1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
I think sometimes that we would rather talk about whether we should worship with hymns or modern worship songs than talk about the cross of Christ. What I mean is that we are so easily drawn away from the central message of the Gospel by so many other issues. Actually, I was surprised to learn that the debate still rages about the style of worship. Really? Is that what the academia of Christianity is still talking about?
The central message of the Gospel has to do with the invasion of the Kingdom of God on this earth. Jesus said it all the time, “if I cast out a demon by the finger of God then the Kingdom of God has come upon you”. The centrality of this powerful reign of God on earth is the cross of Christ. Through the cross we enter into – everything! All the promises, the forgiveness, the power, the ministry, the advancement of the Kingdom are all done to us and through us because of the cross. We take communion to remind us of the cross, of what a great sacrifice of love it was and what great benefits it brought to us.
So if I align myself with the cross and its proclamation, do I become a fool for Christ? Do I become foolish in the site of this world? Probably – yes. The question is, who do we want to be considered wise by? The world or God Almighty? To the world I may be considered weak and a fool, that is o.k., God considers me His son. It’s a good trade.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
March 30
Psalm 21:6 (NIV)
6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
There are several kinds of eternal blessings. Of course eternity is an eternal blessing. Living forever sounds great especially when you consider the alternative! The older I get the more I thirst to live forever. He truly has put eternity in our hearts.
There is another kind of eternal blessing, the blessing that runs from here to eternity. Those blessings that are from the very throne of God like joy that are an eternal reality. The joy in heaven cannot be accurately written about because of its immensity. There is a vein of this joy that we can experience on this earth and it runs all the way to eternity. The Psalmist talks about the king being glad because of the joy that God is giving him. The joy is found in God’s presence! Why all the talk lately about His presence? Part of it is found right here.
If we long for the eternal things rather than the temporal things, one of the things we long for is the joy of the Lord which is not like a fleeting happiness that is dependent of the circumstances. This joy is found in His presence and we will see more evidence of this as we read through the Psalms and as we get in His presence. What we need is found in Him and one of the things we MUST have is His joy because as Nehemiah tells us, “it is our strength.” You get the joy by being in His presence. It doesn’t come from “doing” anything, not even studying the Word of God. It comes from His presence.
Lest you end this devotion thinking that I just said that the Word of God isn’t effective, that is not what I said. When you use the Living Word of God as a text book, you hinder what God can minister to you through it. When you read and dwell IN it like you are looking for treasure and listening for God’s Word for you, His lesson for you, His life for you, then the Word will propel you INTO His presence.
6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
There are several kinds of eternal blessings. Of course eternity is an eternal blessing. Living forever sounds great especially when you consider the alternative! The older I get the more I thirst to live forever. He truly has put eternity in our hearts.
There is another kind of eternal blessing, the blessing that runs from here to eternity. Those blessings that are from the very throne of God like joy that are an eternal reality. The joy in heaven cannot be accurately written about because of its immensity. There is a vein of this joy that we can experience on this earth and it runs all the way to eternity. The Psalmist talks about the king being glad because of the joy that God is giving him. The joy is found in God’s presence! Why all the talk lately about His presence? Part of it is found right here.
If we long for the eternal things rather than the temporal things, one of the things we long for is the joy of the Lord which is not like a fleeting happiness that is dependent of the circumstances. This joy is found in His presence and we will see more evidence of this as we read through the Psalms and as we get in His presence. What we need is found in Him and one of the things we MUST have is His joy because as Nehemiah tells us, “it is our strength.” You get the joy by being in His presence. It doesn’t come from “doing” anything, not even studying the Word of God. It comes from His presence.
