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In battle, do we lift up our eyes, or just charge blindly?

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord . Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my Lord say to his servant?”
Joshua 5:13-14 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jos.5.13-14.ESV

How often do we see the world as men and women of flesh and blood who are either for us or against us?  But the Bible tells us about our real enemies –

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
http://bible.com/59/eph.6.12.ESV

Joshua “lifted up his eyes and looked” and gained something very valuable for His battle. He didn’t charge blindly into battle because the enemy was nearby – he “lifted up his eyes and looked”.

This commander of heaven’s armies demonstrates to Joshua clearly that his loyalty is to God, not to a nation of people  – when Joshua asks a question expecting an A or B answer and instead gets a whole new answer outside his original frame of reference.

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come? 
My help comes from the Lord ,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.121.1-2.ESV

You see,  sometimes our frame of reference reverts to this physical world and the ways that it operates and we don’t have the spiritual vision or awareness to understand what it means from that higher perspective. If this battle was just about one people against another, then men receive glory from each other for the victory. But Joshua was not called to receive glory for himself or even for Israel. He wasn’t called to be loyal to men but to God. The glory of the battle was meant to be for God.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:1-2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/col.3.1-2.ESV

When we lift our thoughts out of the distractions of this world and remember that we are not at battle against men of flesh and blood, but that we do battle against principalities and evil forces that work through those around us who are still in chains of bondage – we begin to realize that it’s about the Lord being glorified in our choices, our decisions,  our reactions.

Each moment of opposition felt from another person is actually an opportunity to show them love, mercy,  forgiveness, gentleness,  kindness, and self control in return. It is an opportunity to demonstrate that Christ has won yet another battle in our lives and that we are not simply walking in the flesh,  reacting the way that the world expects.

But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:12-13 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.9.12-13.ESV

When struck in the face by another, when accused unjustly, when shamed and spit upon by the world, the world reacts in kind – but Christ calls us out to be set apart as a peculiar people. He tells us to turn the other cheek. He tells us to give and love even to those who would steal from us. He tells us that lost souls in need of love are more valuable to win over as friends of Christ than to let die as enemies.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:4-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.15.4-7.ESV

Yes, He tells us to pick up our cross and bear it for one another. Not to bear it for those we think are deserving of His love and forgiveness,  because none of us, are deserving. Not me. Not you.

But we love because He first loved us.

Our battle is not against one another.

And our loyalty is not to self.

He is Lord, He is Savior, He is Redeemer, and He has won the victory!

To God be the Glory in our lives today.

hballingerLeave a comment

Debauchery and Imperfection

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Last night at the jail, my message was on our imperfection but His perfection – about Him reconciling us to be more like Him – about experiencing His touch upon our lives now, not just after our hearts have stopped beating. It was about coming broken daily to see His healing and correction continue to take place in our lives. It was about looking not at ourselves,  but looking to Christ for our salvation.

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I started out the message singing a very broken and imperfect delivery of the children’s song “Jesus loves Me”, standing in that cell block amongst some who were attending the Bible Study and many who sat in their bunk areas far away. This was clearly a broken and imperfect performance as the song lifted out of my range and my voice cracked and I even laughed at myself at one point. You see, I can normally sing fairly well,  but I had asked the Lord to use me however was best to deliver His message tonight, not so that I would receive any glory or honor. And for a message on imperfection, He was doing a great job of it in the opener – and I started into the message, letting the Holy Spirit guide us along the night’s journey into the Word of God.

In the middle of the message, I was mentioning Galatians 5 and someone said their translation had the word “debauchery” and they asked what it meant. My immediate thoughts trying to explain this old word that is rarely used today went to sexual immorality and promiscuity, but it covers so much more than that. My answer was imperfect and left room for improvement – yet again demonstrating that we don’t have to be perfect (nor will we be this side of judgement) in order to share testimony and truth about the Word of God.

You see,  it isn’t just about sexual things,  but it means any excessive indulgence that separates us from walking in the Spirit and giving God glory. I’m thankful for my brother,  Michael Mcleymore, who was there beside me, ready to quickly assist with greater clarification,  explaining that it could be anything taken too far,  even wasting our day away playing video games or watching TV in excess instead of using the day for the glory of God.

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It is about excess. Taking the things of this earth that exist for our survival,  for our health, for our enjoyment – and perverting their use from their natural intended purpose for which we should be giving God thanks and praise,  and instead perverting them into something excessive and distracting from God’s glory.

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And it all comes down to who is the Lord of our life. It comes down to our individual choices and decisions,  moment to moment,  breath by breath,  and who we are choosing to serve and glorify with those choices. Whether we are using our lives for their intended purpose of bringing Him glory and honor – sharing the Good News, loving and serving others, making disciples,  equipping the saints, walking in the Spirit, and obeying His commandments – or if we have made it about ourselves and we are proving it by our excessive enjoyment of worldly pleasures and lack of concern for God and for others.

