Are you bold? It takes a lot of confidence to pull off bold. It helps to know who you are and to have embraced your purpose and direction. As we examine the Cross this week we should take note that Jesus did not just give himself over to death on the cross; he embraced it with boldness and determination. He knew this was the will of Father and it was his purpose to carry out his will. So he stepped forward in the confidence of the relationship.
People with experience are bold. People who believe what they are saying are bold. People who trust the authority they represent are bold. We see it in all kinds of people throughout our day from teachers to police officers, from doctors to parents. But their boldness is limited to the limited boldness of this world system. For Jesus to step out in such boldness he had to believe in something beyond this limited world; he had to believe in the plan of Father and that belief came from his relationship of trust.
Let's shift from the Cross for a minute and consider Joshua. Joshua was Moses' assistant and had been trained under him for over forty years. That's longer than the working career of most people. He got to see first hand the incredible relationship between Yahweh and Moses, got to experience the miracles, saw Moses intercede countless time on behalf of the unfaithful Jews, and became the general of the national army under the guidance of Moses. So when Joshua was appointed by Yahweh to take over from Moses as leader, entering the promised land, he had a great relationship of trust with the Lord.
Joshua was able to step out in boldness because he knew his calling and purpose, and he personally knew the one who called him:
"Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land, which I pledged to give to their ancestors." (Joshua 1:6)
It should be no different for us. We have been called by Jesus to more than just our personal salvation. That salvation allows us to enter into a greater relationship with Yahweh than either Moses or Joshua had with him. They were not one with God by the Holy Spirit and we are. Our boldness should be even greater because our calling is specific and directly from the Lord:
“All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
“It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)
Boldness. That is what we have because of our intimate relationship with Jesus, knowing and understanding our purpose. It doesn't matter what anyone else in this world says, we know what we must do. Jesus had to face the cross without the support of his disciples because even they tried to turn him from it. They did not understand, but they understood after the Resurrection. Jesus had to face the cross alone, simply knowing it was Father's will. It is the same reason we can face what we must, alone if need be, with people against us. We know who we are in Jesus. We know who he is in us. And we know our purpose.
"Be brave and strong, because you are the one who will help this people take possession of the land."
"God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled." (2 Timothy 1:7)
Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Friday, February 6, 2015
All That We Need
It seems it is hard for us to comprehend our relationship with Yahweh. On one hand we have the intimate relationship of parent child. On the other hand we are dedicated servants/soldiers in the mission at hand. Far too many of us concentrate on the first, thinking the purpose of Jesus is to enhance our life in this world. We always seem to be seeking for ourselves but we have been called to serve Jesus by serving the lost. We are to lay down our lives in love so that the lost may hear the good news of Jesus. Often it means forgoing the comfortable life.
We sometimes fail to understand that we have not been chosen because we are special. It isn't because we have some special talent or ability. Yahweh is all sufficient and needs nothing from us but has chosen to work through us. It means he is responsible for equipping us with what we need to serve him. He only requires our availability and obedience. Do you remember Moses' excuse for trying to get out of his calling?
“Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11
What a crazy question. Yahweh's response is telling. He did not try to build up Moses' confidence in his ability; he reminded him of what was important:
“I’ll be with you." (v. 12)
And that is all we need. The Word tells us again and again that Yahweh does not need anything from us. Our strength is not found in any tools we may have at our disposal. He does not need our intelligence or education. He does not need our gifts and talents. To serve him we need only trust and obey, the equipping will follow. When we step out we do so with confidence in the fact that he is with us. What were Jesus words to his disciples? After he gave them their instructions, their commission to go throughout the world telling people about the plan?
"Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:20)
And that is all we need.
We sometimes fail to understand that we have not been chosen because we are special. It isn't because we have some special talent or ability. Yahweh is all sufficient and needs nothing from us but has chosen to work through us. It means he is responsible for equipping us with what we need to serve him. He only requires our availability and obedience. Do you remember Moses' excuse for trying to get out of his calling?
“Who am I to go to Pharaoh and to bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11
What a crazy question. Yahweh's response is telling. He did not try to build up Moses' confidence in his ability; he reminded him of what was important:
“I’ll be with you." (v. 12)
And that is all we need. The Word tells us again and again that Yahweh does not need anything from us. Our strength is not found in any tools we may have at our disposal. He does not need our intelligence or education. He does not need our gifts and talents. To serve him we need only trust and obey, the equipping will follow. When we step out we do so with confidence in the fact that he is with us. What were Jesus words to his disciples? After he gave them their instructions, their commission to go throughout the world telling people about the plan?
"Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” (Matthew 28:20)
And that is all we need.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
What To Do About Fear
Fear. It is a terrible emotion. It paralyses our rational thinking. It sometimes has a root, has substance, comes from a real situation but most of our fears are mere shadows; things that might or could be. Fear is often related to tomorrow, found in the unknown, coming from a position of uncertainty. Fear often prevents action, causes us to lay down our arms, makes us run away. Fear is a bully.