Lest you end this devotion thinking that I just said that the Word of God isn’t effective, that is not what I said. When you use the Living Word of God as a text book, you hinder what God can minister to you through it. When you read and dwell IN it like you are looking for treasure and listening for God’s Word for you, His lesson for you, His life for you, then the Word will propel you INTO His presence.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
March 29
John 20:27-29 (NIV)
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Doubt and belief. There was, in the written Word of God, the prophecy of what would happen to Jesus and that He would raise from the dead, but even those who followed Him closely didn’t get it. These guys DID believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but they didn’t interpret the Scripture correctly which especially in Thomas’ case, caused a GREAT doubt. Even after others told Thomas that they had seen Jesus and touched Jesus, Thomas remained resolute in his doubt. In fact he declared that he would NOT BELIEVE until he saw Jesus himself and touched him with his own hands.
Is this what we have become in the western church? Unless we experience it, see it, feel it for ourselves, we won’t believe? Just like in the days of Jesus, the Jews missed the fact of Jesus being the Messiah because they didn’t think He would come that way, some people are missing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit because they don’t think He would come that way. I am not saying that our church is experiencing an “outpouring”, but it sure is experiencing something of an increased presence of the Spirit! When any other ministry or persons have great signs and wonders in their life or ministry, do we have to see it to believe it? Do we automatically assume that it isn’t true or real even when we have people we know who have experienced it?
As I write I feel the presence of the Spirit on me. My body is quivering under His power. Is it true? I can tell you that it is true and more than that I encourage all of us to not be like Thomas. He is not our example. We are people who walk in the Spirit and live, move and have our being in Him. We are not doubters, we are believers! We will not succumb to cleaver schemes of the evil one or man to be draw away from God because we have the discernment of the Spirit. We will believe and press into what God is doing in our age. I encourage everyone to drink deeply and hold on to God!
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Doubt and belief. There was, in the written Word of God, the prophecy of what would happen to Jesus and that He would raise from the dead, but even those who followed Him closely didn’t get it. These guys DID believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but they didn’t interpret the Scripture correctly which especially in Thomas’ case, caused a GREAT doubt. Even after others told Thomas that they had seen Jesus and touched Jesus, Thomas remained resolute in his doubt. In fact he declared that he would NOT BELIEVE until he saw Jesus himself and touched him with his own hands.
Is this what we have become in the western church? Unless we experience it, see it, feel it for ourselves, we won’t believe? Just like in the days of Jesus, the Jews missed the fact of Jesus being the Messiah because they didn’t think He would come that way, some people are missing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit because they don’t think He would come that way. I am not saying that our church is experiencing an “outpouring”, but it sure is experiencing something of an increased presence of the Spirit! When any other ministry or persons have great signs and wonders in their life or ministry, do we have to see it to believe it? Do we automatically assume that it isn’t true or real even when we have people we know who have experienced it?
As I write I feel the presence of the Spirit on me. My body is quivering under His power. Is it true? I can tell you that it is true and more than that I encourage all of us to not be like Thomas. He is not our example. We are people who walk in the Spirit and live, move and have our being in Him. We are not doubters, we are believers! We will not succumb to cleaver schemes of the evil one or man to be draw away from God because we have the discernment of the Spirit. We will believe and press into what God is doing in our age. I encourage everyone to drink deeply and hold on to God!
Monday, March 28, 2011
March 28
John 19:8 (NIV)
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
All through this chapter is an interesting story of a man in great authority, Pilate. He meets Jesus through and unlikely set of circumstances and then has the power of his death in his hands. Without getting into a discussion about the sovereignty of God, I would like to point out what Pilate did and didn’t do and why.
Pilate it seems became convinced of Jesus’ “kingship” so much so that even with the Jews dissenting, he had a sign over our Lord’s head reading King of the Jews in 3 languages. He didn’t want anyone to miss his acknowledgement. I think Pilate became fascinated with Jesus, and even may have believed that Jesus was someone very special if not divine. In another gospel Pilate’s wife comes and warns him to have nothing to do with the death of this man (Jesus) because of a dream she had. Yet Pilate is in a sticky situation. If he lets Jesus go then the Jews may revolt – but he could quench that quick enough. If he crucifies Jesus, I think it is clear that he goes against what he thinks is right. There is this battle within him and he clearly does not want to kill Jesus (have him killed). Yet there is something within him, as there is within us that pushes him over the edge and orders that Jesus be crucified – self. He feared the Jews more than he feared Jesus (God). He wanted to please the Jews more than he wanted to yield to what he knew was right. He wanted the calmest water to prevail so he crucified his own conscious and had Jesus killed.
