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United? Or Divided?

There is a shift that has to happen,  a change,  or we will all continue destroying and hurting each other. It is a shift to being willing to sacrifice, to give up our own selfish, prideful, and sinful lives to know and demonstrate love. It is a shift to be willing to put the needs of others ahead of our own wants – a shift to be willing to help others even if there is nothing in it for ourselves. This is the picture of a community. This is a picture of unity. This is a picture of love.

Remember, O Lord , in David’s favor,
all the hardships he endured, 
how he swore to the Lord
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 
“I will not enter my house
or get into my bed, 
I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids, 
until I find a place for the Lord ,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 
For the Lord has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling place: 
“This is my resting place forever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
I will satisfy her poor with bread. 
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.
Psalms 132:1‭-‬5‭, ‬13‭-‬16 ESV

It is said that “David was a man after God’s own heart”, and what does this mean but that David wanted to be a blessing to the Lord. David wanted to build a place for the Lord to dwell,  but David was thinking that He would build it with the hands of men, when the truth is that the Lord builds it in our hearts.

“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Jeremiah 17:10 ESV

What greater blessing could there be than for the Lord to come and live in our lives, to abide with us, to teach us and to guide us, to test us and mold us to be more like himself?

But many are not interested in giving up their lives, they are only interested in what they can taste,touch, see, and pleasure themselves with today and now. They have little interest in loving the Lord or living others, because their first love is themselves and their bellies.  And if they don’t let go of the worthlessness of this world, their hands will never be open to receive His blessings.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust  destroy and where thieves  break in and steal,  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 ESV

Do you want you life to be the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit of the Lord? Do you want to be delivered from your life of sin and bowing to the demands of your flesh? Do you want to give up your life and serve the Lord, sharing in the trials and tribulations and sufferings and persecution that are part of following Him in reckless abandon?

Or would you rather live your life your own way?

Or would you rather find a “church” with a “hireling” that doesn’t ask very much of its “supporters”?

Would you be most satisfied with a “religion” that keeps God at a comfortable distance from really having any impact on “your way of life”?

Yes, many have chosen religion over the gospel – ritual and tradition over relationship – the practiced sacrifice of religion over the living sacrifice of love.

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.  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Romans 12:1‭-‬2‭, ‬9‭-‬16 ESV

These things in Romans 12 reflect the blessings that the Lord says He will pour out on His chosen vessels in Psalm 132 above. He blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others, so that His name can receive the glory and honor and praise.

Do you want to surrender your life to the Lord so that you can deny yourself and suffer so that others might know His love?

Ate you ready to put the needs of others ahead of your wants?

Do you desire to love and serve the Lord today?

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Trust in His Victory

I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
1 Samuel 17:35‭-‬37 NLT

[Trust in the Lord, testify with your life, step out in faith and let His power be demonstrated. ]

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Matthew 10:28‭-‬31 NLT
http://bible.com/116/mat.10.28-31.NLT

[You are unique and precious to the Kingdom of God, believer. You are beloved by God so much that He came in the flesh as Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you. You have a particular purpose and mission in your life to demonstrate His love, His nature,  His spiritual fruit, to a world in need of spiritual nourishment and healing. YOU have an opportunity today to serve Him,  not out of religious obligation, but out of personal grattitude because of grace.  ]

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. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
2 Timothy 1:6‭-‬11 NLT

[Yes, if we are going to boast in anything, it should be in the gift of grace that we have received, the Holy Spirit that strengthens us and guides us and inductees us and empowers us to see sin and death conquered under the foot of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. ]

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God. ” Then Jesus said, “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.”  He was speaking of Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, one of the Twelve, who would later betray him.
John 6:66‭-‬71 NLT

[We choose. Do we stay with Him, or turn away. Do we follow in His footsteps, or do we serve another master? Are we interested in the prizes that have no lasting value, or are we satisfied with Christ as our portion and prize? Will we trade in our inheritance for some silver coins or a bowl of soup? ]

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Two paths – it makes all the difference

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 NKJV

I love you, friend. But I hate your sin. I hate my sin. I see what it has done in our lives, the tricks that it plays – offering sweet promises while providing sickness and wickedness and death and harm to ourself and others. Most importantly, it dishonors the name of the Lord when we say we are His with our mouths but deny Him in our lives, when we are a stumbling block – hindering others from recognizing the true spirit of Christ alive in His children.

