Year: 2017

Rightly Working Together

To the Evangelist, Preacher/Teacher, Pastor, Prophet, Administrator:

The evangelist has little care for this present world and sets his eyes primarily on the after. If not careful: He sees the prophet as harsh and too focused on works and fear and wrath. He sees the preacher/teacher as mentioning the cross horribly to infrequently. He sees the administrator as a religious task master confining his free spirit with man made plans and structure. He sees the pastor as one who is testing and either tearing down or confirming the work he, himself, has already gotten these believers to accomplish through surrender. And he sees every person, no matter how reprehensible, as a possible miraculous story of life transformed for Christ. 

The preacher/teacher has his eyes set firmly upon the lesson at hand and it’s being rightly divided and shared and received by those who might have ears to hear it. If not careful: He sees the evangelist as a sower of seeds and a blind gatherer of both wheat and tares to fill seats. He sees the pastor as distracted by the necessary hand holding, and visiting, and feeding of the poor, the needy, and the afflicted. He sees the administrator as a mincer of words and as one who would restrain the oxen while he is treading out the grain. He sees the prophet as questionable at best and an enemy at worst. And He sees every person as soil to be pounced upon and tilled up by the sword that shots from his mouth. 

The pastor has his eyes firmly set upon the needs of today and the opportunities to serve and love and discipline and heal. If not careful: He sees the preacher/teacher as a hypocrite with many words but few signs of love. He sees the prophet as harsh and careless with his words and warnings towards a people already loaded down with burdens. He sees the evangelist as lacking discipline and discernment, bringing far too many pigs, goats, and dogs into the fellowship. He sees the administrator as horribly unbalanced in his distribution of the resources at hand. And he sees every man in some level of self-deceit and lack of faith and discipline, to be set back upon the path, even if it means breaking their legs and dragging them along himself. 

The prophet has his eye firmly set upon the will of Almighty God, and has little use for the approval of men or leaders or even their own emotion or opinions, but is critically focused on what is or is not happening RIGHT NOW for the Kingdom, with little trust in crops “on the way” or promises for the future. If not careful: He sees the preacher/teacher, evangelist, and pastor as not much more than sugar coated candy dispensers to draw the hungry crowds to see the signs and wonders but to fall away quickly. He sees the administrator as seeking honor and glory and titles of men. And he sees every man (including himself) as horribly corrupted, stained by sin, and as unworthy before a holy and righteous God and needing to work out their salvation through fear and trembling.

If not careful: The administrator knows the horror of the task at hand, to get these to all fit together and work rightly towards the goals and aims of Almighty God for the glory of His name – and he hopes and wishes and prays that someone else might take on this task – and he hopes and wishes and prays that the Lord might return soon so this trial might end without him failing so many that he finds himself leading – and he wonders how in the world he ended up here.

But when operating correctly, the Lord has it all in His hand, and each knows his part, and none is higher than the other, and each honors the other as equal and as called in their purpose and gifting.

How are you to escape? 

[Wow, this one – whew… I love you. Armor up.]

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? – Matthew 23:33 ESV

Yes, these are Jesus’s words! These are the “words in red”, but don’t mistakenly think that Jesus walked up to some scared teenage girl headed into a planned parenthood building and said this. Don’t think that Jesus walked up to a boy or girl struggling with their identity and the temptation of their flesh that has led them into shameful ground before a perfect and holy God and said this. Don’t think that Jesus walked into the meth cooker’s house, or the bar, or the jail and said this.

No, He walked into the church. He pointed that sword from His mouth in the direction of the religious and said to the hypocrites then what we should hear now –

You make it burdensome for the people to come to me. Instead of helping them carry their burdens, you lay heavy burdens on their shoulders.

You do everything to be seen and honored yourselves. You take the best seats and titles and honor from others and return it to your “same people” instead of extending it to those you don’t know, those who are poor, needy, sick, burdened, lost. You enjoy your season tickets, golf courses, country clubs, first class accommodations, while His people starve, hurt, freeze, suffer, and die alone and without love or hope in this world. You celebrate with songs and lukewarm religious practices that make me sick enough to puke you out.

You want to be seen and revered as wise teachers and leaders when you don’t even know how to serve and love. You are puffed up in knowledge and pride and you would rather be called Father yourself than admit to who your real father is. That snake, that liar, he is quite satisfied with you remaining religious and lost and serving as a hireling — crying Lord, Lord but serving only your own pride.