Fear is often a shadow that is dispelled by Light. Where it wants to bind our hearts, faith wants to free us. Where it wants to prevent us from moving forward, trust will propel us onward. Fear is a natural response to things beyond our control or knowledge. We all have it from time to time because none of us know what tomorrow holds; none of us can guarantee tomorrow; none of us have anything beyond this moment. But the Light dispels all such shadows that provoke fear because the Light tells us:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
But perhaps that is the real root of our fears, that we do not know Jesus as we aught. Knowing Jesus is not going to prevent the fear from trying to come on you but leaning on Jesus will certainly send the shadows scurrying away. Our confidence is never found in our ability or anyone else's because we will always fail ourselves as will other people, but the Lord never fails. The above verse is a very famous verse but people do not always note the one before it:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (v. 8)
This is about relationship, intimacy with Father. It is about walking with Jesus all the time and drawing on his strength. Fear should be a sure sign to us that the relationship is not as intimate as it should be. It means we are weak and we need to be reminded of our true source of strength. The Word tells us again and again that our confidence cannot be found in our own strength or intelligence because we have no real strength, however Yahweh is our backer, our encourager, our provider and our source of confidence because he is our strength.
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." We can only do that in a covenant relationship, when we trust that he is focused on us as we are focused on him. Fear may come upon a Christian but it can't stick to a lover of Jesus. We may not be able to see what is going to happen tomorrow but we do know who holds tomorrow and us in it. Dispel fear with faith, trust and obedience. "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Fear is often a shadow that is dispelled by Light. Where it wants to bind our hearts, faith wants to free us. Where it wants to prevent us from moving forward, trust will propel us onward. Fear is a natural response to things beyond our control or knowledge. We all have it from time to time because none of us know what tomorrow holds; none of us can guarantee tomorrow; none of us have anything beyond this moment. But the Light dispels all such shadows that provoke fear because the Light tells us:
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
But perhaps that is the real root of our fears, that we do not know Jesus as we aught. Knowing Jesus is not going to prevent the fear from trying to come on you but leaning on Jesus will certainly send the shadows scurrying away. Our confidence is never found in our ability or anyone else's because we will always fail ourselves as will other people, but the Lord never fails. The above verse is a very famous verse but people do not always note the one before it:
"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (v. 8)
This is about relationship, intimacy with Father. It is about walking with Jesus all the time and drawing on his strength. Fear should be a sure sign to us that the relationship is not as intimate as it should be. It means we are weak and we need to be reminded of our true source of strength. The Word tells us again and again that our confidence cannot be found in our own strength or intelligence because we have no real strength, however Yahweh is our backer, our encourager, our provider and our source of confidence because he is our strength.
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." We can only do that in a covenant relationship, when we trust that he is focused on us as we are focused on him. Fear may come upon a Christian but it can't stick to a lover of Jesus. We may not be able to see what is going to happen tomorrow but we do know who holds tomorrow and us in it. Dispel fear with faith, trust and obedience. "Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Having Trouble Sleeping?
One of the blessings I have always enjoyed from the Lord is sleep. Within seconds of laying my head on my pillow I am gone and I don't wake up until it is time. Usually I wasn't even disturbed by dreams, although I am currently going through a season of prophetic dreams. Sleep is a blessing I have always trusted in and given thanks for because it tells me all is right with my relationship with the Lord. It tells me that my confidence is found in him and that I am trusting him in a life filled with so many disturbances.
King David understood this same blessing. Even when his son Absalom had taken the kingdom from him, forcing David to flee for his life, he wrote:
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around. (Psalm 3:5-6)
The reason David had this blessing of sleep even in the midst of the worst period of his life is because he understood and accepted one simple truth:
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. (v. 8)
In the following psalm David expressed the same blessing for the same reason:
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Sleep has always been my measuring rod for my relationship with Jesus. One of the fundamental elements of our relationship with him is confidence and trust, no matter the circumstances of our life. If my sleep is disturbed I know that something is not quite right about my relationship. I go to prayer first about the relationship and then after to lift up the circumstances to him. The relationship is the priority over everything else.
Let's face it, the biggest hurdle to get over in our life was our sin. If Jesus loved us enough to take care of our sin then how can we not trust him with everything else? Sometimes our biggest problem is being afraid that he will not want for us what we want for us, and in this you may be assured that we are wrong. Our relationship and love for Jesus is such that we no longer care about what we want, making our only desire to be the Father's will. We trust the Scriptures that tell us he uses everything for our benefit, so we place our confidence in him.
Worry, fear, anxiety, stress, depression are all robbers of our sleep. They are all negative things, none of which are from the Lord. He showers down on us the blessings of love, peace and joy. In fact, these are the first of the fruits of the Spirit produced in us when we walk with the Lord. If these are not being produced we know for certain that all is not right with the relationship. If we want a right relationship we need to give everything up to Jesus, stop longing for what we want, and make it the purpose of our heart to seek out what he wants. Simply put: Trust Jesus. It is the Christian way. In this you will be blessed with incredible sleep every single night.
Sleep well my friends.
King David understood this same blessing. Even when his son Absalom had taken the kingdom from him, forcing David to flee for his life, he wrote:
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around. (Psalm 3:5-6)
The reason David had this blessing of sleep even in the midst of the worst period of his life is because he understood and accepted one simple truth:
Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. (v. 8)
In the following psalm David expressed the same blessing for the same reason:
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)
Sleep has always been my measuring rod for my relationship with Jesus. One of the fundamental elements of our relationship with him is confidence and trust, no matter the circumstances of our life. If my sleep is disturbed I know that something is not quite right about my relationship. I go to prayer first about the relationship and then after to lift up the circumstances to him. The relationship is the priority over everything else.