Yes, I believe that everything the Lord calls sin IS SIN. Yes, I am more confident in the truth of His Word than in the lies of my own deceitful heart and opinions. I trust in God’s divine wisdom over my own feelings and justifications about what is right and wrong, because I have proven to myself that my way is foolish and lands me in unexpected consequences for myself and others. I survey my life and it is clear that obeying His guidelines is the best life both now and for eternity.

And I expected it to be heavy and burdensome like before when I found that I was a rebellious law breaker. But the Lord sent me the Helper that He promised, and when I have my eyes set firmly upon demonstrating His way to the world around me – when I am bold enough to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and long suffering – when I walk in the Spirit, I no longer break the law and I’m no longer under the law.

This is because I’m not longing to fulfill my own will, but I’m longing to fulfill His will. Yes, He gives me a new hunger – a hunger for His ways, His righteousness. And when we hunger for righteousness we do not hunger to be involved in sin – we love righteousness and hate sin.

This does not mean that we only love people who act or want to appear righteous – No! There is not a one of you (especially not in you arrogant and religious ones) who is righteous of his own works. And if you stand with the testimony of your own works as righteous, you are both a liar and an abomination before God because of your pride and arrogance.

Such an abomination, such a blaspheming of the work of the Holy Spirit as being their own – I fear that it will bring desolation to many who would not give all the praise and honor to God for the opportunity to walk as a new creation. And the same can be said for those who turn away from such a blessing as grace,  and blaspheme it as a license to sin freely and openly,  with no love for God or His ways. Lord, save us!

Help us, Lord! Come live in us and guide us so that it will be you living out these days in our vessel – quickening our lives as you take over and abide with us and walk with us. Let them see you more and more and us less and less.

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The Power of a Believer’s Prayer

Yesterday, I found that there is biblical evidence that God does not hear (and even considers an abomination) the prayers of sinners who do not seek His will. That’s actually good news if we are His and are hoping to see His will done in our lives and in the world around us. I encourage you to read this companion message because I believe that these two lessons together can act as bookends (or guardrails) for a biblical understanding of prayer http://wp.me/p1U0eQ-Fq

Today, I’m looking at the power of prayer in the hands of a righteous man, a kingdom servant,  a child of God, a believer in their heart.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. – John 15:7 NKJV

If you abide in Me
Yes, let’s dig into this a bit. First, let’s consider if we abide in Him. Romans 8:1-11 tells us what it looks like to “abide in Christ”. It emphasizes the difference between carnal minded people of the world versus spiritually minded people who put their mind on the things of God. We must realize that these are two very different types of people. One loves the world and one loves God.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who  live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. – Romans 8:5‭-‬10 NKJV

And this is partly a reminder of yesterday’s lesson if we focus on the words about carnal people – but if we examine our hearts and know that we are walking in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Galatians 5), then Romans 8 encourages us that we have the Spirit of Christ in us. So let’s either be encouraged that we have the Spirit of Christ in us, or let’s follow the instructions of Acts 2:38 to receive the promise of grace:

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” – Acts 2:38‭-‬39 NKJV

And let’s remember that this is not a religious checklist of ceremonies, but that it involves repentance in our hearts. There is no power in the water of a religious baptism ceremony, it is supposed to be an outward testimony of the rebirth that has taken place on the inside.

and My words abide in you
So we must also ask, do His words abide in me?

C.H. Spurgeon has a wonderful and lengthy sermon that you can read here http://www.romans45.org/spurgeon/sermons/2506.htm about “God’s Law in Man’s Heart” – but I’ll only include a portion that speaks to the truth of how, God’s word is written in my own heart:

“the law is written in the heart by repentance working hatred of sin. Burnt children, you know, are afraid of the fire. Oh, what a horror I have had of sin ever since the day when I felt its power over my soul! It was enough to drive me mad when I felt the guilt of sin; it would have done so, I sometimes think, if I had continued much longer in that terrible condition. … And now, being set free from sin, can I go back to it? Some of you, my brethren and sisters, came to Christ with such difficulty that you were saved, as it were, by the skin of your teeth. You were like Jonah, you had to come up from the bottom of the mountains, and out of the very belly of hell you cried unto God. Well, that experience has made sin so bitter to you that you will not go back to it. The law has been written in your heart with the steel pen of repentance, and God has made sin to be a horrible evil to you.”

