Chain of Command

Leaders, work diligently and communicate a clear vision to the people. You who teach/lead/manage, it is a great responsibility for us towards the people to use wisdom on their behalf – not a great honor so that we can oppress for our own benefit. 

And if you are wise and lead effectively — by the example of your own hard work and by your not being blind to the needs of others — your honor will be in the lives of a team, even a family, of equals. As you have lifted up others, you will be lifted up. As you have crushed others, you will be crushed. As you have shown truth and love to others, it will be shown to you. Because kings and kingdoms rise and fall, but the poor will be with us until the end of the age. 
And you who serve a master (and we all serve some master in this life) — do not give them an excuse to complain or grumble against you. Do not resist those in authority out of foolish pride, but submit yourselves to their clear vision and purpose — or if you believe they are truly blind, why do you even serve them? Do you foolishly serve them only for their money and not for any purpose of true profit? No, live a life of purpose. 

LORD, forgive me for the times that I have failed those who are trusting me to work diligently and to have a clear vision. Create in me a sincere heart of purpose in everything that I do,  and give me godly wisdom and vision to lift up and encourage those around me. Amen.

​In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. – Proverbs 14:23 ESV

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. – Colossians 3:22‭-‬25 ESV

HEAR, SPEAK and LIVE JESUS CHRIST

Hear HOPE in JESUS CHRIST

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. – Proverbs 12:15 ESV

Don’t just listen – HEAR. RECEIVE. BELIEVE. 

Speak TRUTH and LIFE through FAITH

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.  

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. 

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.  

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. – Proverbs 12:6‭, ‬17‭-‬19 ESV

Don’t just talk idly and carelessly, because we will answer for every word. No don’t just talk,  but SPEAK. Speak the WORD OF GOD. Speak TRUTH. Speak LIFE.

Live LOVE by the SPIRIT

A good man obtains favor from the Lord , but a man of evil devices he condemns.  
No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.  

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.  

Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.  

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.  

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord , but those who act faithfully are his delight. 

The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. 

Whoever is slothful will not roast his game, but the diligent man will get precious wealth.

Proverbs 12:2‭-‬3‭, ‬11‭-‬12‭, ‬14‭, ‬22‭-‬22‭, ‬24‭, ‬27 ESV

True belief, the kind of faith that saves, it grows and produces, it is not dead. So HEAR, SPEAK and LIVE. Demonstrate HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE to a world in need of all three – to a world in need of CHRIST.  
Not because you are good,  but because He who lives in you is great. Turn over your life to Him. Let Him have His way in your life today. He has already proven Himself a worthy Savior. He will show you that He is a kind and merciful LORD. He will even show you that He is a friend willing to wound you for your good, rather than kiss you with lying betrayals. He will lead you in the path of righteousness – His anointing will break the chains that bind and the yoke that enslaves.

Chop, Chop. Roast beast, anyone?

Therefore the Lord will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day. The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those  who  are led by them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men, Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows; For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burns as the fire; It shall devour the briers and thorns, And kindle in the thickets of the forest; They shall mount up like rising smoke.

Isaiah 9:14‭-‬18 NKJV

In our day –

Do we need to look any further for the head of the dragon that hunts and kills and oppresses the weak and the innocent than the strong leaders who profit from wickedness, deceit, and from creating and maintaining division between the people? 

Do we need to look any further for the tail, than to those who make merchandise and tradition and religion and self righteousness and lasciviousness and worldliness from the Good News of Jesus Christ who died and is risen to life? 

Or are we ourselves satisfied and comfortable in the belly of the beast? 

Will we cry out to God like Jonah so that we may be spit out from the lukewarm waters of its gut, to stand firm upon the foundation? 

Will we go and fulfill our call? 

Even when they turn to destruction all around us, will we persevere? 

Do you seek a reward, a position, a lofty title,  prosperity,  health, pleasure – what will you trade for your life? 

What will you take in trade for your God?

No, remain steadfast in Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit that lives in His people.

Rain

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. – Proverbs 11:12 ESV

The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath.  

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  

Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.  

The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.  

Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it. 

