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Good News

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Luke 2:8-21 ESV
http://bible.com/59/luk.2.8-21.ESV

Your gift is under the tree

This gift is for YOU, so please don’t leave it under the tree.

Grace – is the free gift OFFERED.

Hope – is DECIDING that we want it.

Faith – is DEMONSTRATING that we want it.

Love – is the EVIDENCE that we have received it.

Don’t leave your gift under the tree,
under that old rugged tree,
on which Jesus Christ died
for you and for me.
Don’t leave your gift
unopened, unused.

This gift is for YOU!

Come,  join us in celebration Wednesday night or Thursday at 4 Points Church – or in any of the many gathering places this week that will lift up His name in praise and worship. 

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.9.6-7.NLT

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,
Luke 2:8-18 NLT
http://bible.com/116/luk.2.8-18.NLT

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/eph.2.8-10.NLT

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
James 4:6-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jas.4.6-10.NLT

Closed doors present new opportunities

Now I call upon God as my witness that I am telling the truth. The reason I didn’t return to Corinth was to spare you from a severe rebuke. But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.
2 Corinthians 1:23-24 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.1.23-24.NLT

Sometimes I want to help people that I see in need, but their ways and their words and their visible actions make it clear that they are not interested in the help that they truly need. And sometimes the Holy Spirit allows me to extend grace and bring gentle encouragement to them by helping them in both their physical needs and their spiritual needs. But at times, even when my plans were to help, the urgings of the Holy Spirit will guide me away from those plans and lead me along a path that I didn’t expect or close a door in front of me.

I used to get frustrated with myself for not always helping in every instance because I didn’t want to be without compassion. I looked at 1 John 3 and knew that I had not been living and compassionate towards others in my life,  so being compassionate towards those in need is a continued focus in keeping my prideful nature under control.

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.
1 John 3:17-19 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1jn.3.17-19.NLT

But as a watchman and as a keeper of my brothers and sisters, when I see others in danger of destruction,  I cannot hold my tongue and allow them to go on to destruction unaware of their final destination – so when others’ lives demonstrate that they are still a slave to those things that the Word of God tells us “will not inherit the Kingdom of God”, I not only want to warn them so that they might turn to Christ and know salvation, I also have a duty myself to share the Truth and the Good News of Christ.

But there are those who have heard the truth but who do not have ears to hear. There are those whose hearts are hardened against the truth. There are those who are not ready to yield their lives to Christ. And these people are not uncommon,  many of them even sit in pews or carry the title of Christian even though they have no interest in bearing His name in their daily lives as a living example and sacrifice. I know,  because I used to walk that lost sheep walk as well.

And when I was deep in darkness and turned away from God’s will,  separated from fellowship with God, I had no real interest in hearing His voice – so even an encouragement or even a rebuke would not have produced the immediate response that someone would have wanted in return. You see, I was a pig, and casting pearls to me could have put them in danger of me turning on them. And I wouldn’t have turned on them because I hated them, but, I could have turned on them because my flesh hated the truth of the light and what it exposed in my own heart.

You see,  sometimes the Lord protects us by not allowing us to jump in the mud with the pigs and get torn to shreds by our compassion and benevolence towards those who might be a danger. There have been times that I intended to help someone and the door was closed. I used to let the enemy use that against me as I would let guilt and shame creep in. But now,  I understand that a closed door is sometimes for both my protection and for their protection. He knows best.

And don’t misunderstand what I am saying – make no mistake, if I use this as an excuse to have no compassion towards others,  I am blind and stumbling and lost. But walking in the Spirit is more than a set of “if this, do that” rules for our lives.

Many are not ready to hear the truth. Many are not ready to yield to His will. And I believe that in this case c with Paul and the church at Corinth, that Paul wanted to go see them and help them. But it was clearly evident to God who knows all things what Paul’s required response would have been towards the state of their lives of those in Corinth at that moment, and knowing what was best both for Paul and for the people, He closed a door on Paul’s plan because, He had a better plan in mind.