We have got to decide, when the chips are down, are we going to be man pleasers, self pleasers or God pleasers.
8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
All through this chapter is an interesting story of a man in great authority, Pilate. He meets Jesus through and unlikely set of circumstances and then has the power of his death in his hands. Without getting into a discussion about the sovereignty of God, I would like to point out what Pilate did and didn’t do and why.
Pilate it seems became convinced of Jesus’ “kingship” so much so that even with the Jews dissenting, he had a sign over our Lord’s head reading King of the Jews in 3 languages. He didn’t want anyone to miss his acknowledgement. I think Pilate became fascinated with Jesus, and even may have believed that Jesus was someone very special if not divine. In another gospel Pilate’s wife comes and warns him to have nothing to do with the death of this man (Jesus) because of a dream she had. Yet Pilate is in a sticky situation. If he lets Jesus go then the Jews may revolt – but he could quench that quick enough. If he crucifies Jesus, I think it is clear that he goes against what he thinks is right. There is this battle within him and he clearly does not want to kill Jesus (have him killed). Yet there is something within him, as there is within us that pushes him over the edge and orders that Jesus be crucified – self. He feared the Jews more than he feared Jesus (God). He wanted to please the Jews more than he wanted to yield to what he knew was right. He wanted the calmest water to prevail so he crucified his own conscious and had Jesus killed.
We have got to decide, when the chips are down, are we going to be man pleasers, self pleasers or God pleasers.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
March 27
John 18:11 (NIV)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
The question to us today is does God will us to go through suffering? If so, then as Jesus did we must endure it or “drink it”. Peter wanted to fight his way, or Jesus way, out of this situation, but Jesus said that the Father had decided that He (Jesus) should go through this suffering. We all know and agree that Jesus had to suffer, but how about us? As you read through the Word of God you will see that suffering was a part of many of the writer’s and saint’s life. The question is, does God want us to suffer?
This question is a western one. What I mean is that people who live in the west are the most likely to ask if we are to suffer for Christ or not. Why? Because we live in such freedom that we don’t see suffering as our lot. A cursory read of Paul or Peter however, should change our view as would an examination of many places in this world. There is suffering going on, martyrdom, kidnapping, assault, rape and much more against Christians around the world. The question shouldn’t be; does God want us to suffer, but what suffering does God want us to endure. We are not victims, nor should we act like ones. We should only endure what God has ordained us to go through and nothing more, but for us westerners, that is still a big leap.
One of the other reasons why it is hard for us is because when we came to Christ, we didn’t really die. We died to some things, but not to others. We hold on dearly to many things that we agreed at conversion – at second birth – to die to. Jesus had already died, that is why He could die physically. He was dead to His self will, to His own plan. If we actually died to our self, our self will, our self _________ (fill in the blank), how greatly would we be used?! We would become like Jesus, and walk the walk that Jesus walked. Isn’t that what we all long for?
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
The question to us today is does God will us to go through suffering? If so, then as Jesus did we must endure it or “drink it”. Peter wanted to fight his way, or Jesus way, out of this situation, but Jesus said that the Father had decided that He (Jesus) should go through this suffering. We all know and agree that Jesus had to suffer, but how about us? As you read through the Word of God you will see that suffering was a part of many of the writer’s and saint’s life. The question is, does God want us to suffer?
This question is a western one. What I mean is that people who live in the west are the most likely to ask if we are to suffer for Christ or not. Why? Because we live in such freedom that we don’t see suffering as our lot. A cursory read of Paul or Peter however, should change our view as would an examination of many places in this world. There is suffering going on, martyrdom, kidnapping, assault, rape and much more against Christians around the world. The question shouldn’t be; does God want us to suffer, but what suffering does God want us to endure. We are not victims, nor should we act like ones. We should only endure what God has ordained us to go through and nothing more, but for us westerners, that is still a big leap.