Let's face it, the biggest hurdle to get over in our life was our sin. If Jesus loved us enough to take care of our sin then how can we not trust him with everything else? Sometimes our biggest problem is being afraid that he will not want for us what we want for us, and in this you may be assured that we are wrong. Our relationship and love for Jesus is such that we no longer care about what we want, making our only desire to be the Father's will. We trust the Scriptures that tell us he uses everything for our benefit, so we place our confidence in him.
Worry, fear, anxiety, stress, depression are all robbers of our sleep. They are all negative things, none of which are from the Lord. He showers down on us the blessings of love, peace and joy. In fact, these are the first of the fruits of the Spirit produced in us when we walk with the Lord. If these are not being produced we know for certain that all is not right with the relationship. If we want a right relationship we need to give everything up to Jesus, stop longing for what we want, and make it the purpose of our heart to seek out what he wants. Simply put: Trust Jesus. It is the Christian way. In this you will be blessed with incredible sleep every single night.
Sleep well my friends.
Friday, February 28, 2014
We Have Nothing To Fear When We Walk With Jesus
Do you want to walk in faith, be filled with the power of Jesus and be used by him to see hearts changed? Then the Word of our God has to go beyond words, becoming greater than flesh, if we are to walk in faith. We have to allow the Word to have greater substance than the chair we are sitting on, the clothes we are wearing or the food we are eating. We have to be more assured by it than by what we are seeing right now with our eyes. We have to become more confident of what we cannot see than of the things that would cause us to fear.
I am sorry but you will never step into the fullness of Christ as long as you are trying to get there by the thinking process of man. You cannot argue your way into greater inspiration. You cannot think your way into greater faith. You cannot get there by any means of the flesh. Let me show you why.
Hezekiah was another of the great kings of Judah, one for whom I have reserved a great deal of respect. He had a great and growing relationship with Yahweh. Yet, here before him was the great Assyrian army. The Assyrians were ruthless, vicious and destroyed anything they set their eyes on. No nation or city had been able to stand against them and here they were about to come against Jerusalem. What does the flesh say? Fear of course. Perhaps despair, suicide, hopelessness. If you had a greater survival instinct perhaps you would be looking for a back door, a way to escape. But that is the difference between the spirit and the flesh.
Hezekiah was a man who had become so close to Yahweh that he discerned the truth of the matter. He did not see with his eyes but with his spirit as he looked out at this terrible enemy that out-muscled them significantly. Hezekiah, in full confidence of Yahweh, stood before the people and simply stated:
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. (2 Chronicles 32:7)
You and I may have been tempted to count heads and then disagree with the king. Yet, all the great men of faith, the one's who trusted the Lord and were used greatly by him, saw this truth every day. Remember Elijah on the roof with his servant when the enemy surrounded him? More are with us than with them. We remember the statement of faith in the New Testament: greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Hezekiah continued:
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” (v. 8)
If we do not see that the flesh takes second place to the Spirit we will never learn to trust, and trust is the great component of our relationship with Jesus. The fact is that the flesh will always look greater. The odds will always be against us. Circumstances will constantly threaten to derail our faith. The enemy will always be looking to scare us away from Jesus so he can devour us. But victory is always ours in Jesus because the Lord fights our battles.
Christians should be the most confident people walking on this planet. Not self-confident to the point of arrogance but confident, as in confident in our Lord Jesus and the promises he has given us. We have to be confident when we are up against Goliath with all his strength and threats. We have to be confident when the numbers are against us and we are about to be swallowed up in a sea of opposition. We have to be confident when the world shows its ugly face of hatred and threatens to destroy us. We have to be confident when the bills are more than the income, and our health is heading in the wrong direction. We have to be confident when we are walking through the valley of failure and we don't understand what went wrong. We have to be confident that Yahweh is sovereign in all things, everywhere, all the time, and he knows what he is doing.
There are more with us than with them. With them is an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. If you feel weak in the face of the enemy do us all a favour, strengthen your relationship with Jesus. Cut out the unnecessary distractions in your life and fill it with relationship building moments. Bathe yourself in prayer, worship and the Word. Walk with him, talk with him, sing with him, dance with him and soon you will discover how confident you have become in him. Read Acts 1:8 and realize how you have been equipped. Hezekiah did not honey coat it to calm down the people, using religion to do so. Hezekiah spoke the truth to the people, the truth he had experienced for himself in his relationship with Yahweh. I encourage you, let your relationship take you beyond words and into a life of substantial faith.
I am sorry but you will never step into the fullness of Christ as long as you are trying to get there by the thinking process of man. You cannot argue your way into greater inspiration. You cannot think your way into greater faith. You cannot get there by any means of the flesh. Let me show you why.
Hezekiah was another of the great kings of Judah, one for whom I have reserved a great deal of respect. He had a great and growing relationship with Yahweh. Yet, here before him was the great Assyrian army. The Assyrians were ruthless, vicious and destroyed anything they set their eyes on. No nation or city had been able to stand against them and here they were about to come against Jerusalem. What does the flesh say? Fear of course. Perhaps despair, suicide, hopelessness. If you had a greater survival instinct perhaps you would be looking for a back door, a way to escape. But that is the difference between the spirit and the flesh.