By bringing Paul’s motives into question in the minds of those at Corinth who expected Paul to follow through on what he said he was going to do – Paul’s plan to return to them – it put them in the right frame of mind to receive a message about them not following through on what they said they were going to do when they accepted Christ. And it closed off the door of them being in a defensive stance where they might have seen a rebuke from Paul as judgemental and condemning – even though he would have been fully justified in rebuking them for their rebellious lifestyles.

Isn’t it amazing how His ways wind and turn and shift things so that even the closed doors, even the broken plans, can be worked out for good when we are faithful. And it wasn’t even the people at Corinth that were faithful in this instance,  but they received a blessing and an encouraging correction in the right time and in the right way because Paul was faithful to follow the guidance of the Lord instead of insisting on adhering to his original plan.

So there are a few points that I pay attention to in this lesson:

1) that the letter of the law isn’t meant for us to use to domineer over others who are lost – it isn’t a sword to be drawn against the lost and used to slay them – but they need to hear and know the truth of sin and the good news of Jesus Christ

2) that the Word of God and the Law of Christ is meant for His Children and that we should stand firm upon it so that we enjoy the fullness of a life redeemed and abiding with the Lord – or we need a correction or a rebuke

3) those of us who have the spiritual discernment to understand what is happening and can identify the dangers and snares should be ready with encouragement,  correction,  or even a rebuke

4) that we should be Holy Spirit led and accepting the doors that are opened and closed and having faith that He is in control and that His plans are better than our own

5) that we shouldn’t see correction or rebuke as any less loving than simple encouragement,  as long as it is spoken in truth – otherwise are we seeking God’s will for our lives or just seeking others to join us in justifying our own sinful lives that are headed to destruction

Have Faith & Walk Upright, Child of God.

Do you know love?

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.13.NLT

Love is not a feeling.

The world is confused about the word love. Those who don’t understand it and those who don’t have it try to substitute lesser things to explain love.

Love is action.

“Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God himself. Love involves unselfish service to others; to show it gives evidence that you care.” – Life Application Study Bible

This is why James tells us that Faith without works is dead – because He is trying to explain to the deceived that Hope and Faith will manifest Love – it will produce action.

Hope is our focus and attitude and direction being set upon the things of God.

Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message, of His divine instruction for our lives,  it is His Word written upon our hearts. It isn’t just about trusting God, even though that is a necessary component. It is about knowing God too. Faith is the tie that binds us to God and to other believers in both unity and purpose.

When faith and hope are in their proper orientation between us and our creator,  Lord,  and Savior – when our focus is upon Him and we are walking the narrow path of Discipleship,  not deceived by the tricks of ththe enemy, we are free to love completely because we understand how God loves.

Love is action.

Love is Christ’s very nature that is alive in us, pouring out onto a world in need of His love, in need of His presence, in need of His redemption.

The Christian walk only begins at salvation,  at that point where we find our Hope in Jesus Christ. That moment of Hope in surrendering to Christ is not our crossing the finish line, it is the start of us choosing to run the proper race, it is our eyes being opened to understand and see the narrow path dimly as if through a fog.

Faith is the path itself as we head back to our Father’s house – as we learn and apply His divine instructions in our hearts, as our thoughts and desires and self control are brought more in line with His nature,  with His righteousness.

And love is the action. It is not empty words. It is not the hunger of lust. It is not the bubbling feeling of anticipation and butterflies. It is not thetrading and bartering of politeness towards one another through manipulation. Love is the inevitable outward result of a life no longer focused on self,  but focused on God and others. It is active and it is alive, it is the very nature of God,  alive in us.

Do you know love?

Do you love?

If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:1-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.13.1-7.NLT

Do not settle for anything less,  friend. Do not settle for religion or lust or anything in this world that falls short of Christ alive in you – that falls short of love.