One of the other reasons why it is hard for us is because when we came to Christ, we didn’t really die. We died to some things, but not to others. We hold on dearly to many things that we agreed at conversion – at second birth – to die to. Jesus had already died, that is why He could die physically. He was dead to His self will, to His own plan. If we actually died to our self, our self will, our self _________ (fill in the blank), how greatly would we be used?! We would become like Jesus, and walk the walk that Jesus walked. Isn’t that what we all long for?
Saturday, March 26, 2011
March 26
John 17:22-23 (NIV)
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We have been given glory, the glory of the Godhead! The Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, work together in complete unity! If you were to ask one of them who created the world they would say the other two did, and it wouldn’t matter which one you asked. They are always for each other, promoting each other and doing what is good for the other. Jesus says in John 17 that it is all about the Father, but other places we read that it is all about the Son, especially His great sacrifice! Jesus said it will be all about the Spirit who is coming. Who is it about? All of them! They are one! As incredible a concept as this is, it shouldn’t be that hard to apply it to us.
First of all the world will know that Jesus is the Son of God BECAUSE of our unity! That is big! Secondly, our unity is supposed to be complete. There is a lot of talk about what that means, but what it doesn’t look like is arguing, backbiting, gossiping, judging and criticizing. In fact not only will they (the world) know Christians by their love for each other, but they will know that God loves us because we are unified! So how do we get there, how do we come to complete unity with so many denominations, churches, philosophies of ministry and doctrines? Use the glory! Jesus said, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” God lives in us – unity lives in us! To think that it can’t be attained is to deny who we are. Use the glory!
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
We have been given glory, the glory of the Godhead! The Godhead, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, work together in complete unity! If you were to ask one of them who created the world they would say the other two did, and it wouldn’t matter which one you asked. They are always for each other, promoting each other and doing what is good for the other. Jesus says in John 17 that it is all about the Father, but other places we read that it is all about the Son, especially His great sacrifice! Jesus said it will be all about the Spirit who is coming. Who is it about? All of them! They are one! As incredible a concept as this is, it shouldn’t be that hard to apply it to us.
First of all the world will know that Jesus is the Son of God BECAUSE of our unity! That is big! Secondly, our unity is supposed to be complete. There is a lot of talk about what that means, but what it doesn’t look like is arguing, backbiting, gossiping, judging and criticizing. In fact not only will they (the world) know Christians by their love for each other, but they will know that God loves us because we are unified! So how do we get there, how do we come to complete unity with so many denominations, churches, philosophies of ministry and doctrines? Use the glory! Jesus said, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.” God lives in us – unity lives in us! To think that it can’t be attained is to deny who we are. Use the glory!
Friday, March 25, 2011
March 25
Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
God is very clear on His desire to bless and take care of His people. He wants His fame and glory to fill the earth and for everyone to see the wonder of blessing that He gives to His people. We are supposed to be different. We were meant to be amply supplied for and living in prosperity, safe from harm, mighty warriors, living in freedom and not under any bondage and have God walking among us! Wow, that is a great plan! That is God’s plan as outlined in Leviticus 26. Also outlined in that chapter is what will happen if you don’t keep covenant with God. It is basically the opposite of God’s plan, although it seems to come in different levels as if to leave room for repentance before it gets worse.
The fear of God is to fear what He said would come true will come true. It is to consider Him a God of His word. That is why it is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. When we fear the Lord, we are honoring His character by proclaiming that His word is true and we believe it.
There is another point to be made about this; to gain wisdom and understanding is desirable because you become prosperous, protected, peaceful, mighty and dwell with God Himself. How much more for us who have the Holy Spirit living inside of us? People often focus on the punishment or negative side effects of disobedience – (our disobedience isn’t not keeping the law, but among the most important things, it isn’t believing God – having trust that He will do what He said He will do and loving one another) – instead of the great blessing of walking in obedience! If the old covenant (the new covenant is better) had such grand blessings attached to it, how much more will our covenant with God (because it is better), give us the things that we long for!