Hezekiah was a man who had become so close to Yahweh that he discerned the truth of the matter. He did not see with his eyes but with his spirit as he looked out at this terrible enemy that out-muscled them significantly. Hezekiah, in full confidence of Yahweh, stood before the people and simply stated:
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. (2 Chronicles 32:7)
You and I may have been tempted to count heads and then disagree with the king. Yet, all the great men of faith, the one's who trusted the Lord and were used greatly by him, saw this truth every day. Remember Elijah on the roof with his servant when the enemy surrounded him? More are with us than with them. We remember the statement of faith in the New Testament: greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. Hezekiah continued:
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” (v. 8)
If we do not see that the flesh takes second place to the Spirit we will never learn to trust, and trust is the great component of our relationship with Jesus. The fact is that the flesh will always look greater. The odds will always be against us. Circumstances will constantly threaten to derail our faith. The enemy will always be looking to scare us away from Jesus so he can devour us. But victory is always ours in Jesus because the Lord fights our battles.
Christians should be the most confident people walking on this planet. Not self-confident to the point of arrogance but confident, as in confident in our Lord Jesus and the promises he has given us. We have to be confident when we are up against Goliath with all his strength and threats. We have to be confident when the numbers are against us and we are about to be swallowed up in a sea of opposition. We have to be confident when the world shows its ugly face of hatred and threatens to destroy us. We have to be confident when the bills are more than the income, and our health is heading in the wrong direction. We have to be confident when we are walking through the valley of failure and we don't understand what went wrong. We have to be confident that Yahweh is sovereign in all things, everywhere, all the time, and he knows what he is doing.
There are more with us than with them. With them is an arm of flesh but with us is the Lord our God. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. If you feel weak in the face of the enemy do us all a favour, strengthen your relationship with Jesus. Cut out the unnecessary distractions in your life and fill it with relationship building moments. Bathe yourself in prayer, worship and the Word. Walk with him, talk with him, sing with him, dance with him and soon you will discover how confident you have become in him. Read Acts 1:8 and realize how you have been equipped. Hezekiah did not honey coat it to calm down the people, using religion to do so. Hezekiah spoke the truth to the people, the truth he had experienced for himself in his relationship with Yahweh. I encourage you, let your relationship take you beyond words and into a life of substantial faith.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
It's Getting Uglier Out There
Man's wisdom says that an unborn child is a fetus and not human, is part of a woman's body like an arm, that the woman has a right over her body and the fetus has no right to life.
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that a child with a poor quality of life really has no life at all and has no value to our society so it is okay to kill the child.
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal and so marriage must include men with men, women with women.
Yahweh calls it an abomination and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal so he is starting to lean toward one man many wives and one woman many husbands.
Yahweh says marriage is between one man and one woman and anything different is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that it is healthy for thirteen year olds to experiment with sex.
Yahweh calls it fornication and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says it is healthy to have a sexual affair, that it improves your marriage.
Yahweh calls it adultery and it is sin.
I could go on with a much longer list of how our society and governments are turning its back on the statutes of Yahweh and setting up the wisdom of man. This is perfectly understandable in a world that is fallen, controlled by sin and is not seeking the face of Yahweh, but how many things on this simple list are accepted and practiced in different parts of the Church?
We are in a huge battle right now, not so much against the world, but for holding up the truth of Yahweh in the Body. Many are beginning to deny the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Many are developing their own theology. They still hold to the name Christian but Christ has no part in it. Once again we are making our own household gods and worshiping at the temples of our making. It is going to get very rough from here on in.
There are going to be days when you feel discouraged and alone. As you watch family and friends fall under the pressure of acceptability and conformity to the thinking of our environment, you yourself will face doubts. But the ones who will fall are the ones who have not developed a personal relationship with Jesus; the ones who knew about Jesus but did not know him. When you meet with him, speak with him, are encouraged and strengthened by him and dine on his Word every day, it is impossible to deny him or his truth. But others will fall and it is then that you will have to trust like you have never trusted before. As the world sneers at us, calls us names and works to isolate us, it will take courage and trust to stand on the Lord's side. Before there was little cost to following Jesus; now it will cost us everything.
I have already written about the necessity of trust on the battlefield but I want to keep emphasizing it and giving Scriptural examples so you will have something to lean on as the battle intensifies. We have to remember that Jesus warned us that the end times would become very difficult for believers. The Word says it will look and become so bad that some would be given over to despair. But, in the end, we will have the victory. Here's my example from Scripture.
It looked bad for Judah. They were at war with Israel and were out numbered 2 to 1. One king served himself and the other king served Yahweh. But Israel ambushed Judah so that they were surrounded. But the army of Judah did an amazing thing. There on the battlefield they trusted Yahweh, even when it looked to be the end for them. They did not despair. Instead, they cried out to Yahweh and fought on:
They cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. (2 Chronicles 13:14-16)
Trust is the key to our survival and personal victory. The Church will triumph. Jesus will have the victory. The question is will that victory include you and me. Jesus told his disciples to trust him, to put their confidence in him, and those words stand for us today. This battle requires us to ensure that we have the full armour of God in place and that we stand our ground. It is going to get messy but we are in it together and most important, we are in it with Jesus. Together we stand and trust because Jesus is King.
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (John 14:1 AMP)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that a child with a poor quality of life really has no life at all and has no value to our society so it is okay to kill the child.
Yahweh calls it murder and it is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal and so marriage must include men with men, women with women.
Yahweh calls it an abomination and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says that all things are equal so he is starting to lean toward one man many wives and one woman many husbands.
Yahweh says marriage is between one man and one woman and anything different is a sin.
Man's wisdom says that it is healthy for thirteen year olds to experiment with sex.
Yahweh calls it fornication and it is sin.