If you love me, obey my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
John 14:15-17 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.14.15-17.NLT

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:34-35 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.13.34-35.NLT

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

If Hope,  Faith and Love are eternal – aren’t these the very blessings and treasures that we want to store up for eternity? Isn’t it clear that these are the truly valuable blessings that nourish our eternal soul? Isn’t it clear to us the characteristics of the fruit of a good tree?

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

So let’s be sure that we’ve set our eyes upon the treasure that is eternal and will not rot or rust.

Let’s just not be claimers of the name of Christ,  let us be bearers of the Spirit of Christ.

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.
1 John 4:7-13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1jn.4.7-13.NLT

Tricks of the Devil

1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

I started my online journal back in the end of February and it has now been active for 9 months. I share some of what I am studying and learning each day. I’m sure than many thought that my primary reason would have been to reach out to the lost with the Gospel, but you’d be wrong – my foremost reason was for others who are wiser than me to examine what I’m studying and to provide feedback and correction and guidance in case I headed off into error. My primary reason was to have other believers hold me accountable and come alongside me to grow and learn and sharpen one another. I really thought that maybe my parents and a few other pastor friends would be the only ones occasionally checking in on me and giving me gentle correction and guidance. But God had other plans.

My daily journal has gone from something that a handful of people that I knew in real life looked at a few times a month, to something that has opened up friendships with other believers across the globe. It has turned into something that is reaching 7-8 people each day with the Word of God. That might not sound like a lot, but when I consider that I have lived many days of my life without ever speaking about God a single time to other people around me, it is encouraging to know that every day people are interested in hearing about God, and that I get to be a part of that conversation. When I realize that those few people consistently each day add up to 1058 different times that I was able to share the Word of God with others in a 9 month period – it takes on a whole different meaning. That’s 1058 times that someone was interested in knowing more about Jesus Christ and I was able to help them through something that is the start of my day each morning.

 

But here is the rub. If I look at that and I’m proud, I’m not being watchful, I’m not being sober-minded. You see, the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour, and if I think that I can claim credit for any of this, as little as it is, I’m mistaken. In fact, if it is my own work, it isn’t anything worth claiming anyway, as it is filthy rags in the sight of God. So my hope and my confidence lies in the fact that it isn’t mine at all – that I’m just the messenger, that I’m just the vessel, that I’m just a conduit for the Good News of Jesus Christ to reach out to the world. And if He uses me for little, I’m grateful and thankful for the opportunity even to be used. And if He uses me for much, I’m humbled that he might use even me.

Yes, learning to be content… not insisting on being a world changer myself… not insisting on doing great and visible things for God… but being thankful for how He is already using me… and pressing on to find new ways to open my life up for Him to use me – that is the safe place to lay my head and rest, in His will, in His arms. And I say this because each day I’m learning things that need to be corrected and expanded in my life and especially in my knowledge and closeness to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

You see, I don’t think that I’ve got it nailed. I don’t claim to have it all right. But I am seeking Him sober-minded and being watchful to the best of my ability. And I’m not relying only upon my own ability. See, He gave me this gift of the Holy Spirit who lives in me and teaches me, and convicts me, and guides me, and over time changes me. So my goal is to do my best to get out of the way and let Him shine through. Yes, Jesus Christ lives in me and in you who are believers and followers of Christ. We together are the body of Christ and He manifests himself into this world, He brings His Kingdom Come through our lives – not just our words, but through our actions and our decisions, and yes even through our innermost desires that affect our thoughts and decisions.

So I don’t ask myself what did I do yesterday for Christ. Nor do I ask myself did I once upon a time say a prayer to Him. Nor do I ask myself if I will one day be able to walk with Him in heaven. I ask myself, am I walking with Him today, even now? I ask myself what am I going to do right NOW to bring Him honor and glory? What am I doing right NOW to cling to Him and to deny myself? What am I doing right NOW to remember the sacrifice that He made for me upon the cross? What am I doing right NOW to show His mercy and love to others? What am I doing right NOW to share Hope, Faith, Love and Truth from the Word of God with others?