You won’t enter into grace and belief yourself, and you try to shut the door in the faces of those who would. You would tell them that Christ is necessary but that He is not sufficient. You would tell them that even though they have received salvation by grace through faith that they must turn back to the law — because you wish foolishly that you could pluck them from His hand so they might fall short of grace? May it never be so! Foolish children, who has bewitched you? Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Do you not know that those who rely on works of the law are under a curse? Are you cursed or blessed? Are you bearing love or condemnation? Thistles and thorns or fruit?

You make grand overtures to sign people up for your religious practices, observances of days and seasons, sacrifices of obligation, and empty works – and you prove them twice the child of hell you are yourselves. They no more know God or bear the fruit of His Holy Spirit than you do, you sons of perdition!

You guard the safe keeping of the money and “valuables” in your buildings, houses, warehouses and bank accounts, but you have no such safeguards for what is the only thing valuable that ever enters your building – my people. You wouldn’t even know if you lost a hundred of them, but you sure would know if your balance sheet was off a penny!

You spend your effort on tithes and attendance, and marketing and entertainment, and clothes and appearances — because these are the greatest desires of your own eyes and what is valuable to you — thinking foolishly that I value the same things or priorities. But I desire mercy above sacrifice, justice above bribes, and faithfulness of heart above outward compliance. With your striving to uphold the law, you strain at removing the smallest speck of dirt on your dinner plate — while you try to conceal your choking on the log wedged securely in your throat.

You are full of greed and self-indulgence — though your mind has learned the great mental gymnastics of hiding your heart from the undiscerning — though you have learned to treat the symptoms of your cancer — it is still at work killing you from the inside. So realize the heart of the issue and get that transplant, that cure, before it is too late!

Yes, you are dressed in the right outward appearance, but you are dead inside. Your fear of admitting the lies that you have spread — founding your own reputation as white washed, should be exceeded by your fear of falling into the hands of an angry God who knows your heart! The stench of your hypocrisy and your lawlessness is not just like death lingering in the air — it is the rotting death of your “legacy”.

Yes, you outwardly honor with your flattering words the very ones from the past — that you try your best to kill today with your biting and devouring. You stand on high saying, “I would not do such things” when you are quick to go to war with any wise man who offers you a rebuke. You are a fool, drinking the full measure of the foolishness of your fathers.

You serpents, you brood of vipers, HOW ARE YOU TO ESCAPE BEING SENTENCED TO HELL?

You think this should be aimed at the sinners, with your picket signs, and your political support, and your vocal self-righteousness but the Lord has set His eye on YOU. He is that bear lying in wait for you, He has walled you in so that you cannot escape, He has bent His bow and His arrows will pierce you, He will make your teeth grind on the gravel, if you do not hear my cry and repent! Do not delay!

Because the steadfast love of the Lord is everlasting, and His mercies are for the humble and the lowly. Will you rail against the Truth? Will the rock fall on you so that you are utterly destroyed, or will you fall upon the solid rock and be saved — and sing praises of His mercy, love and grace — through the testimony of your life extending these same mercies to so many more?

If you read this and said to yourself, “_______ ought to hear that.” or “That preacher over at _________ sure needs to hear that” – then you are the very person that needs to stop right here and go back and read this message that IS MEANT FOR YOU! Because if you think that you can teach _________ something, you fit the bill for this message. If that is you, go back and read it again and let the words til up the soil of your heart – you aren’t so perfectly cold and dead that the Word of God can’t touch your hardened heart at all are you?

If you have come to repentance, continue reading, otherwise, I’m sorry, but this message is not for you.

My child, your sins are forgiven. Go and sin no more.

Key Fundamental Verses

Revelation 12:11 ESV

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Matthew 25:31‭-‬46 ESV
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him,  then he will sit on his glorious throne.  Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.  Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’  And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’   “Then he will say to those on his left,  ‘Depart from me, you  cursed, into  the eternal fire prepared for  the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’  Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’  Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
1 John 3:16‭-‬18 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Verses for Home

FRONT DOOR

Luke 11:9 

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

SIDE DOOR

Malachi 3:8-10

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

PORCH SWING

Psalm 34:17

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

BACK DOOR

John 10:1‭-‬5 ESV “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

FOYER

John 13:35 

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”

BATHROOM

On the shower wall:

Psalm 51:7 “Cleanse me and I will be clean; Wash me and I will be whiter than snow.”

