Psalm 91:14-16 (NIV)
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
I would like to paste the whole Psalm 91 here because it is such a great Psalm of promise! This is not some poetic Psalm that we are to put to some music and think nice thoughts, but this is a Psalm of great promises that needs to be confessed over our lives with faith! Does it seem too great? Does it seem too hard? Does it seem like life will be too good if this Psalm says what it means? Are we afraid of that? If you look carefully it is specific on what the LORD will avert from our lives. What great and precious promises!
This morning however I am drawn to these three last verses. I believe that someone needs rescuing from something – maybe themselves. Someone is in trouble and needs deliverance. Someone needs the sodzo of God – His complete package of salvation which includes healing today. May I suggest, no urge – love Him with everything within you! Give Him all of you and proclaim with your heart and mouth your enduring love to the Lord of Host. If you can’t, spend time understanding His love for you until it starts to flow back to Him. After you have declared it, put all your chips in His hand – go all in! Not only begin to call on Him, but put His Word on your mouth, the Words of faith! Tell yourself and then tell everyone and then thank Him for your deliverance and your honoring, your rescue and your protection, your satisfaction with life and your healing! Pray His Word with faith in Him to bring it to pass!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
April 29
This is from yesterdays reading.
Deuteronomy 21:9 (NIV)
9 So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
This verse is amidst the instruction of the Lord for the town to remove its guilt for someone who had been killed but the killer is not known. There is a divine principle here that we have missed and need to get. Territory (places) can be taken over by an evil dominion. When things like this happen it produces guilt on a whole town! God said that if you want to remove the guilt then a sacrifice has to be made. Understand this is a spiritual principle of the spirit realm. When evil invades a place and perpetrates evil upon the people in the place, and nobody removes the guilt of that act, then evil has a right to operate in that place. If we will open our eyes, we see this all around us in parts of town and even certain cities. As I have said, it isn’t because African Americans moved into a certain section or Hispanics or any other race that it is crime ravaged– that is ridiculous and prejudice – it is because an evil realm moved in because nobody, (white, black or anyone else) took the dominion back! We lived our lives and maybe thought – oh, how tragic. It is like the story of the abandon junk car, when it is down the street we complain about it, when it is front of our neighbors house we really don’t like it, when it is front of our house we are mad about it, when it is on our front lawn we do something about it. We cannot operate like that anymore!
How do you take back that territory for God? Sacrifice! We not only pray and take it back by our authority, but we invite God to dwell there. We do that by worshipping the King! The Psalmist wrote, “you are enthroned on the praises of Your people.” We have the opportunity through worship to bring the reigning presence of God to that territory. Where God is King, no other can be.
Deuteronomy 21:9 (NIV)
9 So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the LORD.
This verse is amidst the instruction of the Lord for the town to remove its guilt for someone who had been killed but the killer is not known. There is a divine principle here that we have missed and need to get. Territory (places) can be taken over by an evil dominion. When things like this happen it produces guilt on a whole town! God said that if you want to remove the guilt then a sacrifice has to be made. Understand this is a spiritual principle of the spirit realm. When evil invades a place and perpetrates evil upon the people in the place, and nobody removes the guilt of that act, then evil has a right to operate in that place. If we will open our eyes, we see this all around us in parts of town and even certain cities. As I have said, it isn’t because African Americans moved into a certain section or Hispanics or any other race that it is crime ravaged– that is ridiculous and prejudice – it is because an evil realm moved in because nobody, (white, black or anyone else) took the dominion back! We lived our lives and maybe thought – oh, how tragic. It is like the story of the abandon junk car, when it is down the street we complain about it, when it is front of our neighbors house we really don’t like it, when it is front of our house we are mad about it, when it is on our front lawn we do something about it. We cannot operate like that anymore!