So right NOW, I’m sharing with you, in hopes that we might find unity and purpose together in serving the Lord with our lives. And tonight, I’ll be attending classes and training so that I might one day be ordained and be able to expand my territory. And this week, I’ll be sharing the Good News in the jail, and in my home, and in the streets, and in church, and yes, even on the Internet so that it might through YOU reach the ends of the earth. And it won’t just be with talking about it, but doing it. Loving and caring about the people that are hurting and in need of help.

So my hope is that it doesn’t stop here, but that you take this Word of God and spread it. My hope is that this light will be multiplied and spread through you to others. That’s how it works, unless it stops. So today, I hope you will choose to shine your light and share. Don’t let the light stop. Go, shine, carry the flame forth today, NOW.

And while you’re at it, be a good Berean and examine what I share closely, and be sure to hold me accountable and correct me with gentleness in anything that you might believe is in error – so that we both might be sharpened together and find unity upon this narrow path. May God bless you and  quicken you and draw you even closer into His arms as you go forth, Child of God, Servant of Man.

Additional Reading: http://www.openbible.info/topics/tricks_of_the_devil

 

Self Defense

If you have questions about God’s position on Self Defense, War, etc. – I suggest contemplating these scriptures and their implications for both physical and spiritual defense of yourself and your family. Remember, God weighs the heart – so consider and examine your heart (your intent, desire, and the true reasons behind your actions – reflect your willingness to obey God’s will as opposed to your own personal opinions or desires).

We have an ability and a responsibility to provide for and protect our families.

Luke 11:21 ESV
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Be prepared to defend yourself

Luke 22:36 ESV
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.

Psalm 144:1 ESV
Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

Nehemiah 4:17-18 ESV
Who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.

Live peaceably if it is possible

Romans 12:18 ESV
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Matthew 5:39
But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

But do not give way before the wicked. Stand up for truth.

Proverbs 25:26 ESV

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Psalm 94:16 ESV
Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?

And be prepared even to die for the protection of others if necessary.

John 15:13 ESV
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

There will be times when we are at peace and times when we are at war.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 ESV
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

Do not let yourself fall into a spirit of revenge, ours is to protect, vengeance is His to repay.

Romans 12:19 ESV
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Rulers have the authority to bear the sword as an avenger on behalf of God’s will.

Romans 13:1-14 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

Numbers 31:3 ESV
So Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian.

1 Samuel 25:13 ESV
And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.

Joel 3:10 ESV
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.”

Esther 8:11 ESV
Saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

Not all killing is murder. In fact, sometimes not killing is not obeying God’s will.

1 Samuel 15 (ESV)

The Lord Rejects Saul

15 And Samuel said to Saul, “The Lord sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the Lord. ² Thus says theLord of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. ³ Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction^[a] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

⁴ So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. ⁵ And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. ⁶ Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. ⁷ And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.⁸ And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves^[b]and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

¹⁰ The word of the Lord came to Samuel: ¹¹ “I regret^[c] that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.¹² And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” ¹³ And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” ¹⁴ And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” ¹⁵ Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the Lord your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” ¹⁶ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”

¹⁷ And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And theLord sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ ¹⁹ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the Lord?” ²⁰ And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the Lord. I have gone on the mission on which the Lordsent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. ²¹ But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.” ²² And Samuel said,

³² Then Samuel said, “Bring here to me Agag the king of the Amalekites.” And Agag came to him cheerfully.^[d] Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” ³³ And Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so shall your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

³⁴ Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. ³⁵ And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

 

Believe?

believe –
v. to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so

Confidence in the truth. Confidence NOW.

Imaginary, pretended, phony – or real?

