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Are you taught by God?

As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
John 6:45 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.6.45.NLT

This is refering to the book of Isaiah telling what to expect in the coming Kingdom of God that would be ushered in by the Messiah:

I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
Isaiah 54:13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.54.13.NLT

In the book of Matthew,  Jesus warns us to call no one c teacher,  because He is to be our only teacher:

And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.
Matthew 23:10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.23.10.NLT

In the book of, John,  Jesus tells us about the Spirit of Truth that is to come

John 16:13 ESV
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

And Jesus clarifies further when, He describes the gift of the Holy Spirit that we who are followers of Christ receive:

John 14:26 ESV
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

You see, He doesn’t tell us to seek out a great, charismatic preacher or teacher and dedicate ourselves to them. No, in fact He warns us about putting our trust in them and says that we should trust only in Him:

Psalm 118:8 ESV
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.

Jeremiah 17:5 ESV
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.

And this is because men aren’t meant to be as much teacher as messenger, sharing the Word of God and what they to learn from the Holy Spirit’s guidance in their own lives. But since you cannot easily confirm the source of anything they claim to be “from God”, we must test it against what we know is from God.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.
Acts of the Apostles 17:11-12 NLT
http://bible.com/116/act.17.11-12.NLT

We aren’t supposed to blindly follow what a religious leader tells us, this can be very dangerous with the false teachers who are like wolves amongst the sheep. We aren’t just supposed to read the Bible as a self help guide to try to figure it out for ourselves either. We are to be taught by God.

So how do I start being “taught by God”? First, you must surrender your heart to Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Salvation is not just a water baptism, but being reborn as a new creation with Christ living inside you. It isn’t signing up for a religion, and it isn’t buying your get out of hell free card with a one time prayer. It is deciding to do this life,  hand in hand with Christ who loves you,  forgives,  you,  and wants to teach you and change you moment by moment,  day by day, to be more like Him.

Then, you must be willing to seek His wisdom and to listen, and to examine and test what you hear against the truth of the Word of God. Yes, this requires accepting that the Word of God is Truth. It takes accepting that God knows better than you what is good and acceptable for your life. It takes seeking not only what is acceptable,  but what is holy and will bring God glory and honor. It takes putting God’s will first as the center of your life.

Then you must be willing to repent and put it into action. This isn’t a mind game, learning it in our heads but not applying it in our lives – that is empty religious practice and sacrifice. God desires the change in our hearts that results in a changed life, a changed perspective,  a humbling to remain teachable at the feet of the master.

Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Matthew 9:13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.9.13.NLT

We aren’t to practice traditions of men and man made ideas as commandments from God. If you are participating in a church that tell you that you must follow their traditions, or that you must be taught by their leader, or that God recognizes them differently than He recognizes you, test them against the Word of God,  find them false,  and abandon these dens of deceit where they feed off of the lambs like wolves,  or like hirelings who kill the sheep to fatten their own bellies,  instead of sacrificing for, and suffering for, and feeding and providing for the sheep as Christ gave the example of the Good Shepherd.

Jesus replied, “And why do you, by your traditions, violate the direct commandments of God? And so you cancel the word of God for the sake of your own tradition.  You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ ”
Matthew 15:3, 6-9 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.15.3-9.NLT

I encourage you, friend. Examine where you are receiving your teaching. Examine who you have laid your trust upon. Is it a man? Or are you being taught by God?

Get it from the source. Examine and test it against the Word of God.

I pray that we can all continue to stay out of the way and simply be the messengers receiving and then delivering the Word of God as humble and faithful servants – not teachers who thinks themselves yet wise or righteous or completed works. I too need to remain teachable, and listening, and growing.

hballingerLeave a comment

What is God’s will?

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.
John 6:37-38 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.6.37-38.NLT

I am His. I know this because He draws me near to Him. I can trust that He will not forsake me. And He gave me the example to follow – to do God’s will and not my own.

So the next logical question is,  what is God’s will?

Continue reading “What is God’s will?” →

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Guilt or Conviction?