How do you take back that territory for God? Sacrifice! We not only pray and take it back by our authority, but we invite God to dwell there. We do that by worshipping the King! The Psalmist wrote, “you are enthroned on the praises of Your people.” We have the opportunity through worship to bring the reigning presence of God to that territory. Where God is King, no other can be.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
April 28
2 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Did you know this? Did you know that you are not to receive an accusation against an elder except by two or three witnesses? Does this mean that we are to keep silent if we are the only one that saw so and so kissing so and so and they are married – not to each other? Wouldn’t that be nice! This passage means that when you tell so and so about so and so and so and so that the person who you are telling is not supposed to receive it as fact. What? You are kidding! Nope – God doesn’t kid around about this stuff.
The reality is that so and so may not have been kissing, it may have just appeared that way, they actually were crying together. One persons eyes may not been seeing correctly, but even if they are, we are not to receive the accusation! Everything and I mean everything has to be established by at least 2 witnesses! Someone may have a bone to pick with someone else and may interpret things incorrectly in order to justify their bone.
May I suggest something outlandish? We mind our own business? It should be obvious if I see someone murdering another person that it is my duty to step up and say something, but that isn’t what we accuse others of and that isn’t what we listen to and receive from others, most of the time it is petty stuff that God is dealing with already. Maybe God isn’t even dealing with it because He doesn’t want to! There is a thought! Maybe He is dealing with that person in other places in their lives and we should be content to pray for them. Whatever the case, DON’T believe it if it can’t be established and, “live in unity with one another.”
1 This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Did you know this? Did you know that you are not to receive an accusation against an elder except by two or three witnesses? Does this mean that we are to keep silent if we are the only one that saw so and so kissing so and so and they are married – not to each other? Wouldn’t that be nice! This passage means that when you tell so and so about so and so and so and so that the person who you are telling is not supposed to receive it as fact. What? You are kidding! Nope – God doesn’t kid around about this stuff.
The reality is that so and so may not have been kissing, it may have just appeared that way, they actually were crying together. One persons eyes may not been seeing correctly, but even if they are, we are not to receive the accusation! Everything and I mean everything has to be established by at least 2 witnesses! Someone may have a bone to pick with someone else and may interpret things incorrectly in order to justify their bone.
May I suggest something outlandish? We mind our own business? It should be obvious if I see someone murdering another person that it is my duty to step up and say something, but that isn’t what we accuse others of and that isn’t what we listen to and receive from others, most of the time it is petty stuff that God is dealing with already. Maybe God isn’t even dealing with it because He doesn’t want to! There is a thought! Maybe He is dealing with that person in other places in their lives and we should be content to pray for them. Whatever the case, DON’T believe it if it can’t be established and, “live in unity with one another.”
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
April 27
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
I won’t comment on the context of this passage except to say that God didn’t give Paul sickness to keep Him humble. That is an erroneous interpretation to somehow validate the thought that God wants us sick. Enough said.
What the verse above does say means a great deal to me. If you are like me it is hard to ignore your weaknesses, those things you are deficient in or have a limitation. Maybe you like me are seeing one this very day! Paul recites what the Lord spoke to him which was, I don’t have to take away your insufficiency, because I am your sufficiency! I am everything you need and I will use your weakness to bring glory to myself. Paul then concludes that if that is the case, instead of being frustrated with his weakness, he will boast in it because God is going to do something spectacular and not just overcome his weakness, but shine through Paul by demonstrating the power (ability) of God!
Our weaknesses are many and we limit ourselves, and therefore we limit God because we don’t consider Jehovah Shamma, the ever present one to be able to use us because we are weak in certain areas. That is precisely where God can shine and have all the glory! Whatever you are limited in, wherever your weakness, ask Him who is able to show His power through you.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
I won’t comment on the context of this passage except to say that God didn’t give Paul sickness to keep Him humble. That is an erroneous interpretation to somehow validate the thought that God wants us sick. Enough said.