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)
10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
God is very clear on His desire to bless and take care of His people. He wants His fame and glory to fill the earth and for everyone to see the wonder of blessing that He gives to His people. We are supposed to be different. We were meant to be amply supplied for and living in prosperity, safe from harm, mighty warriors, living in freedom and not under any bondage and have God walking among us! Wow, that is a great plan! That is God’s plan as outlined in Leviticus 26. Also outlined in that chapter is what will happen if you don’t keep covenant with God. It is basically the opposite of God’s plan, although it seems to come in different levels as if to leave room for repentance before it gets worse.
The fear of God is to fear what He said would come true will come true. It is to consider Him a God of His word. That is why it is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. When we fear the Lord, we are honoring His character by proclaiming that His word is true and we believe it.
There is another point to be made about this; to gain wisdom and understanding is desirable because you become prosperous, protected, peaceful, mighty and dwell with God Himself. How much more for us who have the Holy Spirit living inside of us? People often focus on the punishment or negative side effects of disobedience – (our disobedience isn’t not keeping the law, but among the most important things, it isn’t believing God – having trust that He will do what He said He will do and loving one another) – instead of the great blessing of walking in obedience! If the old covenant (the new covenant is better) had such grand blessings attached to it, how much more will our covenant with God (because it is better), give us the things that we long for!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
March 24
Leviticus 24:4 (NIV)
4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD must be tended continually.
John 15:8 (NIV)
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The lampstand must continually be tended or, it must be paid attention to so that it continues to give off light. After all the lampstand’s purpose is to give off light – continually! However, if you don’t continue to fill up the lamp with oil, trim and replace the wick you won’t have any light emanating from the lamp – it will go out! We have to tend our lamps or our light will go out. Going to church isn’t tending your lamp although it could be a part of it. Tending your lamp is making sure you are filled with oil – the Holy Spirit – and that can only happen when you are intentional about it. That intentionality can be going to church if your purpose in going to church is to meet with God, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and let your light effect those around you. Church will never be a substitute for seeking God, reading His Word, spending time with Him and getting in His presence to be filled with the Holy Spirit, though it can be part of it.
The purpose of the lamp is to shed light and so when we are full we will be the light that we were made to be. It is to God’s glory for us to bear a whole lot of fruit. Jesus says that we should ask for it and God will give us what we are asking for – why? Because it glorifies God for us to love others, to heal others, to minister to others, to have peace in turmoil, to perform signs and wonders, to have great confidence, to cast out demons, etc… The only way we will bear this fruit is to be filled with God and tend our selves, making sure you have enough oil to shine the light and to simple ask for the fruit.
4 The lamps on the pure gold lampstand before the LORD must be tended continually.
John 15:8 (NIV)
8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
The lampstand must continually be tended or, it must be paid attention to so that it continues to give off light. After all the lampstand’s purpose is to give off light – continually! However, if you don’t continue to fill up the lamp with oil, trim and replace the wick you won’t have any light emanating from the lamp – it will go out! We have to tend our lamps or our light will go out. Going to church isn’t tending your lamp although it could be a part of it. Tending your lamp is making sure you are filled with oil – the Holy Spirit – and that can only happen when you are intentional about it. That intentionality can be going to church if your purpose in going to church is to meet with God, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and let your light effect those around you. Church will never be a substitute for seeking God, reading His Word, spending time with Him and getting in His presence to be filled with the Holy Spirit, though it can be part of it.