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.
1 John 3:21-22 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1jn.3.21-22.NLT

I’m learning that guilt is a corruption of conviction and a trap of the enemy. Yes,  I’ve known this intellectually,  but I’m beginning to understand it in my heart. You see, guilt is dwelling on past things that we cannot change, just like anxiety is dwelling on the future that we cannot yet affect. Guilt and shame paralyze us and bring no honor or glory to God. They are perversions of God’s wonderful gift of conviction.

But conviction is one of those amazing gifts and blessings from God. Conviction identifies those dangerous and poisonous things in our lives so that we can:

1) Ask forgiveness for past shortcomings
2) Accept Christ’s atoning blood that washes away our sins
3) Ask for deliverance and guidance as we repent and resist temptation
4) Believe. Know that He will overcome.
5) Trust Him to prove himself faithful and true, even when in His time and not ours
6) Rest in the peace of our faithfulness,  remembering the price He paid, and the value and purpose of our life as part of His Kingdom

Conviction is an opportunity for transformation now,  in our hearts. It moves us forward,  it presses us on toward our goal. Conviction leads to prayer,  to communication and a drawing into the presence of God in that humble position before God that allows us to worship God and receive His grace and mercy fresh and new.

And His grace poured out upon these old bones, as our hearts cry out to Him,  “Great are you,  Lord!” What a blessing is this conviction that leads us to praise our Lord and rely upon Him as our comforter,  as our protector, as our Savior,  and as our Lord.

So I encourage you,  friend,  do not run from conviction – for it is the light that shines down and offers us the blessing of His touch. Do not fear the light revealing your imperfections, because His refining fires will burn away the imperfections,  His blood will wash over the wounds and heal and restore you. Stand with confidence in His presence,  friend. Not because you are worthy or proud, but because He is worthy and His promises are true,  and He will forgive you. He will restore you. He will redeem you and deliver you.

Let Him make you brave, friend. Know that He is for you and not against you,  friend. Even as the waves crash against us, He is our rock and our foundation,  and He will not be overcome.

Receive everything that you need to walk in the path that He has set before you. Walk in His will and see the enemy conquered and defeated and see His hand upon the lives around you as you learn to love and serve, as you grow to be more like your teacher,  as you accept the imprint of Christ who lives in you upon your life choices and actions.

Live,  bride of Christ. Arise to meet your Love in the heavens. Come,  Lord Jesus,  come. Rescue us into your presence. Release us from our waiting,  from our yearning for your face, deliver us together as one into your eyeball courts,  to sing your praises eternal.

We are no longer lost,  we are no longer blind,  we can see the love in your example,  Lord – in your grace you are revealed to us,  and we are humbled at your feet. Amazing grace,  that saved a wretch like me – so sweet a sound, to be found in your arms, even a prodigal like me. Your mercies reach so deep into the darkness to rescue even me,  Lord. Even me.

Even me.

Even you,  friend.

hballingerLeave a comment

Drawing a Map, Leaving Bread Crumbs

There is a hell, and there is a heaven,  and what you do matters. (Read Matthew chapter 25, paying attention to verse 46)

You still have time. (Read Isaiah 55, paying attention to verses 6-13)

Jesus is the only way.  (Read John chapter 14, paying attention to verse 6 and verses 12-14)

There is a difference between knowing the words of the Bible and knowing the Word of God. (Read 2 Corinthians chapter 3, paying attention to verse 6)

There is a difference between repeating what you have heard from others who claim wisdom, and sharing what you are being taught by the source of all wisdom. (Read Matthew chapter 23, paying attention to verse 10)

There is a difference between pursuing theology and religion in your mind and words,  and pursuing Christ in your life and actions. (Read James chapter 1, paying attention to verses 22 and 23)

I will not always be with you, my friends. And some of you may want to follow to my destination,  while others may not. I only leave crumbs so that you might follow the path of Christ that I seek, not trusting my dim eyes that may lead you astray,  but hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit urging the way, given to me by my Lord, Jesus Christ – whose guidance I continue to confirm by the written Word of God. 

But look past my slow progress and my stumblings, friend. Do not slow your race because of me, but set your eyes upon Christ and run to Him with every fiber of the strength you have left. And pray that we will find each other faithfully in His presence at the end of our long journey.