What the verse above does say means a great deal to me. If you are like me it is hard to ignore your weaknesses, those things you are deficient in or have a limitation. Maybe you like me are seeing one this very day! Paul recites what the Lord spoke to him which was, I don’t have to take away your insufficiency, because I am your sufficiency! I am everything you need and I will use your weakness to bring glory to myself. Paul then concludes that if that is the case, instead of being frustrated with his weakness, he will boast in it because God is going to do something spectacular and not just overcome his weakness, but shine through Paul by demonstrating the power (ability) of God!
Our weaknesses are many and we limit ourselves, and therefore we limit God because we don’t consider Jehovah Shamma, the ever present one to be able to use us because we are weak in certain areas. That is precisely where God can shine and have all the glory! Whatever you are limited in, wherever your weakness, ask Him who is able to show His power through you.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
April 26
Deuteronomy 16:11 (NIV)
11 And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will ….
.
Deuteronomy 16:14 (NIV)
14 Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, ….
Deuteronomy 16:16 (NIV)
16 … No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed:
I get the feeling that God likes a good celebration! In fact, 3 times per year all of Israel was to make a journey to (soon to be revealed) Jerusalem for 3 feasts. Passover was a memory feast designed to bring about appreciation and obedience. The other 2 feast, (Feast of Weeks and Feast of Tabernacles) were celebrations to the Lord! The people were supposed to get happy for all the things that God has done for them, and all that material blessings they had been given. God had blessed these sojourners mightily and these feasts were a celebration of that. I included the later part of verse 16 in this devotion because I think it is significant that during these celebrations, they were to come to the Lord with an offering in proportion to how the Lord had blessed them.
We are supposed to be a celebrating people! We call our Sunday Services “Celebrations” because we celebrate not only the material blessings that we have had provided to us, but the LIFE that God has given us! God has made us rich in blessings! The love, peace and joy within me, at my disposal, even at my command as a blessing to others is incredible – and that is only 3 great blessings! If we aren’t the happiest people on earth then I don’t know what to say! I know that we go through hard and difficult times, but it seems to me that we have the opportunity to live a life of celebration! Oh but for the schemes of the devil and our biggest enemy – our flesh. Resist the devil and he WILL flee and kill your flesh so you can get happy! Is it possible to celebrate in tough times? Paul was beaten and thrown into a dungeon – and he started singing. His singing not only brought his release, but it brought salvation to a whole family! Paul not only celebrated His salvation, He brought an offering to the Lord of praise!
Church, don’t come empty handed anymore! Come to church, to a meeting, to the Lord, to a lunch with a friend with something to give. Maybe it is a financial gift – PTL – maybe it is a Word from God – maybe a revelation from that morning – maybe some love to be purposely poured out on someone. When you come before the Lord, don’t come empty handed – give while you celebrate!
11 And rejoice before the LORD your God at the place he will ….
.
Deuteronomy 16:14 (NIV)
14 Be joyful at your Feast—you, your sons and daughters, ….
Deuteronomy 16:16 (NIV)
16 … No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed:
I get the feeling that God likes a good celebration! In fact, 3 times per year all of Israel was to make a journey to (soon to be revealed) Jerusalem for 3 feasts. Passover was a memory feast designed to bring about appreciation and obedience. The other 2 feast, (Feast of Weeks and Feast of Tabernacles) were celebrations to the Lord! The people were supposed to get happy for all the things that God has done for them, and all that material blessings they had been given. God had blessed these sojourners mightily and these feasts were a celebration of that. I included the later part of verse 16 in this devotion because I think it is significant that during these celebrations, they were to come to the Lord with an offering in proportion to how the Lord had blessed them.
