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Seeking evidence or having faith

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
John 20:29 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.20.29.NLT

Do we believe without seeing proof?

Matthew 16:4
Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away.

Are we seeking after miraculous signs and wonders and the demonstrated physical evidence of measurable results?

Revelation 16:14 ESV
For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.

Do we realize that signs and wonders are not necessity evidence of true prophets or of teachers of truth?

Matthew 24:24 ESV
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Shouldn’t we examine the fruit as signs of the motives of those practicing signs and wonders to see if they are living lawlessly, being aware of any evidence that their activity is of Satan?

2 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

Can’t we see that seeking the supernatural isn’t necessarily seeking the will of the one true God?

Can’t we see that seeking spiritual things isn’t necessarily seeking a restored relationship with the one true God?

Unity within the body of believers and avoiding the foolish controversies over the traditions and dogma of men is good,  but there is no unity between light and darkness,  there is no unity between truth and lies.

A “Christian” that is not at war against sin, darkness and the evil principalities of this world – can they make their claims by name alone?

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.  You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.  A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.  So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.  Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.  On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’  But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Matthew 7:15-23 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.7.15-23.NLT

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I can have my hearts desire

I can have my heart’s desire.

I wonder if that is as much of a warning as it should be, or if people glance over it as being a Hallmark greeting card, a promise for prosperity.

I wonder what percentage of most church goers’ budgets go to tithing, helping the needy, supporting orphans and widows. I wonder what percentage of their time is dedicated to loving God and loving others,  remembering Christ, surrendering their will to be a living sacrifice to honor the Lord?

I wonder what percentage of most organized religions budgets actually go to help the needy,  the addicted, the widows and the orphans who have no money to offer in return for the services provided? Compared to how much money is spent to provide services and benefits and comfort to those who will bring in more money.

How often do I examine my expenses to see what it tells me about my priorities?

How often do I examine the use of my time to see what it tells me about my priorities?

Is God clearly a priority or just an after thought?

Don’t my priorities truly reflect my heart’s desire?

If I am trusting an organization with the Lord’s money, what does their budget say about their priorities?

Do these priorities line up with the biblical call placed upon bodies of Christ followers serving as His Kingdom come on earth, as the body of Christ alive and at work reconciling this world to Christ?

Are they preferential towards those that can benefit them or are they open handed to the poor who have no material benefits to offer them?

Are they building up cults of personality following a charismatic teacher, there for the show,  just to have them all turn away when they encounter the cost of Discipleship,  a dedicated,  life-long commitment to becoming more like Christ?

“One who is  faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.  If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?  And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Luke 16:10-13 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.16.10-13.ESV

Are we proving ourselves trustworthy with the resources entrusted to us by God, and are we using them to His glory and honor?

Are we trusting our eternally valuable souls to those whom we can’t even trust to make proper use of money?

We are to be like Christ.

1 John 2:6 ESV
Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Christ is perfect. We are to be reconciled to Christ,  glory upon glory,  becoming more like Christ. Striving for perfection, walking His walk.

John 13:13-17
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Galatians 3:27 ESV
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Romans 8:29 ESV
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Is it our heart’s desire to be more like Christ? Do we desire Him most of all?

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.22.36-40.NLT

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Reflecting on our life. Today? Tomorrow?

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
2 Corinthians 3:18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.3.18.NLT

Usually when people talk about “reflecting on their lives” it is about the past. But God tells us about a type of reflecting on our lives that is for today and for our future. It is the reflecting of His glory in our lives.

It is the outpouring of His very Spirit and nature into our lives, as we become more and more like Him. And it is a process – not that we are yet perfected, but that is our aim and our goal – to become more and more like Christ each day.

May you be unveiled to the Truth and the Hope that is found in Christ Jesus, God comein the flesh, to die on the cross, as a sacrifice to bring you back into communion with the Lord, God Almighty, the Holy Spirit. May your life today reflect even more of His glory than it did yesterday. And may you continue to grow and be changed into His glorious image. Amen.

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Follow our example

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
Philippians 3:17 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.17.NLT

Will others around you look more like Christ by imitating you, by following in the footsteps of your life?