You see, the working of repentance, the activity of belief, the fruit of faith,  the result of having a righteous master is that we are “sanctified”. And that is an expensive and very religious sounding word that means that we are becoming like our new master, we are becoming like Christ in a process of rebirth as a new creation and refinement through the trials of this life. And we will love our new master and hate our old one, because they are enemies and oppose one another.

This builds something new inside our hearts, with the old fleshly desires and sin burned down because we realize they were traps baited with short lived things of the world that tempt those with no sight to work towards the eternal treasures. This new construction is built on love,  which springs forth a new construction and growth of a righteousness even greater than following a set of written laws – it is having new desires, a new heart, a new purpose as a child of God.

Yes, His Word is written in our hearts when we see sin as the enemy that it truly is and we hate those desires that we once loved.

When we still struggle as a slave to the temptation, is it because we long to be in the fire with our master? This is a question we must ask ourselves, because many have entertained the promise of a Savior,  while never accepting a new Lord over their lives. This is probably the most dangerous place a person can choose to dwell – living in denial (and I’m not talking about the river).

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. – John 8:34‭-‬36 NKJV

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in  it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. – James 1:21‭-‬25 NKJV

so you will ask what you desire
Yes, we will ask for what we desire. And if the above items are already in line with the Lord, when we are desiring His will be done in our lives,  when we are in opposition to sin and wickedness, isn’t time spent speaking with the Lord a great opportunity to sit down and examine our desires? Isn’t that a great opportunity for us to learn about the true motives of our heart and for Him to help us and guide us so that we will ask for what we desire?

You see,  many times we may ask for things that we think that we want,  but those aren’t really what we desire because we haven’t thought about the underlying consequences. You see, a lot of the time,  we pray about things and circumstances that we think that we want to work out a certain way. But that is because we are sorry sighted with limited vision. We don’t understand the ramifications and consequences,  and many times he knows better.

You see, if I want to sell my house today and that is what I pray for – selling the house really isn’t what I desire. My desire is way down deeper than the house, even deeper than the finances,  even deeper than the plans that I have in store. You see,  I can dig deep enough until I become enlightened about what the desire is at the root that is truly driving my decision – and sometimes the Lord knows that my desire will best be fulfilled by a direction,  timing,  or plan that is outside of my own perspective. And sometimes He will teach us the dangers of a “want” when we faithfully examine the underlying desire that is fueling it.

Yes, He can help us ask for what we truly desire.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the  will  of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:26‭-‬28 NKJV

and it shall be done for you
The Word of God is true. He is Faithful and True. It is through His Word that He created everything, the breath of His very spirit and life poured out into the world. It shall be done for you. This is the point of prayer.

For the word of the Lord  is right, And all His work is  done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord . By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. – Psalms 33:4‭-‬6 NKJV

The prayer of a believer, filled with the Holy Spirit and faithful in his desires, is powerful.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. – James 5:16‭-‬18 NKJV

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Is your religion defiled?

The world is turned away from truth and cannot endure sound doctrine. The world chases after whoever will tell them what they want to hear. And those who make merchandise of the gospel have no problems adjusting their message to meet the demands of their audience and to increase their friendship with the world.

False teachers love the world, not God. They may live the idea of His promises, but they do not follow in His ways. But the one who stands firm upon the Word of God finds many enemies,  and encounters opposition, and trials and tribulation – as was promised by Christ for His followers while they were in this world.

So many people seek religion, or forgiveness, or prosperity, or health – but are there any that seek the Lord? That seek His will being done in their lives?

Looking at ourselves under that same lens of examination – Whose words, and advise, and example, and influence are we consuming in our lives? What example are we giving the world by our lives?

”

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” – James 1:27 NKJV

[The religion that is acceptable to God is not a once a week participation in religious services, or morning devotionals, or offering prayers,  or giving money to so many false prophets that are making merchandise of the gospel. It is loving and serving those who are in need. It is stepping past religious observation and stepping into the role of being a disciple of Christ,  laying down your life for others. Yes, belief in the heart results in something outwardly manifested in our lives.]

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.” – John 9:31 NKJV

If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. – Psalms 66:18 NKJV

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination. – Proverbs 28:9 NKJV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:3 NKJV

[Yes, there are those who do not love God more than their sin, than their own selfish desires, who wallow in their sinful ways all week long but who show up to church, who lift their empty praise and prayers to a God who does not hear them because they serve a different master.]