We are supposed to be a celebrating people! We call our Sunday Services “Celebrations” because we celebrate not only the material blessings that we have had provided to us, but the LIFE that God has given us! God has made us rich in blessings! The love, peace and joy within me, at my disposal, even at my command as a blessing to others is incredible – and that is only 3 great blessings! If we aren’t the happiest people on earth then I don’t know what to say! I know that we go through hard and difficult times, but it seems to me that we have the opportunity to live a life of celebration! Oh but for the schemes of the devil and our biggest enemy – our flesh. Resist the devil and he WILL flee and kill your flesh so you can get happy! Is it possible to celebrate in tough times? Paul was beaten and thrown into a dungeon – and he started singing. His singing not only brought his release, but it brought salvation to a whole family! Paul not only celebrated His salvation, He brought an offering to the Lord of praise!
Church, don’t come empty handed anymore! Come to church, to a meeting, to the Lord, to a lunch with a friend with something to give. Maybe it is a financial gift – PTL – maybe it is a Word from God – maybe a revelation from that morning – maybe some love to be purposely poured out on someone. When you come before the Lord, don’t come empty handed – give while you celebrate!
Monday, April 25, 2011
April 25
2 Corinthians 10:8 (NIV)
8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
Here lies the reason for authority. Can you see it? Some people use authority to get their own way. They like directing things the way they feel comfortable or the way they like it. For them the distinction between dominating and dominion cannot be made because they use their authority both to have dominion, (which is God given) and they use it to dominate others, (which is satanic-worldly-carnal). There is no doubt that the way of the world is to use authority to dominate others. The 7 pillars of society, (government, education, media…) have become just that. I believe it has trickled into the church as well, and has trickled all the way down to the family. Authority from the very beginning was to be used to have dominion for the good of all! Here Paul clearly says that the authority that God gave him is to be used for building people up rather than pulling them down. It is the difference between the coaching style that yells at his players and tells them what idiots they are and the coach that tells his players what they did wrong and inspires them to do it right. We must be, from mothers and husbands, to CEO’s and Senators, all about using the power and authority we have to bless and build up others.
There is one more thought about this; having the authority and not using it. That goes from motherhood, (letting your children dominate your life or household), to CEO’s who are afraid to make a move toward change. We as Christians have plenty of authority, but the question is do we use it? Do we take dominion not only where we live, but where we are? My encouragement is to walk in your authority as a believer (you have to know what authority you have first) and use it to release the Kingdom of God in your situations. You have such blessing that is waiting to be poured out! The world needs your authority – use it to build them up!
8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
Here lies the reason for authority. Can you see it? Some people use authority to get their own way. They like directing things the way they feel comfortable or the way they like it. For them the distinction between dominating and dominion cannot be made because they use their authority both to have dominion, (which is God given) and they use it to dominate others, (which is satanic-worldly-carnal). There is no doubt that the way of the world is to use authority to dominate others. The 7 pillars of society, (government, education, media…) have become just that. I believe it has trickled into the church as well, and has trickled all the way down to the family. Authority from the very beginning was to be used to have dominion for the good of all! Here Paul clearly says that the authority that God gave him is to be used for building people up rather than pulling them down. It is the difference between the coaching style that yells at his players and tells them what idiots they are and the coach that tells his players what they did wrong and inspires them to do it right. We must be, from mothers and husbands, to CEO’s and Senators, all about using the power and authority we have to bless and build up others.
There is one more thought about this; having the authority and not using it. That goes from motherhood, (letting your children dominate your life or household), to CEO’s who are afraid to make a move toward change. We as Christians have plenty of authority, but the question is do we use it? Do we take dominion not only where we live, but where we are? My encouragement is to walk in your authority as a believer (you have to know what authority you have first) and use it to release the Kingdom of God in your situations. You have such blessing that is waiting to be poured out! The world needs your authority – use it to build them up!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
April 24
Deuteronomy 12:8 (NIV)
8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit,
Moses is writing the commands from God and God is saying don’t worship idols – o.k., we understand that. Next He says not worship as the world does, but to worship as I have taught you to worship. In other words they were not to worship as the “felt” or “desired” but they were to worship as God deserved! The other thing God said that they were not to worship where they wanted to, but they were to worship ONLY at the place where God instructed them to. Did you get that? We not only can’t worship HOW we want, but we can’t worship where we want! Are you getting the idea that worship is about God and not us? Today we are free to go to the place of worship that God instructs us to and we have such freedom to worship Him in many ways except when it contains no sacrifice. That could use some thought. Let me say this, it is God that plants us in a church and God who moves us on to another and not us – we are at His service for His pleasure. Look at WHY God instructs us;
Deuteronomy 12:7 (NIV)
7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
That is His heart! He wants us to have MAX blessing! What a great God!