This question might either humble you by the lack of Christ’s power in your daily walk – or it might humble you in fear that you might judge others by considering more of yourself than you really are. However, if it immediately instills confidence in you about your spiritual state in comparison to others, I hope that there is a measure of humility paired with that boldness or you might be in pride, friend. This is the self examination that this verse leads me to initially.

To understand why I say that, it’s important to look at the surrounding verses, not just use cookie cutter verses to support our own opinions and desires and agendas. Even the devil tried to twist single verses of scripture to justify following His own purposes:

and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ”
Matthew 4:6-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.4.6-7.NLT

You see, the whole of scripture is where truth is found,  because the Word of God is truth. We are told to use the Word of God to test all spirits,  to examine all thoughts, tovtake them captive and to guard or hearts. The one truth, the one way,  the one life – found in Jesus Christ – is the life that is not in conflict with even a single verse of the Scripture.  And that is the example that we are to press in to follow. We might not yet be perfected,  but that is our aim and our goal.

When taking Paul’s bold statement of “follow our example” within the context of Paul’s message, we can understand that it is part of a message that is both humble and bold. You see,  Paul has just acknowledged that he doesn’t value his own efforts and that he doesn’t claim to have yet reached his goal,  but that he is striving and pressing on towards it. And it is this attitude of desperate pursuit of the Lord, it is this attitude of following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ that he is encouraging us to imitate. He is not saying “measure yourselves by my stack of evidence”, he is saying “measure yourself by Christ’s example, find yourself not yet a completed work,  and keep drawing closer to the Lord’s will until you are fully reconciled to be like your teacher” – because that is what I am doing.

Just before Paul’s statement encouraging them to follow his example,  Paul says:

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Philippians 3:8-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.8-14.NLT

He isn’t speaking from a place of pride in himself. He is talking from a place of awe and wonder over this example laid out for us in Christ Jesus, God come in the flesh to bring light to a world of darkness.  He is talking from a place of faith where he sees the power of Christ changing his own life to be more Christ-like as he follows in His footsteps. He is testifying that He is a new creation in Christ. And he knows this because of the change in his life, because he is no longer participating in lawlessness,  he is no longer a slave to sin, He is a believer, follower, friend, and lover of God. And this has a marked effect on a life. The Holy Spirit is one of power,  love and self-control – which is quite different from the ways of the flesh and sin.

May your life be surrendered to the will and purpose of God, and to following in His footsteps, and to being and example and not a stumbling block to others – may you be the imperfect but striving church, alive and growing – so that you can say “follow our example”. Amen.

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My 5 year old, “Money makes your hands stink”

My daughter’s devotional verse this morning was from:

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls.  When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!
Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.13.44-46.NLT

Her immediate response was,  “Money makes your hands stink. It makes your hands stink like money.”

And isn’t there such a deep truth in that statement?

And the longer that I hold it in my hand,  doesn’t the smell of it,  the stench of it rub off on me?

This reminded me of :

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

So we should ask ourselves,  what is master over my life? What am I clinging to the hardest? 

What do I truly desire most in my heart?

I also see the parallel in understanding that we will become more and more like whatever is matter over us, like whatever is teaching and guiding us along our path.

Luke 6:40
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

What does my life “smell like”?

Doesn’t the “smell” of my life over time give off a clear indication of my master,  of my heart, of my underlying desires?

And this question of desire is important, because the Lord has given us a promise:

Psalm 20:4
May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!

I just wonder –

How many are there whose heart’s true desires are the very things that will send them to destruction?

Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

What do I want my life to “smell like”?

God tells us what He “smells like”:

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.22-23.NLT

May your life be so anointed with the presence of your master that His smell,  His scent is clearly recognizable – both to you and to others around you. And if you discover that you are serving the wrong master,  may you find Hope, Faith and Love in finding the narrow gate that is open to you through Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior and choosing to walk the narrow path of following in His footsteps. Amen.

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What happened when I stopped calling myself a Christian

I’m sharing this, because a shift in perspective happened when I stopped calling myself a Christian – and became a student and follower of Jesus Christ. I moved from a concept of religion and tradition – into an alive relationship with the one true, living God.