Man's wisdom says it is healthy to have a sexual affair, that it improves your marriage.
Yahweh calls it adultery and it is sin.
I could go on with a much longer list of how our society and governments are turning its back on the statutes of Yahweh and setting up the wisdom of man. This is perfectly understandable in a world that is fallen, controlled by sin and is not seeking the face of Yahweh, but how many things on this simple list are accepted and practiced in different parts of the Church?
We are in a huge battle right now, not so much against the world, but for holding up the truth of Yahweh in the Body. Many are beginning to deny the authority of the Holy Scriptures. Many are developing their own theology. They still hold to the name Christian but Christ has no part in it. Once again we are making our own household gods and worshiping at the temples of our making. It is going to get very rough from here on in.
There are going to be days when you feel discouraged and alone. As you watch family and friends fall under the pressure of acceptability and conformity to the thinking of our environment, you yourself will face doubts. But the ones who will fall are the ones who have not developed a personal relationship with Jesus; the ones who knew about Jesus but did not know him. When you meet with him, speak with him, are encouraged and strengthened by him and dine on his Word every day, it is impossible to deny him or his truth. But others will fall and it is then that you will have to trust like you have never trusted before. As the world sneers at us, calls us names and works to isolate us, it will take courage and trust to stand on the Lord's side. Before there was little cost to following Jesus; now it will cost us everything.
I have already written about the necessity of trust on the battlefield but I want to keep emphasizing it and giving Scriptural examples so you will have something to lean on as the battle intensifies. We have to remember that Jesus warned us that the end times would become very difficult for believers. The Word says it will look and become so bad that some would be given over to despair. But, in the end, we will have the victory. Here's my example from Scripture.
It looked bad for Judah. They were at war with Israel and were out numbered 2 to 1. One king served himself and the other king served Yahweh. But Israel ambushed Judah so that they were surrounded. But the army of Judah did an amazing thing. There on the battlefield they trusted Yahweh, even when it looked to be the end for them. They did not despair. Instead, they cried out to Yahweh and fought on:
They cried out to the Lord, and the priests sounded the trumpets. Then the men of Judah gave a shout; and as the men of Judah shouted, it happened that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. And the children of Israel fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hand. (2 Chronicles 13:14-16)
Trust is the key to our survival and personal victory. The Church will triumph. Jesus will have the victory. The question is will that victory include you and me. Jesus told his disciples to trust him, to put their confidence in him, and those words stand for us today. This battle requires us to ensure that we have the full armour of God in place and that we stand our ground. It is going to get messy but we are in it together and most important, we are in it with Jesus. Together we stand and trust because Jesus is King.
Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me. (John 14:1 AMP)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13)
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
What Is Your Worth?
Lately I have been going through a self-evaluation and I haven't enjoyed seeing what the Spirit has been revealing. Sometimes we get stuck in auto-pilot and live without thinking. That is not Yahweh's plan for us. We are not a bunch of robots. He set us free through Jesus Christ so that every day we can make decisions, understanding those decisions and glorifying him through the process. You see, our Father sees us differently than we see ourselves.
When I look at any of my children I not only see their current situation, I also see their full potential. As their loving father, it is my desire to see them grow into that potential. Our heavenly Father sees us in the same way. He sees our current condition but he also sees the potential he has placed in us and it is that potential he desires to assist us to grow into. Consider Gideon for a moment.
It was the age of the judges and Israel kept moving away from Yahweh. They kept falling on their face and Yahweh had to keep picking them up. At this moment they were beat down by the Midianites, left destitute and in constant fear. This is the reason we find Gideon hiding in a wine press, threshing his wheat. He was part of a failed society, hiding in fear from an enemy Yahweh had commanded them to defeat. Yet, Yahweh did not see a coward hiding in that wine press but instead a man with the potential to do great things in obedience:
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12)
Of course Gideon looked around and said, "Yah, right, then why are we in this situation?" I have paraphrased it a bit, but the reaction is not dissimilar to how we feel at times when someone speaks into our situation with an encouraging word. But the secret here is the part, "the LORD is with you". When the angel spoke again he did not tell Gideon to do anything special, to go train, to improve himself; he told him to go just as he was:
“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (v. 14)
Again the emphasis is on the LORD and not Gideon, "Have I not sent you?" Again Gideon's reaction is not unlike our own, "I have nothing to offer". I am the least of the least. I am not qualified. You've got the wrong person. I hear Moses' excuses coming out again, and Yahweh's response is as it always will be:
“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” (v.16)
Your worth and your potential is found in your relationship with Jesus Christ and all that our Father is looking from us is our obedience. He doesn't pick the most talented, the best looking, the richest, the smartest. He doesn't need or want any of those things. He is only looking for children who have a desire to obey because all the equipping comes from him anyway.
What is brilliant about you is that Jesus loves you and is one with you. You are in him and he is in you and you are both in the Father. He asks you to turn away from your selfish vision of yourself and understand the potential of your beauty because he is in you and desires to pour out his blessings through you. Mighty "man" of valour, there is no reason for you to be hiding in that "wine press" regardless of its form because Jesus is with you and you will defeat the giants in the strength that you have because the battle belongs to our King.
When I look at any of my children I not only see their current situation, I also see their full potential. As their loving father, it is my desire to see them grow into that potential. Our heavenly Father sees us in the same way. He sees our current condition but he also sees the potential he has placed in us and it is that potential he desires to assist us to grow into. Consider Gideon for a moment.