God bless you, traveler. May the light of Christ illuminate your path,  and may the darkness flee before you. It has no authority or dominion over you any longer, Child of God. And may the light of your walk be visible and apparent and desired by all those still in darkness that you pass. May you offer them living water to drink,  and the bread of life to eat,  and may they know the healing and deliverance found in the power of Christ who lives in you. May the darkness be rolled away before you and the way made clear for the footsteps the Lord has established for you.

hballingerLeave a comment

Song of Moses,

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
 
May my teaching drop as the rain,
my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
and like showers upon the herb. 
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord ; ascribe greatness to our God! 

“The Rock, his work is perfect,
for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
just and upright is he. 

They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation. 

Do you thus repay the Lord ,
you foolish and senseless people?
Is not he your father, who created you,
who made you and established you? 

Remember the days of old;
consider the years of many generations;
ask your father, and he will show you,
your elders, and they will tell you. 
When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance,
when he divided mankind,
he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. 
But the Lord ’s portion is his people,
Jacob his allotted heritage. 

“He found him in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye. 

Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
that flutters over its young,
spreading out its wings,
catching them,
bearing them on its pinions, 
the Lord alone guided him,
no foreign god was with him. 
He made him ride on the high places of the land,
and he ate the produce of the field,
and he suckled him with honey out of the rock,
and oil out of the flinty rock. 
Curds from the herd,
and milk from the flock,
with fat of lambs, rams of Bashan and goats,
with the very finest of the wheat—
and you drank foaming wine made from the blood of the grape. 

“But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked;
you grew fat, stout, and sleek;
then he forsook God who made him
and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation. 
They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods;
with abominations they provoked him to anger. 
They sacrificed to demons that were no gods,
to gods they had never known,
to new gods that had come recently,
whom your fathers had never dreaded. 
You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you,
and you forgot the God who gave you birth. 

“The Lord saw it and spurned them,
because of the provocation of his sons and his daughters. 
And he said,
‘I will hide my face from them;
I will see what their end will be,
for they are a perverse generation,
children in whom is no faithfulness. 
They have made me jealous with what is no god;
they have provoked me to anger with their idols.
So I will make them jealous with those who are no people;
I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. 
For a fire is kindled by my anger,
and it burns to the depths of Sheol,
devours the earth and its increase,
and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. 

“‘And I will heap disasters upon them;
I will spend my arrows on them; 
they shall be wasted with hunger,
and devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence;
I will send the teeth of beasts against them,
with the venom of things that crawl in the dust. 
Outdoors the sword shall bereave,
and indoors terror,
for young man and woman alike,
the nursing child with the man of gray hairs. 

I would have said,
“I will cut them to pieces;
I will wipe them from human memory,” 
had I not feared provocation by the enemy,
lest their adversaries should misunderstand,
lest they should say,
“Our hand is triumphant,
it was not the Lord who did all this.”’ 

“For they are a nation void of counsel,
and there is no understanding in them. 
If they were wise, they would understand this;
they would discern their latter end! 
How could one have chased a thousand,
and two have put ten thousand to flight,
unless their Rock had sold them,
and the Lord had given them up? 
For their rock is not as our Rock;
our enemies are by themselves. 
For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah;
their grapes are grapes of poison;
their clusters are bitter; 
their wine is the poison of serpents
and the cruel venom of asps. 

“‘Is not this laid up in store with me,
sealed up in my treasuries? 
Vengeance is mine, and recompense,
for the time when their foot shall slip;
for the day of their calamity is at hand,
and their doom comes swiftly.’ 

For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants,
when he sees that their power is gone
and there is none remaining,
bond or free. 

Then he will say, ‘Where are their gods,
the rock in which they took refuge, 
who ate the fat of their sacrifices
and drank the wine of their drink offering?
Let them rise up and help you;
let them be your protection! 