WATER CLOSET

Matthew 6:5‭-‬15 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love  to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others.  Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.   “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as  the Gentiles do, for  they think that they will be heard  for their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.  Pray then like this:  “Our Father in heaven,  hallowed be  your name.    Your kingdom come,  your will be done,   on earth as it is in heaven.   Give us  this day our daily bread,    and forgive us our debts,  as we also have forgiven our debtors.   And  lead us not into temptation,  but  deliver us from  evil.    For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

MASTER BEDROOM

Ecclesiastes 4:9: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?”

Ephesians 5:25: “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.”

Genesis 2:24: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”

Ecclesiastes 4:12: “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Mark 10:9: “Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

Ruth 1:16-17: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”

ABOVE FIREPLACE

Joshua 24:15 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 .”

DEN /FAMILY ROOM

Ephesians 4:2-3: “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Colossians 3:14: “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

1 Peter 4:8: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

ABOVE PIANO

Psalms 150:1‭-‬6 Praise the Lord ! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!  Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!  Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!  Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord !

KITCHEN

Matthew 4:2‭-‬4 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,  “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,  but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

OFFICE

Romans 13:8: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”

Proverbs 3:3-4: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

John 15:12: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Hebrews 6:1‭-‬20 ESV Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.  Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.  For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

MAN CAVE:

James 4:4‭, ‬7‭-‬12 ESV You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.  Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Romans 12:10: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

 

 

Psalms 133:1‭-‬3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it  is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It  is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It  is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.”

 

MIA BEDROOM

Jeremiah 1:4‭-‬8 NKJV

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God ! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 

But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord .

John 3:3‭, ‬16‭-‬21 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”   “For  God so loved  the world,  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  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.”

A church, a person, a pastor, is not at fault for our being lost or for our salvation. There is only one true God that can save and your salvation is between you and Him, not you and man. So do not say to yourself, “But that church/pastor/Christian should save me if he loves me.” Because who is one man that he would have authority over another man’s heart and will? Or who is a man that can make straight what Almighty God has made crooked? Surrender,belief, faith alone is able to receive the grace that comes by way of the washing by the Blood of the Lamb.

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” – John 3:5‭-‬8 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. – 1 John 5:18 ESV
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. – Galatians 5:24‭-‬26 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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.  For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. – Romans 12:1‭-‬3 ESV
For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.  Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. – Galatians 6:3‭-‬10 ESV

Have you ever felt unloved or worthless? 

Have you ever felt unloved or worthless?

I have. In fact, I’m very familiar with those feelings, and not just from the far flung past…

This from the apostle Paul:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. – 2 Corinthians 1:8 ESV

This from the prophet Elijah:

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord , take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” – 1 Kings 19:4 ESV

And this from Jonah:

Therefore now, O Lord , please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” – Jonah 4:3 ESV

And this from Moses:

I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.” – Numbers 11:14‭-‬15 ESV

And this from Jeremiah:

Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! – Jeremiah 20:14 ESV

And Job said:

“Let the day perish on which I was born, and the night that said, ‘A man is conceived.’ – Job 3:3 ESV

Do you see a pattern in these verses? Do you know that if you go to each of these stories and continue reading that they were not left there to die,  nor were they condemned for their broken state or for their “lack of positivity”.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:8‭-‬10 ESV

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. – Romans 5:6‭-‬10 ESV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. – Psalms 51:17 ESV

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. – 1 John 1:5‭-‬10 ESV

You are loved. So loved by God.

“For  God so loved  the world,  that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not  perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. – John 3:16‭-‬18 ESV

Corrupt. They did not know the LORD.

Now the sons of Eli were  corrupt; they did not know the Lord . Therefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord , for men abhorred the offering of the Lord . Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it  is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord ’s people transgress. If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord , who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them. Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord : ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to  be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in  My  dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. And you will see an enemy in  My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. Now this shall  be  a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them. Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who shall do according to what is in My heart and in My mind. I will build him a sure house, and he shall walk before My anointed forever. And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, “Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread.” ’ ”

I Samuel 2:12‭, ‬17‭-‬17‭, ‬22‭-‬25‭, ‬27‭-‬36 NKJV

So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. Now when he came, there was Eli, sitting on a seat by the wayside watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told it, all the city cried out. Then the man said to Eli, “I am he who came from the battle. And I fled today from the battle line.” And he said, “What happened, my son?” So the messenger answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead; and the ark of God has been captured.” Then it happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell off the seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

I Samuel 4:10‭-‬13‭, ‬16‭-‬18 NKJV

Lacking nothing?