Hear the word of the Lord , You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord . “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats. “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? Bring no more futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord , “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. – Isaiah 1:10‭-‬20 NKJV

[Yes, there are many false teachers who pretend to be His messengers of light, who promise injustice will be done and rewards will be given to the unfaithful,  whose lies raise a stench to the nostrils of the Lord as they promise that evil will be rewarded with good, as they dismiss repentance and righteousness and holiness because they do not desire it themselves. They trample the sacrifice of Christ under their feet, and treat the blood of the covenant as unholy and powerless, by deliberately continuing in their sin after coming to the knowledge of truth. They promise others that they will escape judgement as they slip more of their filthy lucre into their pockets. They have only a fearful expectation of judgement and raging fire, and they seek to drag many to destruction with them. The Lord will repay them,  “The Lord will judge His people.”]

Therefore thus says the Lord : “Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. – Jeremiah 11:11 NKJV

[Yes, their true master, self and mammon will fill their bellies and their purses – but the Lord will not hear them even when they cry out. They are, apostate,  they are reprobate,  they are liars Luke their father the devil.]

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for this people, for their good. When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God ! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’ ”
And the Lord said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not be in this land’—‘By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed! And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem because of the famine and the sword; they will have no one to bury them—them nor their wives, their sons nor their daughters—for I will pour their wickedness on them.’ – Jeremiah 14:11‭-‬16 NKJV

[And the Lord would not even have us pray for them other than that their doors might be closed and their false light stamped out. He would rather their altars be torn down and their idols tossed into the fire as a warning of what lies in store for them.]

APPLICATION

So what will we do with this truth?

Will it change how we come to the Lord with our praise, our worship,  our prayers?

Will we give up our empty, repetitive, religious activities and seek Him closer, alive, and growing in every part of our lives?

Will we remember in those times when we’ve let it become practiced and repeated that we are better off not lifting it at all than lifting it in vain?

It’s better not to “fake it until you make it” when it comes to the things of God. Many fall into the empty pit of religion by that trap. Instead, choose who you will serve – and stand firmly and boldly by that decision. Count the cost,  and if you believe, you’ll see that no cost in this life is written missing what lies ahead for those who are in love with their Lord and Savior.

I urge us all to seek the face of the Lord,  seek a purified heart, resist temptation, rely upon the Lord completely.

We need to Immerse ourselves in His Word, in His teaching, in prayer because we want what fruit He has to bear in our lives TODAY – not to just rely on a promise of heaven SOMEDAY.

One is an alive, undefiled relationship with Him active in your life moment to moment – the other is dead, defiled, worthless religious practice and ritual.

One is a living sacrifice lifted to Him by walking in the Spirit – the other is the stench of diseased and rotting flesh headed to destruction.

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“You’re so judgemental and hurtful!”

I speak out against sin in general – not pointing a finger at a particular person or telling them their final destination/sentence. And then, the very people that love that sin so much that they’ve claimed it as the defining name for themselves take offense as if I’m “judging them”. No, speaking truth about what is and is not sin is not judging.
YOU ARE NOT YOUR SIN.
If I am speaking about your sin, I am talking about something that has hold of you – I’m not talking about you.
 
Sin is not arbitrary, and it is not defined by the masses, it is defined by the Word of God. I do not claim to be sinless, but I do look out for the traps, the tricks, and the temptations of sin. The problem isn’t that people aren’t perfect – that’s true of all of us.
 
The first problem is that people don’t accept that sin is what God calls sin, and that is absolute. I admit that I have sin, but that I try my best to avoid it. Many try to justify to themselves that this isn’t sin or that isn’t sin because they want to believe that they are good people. You see, I acknowledge that I’m not perfect. But I’m not trying to call good bad and bad good in order to feel comfortable with who I am. I accept and acknowledge good as good and bad as bad, as defined by the Word of God.
 
The second problem is that people don’t love God, they love sin. Yes, I understand that many hate the light. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear me mention the name of Jesus Christ. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear anything about sin, repentance, discipleship. Yes, I understand that many hate to hear anything about Christianity that comes with a cost, or a commitment, or a calling, or a purpose for our lives other than to enjoy life today to its fullest. But is that biblical Christianity? Is that what Christ actually calls us to do when we look at His Word and His Commandments?
 