So I’ll ask you to consider:

Are we most comfortable hearing a sermon from someone, based on a sermon they heard from someone else, based off of a sermon they heard from someone else, based off of theological teachings that they learned from someone else, based off of theological evidence that they gleaned from scripture?

Are we most satisfied with a God that is far away from our reach and away from touching and impacting our lives?

Is this the closest that we are comfortable getting to the one true teacher?

Matthew 23:8-12
But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

HE is your teacher.

HE is your instructor.

HE is your Father.

And yes, He will send messages through others until you are ready to come close to him yourself. And He will continue to do so even once you are His.

But –

We don’t remain satisfied far from God, looking to others to trade us some of their religion and tradition in return for a purse full of your silver and gold. The things passed down from man to man are not all that He has for us, friend. He has blessings for our lives, and I’m not talking about Properity Gospel, I’m talking about the Eternal Good News of Jesus Christ risen to life.

God isn’t just interested in you hearing ABOUT Him from someone else. He isn’t just interested in you hearing about GOOD and EVIL and understanding the difference. He isn’t just interested in bringing to light those things in your life that are IMPERFECT.

He wants to come into your life and be a part of your life. He wants to be close and accessible and intimately involved in your life. We don’t have to remain satisfied with a far away God that only speaks to us through some far away, distant man in a pulpit or screen. And the blessings poured out are far better than that house, car, paycheck, job, party, mate, or pleasure that has caught your eyes. And He doesn’t say that you will go without those things, unless you decide that you cannot go without them. But a close and accessible God is much better than a far away genie. So let’s don’t decide to only talk to Him when we are in trouble or want something – but let’s don’t hesitate asking Him in those times as well.

Do not misunderstand. This is an encouragement to not be content with where you we with Him today. Today doesn’t have to remain the closest that we are willing to get.

This is not a slam against those who are true messengers of His Word. The only ones this should anger are those trying to lord over others and those who have no interest in His will being done. I don’t bring this as a raised sword in a clinched fist, but as an open hand offering bread. If you do not want to eat the bread, I will not strike you down in condemnation and judgement.

There are many that know ABOUT Him that will go to destruction.

There are many that know about HIS WAYS that will go to destruction.

There are many that do MIGHTY WORKS that will go to destruction.

Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

So you see, this question of where we are with Him matters. Are we calling ourselves Christians, learning about Him, learning about His ways, doing mighty works in His name but we don’t know Him as closely and personally as we should?

Will anyone be so proud as to say that they don’t need to draw even closer to Him personally?

Will anyone foolishly say that His work is completed in them and that they don’t need to grow?

So what do we do?

We seek Him, find Him, love Him, and serve Him – remaining in a relationship with Him. If we wish that He would draw us near and know us, should’t we draw near to Him?

Matthew 7:7-14
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

We will each be an example and demonstration of His power – either an example of His grace and mercy, or an example of His power and wrath. This is not my judgement, this is His truth – and I have confidence that this is Good News for our lives and for our eternal destination. Let’s find confidence and assurance that are pressing on toward the finish to one day see ourselves as the few.

 

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Two sets of eyes and ears?

We are reading Billy Graham’s “Hope for Each Day” as our daily devotional,  and today’s verse was quoted as:

“They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. –
Ezekiel 12:2 NIV”

And this opened a wonderful discussion between my wife and I about spiritual seeing and hearing versus physical and the hand of God on our lives,  etc.

It reminded us also of:

“But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. – 2 Corinthians 3:14”

and

“even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:17”

It reminded me of that time in my life when I could not hear His voice – or truth be told,  I want interested in listening to His voice,  so I did not hear it.  It reminded me of that time in my life when I could not discern the spiritual influences affecting my life and the lives of those around me. And I sharpen my sight and hearing so that I can be a good Berean and examine myself and test all spirits against the truth of the Word of God. And as a result of this sharpening, the difference between darkness and light becomes so much more evident. The underlying desires that drive myself and that drive others becomes more evident in the words and actions that either testify for our against us.