It was the age of the judges and Israel kept moving away from Yahweh. They kept falling on their face and Yahweh had to keep picking them up. At this moment they were beat down by the Midianites, left destitute and in constant fear. This is the reason we find Gideon hiding in a wine press, threshing his wheat. He was part of a failed society, hiding in fear from an enemy Yahweh had commanded them to defeat. Yet, Yahweh did not see a coward hiding in that wine press but instead a man with the potential to do great things in obedience:
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!” (Judges 6:12)
Of course Gideon looked around and said, "Yah, right, then why are we in this situation?" I have paraphrased it a bit, but the reaction is not dissimilar to how we feel at times when someone speaks into our situation with an encouraging word. But the secret here is the part, "the LORD is with you". When the angel spoke again he did not tell Gideon to do anything special, to go train, to improve himself; he told him to go just as he was:
“Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (v. 14)
Again the emphasis is on the LORD and not Gideon, "Have I not sent you?" Again Gideon's reaction is not unlike our own, "I have nothing to offer". I am the least of the least. I am not qualified. You've got the wrong person. I hear Moses' excuses coming out again, and Yahweh's response is as it always will be:
“Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.” (v.16)
Your worth and your potential is found in your relationship with Jesus Christ and all that our Father is looking from us is our obedience. He doesn't pick the most talented, the best looking, the richest, the smartest. He doesn't need or want any of those things. He is only looking for children who have a desire to obey because all the equipping comes from him anyway.
What is brilliant about you is that Jesus loves you and is one with you. You are in him and he is in you and you are both in the Father. He asks you to turn away from your selfish vision of yourself and understand the potential of your beauty because he is in you and desires to pour out his blessings through you. Mighty "man" of valour, there is no reason for you to be hiding in that "wine press" regardless of its form because Jesus is with you and you will defeat the giants in the strength that you have because the battle belongs to our King.
Monday, February 18, 2013
So What Will It Be?
Are you convinced bout Jesus? I mean 100%, never look back, never question, always trust, convinced. I mean the sort of confidence that you can have everything removed from your life, everything you love and enjoy and still serve Jesus without blinking, without hesitation, without fear or worry? Are you so convinced that you do not care one minute what other people think or say about you? Is your confidence so great that you trust Jesus with today and all your tomorrows?
It is so easy to say yes to such questions but how much is this confidence In Jesus evident in your life? If it is so then you must be an incredibly bold and adventurous person, always trusting and obeying. You must have the most incredible sleep each night and spring from your bed each morning in eager anticipation of what God is going to do through you. You must be able to say with Paul:
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
I know I am repeating myself, having already looked at this verse, but looking at it again, I am sure that we are missing something somewhere. Something just isn't clicking for us. Somehow, someway, we have lost the point of this Christian life. How can depression be part of us? How can there be a lack of hope? I don't mean a hope expressed by words but a hope that is evident in our actions as well as words.
Too many of us live a life defeated by everyday problems and circumstances. We are not living with eternal thinking. We read the words but we don't get it:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
If Jesus is who we say he is, and if we love him as much as we say we do, then our confidence will be found in him and his promises, not anything of this world. If we lose everything here what does it matter compared to the eternal riches that are ours? It's only money here and that has no value in the eternal home that has been prepared. There is nothing here that should be able to disturb the gift of peace Jesus has given to us. If there is something that is disrupting our confidence it is because we are too much focused on the system of this world.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
You can listen to all the sermons you want. You can read as many books as you want. You can visit as many counselors as you want, but until your love for God becomes greater than any other thing in your life, you will not have the confidence and boldness to live your life for Jesus' glory. It's all or nothing. It's diving in the deep end or staying out of the pool. It is leaving the system of this world behind and walking in the promises of Jesus, or living a shallow and pretend faith. It is taking all of the Word of God or none of it.
So what will it be?
It is so easy to say yes to such questions but how much is this confidence In Jesus evident in your life? If it is so then you must be an incredibly bold and adventurous person, always trusting and obeying. You must have the most incredible sleep each night and spring from your bed each morning in eager anticipation of what God is going to do through you. You must be able to say with Paul:
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
I know I am repeating myself, having already looked at this verse, but looking at it again, I am sure that we are missing something somewhere. Something just isn't clicking for us. Somehow, someway, we have lost the point of this Christian life. How can depression be part of us? How can there be a lack of hope? I don't mean a hope expressed by words but a hope that is evident in our actions as well as words.
Too many of us live a life defeated by everyday problems and circumstances. We are not living with eternal thinking. We read the words but we don't get it:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
If Jesus is who we say he is, and if we love him as much as we say we do, then our confidence will be found in him and his promises, not anything of this world. If we lose everything here what does it matter compared to the eternal riches that are ours? It's only money here and that has no value in the eternal home that has been prepared. There is nothing here that should be able to disturb the gift of peace Jesus has given to us. If there is something that is disrupting our confidence it is because we are too much focused on the system of this world.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
You can listen to all the sermons you want. You can read as many books as you want. You can visit as many counselors as you want, but until your love for God becomes greater than any other thing in your life, you will not have the confidence and boldness to live your life for Jesus' glory. It's all or nothing. It's diving in the deep end or staying out of the pool. It is leaving the system of this world behind and walking in the promises of Jesus, or living a shallow and pretend faith. It is taking all of the Word of God or none of it.
So what will it be?
Friday, September 28, 2012
Live Large For Jesus!