I understand that many people say that “the church has hurt me” and that “religion has hurt me”. I used to say the same thing. But it wasn’t that the people actually were judging me or saying things to hurt me. The truth is that I wasn’t interested in hearing the truth. I was satisfied trying to make my idea of Jesus fit whatever my lifestyle was at the time – instead of trying to make my lifestyle fit what the Word of God tells me about Jesus. I had no interest in knowing or falling in love with a real, alive, righteous and perfect God – I was satisfied loving and serving myself. The church didn’t hurt me – the conviction about truth hurt because I wasn’t willing to lay down my way of life and follow His.
 
Proverbs 9:7-12
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction[b] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;
if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
 
And some will ask, well why do you do it? Why do you throw your pearls before the swine?
 
Matthew 10:26-33
So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

If we refuse to accept the truth about ourselves and about God and about His stance when it comes to sin, how can we realize the true value of this grace?

If I talk about sin, it isn’t for judgement or for measurement and comparison – but it is so that we might wake up and see it for what it is. It isn’t something for us to toy around with. It’s serious business.

And when I realize that, it opens my eyes to not only the value of grace, but the power of His Holy Spirit to come into my life and change me.

hballingerLeave a comment

Planted. Growing?

Grace is the seed planted,
That is stirred to life by the Son,
That crashes open in the life of the believer,
As the shell of the old man is broken and torn apart,
By the new spirit and life that grows within.

Emotion can imitate grace,
Because there is a stirring,
Because there is a momentary interruption,
But the old man is not willing to tear his life apart,
And the trials prove that there is no life yet growing within.

Religious practice can imitate grace,
Because even though there is no stirring,
There is a building up of preparations,
And the old man tries to tear himself apart,
But is only deceiving himself under his own striving.

But grace received,
That wonderful annointing of the Holy Spirit,
That pours out abundantly and overflowing into the believer,
It sprouts forward in growth, in life, in hope, in faith, and in love,
And Christ can be seen shining through a new vessel,
Speaking through a new voice,
Rejoicing through new praises raised to God,
Worshiping through new acts of service at the feet of our fellow man.

You see,
The seed of grace,
It is meant to grow up into the glory of Christ.
Christ in you.
It is not powerless, but is powerful,
It is not impotent, but is full of love,
It is not enslaved to sin, but it is full of self control.
Grace alive is God’s glory growing and spreading,
And it starts in you and like the seed and pollen of a plant,
It spreads forth when it is present.
It cannot remain dead and dormant and lifeless,
It overflows hope and love for a lost world thirsting,
It overflows with righteousness and trust for the found saints hungering.

Grace is extended not as the completion,
But as the beginning of a journey towards glory.
The call to grow is the moment of the beginning of our journey,
Marked by repentance, confession, water, and blood,
And carried to its destination through hope, faith, and love,
And this life is either our living testimony or our dying testimony,
Of the destination that we are being prepared for.

Let the manure of that old man, of our flesh,
be sacrificed and left as fertilizer at the feet of the new creation.
Let us not just claim Grace, but realize Glory.
Let us not only claim Jesus Christ as Savior,
But proclaim Him as Lord over our lives,
Surrendering our will and plans and purposes and desires,
For the only prize and portion worth having.

Do you love Jesus’s Lordship as well as his Salvation?

Is His love alive in you today?

Are you ready to hand over your life to follow Him?

Do you love Jesus?

LOVE Him?

Or has the tale of the cross and the tomb grown dim and distant and forgotten in your heart?

Lord, breathe life into these dead bones. Heal our hardened hearts. Help us to fall at your feet and repent of our ungratefulness, of our empty religious practice, and of our complacency in the face of a world that is lost and headed to destruction along the broad way. Teach us to love again. Awaken the seed of your Grace, so that the world might know of your Glory. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Change, Stress, Decisions, Direction

There is a lot of change going on in our lives. And any change to out normal and expected way of life usually brings an extra level of stress over the unknown that lies ahead.

image

And the Lord tells us –

The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.
Psalms 32:8 NLT
http://bible.com/116/psa.32.8.NLT

But don’t we have a responsibility to follow His leading? He says that He will guide us and advise us and watch over us – but He doesn’t say that He will force us down His path. So isn’t there a point,  a crossroads at which we might wonder, “Where are we going? Which path should I take?”