And after we wrapped up our family devotional, and after I wrapped up my prayer devotional from Reinder’s “Seeking His Face” prayer devotional, I thought,  this is such a good verse, let me see where it is rooted,  let me examine deeper. I wanted to gain more understanding of the context and background of such a wonderful piece of scripture that made us excited about praising Him and trusting Him and expecting continued growth and commitment to Him in our lives because of the evidence of His healing touch on our lives as He reveals more of Himself to us.

And I opened up Ezekiel in ESV and found:

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 12:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.2.ESV

And at that moment, I read it and asked myself – “Is this even the same verse that we read?” Because it spoke in such a different type of revelation,  not just about me, not just about my family’s growth and our being drawn closer to the Lord – but it spoke of the darkness surrounding us. And I became even more hungry to understand what this part of the book of Ezekiel was sharing,  so I read on:

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”  And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
Ezekiel 12:1-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.1-7.ESV

And I began to understand the importance of accepting that we are dwelling amongst darkness,  amongst many who are blind and deaf to the Word of God, who do not have the spiritual eyes or ears to hear His voice because they do not love Him. They do not seek His desires,  but I trapped by things of this world and the honor of men. They do not truly want to be freed,  they are not ready to be awakened to a life of costly discipleship because it sounds burdensome and they do not believe that the prize is worth a cost – especially if they can get it for free.

And don’t misunderstand me, I do not begrudge anyone who is satisfied with the free gift of grace. I do not begrudge anyone that would hope to barely make it into the gates of heaven,  because that is exactly my attitude and perspective. I would love to sit at His feet praising Him eternally and never leaving His presence, but I’ll have more than I deserve as long as I at least get to be there. I’ll long for the seat at His feet, kissing His feet and washing them with my tears – but just give me a seat at the table, Oh Lord. That seat that is wholly undeserved by the evidence of my life that comes so short of bringing you honor and glory,  Lord – please just save a seat at the table for your servant. I trust in your grace and mercy. I trust that you know my heart and that I am not deceived by the tricks of my own flesh and that enemy of your love.

And it encouraged me that this man of God obeyed as God commanded. It encouraged me that He obeyed openly and transparently, not hiding from the call, and obeying God explicitly, even to the point of covering His face and focusing on his faithfulness, not what God was going to do to this land and people. God had not called him in this instance to be an overseer or a watchman for these rebellious people headed for destruction, he called him to be an example.

So I still wanted to understand more,  so I read on. 

In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God : This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the Lord , when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord .”
Ezekiel 12:8-16 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.8-16.ESV

And this warning of the coming destruction,  of the coming wrath,  of the coming judgement upon these rebellious people who would rather hide their sin like the prince covering his face in shame as he hoped to escape the net of the consequences for his rebellion.

And I understand the shift of perspective. Those in rebellion want to hide their sins from the light because that is what their heart truly desires and they may even be shamed by their rebellion,  but they are not interested in turning to God and obeying him both in the light of day when me can see AND  when others cannot see unless they really examine closely. I know this because I am familiar with those broad paths that I used to walk.

When we are blind to the truth, we want to enjoy the appearance and reputation and benefits of our titles and positions more than we are interested in fulfilling the responsibilities given us. How many times have I, myself, sought a better job or position or title,  focused on the perception of authority, when it was really a commitment to greater responsibilities.

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the Lord .”
Ezekiel 12:17-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.17-20.ESV

And yes, this is a fearful judgement upon the rebellious. Especially when we know that we were once a party to the ways of darkness and that it is only by the grace of God that we were called out into the light. It is only by the power of His Holy Spirit that we now have eyes to see and ears to hear the judgement and destruction of those we once considered friends,  neighbors,  and family. And this isn’t something that we take joy in,  just like the Lord does not delight in the destruction of the wicked. He would rather they believe, lay down their sin,  repent, and come to Him so that He can breath life into their dead bones.

And our natural question then becomes,  when will this come?  Am I safe enough to play in the mud with the pigs for a while longer before I decide to turn back and return to my Father’s house? Is it far away?  Or is it near?

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God : I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord ; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God .”  “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God : None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God .”
Ezekiel 12:22-25, 27-28 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.22-28.ESV

So I believe that it is important that we ask ourselves –

Am I the one called to come out of the darkness of the rebellious ways of the world around me,  to see and hear and obey?