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Settling and getting comfortable with our own imperfections will allow them to grow into debauchery. But walking this path of reconciliation with Christ,  seeking His healing touch daily will help us identify, cut away, cast off, and be delivered from those things that have no place in the life of a vessel of the Holy Spirit. Choosing to feed the flesh with individual decisions will exercise those fleshly desires in our lives,  or choosing to submit and walk in the Spirit will exercise His strength in overcoming those temptations and evil influences in our lives.

So we should ask ourselves, not whether we are perfect or imperfect – because if we don’t recognize that we are imperfect, how deep have we fallen into the darkness. But we should ask ourselves,  what path am I choosing to walk, the narrow path that is seldom chosen, or the broad way that leads to destruction?

de·bauch·er·y dəˈbôCHərē/ noun
noun: debauchery; plural noun: debaucheries
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.

“a life of self-absorption and debauchery”

synonyms:
dissipation, degeneracy, corruption, vice, depravity;
immodesty, indecency, perversion, iniquity, wickedness, sinfulness, impropriety, immorality;
lasciviousness, salaciousness, lechery, lewdness, lust, promiscuity, wantonness, profligacy;
decadence, intemperance, sybaritism;
turpitude

Ephesians 5:18 ESV
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

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

Romans 13:13 ESV
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

Romans 1:26-27 ESV
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

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

Ephesians 5:1-33 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. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

hballingerLeave a comment

Who shall not Inherit?

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

Let’s do a little reading tonight from the…

New Testament

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

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

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

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

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

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

I have to ask,  friend –

Do you believe the Word of God?

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

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

Do not delay, friend.

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

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

hballingerLeave a comment

God says, “Tag, you’re it!”

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:4-6 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/eph.1.4-6.NKJV

There is a lot in this verse:

1) He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world

2) His purpose is for us to be Holy and without blame before Him in Love

3) He predestined us to adoption as sons to be reconciled by Christ to Himself

4) He did this out of the good pleasure of His will

5) to the praise and glory of His grace

6) by which He made us accepted in the Beloved

The first thing that I want to point out is that the gospel is about what God can do in us and through us. If we are working for it ourselves, we might have missed the forest for the trees.

Continue reading “God says, “Tag, you’re it!”” →

hballingerLeave a comment

We all chase something

Today’s Manna – Our Daily Bread

Ecclesiastes 2:11 NLT
But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.

Today’s Observation
Each day,  we find ourselves chasing something.

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Continue reading “We all chase something” →

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So which Jesus do you worship?

There are times when I see criticism from one set of “organized believers” aimed at another set. It wearies me deep within my soul.

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When this comes up (and unfortunately it comes up way too often), I usually first address the situation with two sets of verses:

Continue reading “So which Jesus do you worship?” →

hballingerLeave a comment

Convicted to a LIFE SENTENCE

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Just because I’m convicted,  that doesn’t make me a convict.

EPH 1:5-6 ESV
He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the Beloved.

Continue reading “Convicted to a LIFE SENTENCE” →

hballingerLeave a comment

We have Redemption!

EPH 1:7-10 ESV
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
——————————————–

We have REDEMPTION!

Through His BLOOD – the worthy sacrifice offered as a clear example of a life of righteousness, love, honor, power, patience, forgiveness, mercy, long-suffering, selfless service to others, humility, peace, comfort, and all of those things that we are not.

We have FORGIVENESS!

By His GRACE – He extends to us the love that we do not deserve. He approaches us like a loving Father who sees past the sins and rebellion of their beloved child, and who offers forgiveness each time that we stumble, because we are His beloved children.

We have GUIDANCE!

By the WORD OF GOD – which is carved onto our hearts, which is taught to us through the Holy Spirit that lives inside us believers, and which is recorded in the written word of scripture.

We have PURPOSE!

By CHRIST ALIVE IN US – to unite all things to Him, through sharing this message of HOPE for the lost, of FAITH for the tested and tried, and for LOVE extended to all who will receive us as friends and as servants. We are not meant to remain dead in our sins, but to shine forth in our renewed lives as the salt and light in a world of darkness and despair.

We are to be the hands that lift others up, the arms that hold others strong and firm in their faith, the ears to discern the truthfulness or twisting of words spoken, the eyes to see the fruits of spiritual health or the evil of spiritual death and disease, the knees that firmly yet humbly present our prayers for healing and restoration, the feet that bring us in for praise and worship and out for service in His name, the mouths that share this Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And this Kingdom work, this unifying things on earth with those things in heaven – it is the only work that has lasting value – because it is the work that Christ is doing through us – the works of our own are futile and useless.

Use us, Lord.

Live in us and through us, Lord.

Remind us what is important, Lord.

Shake us to our very foundation, so we will know that our house is built on the foundation of the rock of Jesus Christ, and that the walls are built by Christ living in us and through us, so that we can see clearly those things that are worthy works where we have been equipped and you have used us, so we will not confuse them with our own works or striving or religious practice.