In fact, doesn’t the next verse make it clear that He shouldn’t have to force us into following Him –

Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”
Psalms 32:9 NLT
http://bible.com/116/psa.32.9.NLT

Our perspective and relationship with God is not meant for us to be striving against His will, with Him pulling and tugging at us as He tries to keep us from stepping into the traps of this life,  as He tries to lead us into the safety of His stable and away from the slaughterhouse.

“So how does that help me know the right way? I’m looking for answers here,  coach,  not vague warnings about what to be on the lookout against.” This might be a normal response during those stressed out times where we are facing change or major decisions in our lives. It can even be our response when we are overwhelmed by the situations and circumstances of our lives. And isn’t it better for us to be honest and transparent with God in our prayers? He already knows our hearts and our thoughts anyways, right?

In fact, He promises that He will guide us and lead us. So what is it that we are overlooking? What is it that we are missing here? Why isn’t our direction clear? Why is there a tension?  Why is there stress?

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.16.33.NLT

We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing.
2 Corinthians 5:2 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.5.2.NLT

While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.
2 Corinthians 5:4 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.5.4.NLT

For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
2 Corinthians 5:7-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.5.7-10.NLT

So we have to ask ourselves, is our stress over silly things that really don’t matter? Are they over the material things of this world? Or is our struggle truly over which decision would please God – over which is good and which is evil?

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.4.4-9.NLT

So we have to ask ourselves whether or not we’ve asked Him, whether or not we are trusting and following Him, whether we are seeking the road that is in His will. And again,  we might say, “I’m not sure” – and I’ll tell you – if neither path clearly leads you contrary to God’s will, remember that you are free to live your life for His honor and glory. He is not some harsh taskmaster for His children. Not every decision is a test, nor should we be walking constantly in fear and heavy burden if He is our Father God and Lord of our life.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
1 John 4:16-18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1jn.4.16-18.NLT

If you do not trust your own deceitful heart because it has tricked and fooled you so many times before,  that is good. But God does not want to trick you or mislead you.  Trust Him. He is faithful and true. He doesn’t wish that even one will perish.

Trust Him. Have confidence in Him. He is faithful and true. The trust and the closeness is what matters. Maybe this situation is meant to bring you closer into His presence in prayer. Maybe it isn’t the situation itself that matters,  but it is the opportunity that will bring you closer to Him in heartfelt prayer. Maybe it is what is necessary to bring you into a place of greater trust in Him, and less reliance upon yourself. I really don’t know the answer,  friend. But He does.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ —for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Philippians 1:6-11 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.1.6-11.NLT

hballingerLeave a comment

Monday-Thursday? No, Maundy Thursday.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.”  And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves.  For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”  And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.  But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.  For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
Luke 22:7-8, 14-22 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.22.7-22.ESV

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”  Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”  Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”  For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”  When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?  You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.  Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.  I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’  I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
John 13:2-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.13.2-20.ESV

Today,  we remember Maundy Thursday. The word Maundy likely comes from the Latin mendicare, Old French mendier, and English maund, which means “to beg” (verb) or a “small basket” (noun) held out by maunders (beggars) as they maunded (begged). It reminds us that we are to be servants at the feet of our fellow man, putting the needs of others above our own selfish wants, humbling ourselves before God, treating others as more important than ourselves.

When sharing the Good News with the lost who do not know Him, many times I am taking the stance of beggar, pleading in my heart that they will please take this bread of the Word of God, the example and testimony of His life, and please take this blood of His sacrifice poured out as the costly, necessary payment for our sin so that we can be restored to have a relationship with righteous and holy God. My hope is that they will hear the truth in their hearts and accept it, and receive it, and believe that Christ died on that cross and was raised to life for them.

Today, I am at your feet, dear child, precious friend, beloved creation of Almighty God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, and the Lord knows the plans that He has for you, for good and not for evil, for love and life abundantly. When I am physically at your feet as a living servant,  at that same moment, I am spiritually at the feet of my Savior, Jesus Christ, in grattitude as I am annointing His feet with my grattitude through my service to you. Because He tells me that when I serve you, I am serving Him.

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.’
Matthew 25:37-40 ESV
http://bible.com/59/mat.25.37-40.ESV

And my service,  when offered with that right heart – not out of obligation, not out of religious practice, not out of seeking rewards or exhibition, but out of gratitude for the prize He has already offered me – it is a pleasing aroma of my bringing praise and glory to His name. My life following His example is the living sacrifice that I offer my Lord, out of gratitude for the grace and forgiveness that He has offered me freely – gratitude for the undeserved mercy that He has shown me because I believe and have faith in His promises and His faithfulness.