Am I unashamedly and whether visible or unseen by the eyes of men obeying the will of God with the example that my life before the eyes of an all seeing,  all knowing God?

Or will I be found cowering in shame,  hoping to escape the net of his just and righteous judgement when the day comes?

It reminds me of the warnings of Jeremiah before the disaster of Lamentations:

“How Babylon is taken, the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!  The sea has come up on Babylon; she is covered with its tumultuous waves.  Her cities have become a horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one dwells, and through which no son of man passes.  And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer flow to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.  “Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord !  Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler.  “Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the images of Babylon; her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.  Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, shall sing for joy over Babylon, for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north, declares the Lord .  Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.  “You who have escaped from the sword, go, do not stand still! Remember the Lord from far away, and let Jerusalem come into your mind:  ‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; dishonor has covered our face, for foreigners have come into the holy places of the Lord ’s house.’  “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will execute judgment upon her images, and through all her land the wounded shall groan.  Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me against her, declares the Lord .  “A voice! A cry from Babylon! The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!  For the Lord is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,  for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the Lord is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.  I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.  “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.”
Jeremiah 51:41-58 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jer.51.41-58.ESV

And that is about history,  about an example,  about a shadow of what is yet to come. Revelation males it clear what lies ahead.

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;  for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.  Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.  As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’  For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”  And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”  And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.  “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,  “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!  For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?”  And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.  Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!”
Revelation 18:4-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rev.18.4-20.ESV

hballingerLeave a comment

We don’t celebrate until we’re taking off our armor

Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.

In the morning, Lord ,
you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.

The arrogant cannot stand in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
you, Lord , detest.

But I, by your great love,
can come into your house;
in reverence I bow down
toward your holy temple.

Lead me, Lord ,
in your righteousness because of my enemies—
make your way straight before me.

Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;
with their tongues they tell lies.

Declare them guilty, O God!
Let their intrigues be their downfall.
Banish them for their many sins,
for they have rebelled against you.

But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Surely, Lord ,
you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor
as with a shield.
Psalm 5:2-12 NIV
http://bible.com/111/psa.5.2-12.NIV

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.   

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.   

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’   

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:13-29 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.7.13-29.NIV

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:11-14 NIV
http://bible.com/111/rom.13.11-14.NIV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV
http://bible.com/111/eph.6.10-17.NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34 NIV
http://bible.com/111/mat.6.33-34.NIV

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:12-19 NIV
http://bible.com/111/php.3.12-19.NIV

1 Timothy 6:5
These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

Isaiah 8:20
Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

Malachi 3:18
Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also be guided. Let’s stop being arrogant, provoking one another and envying one another.

The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’ ”
1 Kings 20:11 NIV
http://bible.com/111/1ki.20.11.NIV

hballingerLeave a comment

Confirmed? Transformed?

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.12.2.ESV

This verse does not need to be a condemnation, a judgemental statement speaking against us,  convicting us – it can be a declaration of God that we be transformed and renewed.

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”
Genesis 4:7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/gen.4.7.ESV

Yes,  this is an encouragement for those who do want to do well. It does not have to be a condemnation, but it is the direction of our hearts and desires that determine whether this feels like an encouragement or feels like an accusation.

You see, it is instruction pointing to the one true and narrow gate and path. And if that is what we seek, then it is like like the healing power of His annointing oils poured out on our heads. But if we seek the other path, then it is like hot coals poured out onto our heads. If we seek to walk with Christ,  as our faithful friend and comforter, then this instruction and guidance is a blessing. If we seek to serve that other master,  to love ourselves and the carnal things of this world, then we hear this same Word of God as chastisement and as conviction.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.  For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 3:19-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.3.19-21.ESV

And this judgement is beautiful and wonderful and encouraging if we have decided to come to Him for the transforming and renewal that He offers. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us,  guide us,  comfort us,  and instruct us, in His ways.

“If you love me, you will  keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.   “I will not leave you as orphans;  I will come to you.
John 14:15-18 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.14.15-18.ESV

And this gift,  this Spirit of Christ in us, it is a filing of our lives with power,  love and self-control.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/2ti.1.6-7.ESV

And this power frees us from the power and hold that sin once had over our lives.