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. – James 1:2-4 NKJV

There was a time, little children, when you went looking for sin, when you chased after it because of its bright, shiny attraction for your eyes and the sweet taste of its pleasures to your flesh, not realizing that it was poison, that it had its consequences and its cost. And we used to celebrate when we could lay our hands on more, more, more of it – whether it was the filthy lucre of wealth, or the filthy lust of sexual immorality, or the filthy bitterness of jealousy and envy,  or the murderous hatred of anger and unforgiveness towards others, or the filthy devisiveness of gossip and biting words and unproven accusations,  or many of the other tricks and traps of the enemy. For a time, we shopped in these dens of wretchedness, buying death from the apothecary – happy to pay in full for a chance to taste once more of their sweet poison. We were like lost, blind sheep led to the slaughter by the very one that we thought had our best interests in mind – even though we saw him daily feasting on the meat of our brothers and sisters as he sat by the fire amongst a pile of their dead bones.

But no more. We are free.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”  Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:31‭-‬36 ESV

Don’t fear, Come see, Rejoice, Tell them, So they will see

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Matthew 28:1-10 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/mat.28.1-10.NKJV

TRUTH

So often, we get lost in either empty, repetitive religious practices – or in our striving for works – or in our forgetting Christ and being distracted by this world. But we see laid out the foundation of our Christian lives in this passage.

Yes, it’s our fear of God that begins the uncovering, the revealing of God to us.  At some point we realize that there is something greater and more lasting than what we can see and touch and taste and smell. And as we grasp the concept of a Holy, righteous, and perfect God – as we catch just a tiny glimpse, just a bit of knowledge of His glory, we can become fearful because it shines light on everything in our lives that is imperfect.

EXAMINATION

Has our every thought today been pure and set on glorifying and praising God?

Have our words and actions been perfect examples of His love to everyone around us?

In my case,  I hope the answer to the first two could some days be yes, but I fear the answer might always be no – for some small infraction that I don’t even remember, right?

Have we held pride in our hearts over how good we are doing, claiming His victory and strength as something that we’ve accomplished ourselves?

Do we sit, hearing a message of instruction meant for our ears and our heart and our lives, but think to ourselves,  “I know that so and so needs to hear this message”?

Do we hear the message, let it stir our emotions, but not let it pierce the cold stone of our hardened hearts so that it might make  a difference in our lives daily?

I say this because how would we react if an angel of the Lord appeared before us this morning? Or maybe on a Friday or Saturday night after we’ve been comfortably removed from the rigid reminder of a Sunday morning pew?

If Christ himself stood before us right now, how would we react?

HOPE

I’m reminded of a song by Mercy Me –

“Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel

Will I dance for your Jesus

Or in awe of you be still

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall

Will I sing hallelujah

Will I be able to speak at all

I can only imagine

I can only imagine”

How will you react this morning to a risen Savior, whose messenger comes to tell you –

“Do not be afraid,

I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

He is not in the tomb;

He is risen, as He said.

Come, see the proof.

And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead,

He is going before you g preparations for you;

you will see Him.

Believe and behold, because the Lord has told you.”

This messenger brings hope for those who seek Christ, not condemnation. The Lord recognizes our fear. He recognizes our conviction when drawn closer into the presence of his Holy Spirit. He does not come to beat us up, but to lift us up.

SELAH

SURRENDER

Lord, help us to examine our lives – not so that we can measure and compare with others, but so that we compare our lives to yours and are humbled by our need for your grace. Don’t let us get prideful about any good works that are just filthy rags, and don’t let us remain guilt ridden and ashamed of past sins confessed and forgiven and cast as far as the east is from the west. Help us to recognize our need,  not once, not once daily, but continually throughout our day – remembering the love you demonstrated and the price you paid so that we can follow in your footsteps and walk in the power, love, and self control that your Holy Spirit provides. Teach us,  guide us,  and help us find our way back home.

FAITH

When a messenger brings a message to us, we have the opportunity to either –

Run away in fear -OR- Be drawn closer in trust

Listen to the message -OR- choose to listen to other voices

Hear and understand and learn -OR- argue and justify and ignore

A message from the Lord does not leave us unchanged. We will either be drawn closer if we choose to listen and believe, or by ignoring and denying the message our hearts will be seared and hardened against the truth. The ones bringing truth are bringing a message that convicts us and that takes faith for us to believe and follow. The worldly and wicked will get mad at a messenger who brings truth that they do not want to hear – but those who love and respect God will be humbled by the truth and will be thankful for a message of truth and conviction that shines light on things previously hidden in darkness. The faithful want to see their lives changing to be more like Christ,  while the rebellious just want justification for their current ways of living and escape from any punishment or negative consequences. The faithful hunger not only for Jesus Christ as Savior, but as Lord as well.