The purpose of the lamp is to shed light and so when we are full we will be the light that we were made to be. It is to God’s glory for us to bear a whole lot of fruit. Jesus says that we should ask for it and God will give us what we are asking for – why? Because it glorifies God for us to love others, to heal others, to minister to others, to have peace in turmoil, to perform signs and wonders, to have great confidence, to cast out demons, etc… The only way we will bear this fruit is to be filled with God and tend our selves, making sure you have enough oil to shine the light and to simple ask for the fruit.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
March 23
How rich is John 14? I could preach on it for months! Today, two things struck me. First Jesus gave us an answer to the question of quenching anxiety;
John 14:1 (NIV)
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
When we consider God to be faithful, we will not be troubled in our hearts. God is faithful to the end and He is not a man that He could lie. What He says will come to pass and every promise He will fulfill. Read the scripture with a special eye towards finding promises fulfilled – it is amazing!
The second thing is the revelation of God only comes to those who love Jesus.
John 14:21 (NIV)
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Isn’t it amazing that we get to experience deeper and deeper revelations of Jesus? I can hardly believe that I have had so much revealed to me over the years, yet there is a plethora of understanding and knowledge (both experiential and practical) that I haven’t even touched! Jesus is desirous for us, His creation and daily delight to know Him, however He can’t reveal deep things to those who don’t love deep. Deep love will bring deep service (obeying His commands), but deep service will not bring deep love. As Lou Engle said this weekend, “I would rather partner with someone who loves deep rather than someone who serves deep.”
John 14:1 (NIV)
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
When we consider God to be faithful, we will not be troubled in our hearts. God is faithful to the end and He is not a man that He could lie. What He says will come to pass and every promise He will fulfill. Read the scripture with a special eye towards finding promises fulfilled – it is amazing!
The second thing is the revelation of God only comes to those who love Jesus.
John 14:21 (NIV)
21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
Isn’t it amazing that we get to experience deeper and deeper revelations of Jesus? I can hardly believe that I have had so much revealed to me over the years, yet there is a plethora of understanding and knowledge (both experiential and practical) that I haven’t even touched! Jesus is desirous for us, His creation and daily delight to know Him, however He can’t reveal deep things to those who don’t love deep. Deep love will bring deep service (obeying His commands), but deep service will not bring deep love. As Lou Engle said this weekend, “I would rather partner with someone who loves deep rather than someone who serves deep.”
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
March 22
John 13:8 (NIV)
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
I was just talking to somebody recently about people who never seem to worship with abandon (as opposed to singing songs) or people who purposely come late to church to miss most of worship. My thought is that people who are like this have a difficult time with connecting to God personally. What I mean is that they would rather “learn” about God and be challenged to live right than enter into deep heartfelt connected relationship. I honestly feel sorry for people like this because they miss out on what God intended from the very beginning! Jesus didn’t die so we could go to heaven – He died so we would have restored relationship forever with the Godhead which includes living forever! Some people’s souls have been so fractured that they can’t have intimate relationship with anyone including God, but God can heal them!
Jesus says something very profound here, unless you let me become intimate with you – touch your feet – you will have no part with me. I am not purporting that people who don’t worship, who have trouble with being intimate and deep with God are not saved, but I will say this, that they, at the very least, will miss out on all the benefits that comes from deep relationship with Jesus. Knowing about Jesus isn’t enough! It is only when you humble yourself enough to let God wash over you that you can become connected with Him. There is NO other way! God desires to wash your feet today – to hold you and to serve you! Did you get that? God wants to serve you! That doesn’t put us in any position except humble receptiveness of His grand love! Jesus is not my servant, but He must serve us to show His extravagant love. Let Him wash you today – let Him wash over you. Don’t settle with knowing God through His Word (the Bible) – which is awesome and powerful – but let Him ALSO touch you and heal you completely.
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
I was just talking to somebody recently about people who never seem to worship with abandon (as opposed to singing songs) or people who purposely come late to church to miss most of worship. My thought is that people who are like this have a difficult time with connecting to God personally. What I mean is that they would rather “learn” about God and be challenged to live right than enter into deep heartfelt connected relationship. I honestly feel sorry for people like this because they miss out on what God intended from the very beginning! Jesus didn’t die so we could go to heaven – He died so we would have restored relationship forever with the Godhead which includes living forever! Some people’s souls have been so fractured that they can’t have intimate relationship with anyone including God, but God can heal them!