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
Romans 6:14-19 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.6.14-19.ESV

So we must examine ourselves to be sure that we are in the faith. We must either find that we are walking as a humble and faithful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and Almighty God – or admit to ourselves that we have chosen to serve a  different master. And there is an eternal consequence for our choice. If we hate the heavenly things of God,  if our cold, hard hearts cannot bear the blessings of love, joy, peace, patience,  kindness,  goodness,  faithfulness, and self-control that are very divine nature of God,  then we will not be forced to accept His gifts,  His grace,  His glory, His blessings eternal. He will allow us to cling to the darkness and go into destruction with it and be permanently separated from those things in our lives.

Oh, that you could know for a moment the burden of your life being fully separated from these blessings of God so that you might fear and tremble at the possibility,  at the weight of an existence void of His nature available to you. Maybe then you would then realize His value and that He is truly worthy of all praise and worship and honor.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord , choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord .”
Joshua 24:15 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jos.24.15.ESV

Oh, that you wouldn’t just seek Him because you have become aware of the cost,  that you are fearful of the coming judgement – but that you believe and understand this gift offered to you. Because it is in understanding the price paid that grattitude is found. And when we find grattitude for the gift received, this Word of God is no longer burdensome,  but is fertilizer for our souls,  divine and loving instructions to protect us from all kinds tricks, traps, poison, and consequences.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3 ESV
http://bible.com/59/1jn.5.3.ESV

We don’t serve to fill an obligation, but to seize an opportunity.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;  blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
Romans 4:4-8 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rom.4.4-8.ESV

So the question is, what will we choose to do today?

hballinger3 Comments

What are we asking for? What do we need?

Psalm 4:1-8
Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods  
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the Lord hears when I call to him.

Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the Lord .

Many, Lord , are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, Lord ,
make me dwell in safety.
http://bible.com/111/psa.4.1-8.NIV

————–

Are we surprised that the world seeks after worldly things? Are we surprised that the carnal speak their words in order to receive the things of this world that their wicked hearts desire?

But don’t his servants understand the value of our inheritance, of those eternal blessings that nourish our souls? Don’t we seek to be filled more with your Holy Spirit, Lord? Isn’t our Hope to be anointed and overflowing with the very nature of your character, Lord? Isn’t it or Faith that allows the light of your presence to shine on us, Lord? Isn’t it our Love that fills us with joy when we receive you as our blessing and portion, even as others receive what it is their hearts desire most?

Lord, teach us the great value of fearing you and not sinning.

Lord,  teach us the great value of searching our own hearts, crucifying those desires of the flesh,  and learning to listen to your voice.

Lord,  teach us the value of a righteous life of trusting you, so that we might learn to be a living sacrifice to you name,  an example of what change your power can make in a life turned to you.

Lord,  teach us the value of joy and contentment with our position and possessions in this world, but do not let us be content with how much of you we have,  keep us hungry for more of you, because you will not let us starve and die.

Lord, teach us the value of your peace,  because it is the only place of true safety in this world. Don’t let our trust be in lesser things, wealth, prosperity, the plans of men,  the temptations of Babylon.

Let us rest in the confident knowledge that we are set apart as your faithful servants, and that you hear us,  Lord,  when we call out to you.

Remind me that I am nothing without you,  Lord.

Remind me that it is in you that I live and move, and that I am created so that you might breathe in me, live in me,  and let your glory reign in my life.

Remind me that your Kingdom is come in me, that your will is done in me.

Lord, show your love towards the communities and people where we live and serve – through our hands, our words, our service – as we participate as a willing vessel for your use.

Lord, equip us with your nature, bear fruit in our lives, so that we might serve our communities in uniquely Christian ways visible to the eyes of the public,  so that they might recognize, and begin to understand the blessings that are truly valuable.

Lord, open the eyes of the lost, and crush the cold hearts of any who sit in worldly authority and power and wealth, let them know the fear of their coming death and destruction, so they might know the worthlessness of the treasures they have chased, and so they might find the peace of laying down and sleeping in the arms of the Lord.