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:9-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.12.9-10.NLT

1) Love people. Genuine love
2) Hate what is wrong.
3) Delight in honoring each other

I’m realizing that many that I hear speaking religious/spiritual messages are good at 2 out of the 3, but few encorporate all 3 equally into a message. Yes, even my own imperfect delivery at times leans to one or the other – that’s why I’m still growing and learning. 

Many worldly churches of the day are excited to talk about loving others and honoring each other, but they carve out the parts of the Word of God that talk about hating what is wrong,  about living a righteous life, about the cost of Discipleship,  about being fit for the kingdom of God,  about God being a righteous God. The excuses given are that is will scare people away from coming and hearing the Word of God, that it will limit their attendance, and their reach – and clearly,  we know that it will hurt their income as well if those uncomfortable with hearing the whole Word of God were being fed. Many would say things like,  it’s all up to God to change me – if I’m still sinning,  it’s because, He hasn’t changed that yet – but I have faith that He will one day (while they continue happily in their lives of sin,  with no real interest in a life following Him).

But also,  many loveless churches focus on hating what is wrong and honoring each other – focusing on the letter of the law and using it to measure and compare one another,  even dividing themselves into classes and levels of believers with words like clergy and laity. They overlook mercy and grace and forgiveness and become cold to the struggles of those in captivity and powerless to see fruit in their own, because they are examining their lives from a perspective of what they can accomplish under their own power. They are striving to live up to the standard of Jesus Christ,  while denying the very power that might save them.

And the two are veryvgood at pointing fingersateachother and casting stones, and crying “false teacher” towards one another, but right down the middle between those two well worn, broad paths to destruction, there is a narrow path.

If you think that grace is a license to continue in your sinful ways,  you are mistaken. Repent,  and seek first the Kingdom of God and RIGHTEOUSNESS. If you think that you can earn God’s favor, if you think that you can hate sin enough to make up for your lack of love for other people,  you are mistaken. Repent, go and learn what it means that He desires MERCY and not sacrifice.

The challenge is that if we have people who have been hurt and who have seen the error in the teachers sitting happily on “either side” instead of firmly upon the narrow path – they may move to a teacher who is on the “other side” – and we may end up with folks blown back and forth by the wind. Or we get someone already heavily influenced towards one side being fed more and more in that direction as they are seeking a message that suits their itchy ears, instead of receiving correction that sets them back on the narrow path. If we are not being challenged and convicted by a teacher but it is only reinforcing our existing stance,  we should ask ourselves if we are being fed,  if we are growing, or if we are just content and complacent warming a familiar pew/seat.

And I tell you, the problem is not as much the false teachers as it is the people not being genuinely interested in a relationship with their creator. Many would rather listen to a teacher than seek the Lord themselves – so we end up with a world of sheep and goats running around, becoming familiar with the roaring voices of hirelings, but how few are listening for the still, quiet voice of the Good Shepherd? There is a demand from this fallen world and the lost for teachings of darkness masked as if they were light, and as a result,  you find wolves and hirelings.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. ”
John 3:19-21 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.3.19-21.NLT

You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
2 Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2ti.3.1-5.NLT

The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Romans 13:12-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.13.12-14.NLT

Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. Who are you to condemn someone else’s servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord’s help, they will stand and receive his approval.
In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.
So why do you condemn another believer ? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord , ‘every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God. ’” Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.
Romans 14:1-13 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.14.1-13.NLT

May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.
Romans 15:5-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/rom.15.5-7.NLT

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/1co.1.10.NLT

Work Hard

At times,  I struggle finding the right balance of:

1) personal time with God & self examination
(My eternity – I am no help to anyone if I am blind myself)
(Love God, Obedience, First Fruits)

2) providing for my family’s spiritual needs
(Our eternity – they are a part of me and assigned to me unless cast off)
(Obedience, Follow His example – Treat my wife like Christ treated the a church, as first fruits unto Him, special and set aside)

Continue reading “Work Hard” →