Jesus says something very profound here, unless you let me become intimate with you – touch your feet – you will have no part with me. I am not purporting that people who don’t worship, who have trouble with being intimate and deep with God are not saved, but I will say this, that they, at the very least, will miss out on all the benefits that comes from deep relationship with Jesus. Knowing about Jesus isn’t enough! It is only when you humble yourself enough to let God wash over you that you can become connected with Him. There is NO other way! God desires to wash your feet today – to hold you and to serve you! Did you get that? God wants to serve you! That doesn’t put us in any position except humble receptiveness of His grand love! Jesus is not my servant, but He must serve us to show His extravagant love. Let Him wash you today – let Him wash over you. Don’t settle with knowing God through His Word (the Bible) – which is awesome and powerful – but let Him ALSO touch you and heal you completely.
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 21
John 12:10-11 (NIV)
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
There is a universal spiritual law – kill the person that is making spiritual progress! Jesus clearly stated and warned us that people would try to kill us because we are bearers of the gospel of God Almighty! When we proclaim His gospel AND people start responding, then we go on the map of the enemy and he tries to kill us. Obviously not many of us westerns have died a physical death because of the gospel, but the enemy will try to kill us in many other ways.
The miraculous is a big area that the enemy has targeted and won significant ground. Why? Because, as the scripture says, many put their faith in Jesus because of the miraculous things He did. The enemy wants to kill healing, both physical and emotional/mental. The enemy wants to kill all supernatural activity and reduce us to nice people who do nice things for others. In fact, he would like us to not be so nice too! He would stress us out, give us worries, have us speak negatively and many other things to “kill” us. It shouldn’t surprise us, but it does, and I fear (concern), that it motivates us to take our foot off the gas pedal. Our motivation comes from God’s heart – we are not people who shrink back!
10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.
There is a universal spiritual law – kill the person that is making spiritual progress! Jesus clearly stated and warned us that people would try to kill us because we are bearers of the gospel of God Almighty! When we proclaim His gospel AND people start responding, then we go on the map of the enemy and he tries to kill us. Obviously not many of us westerns have died a physical death because of the gospel, but the enemy will try to kill us in many other ways.
The miraculous is a big area that the enemy has targeted and won significant ground. Why? Because, as the scripture says, many put their faith in Jesus because of the miraculous things He did. The enemy wants to kill healing, both physical and emotional/mental. The enemy wants to kill all supernatural activity and reduce us to nice people who do nice things for others. In fact, he would like us to not be so nice too! He would stress us out, give us worries, have us speak negatively and many other things to “kill” us. It shouldn’t surprise us, but it does, and I fear (concern), that it motivates us to take our foot off the gas pedal. Our motivation comes from God’s heart – we are not people who shrink back!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
March 20
John 11:33-35 (NIV)
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.
Sometimes we think or have the attitude that Jesus (God) doesn’t have the same emotional make up as we do. While it is true that it isn’t tainted by a sinful nature it is not true that God doesn’t have feelings like we do. We are created in His image and our emotional self was created in the image of our Creator. This passage, if we let it sink in, will bring us to the rightful conclusion that God (Jesus) feels deeply. I think that we don’t realize how deeply He loves us and how heartfelt that love is. We get caught in the “big God in the sky” thinking that has removed the personhood of God, and with that His emotions. Even though Jesus knew that Lazarus would be raised, He was overcome by emotions and wept. Jesus (God) is deeply emotional and expresses that emotion with weeping!
In this particular instance, Jesus was weeping because everyone else was weeping. He saw how grieved people were at the loss of Lazarus and their heart sickness moved His heart to weep for them. He loved them so much that He was deeply moved by them. Are you getting this? Jesus is a deep lover that is moved deeply by His friends. We move the heart of Jesus!
33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.