As always, these are my journals of personal commentary on what I’m going through and learning. This message may just be for me, or it may speak to you as well, but this is not me aiming words at anyone but myself. Have a blessed day.

hballingerLeave a comment

My Attitude Matters

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 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.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
——————————————–

Our decisions, our actions, our words – all these things have an impact on the world around us. And they are all driven by our attitude.

If our attitude is focused on me, me, me – aren’t we still like a spoiled little child crying for a toy they want at the store but that their parents won’t buy for them? When we are focused on self, we have not yielded to the Lord’s will, we are still seeking our own will.

So if we are His, if we have been called and chosen, if we have been drawn near to Him to accept this amazing free gift of grace, don’t we yield to His will in grattitude and in a new understanding that this Word of God is the instruction and guidance for this amazing, renewed life we have with Christ?

But some deny Christ – by knowing what they should do and choosing in open rebellion against God’s will to chase after their own idols and temptations. This is different than stumbling. Stumbling is a mistake made while trying to keep faithful that we repent and ask forgiveness. Denying Christ is rebelling consciously, knowing that it is wrong, but continuing to do it, with no concern and no repentance.

We are meant to live our lives as a praise to God, not just praise Him on Sunday and then deny Him the rest of the week.

But even in this, I know what my life looked like when I was lost. I am humbled when I see others in open rebellion, because I remember being there once myself. I realize they are in need of this Grace that has laid it’s hands on me. So even those that I know and love, who are in open rebellion in their lives – I see the example that my old life was to them, and I beg forgiveness for their sins, because I see they are my own sins repeated in them.

I am concerned. I love them. So I lift them in prayer, just as many did for me when I was lost in my own rebellion. And I have faith that my prayers will be answered in His time. But for their sake, I hope that my prayer is answered soon – because anyone that is missing out on this opportunity to live a life of praise, doesn’t realize yet that they aren’t really living at all – they are just snared in another trap of the trickster, piling on more burdens on themselves, adding to their troubles. But I understand, I too lived that life of blindness.

So I love them. I offer my renewed life up as praise to God. I share truth with them, humbly, gently, with patience, bearing their burdens as my own knowing the example my old life served, and keeping peace with them even if we are not in agreement. I share this Word of God. And I hope and pray that ears will be opened to hear His voice and to know Jesus Christ as the Truth, the Life, and the Way.

I pray and have faith that God will break our rebellious and selfish will, that we will know His grace, mercy and peace – and not remain in darkness.

Let my renewed life be a praise to God today.

Let my renewed life today prove to be an undeniable proof that life in Christ far surpasses that old life of death and darkness – as both a warning and an encouragement to any that might see my life and want to use it in their arguments for or against.

Help me walk with Christ today.

Help me see opportunities.

Help me hear His voice.

Help me choose wisely.

Help me hold fast to truth.

Motivate me to action.

Help me speak in love.

hballingerLeave a comment

Do battle

2 Samuel 22:31-43 NLT
“God’s way is perfect. All the lord ’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
For who is God except the lord ? Who but our God is a solid rock?
God is my strong fortress, and he makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory; your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.
“I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
I did not stop until they were conquered.
I consumed them;
I struck them down so they did not get up;
they fell beneath my feet.
You have armed me with strength for the battle;
you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
You placed my foot on their necks.
I have destroyed all who hated me.
They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
They even cried to the lord , but he refused to answer.
I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
I trampled them in the gutter like dirt.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY
——————————————–

Reading this, it is important for me to keep in mind our instructions for preparing for battle in Ephesians 6, with the key verse being:

Ephesians 6:12 NLT
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

And the Lord is the solid rock, the foundation on which we can stand and we can see the evil in our lives being crushed and swept out of our thoughts, out of our words, and our of our actions.

When we have this Holy Spirit of Christ in us, alive and active and teaching and guiding us – change is happening in us, because He is overcoming those enemies, those evil strongholds in our lives. We learn His will throughthe Word of God, we seek out those things that we need to change in our lives, we lift them to him in prayer, and we put on this armor to do spiritual battle – not battle against other people, but battle against those evil things that are contrary to the Holy Spirit of God.

So if we are going to do spiritual battle, first we need this Holy Spirit of Christ in us. So we should pray and believe and have hope and faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Once we have Him, we can wear His armor.

Ephesians 6:13-18 NLT
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

And we will face enemies, we will face trials – but if we are equipped, and if we hold fast and cling close to our risen Savior and King, Jesus Christ – the battle is already won.

Let’s see the enemy fall defeated at our feet today, friends. Let’s cast off those chains of sin and temptation and evil that are a part of our lives that are keeping us from experiencing the full life that we know is waiting for us.

And let’s praise Him all day long, knowing the wonderful blessing that He is in our life. Thankful for His guidance, His healing, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His power, and His faithfulness.

Have a blessed day, friend!