You have to admit that our perspective is pretty messed up. The things we tend to put value on have no eternal value at all. The things we try to avoid are the things that are essential for our growth. We read and study the Bible and only hold on to the things that make us feel good. We like celebrating the victory without participating in the fight. We tell God to take our life and use us but when he does we fight him all the way. It's not meant to be this hard.
Something that should tell us that we don't quite get it is found in the book of Acts. It is the part where the apostles were arrested, questioned, beaten and then released. They did not come out of the prison shouting about their rights or demanding justice. They came out celebrating that they were considered worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. It doesn't mean we should go out looking to be beaten but it should tell us that our view of what is valuable is all wrong. It should tell us that our attitude is not exactly where God would want it to be.
When apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians he was writing from jail. This was likely his last letter written; this and 2 Timothy. He did not want them to be discouraged by his situation so in a paragraph he reminded them of who he had been and who he now was through Christ. Nothing had changed because of his circumstances. Just because he was in jail did not make him less of an apostle or unable to fulfil God's purpose for him. He summed it up with this:
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:13)
Paul was not in jail because he killed someone or because he was a thief. Paul was in jail because he lifted up Jesus Christ. He was suffering for the Name of Jesus and it was the glory of the Church. We seem to miss that in our living. Suffering for the Name should be celebrated not avoided.
I want to draw a distinct line here when it comes to suffering. Suffering for the Name is persecution, it is not putting up with poverty or cancer. We have been given authority over many things and disease is one of those things. Suffering for the Name is when we are carrying out the mission and trouble comes against us because of it. It is when you are sharing Jesus with someone and they spit in your face. It is when you get arrested for preaching on the street corner. It is when great men and women of learning call you an idiot and lost in the dark ages of superstition. It is when friends and family back away from you because you are too extreme in your faith.
How much do we really love Jesus? He said that if we love him we would obey him. Obedience is more than trying to live a good life. Obedience is to go because he told us to go and to do what he told us to do. "Make disciples", he said, not "build a life for yourself", "gain a reputation", "be well thought of". Live for me and the lost, is what Jesus said. Love as I have loved, Jesus said. Do greater things than I have done, Jesus said. Do not fear when the world hates you, it hated me first, Jesus said.
This life here is not about us. We occupying a dying vessel that is only meant for a temporary time. As clay vessels we only have a certain life span as we break easy, but we have been told to make the most of the opportunities we have. Live in complete freedom from this world with it's do's and don'ts and live with complete confidence in Jesus. Do not avoid suffering for the Name but instead learn to appreciate and celebrate it. Live in boldness and lift up the name of Jesus for the whole world to see. This is the glory of the Church, to live a life of unbridled love for Jesus and for the lost for whom he died. This is our life, so live it to it's fullest potential in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour and King. Live large for Jesus!
Something that should tell us that we don't quite get it is found in the book of Acts. It is the part where the apostles were arrested, questioned, beaten and then released. They did not come out of the prison shouting about their rights or demanding justice. They came out celebrating that they were considered worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. It doesn't mean we should go out looking to be beaten but it should tell us that our view of what is valuable is all wrong. It should tell us that our attitude is not exactly where God would want it to be.
When apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesians he was writing from jail. This was likely his last letter written; this and 2 Timothy. He did not want them to be discouraged by his situation so in a paragraph he reminded them of who he had been and who he now was through Christ. Nothing had changed because of his circumstances. Just because he was in jail did not make him less of an apostle or unable to fulfil God's purpose for him. He summed it up with this:
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:13)
Paul was not in jail because he killed someone or because he was a thief. Paul was in jail because he lifted up Jesus Christ. He was suffering for the Name of Jesus and it was the glory of the Church. We seem to miss that in our living. Suffering for the Name should be celebrated not avoided.
I want to draw a distinct line here when it comes to suffering. Suffering for the Name is persecution, it is not putting up with poverty or cancer. We have been given authority over many things and disease is one of those things. Suffering for the Name is when we are carrying out the mission and trouble comes against us because of it. It is when you are sharing Jesus with someone and they spit in your face. It is when you get arrested for preaching on the street corner. It is when great men and women of learning call you an idiot and lost in the dark ages of superstition. It is when friends and family back away from you because you are too extreme in your faith.
How much do we really love Jesus? He said that if we love him we would obey him. Obedience is more than trying to live a good life. Obedience is to go because he told us to go and to do what he told us to do. "Make disciples", he said, not "build a life for yourself", "gain a reputation", "be well thought of". Live for me and the lost, is what Jesus said. Love as I have loved, Jesus said. Do greater things than I have done, Jesus said. Do not fear when the world hates you, it hated me first, Jesus said.
This life here is not about us. We occupying a dying vessel that is only meant for a temporary time. As clay vessels we only have a certain life span as we break easy, but we have been told to make the most of the opportunities we have. Live in complete freedom from this world with it's do's and don'ts and live with complete confidence in Jesus. Do not avoid suffering for the Name but instead learn to appreciate and celebrate it. Live in boldness and lift up the name of Jesus for the whole world to see. This is the glory of the Church, to live a life of unbridled love for Jesus and for the lost for whom he died. This is our life, so live it to it's fullest potential in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour and King. Live large for Jesus!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Freedom And Confidence
Why do we make it so hard on ourselves? Maybe there is a bit of masochism in each of us, I don't know, but I do know that too many of us make things far too difficult for ourselves. Approaching God is the easiest thing that we can do once Jesus is Lord of our life, yet we create tons of barriers for ourselves and look for methodology. There is no methodology when it comes to our relationship with God.