Sometimes we think or have the attitude that Jesus (God) doesn’t have the same emotional make up as we do. While it is true that it isn’t tainted by a sinful nature it is not true that God doesn’t have feelings like we do. We are created in His image and our emotional self was created in the image of our Creator. This passage, if we let it sink in, will bring us to the rightful conclusion that God (Jesus) feels deeply. I think that we don’t realize how deeply He loves us and how heartfelt that love is. We get caught in the “big God in the sky” thinking that has removed the personhood of God, and with that His emotions. Even though Jesus knew that Lazarus would be raised, He was overcome by emotions and wept. Jesus (God) is deeply emotional and expresses that emotion with weeping!
In this particular instance, Jesus was weeping because everyone else was weeping. He saw how grieved people were at the loss of Lazarus and their heart sickness moved His heart to weep for them. He loved them so much that He was deeply moved by them. Are you getting this? Jesus is a deep lover that is moved deeply by His friends. We move the heart of Jesus!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
March 19
Psalm 103:19 (NIV)
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:2-3 (NIV)
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases
If the Lord’s Kingdom, the Kingdom of our God really rules over all then He can overcome the guilt of my sin. His provision for my complete forgiveness is made because He is the ruler of His Kingdom which rules over all. We all believe this to a great extent, although some would say he needs a little work from us in order for us to be forgiven. (Which is not what scripture says – it is the blood of Jesus which makes complete and forever releases us from our guilt).
Going along with the same thought about God rulership, in the very same Psalm, in the very same verse, (of course it originally had no verses), in the very same breath a thought is written; “and heals all your diseases”. This doctrinal truth cannot be explained away with a passage from another book, nor can it be subjected to our experience to interpret its truth. It clearly says that he heals all our diseases. In the same breath that it says that He “forgives all our sins”, which we all believe, it says the same thing about diseases – they are inextricably tied together! The question is will we be found counting His Word faithful and true? You decide – believe or not, or should I say forget it or not.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:2-3 (NIV)
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases
If the Lord’s Kingdom, the Kingdom of our God really rules over all then He can overcome the guilt of my sin. His provision for my complete forgiveness is made because He is the ruler of His Kingdom which rules over all. We all believe this to a great extent, although some would say he needs a little work from us in order for us to be forgiven. (Which is not what scripture says – it is the blood of Jesus which makes complete and forever releases us from our guilt).
Going along with the same thought about God rulership, in the very same Psalm, in the very same verse, (of course it originally had no verses), in the very same breath a thought is written; “and heals all your diseases”. This doctrinal truth cannot be explained away with a passage from another book, nor can it be subjected to our experience to interpret its truth. It clearly says that he heals all our diseases. In the same breath that it says that He “forgives all our sins”, which we all believe, it says the same thing about diseases – they are inextricably tied together! The question is will we be found counting His Word faithful and true? You decide – believe or not, or should I say forget it or not.
Friday, March 18, 2011
March 18
As we are reading through the law I am taken by how important the role of the priest is. Not only did he offer the sacrifices but he was the one who examined everything and decided whether things needed to be thrown out, scraped off, set out for 7 days, in other words there was something wrong or “unclean”, and he was the one who declared people or dwellings or fabrics clean. That really is amazing! Without the priest performing his duties, nothing in question could be designated as clean and nobody’s sin could be atoned for. Did you get that? Nobody could be clean who was unclean and nobody could be forgiven without the work of the priest. That is so good!
Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 7:17-19 (NIV)
17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
We can do nothing but offer what we have, our lives. The rest is done by the priest – Jesus. Do you see that Jesus is our everything? He declares us clean – forever! He declares us forgiven – forever! Give Him praise and give Him our lives!
Hebrews 4:14 (NIV)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Hebrews 7:17-19 (NIV)
17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
We can do nothing but offer what we have, our lives. The rest is done by the priest – Jesus. Do you see that Jesus is our everything? He declares us clean – forever! He declares us forgiven – forever! Give Him praise and give Him our lives!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