LOVE

But let’s not get sidetracked by religious measuring and comparing of ourselves to others or even to our own past. Because our faithfulness and obedience, or our lack of it, simply exists to remind us of His love. When we were rebellious in the darkness, His love was the bright shining light that we thought that we had to hide from. Because the lies of the enemy told us that the condemnation and destruction in store was for us and that we had no hope.

You see, the enemy will take a truth and twist it. Yes, the world is condemned already. Christ did not come to condemn the world but to save it. And not to surrender light to the darkness, but to bring light and life into the darkness. You see,  there is a judgement ahead, and there is destruction ahead,but it is not hopeless for you,  friend,  because the wrath of God has been poured out upon Christ for the sins of the world, so that whoever believes may know life and may walk in light.

You see, He loves us. He is a loving and merciful and Good Father to His children. And He has, a will and purpose for our lives that aligns our gifts and talents with His love so that we can shine like peculiar greens hidden amongst the dust and ashes of this fallen world. Not because we are somehow working hard enough to increase our value – but because His hand on our lives is polishing us into a finished work. We are valuable because of His love poured out into us, not because of works, religious practice, or our own strength – but because of His loving presence in our lives.

And He teaches us His love so that the world might see and know and recognize His great handiwork. It is our grattitude for His work, our love for His ways, that shows the world the love of the Good Shepherd for His children. We are an undeniable testimony, a light shining in the darkness, love pouring out unexplainably upon both friend and enemy, lives laid down for our fellow man – so that all might know that they are called to receive His grace – and so that some might be chosen for His use.

SELAH

PRAISE

Lord, thank you for your love that does not leave us where we were, but changes us and molds us to be more like you.

The prosperous man looks at a nice,  new fancy car and says to himself,  “I NEED that.”

That same prosperous man looks at the struggling, homeless, addicted, and burdened man walking the streets asking for a meal or a place to sleep. And he says to himself, “If he WANTS food, let him work for it. Someone should put him in prison so that we don’t have to be reminded of his ignorance and defiance against our society. That way he might LEARN to be a contributing member of society.”

The religious man looks at two men in need,  and says to himself, “I have what these men NEED, I can TEACH them what I KNOW ABOUT.”

The religious man stands over both of them, pointing out their faults, and telling them what they need to change, telling them they need to pray more, read the Bible more, show up to church on Sunday more, and to tithe more. He then prays a long, loud, wordy prayer with them (mentioning Jesus at the end) and leaves them in their need – very content with himself.

The homeless man looks at his hunger and says, “I WANT food and shelter tonight, Lord, but KNOWING YOU is everything that I NEED.”

That same homeless man looks at the struggling, mortgaged, money chasing man walking the from his fancy car to his comfortable home and workplace, not asking for the one thing he truly needs. And he says to himself, “Lord, he wants for nothing in this world, but please have mercy on his ignorance, and free him from the prison that he has built for himself. Oh, Lord, I plead with you that you might REVEAL your life example of a humble servant and a child of God to us all more clearly. But nevertheless, your will be done.”

That same homeless man looks at the respected, titled, and educated religious man walking from one opportunity to speak to the next – and sees his striving,  burdened, chase after perfection. And he says to himself,  “Lord, this man wants for recognition and honor in both this life and in the next, but please have mercy on his ignorance, and free him from the prison that he has built for himself. Oh, Lord, I plead with you that you might REVEAL your life example of a humble servant and a child of God to us all more clearly. But nevertheless, your will be done.”

How many of us truly know very much about NEED vs WANT in our comfortable lives within this prosperous nation?

How many people who are truly in NEED have we taken the time to speak with, to get to know, to work with them towards getting back on their feet?

Are we satisfied that it is someone else’s job? The government? The charities? The churches? THEY ought to? THEY should do it? THEY are supposed to?

Why do we call WANTS that are ours a NEED, but call the NEEDS of others WANTS?

Why do we step to the back of the line with our excuses, clinching our hands around what is “mine”, looking for THEY to show up when it’s time to share by GIVING to help others in NEED?

Why are we quick to run to the front of the line, making sure WE have our hands open and outstretched wide to be seen when it’s time for RECEIVING what we WANT?

Carnal minded. 

carnal [kahr-nl]

adjective

1.pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual:

2.not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly:

It’s pride. It’s vanity. It’s that oldest enemy of ours, love of self.

And if we try to make up for our shame and guilt with a quantity of service and good works.