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.  For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
John 12:1-8 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jhn.12.1-8.ESV

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”   “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred  denarii, and the other fifty.  When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”  Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.”  Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.  Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:36-48 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.7.36-48.ESV

I do not bring offerings of my own good works to the feet of Christ because I think that they are valuable or worthy to Him – or because I think that they might buy me something in heaven (He tells me that my greatest works are like filthy rags). No, I bring the dust of my life,  these worthless rags of my works, the foolishness of my preaching,  to the altar because even though I know nothing I can offer is blameless or perfect enough for Him,  it is no longer about satisfying a payment due,  it is about testifying about the price already paid.

You see, I am bought with a price that I couldn’t pay – so any of my service and love poured out onto others isn’t because I’m trying to pay what is due, it’s because His payment in love for life is so overwhelming that my cup runneth over,  and I must pour out this love in service to you friend. I’ve tried being quiet. I’ve tried being still,  but this fire in my bones won’t allow it. Because I know how amazing it would be for this fire to catch hold of those still lost in the dark like I was,  because I know how hungry and thirsty I was before I found the only thing that satisfies eternally in Jesus Christ,  my Lord and Savior.

Whose feet are you called to wash today with forgiveness, with love, with encouragement, with help,  with selfless sacrifice of your wants so that their needs are fulfilled?

There are plenty of opportunities, Christian, for you to stoke the flames of that Holy Spirit fire in you through loving service to others. There are plenty of opportunities,  Christian, for you to awake, arise, and follow in the footsteps of Christ. There are plenty of opportunities,  Christian, for the world to see Christ’s love poured out today as you serving them humbly at their feet.

Please,  Lord,  soften our hardened hearts before we find ourselves so separated from you that we begin to wonder whether or not there is even a glimmer left of that flame. Please, Lord, quicken us in your Holy Spirit so that others might see past our imperfections, past our faults, to catch a glimpse of Christ at their feet – so we realize we can come to you from exactly where we are – so that we can know that you are close and not on some far away mountain – so that we can experience the love and the life change that comes from grateful obedience and service that delivers us from either empty religious compliance or outright rebellion. Lord, lead us in your ways, help us to seize the opportunity of seeing your Kingdom come in our lives today, as your will is done. Forgive us for our many imperfections as we fall short of your perfection, reminding us that we are pressing forward towards that upward call. Teach us to love you, Lord. Draw us into your presence. Change us to be more like the loving,  humble,  faithful servant we strive to know in our lives. Amen.

hballingerLeave a comment

Little Children

Do you ever ponder over the things of God? Do you wonder about His ways? What about the little children? What is their fate? What is ours?

children-are-innocent-childrens-world-16382924-670-405

INNOCENCE

See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. – Ecclesiastes 7:29 ESV

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 19:14 ESV

And said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 18:3 ESV

But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.” – 2 Samuel 12:23 ESV

Autosomal-recessive-inheritance

INHERITANCE

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. – Ezekiel 18:20 ESV

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. – 1 Corinthians 7:14 ESV

And as for your little ones, who you said would become a prey, and your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it. – Deuteronomy 1:39 ESV

Knowledge

KNOWLEDGE

For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. – Isaiah 7:16 ESV

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. – James 4:17 ESV

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. – Proverbs 20:11 ESV

The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies. – Psalm 58:3 ESV

I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. – Romans 7:9-11 ESV

Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. – Exodus 30:14 ESV

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. – Psalm 14:2-3 ESV

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. – John 3:6 ESV

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. – Romans 7:14 ESV

quote-David-Herbert-Lawrence-this-is-the-very-worst-wickedness-that-90120

SIN

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. – Genesis 6:5 ESV

Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. – Ephesians 2:12 ESV

salvation

SALVATION

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, – Romans 4:1-25 ESV

And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. – Genesis 8:21 ESV

Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. – 1 Peter 1:18-19 ESV

Zech4_6

POWER

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being – Ephesians 3:16 ESV

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. – 1 Corinthians 4:20 ESV

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, – Colossians 1:11 ESV

That your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:5 ESV

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV

repentance

REPENTANCE / RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT

Ezekiel 18:1-32
The word of the Lord came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right— if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity, does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man, walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.

“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things (though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife, oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination, lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.

“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise: he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife, does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live. As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”