“‘See now that I, even I, am he,
and there is no god beside me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. 
For I lift up my hand to heaven and swear, As I live forever, 
if I sharpen my flashing sword and my hand takes hold on judgment,
I will take vengeance on my adversaries
and will repay those who hate me. 
I will make my arrows drunk with blood,
and my sword shall devour flesh—
with the blood of the slain and the captives,
from the long-haired heads of the enemy.’ 

“Rejoice with him, O heavens;
bow down to him, all gods,
for he avenges the blood of his children
and takes vengeance on his adversaries.
He repays those who hate him
and cleanses his people’s land.”
Deuteronomy 32:1-43 ESV
http://bible.com/59/deu.32.1-43.ESV

hballingerLeave a comment

The truth is freeing

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.8.32.NLT

The beginning of the book of John explains that Jesus Christ is the living Word of God, that He came in the flesh as both man and God to free us from the consequences of our sin and to teach us to live a life that brings glory and honor to God.

Continue reading “The truth is freeing” →

hballingerLeave a comment

Who shall not Inherit?

I’ve heard the argument by many saying things like, “but that’s Old Testament, I’m not under the Old Testament law, I’ve accepted Christ as my Savior”.

Let’s do a little reading tonight from the…

New Testament

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Revelation 22:14-15 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rev.22.14-15.ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1co.6.9-11.ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gal.5.19-21.ESV

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Ephesians 5:3-6, 8-12 ESV
http://bible.com/59/eph.5.3-12.ESV

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:8-10 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1ti.1.8-10.ESV

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Hebrews 12:14-17 ESV
http://bible.com/59/heb.12.14-17.ESV

I have to ask,  friend –

Do you believe the Word of God?

Or are these wolves in sheep’s clothes,  eager to tickle the ears and separate people from their purse more attractive than the truth of the Word of God?

Is it surprising that the stance of the world would be to deny Him today, even as He was denied when He walked among us in the flesh as Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for your salvation, your forgiveness,  your reconciliation.

Do not delay, friend.

I’d rather sound the trumpet with a warning that some may find to be distasteful news, rather than only be peaceable as the prisoners continue to be led to the slaughter.

Belief involves repentance. Grace is not a ticket to continue in sin. Sin is not up for redefinition by the sinful. The narrow gate is not made broader by false teaching.

hballingerLeave a comment

His Touch

For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
John 4:24 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.4.24.NLT

There is an important difference between ritual and worship, between religious practice and communing with God, between learning about God and getting to know God personally.

If someone hasn’t been called by God, surrendered their life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit – they can participate in religious practice and ceremony, and they can even gain knowledge about the laws of God and see benefit from the divine instruction of His Word, but they are not yet entering into worship – they have not yet uncovered Truth – because they are only examining with their minds, not yet growing in their hearts from the touch of Christ living in them.

Continue reading “His Touch” →

hballingerLeave a comment

Father, forgive us

We as a society encourage panhandling and begging with our attitude of handing out money instead of getting involved personally with helping one another. Many of us would rather not have to worry with the messiness of helping, we would rather write a check to a church or charity for tax write off so we can hold up the receipt and say “I did my part” when the conviction comes knocking at our heart (or maybe our hearts are hardened past hearing any conviction at all).

It’s sad, but people like the drug addicted sinners panhandling on corners are exactly the type of broken people at the “bottom” of the chain of society who need to put some in check who are at the “bottom” when it comes to having hearts of mercy, love and forgiveness.

We overlook the needs of the oppressed and hurting – or put them on public display for their faults and shortcomings – contrasting the ugliness of their lives against our picket fences and grand, beautiful houses, bought with the mammon that we pile up and cling to – while our brothers and sisters suffer in the consequences of their circumstances, and yes, of their life choices.

Continue reading “Father, forgive us” →

hballingerLeave a comment

How much time do we have?

this message came to me from the Lord :
“Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? Tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the Lord , will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves. I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.’
“Therefore, tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent and turn away from your idols, and stop all your detestable sins. I, the Lord , will answer all those, both Israelites and foreigners, who reject me and set up idols in their hearts and so fall into sin, and who then come to a prophet asking for my advice. I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord .
Ezekiel 14:2-8 NLT
http://bible.com/116/ezk.14.2-8.NLT

Continue reading “How much time do we have?” →