8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit,
Moses is writing the commands from God and God is saying don’t worship idols – o.k., we understand that. Next He says not worship as the world does, but to worship as I have taught you to worship. In other words they were not to worship as the “felt” or “desired” but they were to worship as God deserved! The other thing God said that they were not to worship where they wanted to, but they were to worship ONLY at the place where God instructed them to. Did you get that? We not only can’t worship HOW we want, but we can’t worship where we want! Are you getting the idea that worship is about God and not us? Today we are free to go to the place of worship that God instructs us to and we have such freedom to worship Him in many ways except when it contains no sacrifice. That could use some thought. Let me say this, it is God that plants us in a church and God who moves us on to another and not us – we are at His service for His pleasure. Look at WHY God instructs us;
Deuteronomy 12:7 (NIV)
7 There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
That is His heart! He wants us to have MAX blessing! What a great God!
Saturday, April 23, 2011
April 23
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
In the midst of trouble David writes this great thought. When my day starts I want to think about your unfailing love. I want it to come to me like a postman would deliver me a letter and it is the first thing that I read. It says something like: Dear Son/Daughter I love you – I always will love you – my favor is on you – my affection is on you – my power and will is for you and it will never change! Now that is a good letter!
David goes on to say that he has put his trust in God. Who else is there to trust – me? Who am I supposed to trust with my life? Every time I take hold of it, it gets messed up, in debt, depressed and stressed out! My trust must be in the Lord BECAUSE He is faithful! David then says, (because he trusts God – that His ways are right) to show him the way he should go. Not, “bless my day and my plan”, but “what do you want me to do now?” The next phrase could be interpreted different ways, but here is what I get – I lift up the burden of my soul to you – I give you my life – a sweet surrender.
I pray that you have started your day the same way, with a message of love and hope, a recognition of His faithfulness, a surrender of your day and your burden, for He who holds all things together loves you.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
In the midst of trouble David writes this great thought. When my day starts I want to think about your unfailing love. I want it to come to me like a postman would deliver me a letter and it is the first thing that I read. It says something like: Dear Son/Daughter I love you – I always will love you – my favor is on you – my affection is on you – my power and will is for you and it will never change! Now that is a good letter!
David goes on to say that he has put his trust in God. Who else is there to trust – me? Who am I supposed to trust with my life? Every time I take hold of it, it gets messed up, in debt, depressed and stressed out! My trust must be in the Lord BECAUSE He is faithful! David then says, (because he trusts God – that His ways are right) to show him the way he should go. Not, “bless my day and my plan”, but “what do you want me to do now?” The next phrase could be interpreted different ways, but here is what I get – I lift up the burden of my soul to you – I give you my life – a sweet surrender.
I pray that you have started your day the same way, with a message of love and hope, a recognition of His faithfulness, a surrender of your day and your burden, for He who holds all things together loves you.
Friday, April 22, 2011
April 22
Psalm 139:17 (NIV)
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
What is God thinking? More specifically, what is He thinking about you? When He looks at you, what does He think? Have you ever asked Him that? Have you stopped to listen to what He says? Do you want to know?
