably left out. Yet, Moses knew there was even more:
You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. (Deuteronomy 3:24)
Moses wanted Yahweh to change his mind and allow him into the Promised Land because he knew there was a lot more yet to be manifested concerning Yahweh. He had tasted and seen that God is good, and he wanted more. After all he had experienced he wanted even more.
Today, many of God's children hardly know him. When we have experienced so little of our Lord, how can we have so little desire for more of him? Our Father wants us to know him intimately. He wants us to have the same passion for him as he has for us. So why do we limit what we are willing to have revealed to us about him.
One hour in church.
Sing a few songs.
Politely listen.
Pay our tithes.
For most that is all they experience of Father.
Moses saw the miracles, the provision, heard his voice, experienced a portion of his glory, and so much more and yet he wanted to experience even more.
There is something wrong here.
I am praying that Father will call to us. If he doesn't call we can't respond. It is the Father who calls us to the Son, and it is only by the Son that we can come to Father. I am praying that he calls us today so we have an undying hunger for more of him. I don't want to be satisfied. I don't want to sit down. I don't want to stop until there is no more of his air in my lungs. I want to live Moses' reality:
You have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand.
The Importance Of The Testimony As Demonstrated By Moses
It has been a while since I even attempted blogging for a whole truck load of reasons. I am not in a position to start back. However, I need a platform for journaling scripture I am chewing on. I considered various platforms but I want something that is online for safe keeping and will assist me in keeping my progress organized. It may mean several entries in a day and some contradictory thoughts. But this is a chewing process for my own edification.
Today I was reading through Deuteronomy 3 and 4.
It seems Moses had done some journaling of his own and was in the process of reviewing his recordings with the nation. The purpose was simple: to strengthen them in the Lord. Moses was about to die, Joshua was about to take over and they were about to head into a life of war. They needed to be reminded that God is good, that they are on his side and that everything is possible through him. So Moses reminds them of the many testimonies of God's goodness to them.
This is a great idea for everyone, because we have very short memories. We could be thanking Father for his provision today and tomorrow be filled with fear about provision. We forget the purpose of testimony.
1. Testimony tells us what God is doing.
2. God has no favorites which means a testimony tells us that what he did for one person he wants to do for everyone.
3. Testimony is meant to encourage the Body of Christ and reveal his glory to the lost.
Testimonies can be considered like food stored in the pantry. With a full pantry we can nourish ourselves when needed. With a pantry filled with testimonies we are able to eat well from the Lord, finding new energy and strength to function as "more than overcomers".
Before entering a God-arranged battle, it is good to review our journal of testimonies.
Today I was reading through Deuteronomy 3 and 4.
It seems Moses had done some journaling of his own and was in the process of reviewing his recordings with the nation. The purpose was simple: to strengthen them in the Lord. Moses was about to die, Joshua was about to take over and they were about to head into a life of war. They needed to be reminded that God is good, that they are on his side and that everything is possible through him. So Moses reminds them of the many testimonies of God's goodness to them.
This is a great idea for everyone, because we have very short memories. We could be thanking Father for his provision today and tomorrow be filled with fear about provision. We forget the purpose of testimony.
1. Testimony tells us what God is doing.
2. God has no favorites which means a testimony tells us that what he did for one person he wants to do for everyone.
3. Testimony is meant to encourage the Body of Christ and reveal his glory to the lost.
Testimonies can be considered like food stored in the pantry. With a full pantry we can nourish ourselves when needed. With a pantry filled with testimonies we are able to eat well from the Lord, finding new energy and strength to function as "more than overcomers".
Before entering a God-arranged battle, it is good to review our journal of testimonies.
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