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 

If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner! – Proverbs 11:23‭-‬28‭, ‬31 ESV

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.  My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. – James 5:13‭-‬20 ESV

Fire

Do not quench the Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. – 1 Corinthians 6:19‭-‬20 ESV

“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.  Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. – John 14:15‭-‬20 ESV

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.   “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. – John 16:7‭-‬15 ESV

“Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.  And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father.  And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.  The greatest among you must be a servant.  But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either. – Matthew 23:8‭-‬13 NLT

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” – John 3:3 NLT

John answered their questions by saying, “I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.” John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people. – Luke 3:16‭-‬18 NLT

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. – Acts of the Apostles 19:2‭-‬6 NLT

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. – John 16:24 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 ESV

Baited Traps

So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. – Proverbs 7:21‭-23

Temptation comes in shiny, attractive packages that pull at our desires. And so many will say,  “Where’s the harm?” Or “I’m not hurting anybody. ” or “It’s my life!”
Too many of us will come up with excuses that sound compelling,  sound comfortable,  sound reasonable – allowing us to conveniently forget that there are many things that lead to spiritual death. 

1 Corinthians 6:9 

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: xneither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Hungry for the Word

TRUTH

Read Amos chapters 8 & 9 for context

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord God , “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. – Amos 8:11 ESV

HOPE

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. – Proverbs 10:3 ESV

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. – Matthew 5:6 ESV

FAITH

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. – John 16:13‭-‬15 ESV

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him. – 1 John 2:28‭-‬29 ESV

LOVE

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. – 1 John 3:7‭-‬11 ESV

Do you know Jesus Christ, close and personal, not as some far away story that you’ve heard ABOUT but as your personal Savior, LORD, and friend? Do you long to grow closer and closer to Him or do you shrink back? Do not be mistaken, as Amos chapters 8 and 9 make clear, there is a righteous judgement for the wicked. But He did not come to condemn, but to rescue. Lay down your chains and take up your cross, dead man, to follow Him in life. Abide in Christ and He in you. Hunger and thirst for the things of God. You who know Him, seek His will diligently to be done in your life by washing in the Word of God to see your mind renewed. Turn away from the world and draw close to the LORD. He will be your helmet of salvation. He will be your breastplate of righteousness. He will be your belt of truth. He will be your shield of Faith. He will be your sword because He is the Word of God. Carry this Good News forth to the nations, your feet are beautiful messenger of God.

Fan the flame

Paul knew first hand what Timothy would face as a preacher of the gospel,  as a disciple of Christ. He didn’t tell him that it would be all roses and rainbows. He didn’t tell him to expect to never expect struggle or challenge. He tells him that he will need to fan the flame of his faith,  that he will need to persevere. 

So shouldn’t we too expect that we should have to fan the flame at times? 

And what does Paul say to Timothy?

“I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 1:5‭-‬9 NLT

Paul speaks of “remembering” Timothy’s “genuine faith”. This is such a parallel for me to the warning in Revelation for the church at Ephesus:

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” – Revelation 2:4‭-‬5 NLT

Yes, the danger of forgetting. The danger of not remembering. The danger of not abiding.

Isn’t this the very reason that we are called to preach the gospel, not just the law? Isn’t this the very reason that we are called to a Lord’s Supper where He tells us:

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” – Luke 22:19 NKJV

How sad is it,  Christian,  that we find ourselves forgetting our God, our Savior, our Lord in the middle of the distraction of this world that tries to choke the life out of us:

The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.  And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. –

Luke 8:14‭-‬15 NLT

Yes, we should ask ourselves, “Am I good soil?” And maybe examine ourselves to truthfully answer, “Do I really believe,  have I ever truly believed in my heart? Because if I truly believed He is who He says He is, wouldn’t I also believe His promises and guidance and instruction enough to follow Him faithfully?”

This isn’t a game to introduce doubt into your faith,  friend – because if you are standing firmly on the solid rock of Christ,  you will weather this type of self examination and the trials and treating will prove Him true and faithful. No, this is an all important question we should ask ourselves to be site that we are not deceiving ourselves:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – James 1:22 NKJV

And:

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” – Galatians 6:3‭-‬5 NKJV