Wouldn't it be an amazing thing to take a pen and pad of paper and your Bible, and just sit down and think about what God says about you. Better than that is to ASK God what He thinks about you and write it down. Ask Him what he is thinking right this moment. I think it will amaze us to know His thoughts about us. They are "precious" to us because they mean so much to us! So why not spend more time thinking about what He thinks about us instead of thinking about what He wants us to do?
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
What is God thinking? More specifically, what is He thinking about you? When He looks at you, what does He think? Have you ever asked Him that? Have you stopped to listen to what He says? Do you want to know?
Wouldn't it be an amazing thing to take a pen and pad of paper and your Bible, and just sit down and think about what God says about you. Better than that is to ASK God what He thinks about you and write it down. Ask Him what he is thinking right this moment. I think it will amaze us to know His thoughts about us. They are "precious" to us because they mean so much to us! So why not spend more time thinking about what He thinks about us instead of thinking about what He wants us to do?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
April 21
Deuteronomy 5:29 (NIV)
29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)
33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Sometimes when we think about God and sin, we think that He doesn’t want us to sin because He is holy and just can’t stand it and will judge everyone harshly if they sin. Why does God judge? Because He can’t stand sin – He is holy. While it is VERY true that He is holy and He will judge, these verses illuminate the heart of God.
It is the heart of God that is crushed because of sin because sin crushes us! Reread the verses – can you see it? Can you hear it? The heart of God is SO for us and He is extremely desirous for us to prosper and live a great life! This life, in this world will not be without trial, trouble, hardship or suffering, yet it is God’s plan that things would go well for us, for us to live prosperously and for us to live a long life on this earth AND that we would LIVE in the inheritance that God has brought to us! It is sin that keeps us from attaining all that God has given us. It is sin that keeps us from prosperity in every area of life. (Don’t just think money). That is why God hates sin – because it ruins the objects of His love and desire – us! He hates sin because it thwarts His plan for our lives!
29 Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Deuteronomy 5:33 (NIV)
33 Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.
Sometimes when we think about God and sin, we think that He doesn’t want us to sin because He is holy and just can’t stand it and will judge everyone harshly if they sin. Why does God judge? Because He can’t stand sin – He is holy. While it is VERY true that He is holy and He will judge, these verses illuminate the heart of God.
It is the heart of God that is crushed because of sin because sin crushes us! Reread the verses – can you see it? Can you hear it? The heart of God is SO for us and He is extremely desirous for us to prosper and live a great life! This life, in this world will not be without trial, trouble, hardship or suffering, yet it is God’s plan that things would go well for us, for us to live prosperously and for us to live a long life on this earth AND that we would LIVE in the inheritance that God has brought to us! It is sin that keeps us from attaining all that God has given us. It is sin that keeps us from prosperity in every area of life. (Don’t just think money). That is why God hates sin – because it ruins the objects of His love and desire – us! He hates sin because it thwarts His plan for our lives!
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
April 20
2 Corinthians 5:2 (NIV)
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
It seems to me that most of the groaning in this life, at least in the west, is more about how our life is and how we want the newer, bigger, nicer… and don’t have it. That doesn’t mean we can’t want the new ___________ (fill in the blank), but if we are groaning because we don’t have it, aren’t we a little crazy – ahhh… I mean, out of perspective? Maybe there is more groaning about the things we have to do like go to work or eat right or studying, I don’t know. Ok, so my groaning has to do with the stress in my life, (most self induced) and that is exactly what Paul is talking about. Not the self induced stress that we have because we don’t know how to live simply, but the groaning or sighing that is produced by the stress of this life. Our problem is that we want to be stress free, not groaning anymore by going to Jamaica on vacation (I highly recommend it) or by winning the lotto (being rich), or having the newest whatever that will help streamline our lives – bleaackkkk!