He loves us when we are angry, joyful, thankful, in a rotten mood, depressed, sorrowful, ignorant, insightful. We don't have to be in any frame of mind to come to him. We don't have to pray certain words. We don't have to be in a certain position. There isn't one physical location in this world more holy than any other. We don't have to climb a mountain or find a cave. We don't have to wear certain kinds of clothes or do anything special. All we do is say, "Father ..." and we are there. Or if you prefer, sit in quietness and allow your spirit to cry out.
As long as we are covered by the blood of the Lamb, the blood of Jesus, we have all the confidence and boldness to come to our Father just as we are, wherever we are:
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
A tiny little verse in the context of a bunch of other things but it speaks so well of the simplicity of our relationship with God. I am not saying that the events behind it, the things God did to make it possible, are simple, but God did a complicated thing to make the important thing simple. Simple is good. Simple is exactly what we need. Simple says, "Love me with everything you have." That's God to us.
In fact, Jesus said that everything comes down to those two things: "Love me with everything you have, hold nothing back" and "Love everyone else too". You see, simple is good. We should be spending our lives learning how to do these two things. Forget all the toys and gadgets, the retirement funds, nest eggs, building a career and finding your place in the world. If these two things are not the corner stones of everything we do, our purpose and desire, we are wasting our lives.
It is when we love God with everything that we have, we know we may approach him with freedom and confidence. Freedom, many of us understand but it's the confidence we lack. We think that God is going to hold something against us, that there is something we have done that he has not forgiven. Maybe a sin we have forgotten about, something we hid away. We need to relax and understand that the Holy Spirit brings to mind anything that needs to be dealt with and when he does, deal with it. Meanwhile, relax and enjoy this incredible relationship we have with our Father.
I am not saying our attitude doesn't matter. It does matter. Our Father holds nothing back from us. The promises are all ours but in order for us to actually receive them, to be open to them, to accept them, we need to be a grateful people. Gratitude opens us up to receive. God is holding nothing back but we block the blessings when our heart is hard and cold. Gratitude softens us up and makes us ready to receive. We can approach God with any attitude but if we want to get anything out of it we need to come in love, with the praise on our lips that come from the overflow of a grateful heart.
But come on, stop making it so hard on yourself. Jesus died for a reason. He was also raised from the dead for a reason. He has given you life in abundance. He has flung the gates wide open for you to come to the Father in freedom and confidence, just as you are, covered by the blood of the Son, transformed, adopted and welcomed with great open arms. Doesn't our God deserve all our praise for the great things he has done for us? Then stand in his presence and rejoice always! I will say it again, Rejoice! Enjoy the simplicity of it today.
He loves us when we are angry, joyful, thankful, in a rotten mood, depressed, sorrowful, ignorant, insightful. We don't have to be in any frame of mind to come to him. We don't have to pray certain words. We don't have to be in a certain position. There isn't one physical location in this world more holy than any other. We don't have to climb a mountain or find a cave. We don't have to wear certain kinds of clothes or do anything special. All we do is say, "Father ..." and we are there. Or if you prefer, sit in quietness and allow your spirit to cry out.
As long as we are covered by the blood of the Lamb, the blood of Jesus, we have all the confidence and boldness to come to our Father just as we are, wherever we are:
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
A tiny little verse in the context of a bunch of other things but it speaks so well of the simplicity of our relationship with God. I am not saying that the events behind it, the things God did to make it possible, are simple, but God did a complicated thing to make the important thing simple. Simple is good. Simple is exactly what we need. Simple says, "Love me with everything you have." That's God to us.
In fact, Jesus said that everything comes down to those two things: "Love me with everything you have, hold nothing back" and "Love everyone else too". You see, simple is good. We should be spending our lives learning how to do these two things. Forget all the toys and gadgets, the retirement funds, nest eggs, building a career and finding your place in the world. If these two things are not the corner stones of everything we do, our purpose and desire, we are wasting our lives.
It is when we love God with everything that we have, we know we may approach him with freedom and confidence. Freedom, many of us understand but it's the confidence we lack. We think that God is going to hold something against us, that there is something we have done that he has not forgiven. Maybe a sin we have forgotten about, something we hid away. We need to relax and understand that the Holy Spirit brings to mind anything that needs to be dealt with and when he does, deal with it. Meanwhile, relax and enjoy this incredible relationship we have with our Father.
I am not saying our attitude doesn't matter. It does matter. Our Father holds nothing back from us. The promises are all ours but in order for us to actually receive them, to be open to them, to accept them, we need to be a grateful people. Gratitude opens us up to receive. God is holding nothing back but we block the blessings when our heart is hard and cold. Gratitude softens us up and makes us ready to receive. We can approach God with any attitude but if we want to get anything out of it we need to come in love, with the praise on our lips that come from the overflow of a grateful heart.
But come on, stop making it so hard on yourself. Jesus died for a reason. He was also raised from the dead for a reason. He has given you life in abundance. He has flung the gates wide open for you to come to the Father in freedom and confidence, just as you are, covered by the blood of the Son, transformed, adopted and welcomed with great open arms. Doesn't our God deserve all our praise for the great things he has done for us? Then stand in his presence and rejoice always! I will say it again, Rejoice! Enjoy the simplicity of it today.
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