All the stress in life, the physical maladies, the corruption all around us should be producing is our LONGING for heaven. We DO long for heaven. We long for the time that our mortality is swallowed up by life! It’s just that we have all of this “stuff” thrown at us that we forget what citizenship we truly have. Our joy isn’t in a Mediterranean cruise vacation, (although that would be nice), it is in our complete redemption! Until then, we have His manifest presence that we can enjoy. In fact, maybe if we (especially I) got in the very Presence of God more often and stayed longer, I would care less about escaping to Jamaica and long to be clothed with immortality in His face to face Presence.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
It seems to me that most of the groaning in this life, at least in the west, is more about how our life is and how we want the newer, bigger, nicer… and don’t have it. That doesn’t mean we can’t want the new ___________ (fill in the blank), but if we are groaning because we don’t have it, aren’t we a little crazy – ahhh… I mean, out of perspective? Maybe there is more groaning about the things we have to do like go to work or eat right or studying, I don’t know. Ok, so my groaning has to do with the stress in my life, (most self induced) and that is exactly what Paul is talking about. Not the self induced stress that we have because we don’t know how to live simply, but the groaning or sighing that is produced by the stress of this life. Our problem is that we want to be stress free, not groaning anymore by going to Jamaica on vacation (I highly recommend it) or by winning the lotto (being rich), or having the newest whatever that will help streamline our lives – bleaackkkk!
All the stress in life, the physical maladies, the corruption all around us should be producing is our LONGING for heaven. We DO long for heaven. We long for the time that our mortality is swallowed up by life! It’s just that we have all of this “stuff” thrown at us that we forget what citizenship we truly have. Our joy isn’t in a Mediterranean cruise vacation, (although that would be nice), it is in our complete redemption! Until then, we have His manifest presence that we can enjoy. In fact, maybe if we (especially I) got in the very Presence of God more often and stayed longer, I would care less about escaping to Jamaica and long to be clothed with immortality in His face to face Presence.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
April 19
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
18 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.
We clearly see here the emphasis on the eternal. We are to look towards eternity and live for eternity, in fact Paul says that we should die to our lives (self will) so we can live for eternity and live eternally. It should be obvious by this chapter and also many other places that we must live with an eternal perspective in order to persevere the difficulties of this life. Eternity, that which God put in our heart, is our longing and if we will let ourselves, our minds, our hearts go there, we will live with a passion and perspective that few others have.
I also see in this verse that something not so obvious is being said. We need to fix (to look unto, giving ones attention to, to dwell on) on that which is unseen. In the Greek it actually says, “not looking carefully at what you can see, but what you can’t see…” Isn’t that interesting? The emphasis is not looking at what you see! Our attention, or what we are supposed to be looking at is what we can’t see. That seems like a paradox except that we CAN see it! Jesus said it clearly that there are eyes that can’t see and there are eyes that can see. Paul prayed that the eyes of our heart would be opened so we could “see” or understand our inheritance. May God give us eyes to see beyond what can be seen.
18 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.
We clearly see here the emphasis on the eternal. We are to look towards eternity and live for eternity, in fact Paul says that we should die to our lives (self will) so we can live for eternity and live eternally. It should be obvious by this chapter and also many other places that we must live with an eternal perspective in order to persevere the difficulties of this life. Eternity, that which God put in our heart, is our longing and if we will let ourselves, our minds, our hearts go there, we will live with a passion and perspective that few others have.
I also see in this verse that something not so obvious is being said. We need to fix (to look unto, giving ones attention to, to dwell on) on that which is unseen. In the Greek it actually says, “not looking carefully at what you can see, but what you can’t see…” Isn’t that interesting? The emphasis is not looking at what you see! Our attention, or what we are supposed to be looking at is what we can’t see. That seems like a paradox except that we CAN see it! Jesus said it clearly that there are eyes that can’t see and there are eyes that can see. Paul prayed that the eyes of our heart would be opened so we could “see” or understand our inheritance. May God give us eyes to see beyond what can be seen.
Monday, April 18, 2011
April 18
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Our competence comes from God! Our adequacy comes from Jesus Christ my Savior and King. Are you getting this? Quit trying to find adequacy in how you look, whether you shape or your clothes or hair or whatever, stop trying to find yourself in how well you perform this or that or how much money you have or what kind of car you drive or who you have as friends – your adequacy comes from God! Here is the trick, this word competence or adequacy connotes that you have a ministry that he makes you competent to perform and complete. If you don’t have any ministry, job, task from God, then you will never feel adequate! You have got to move out and use your gifts and talents and then you sense of adequacy will come. Praise God for this great word!
As it says further In this chapter;
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
We are being changed! Believe it! You aren’t the same person you used to be! You are not looking to all those material and worldly things to gain your place in life or to find your adequacy, you are being changed into the likeness of Christ! Yea! That is so awesome – let it sink it! HE is able to do it, count Him faithful. You will have no idea of all the great things God will do to you and through you if you don’t step out and risk being inadequate – which is impossible in Christ. Step out – He is your adequacy!
5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Our competence comes from God! Our adequacy comes from Jesus Christ my Savior and King. Are you getting this? Quit trying to find adequacy in how you look, whether you shape or your clothes or hair or whatever, stop trying to find yourself in how well you perform this or that or how much money you have or what kind of car you drive or who you have as friends – your adequacy comes from God! Here is the trick, this word competence or adequacy connotes that you have a ministry that he makes you competent to perform and complete. If you don’t have any ministry, job, task from God, then you will never feel adequate! You have got to move out and use your gifts and talents and then you sense of adequacy will come. Praise God for this great word!
As it says further In this chapter;
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
We are being changed! Believe it! You aren’t the same person you used to be! You are not looking to all those material and worldly things to gain your place in life or to find your adequacy, you are being changed into the likeness of Christ! Yea! That is so awesome – let it sink it! HE is able to do it, count Him faithful. You will have no idea of all the great things God will do to you and through you if you don’t step out and risk being inadequate – which is impossible in Christ. Step out – He is your adequacy!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
April 17
2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NIV)
10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
It was most likely the man mentioned in 1 Cor. 5 that Paul is talking about, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that Paul is calling for the church, who did the right thing, to restore this brother, which is what the whole point of anyway. It is interesting that he is talking about forgiveness and then he mentions " in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Think about it.
Forgiveness or the lack thereof, the lack of restoration of relationship has something to do with the schemes of the devil. I won't belabor this point, but will say - are we aware that he wants to divide people? He wants us to stay mad, to hold a grudge, to not forgive another? More than that, satan wants us to think ill of others! We say, "sure, I know that", but do we? If we aren't working towards reconciliation, restoration, continued forgiveness, we are being outwitted! Not just outwitted, but the word means to be exploited or to be taken advantage of. Do you like to be exploited? Do you want that on your gravestone - Here lies _________ she/he was exploited and taken advantage of by satan? No?! Then love everyone like Christ loves you. (I think we stand in His forgiveness.)
10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,
11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
It was most likely the man mentioned in 1 Cor. 5 that Paul is talking about, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that Paul is calling for the church, who did the right thing, to restore this brother, which is what the whole point of anyway. It is interesting that he is talking about forgiveness and then he mentions " in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." Think about it.
Forgiveness or the lack thereof, the lack of restoration of relationship has something to do with the schemes of the devil. I won't belabor this point, but will say - are we aware that he wants to divide people? He wants us to stay mad, to hold a grudge, to not forgive another? More than that, satan wants us to think ill of others! We say, "sure, I know that", but do we? If we aren't working towards reconciliation, restoration, continued forgiveness, we are being outwitted! Not just outwitted, but the word means to be exploited or to be taken advantage of. Do you like to be exploited? Do you want that on your gravestone - Here lies _________ she/he was exploited and taken advantage of by satan? No?! Then love everyone like Christ loves you. (I think we stand in His forgiveness.)
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