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Attitude & Desires

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:27-29 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jhn.6.27-29.NKJV

What are you laboring for most in your life?

What is your greatest desire?

What is it that you’re all in and won’t stop striving for even until your death?

What is it that you’re willing to suffer for and go through trials and tribulation for?

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rev.2.10.NKJV

Let’s remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their faithfulness. They refused to worship the gold statue set up by King Nebuchadnezzar. They were not willing to compromise all that they believed. They took their stands for the living God, even if it meant death. And even though they were thrown into the fiery furnace,  God delivered them.

As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:36-39 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/rom.8.36-39.NKJV

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Tough Love?

And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Jude 1:22-23 NKJV
http://bible.com/114/jud.1.22-23.NKJV

With children, some situations call for compassion and some call for correction. If all we ever offer is compassion,  we will end up with selfish,  manipulative little devils. And if all we offer is correction,  we will end up with resentful,  rebellious little devils. It takes both to be an effective parent. And it takes listening to and receiving both to grow in maturity.

It is the same with the Kingdom of God. We must be willing to receive both His mercy and His discipline. Both are ingredients necessary for growth and survival.

A fool with little vision or understanding, looking at the strong heat of the sun bearing down on plants day after day, might see outwardly that the sun is causing them to bend under its power might, but not having any knowledge or understanding of what is going on inside the plant, this fool might completely misunderstand the purpose for the sun’s brightness shining down on the plants so they can grow closer to the sun.

This same fool might look at the soil of the earth and the rains that come down on the plant and bless the rain for providing the plant with mercy while cursing the sin for the harsh trials that it puts these plants through, not realizing that only through the sun – through its transforming the materials provided by the earth and rain to the plant – can any fruit be grown. Without the sun, no amount of water and soil will rise up to be anything more than water,  dirt,  or mud. It is the warmth of the sun,  and the power of its repeated, powerful shining down on the plants that awakens the seed to burst forth from the ground and reach towards the heavens as it grows.

And this is how our trials grow us. This is why both the mercy and the trials are important. If all we are interested in is the rain of His mercy and the resources of the soil of this earth – if we listen to the twisted message of the enemy and are interested only in receiving the rain of forgiveness and the wealth and comforts of this world,  but we refuse the trials and correction and discipline of repentance – don’t we understand that we are rolling in the mud like the pigs instead of reaching towards the heavens?

And if we will speak to others about Christ, if we will call ourselves teachers of His one way,  one truth,  one life – aren’t we called to follow Him in that way and to share the whole truth of this Christian life – not just the same story of the rain and the soil that even the pigs know how to get excited about – but singing praises of His trials and tribulations and discipline and chastisement and correction and redemption and delivery from the soil to reach for the heavens, yearning to escape the mud and grow closer to the sun?

Yes,  even the pigs get excited about rain and soil. Even the pigs get excited about forgiveness and prosperity. But only the living and growing plants appreciate the heat of the trials and sufferings and persecution that we as, Christians are promised in this life – because we understand that is where the growth happens,  that is where the escape from the ways of this world occurs, that is what draws us closer and closer to the source of our life even while we are still planted in the ground.

The Lord has made the sun shine down,  the rains fall down, and the earth to break open and allow room for our roots to grow deep – not so that we can cling tightly to this world,  but so that we can grow taller and higher and closer to the heavens. But if we are only grounded in the soil and mud, the storms of adversity would tip us over and we would only be useful as wood for the fire. We look to grow upward.

And we are meant to be those who abandon the ways of this world – those who follow Christ faithfully – those who are not just called to grow – those who have been chosen to be grafted into the strong and sturdy vine of Christ. Once we are tapped into that strong vine of Christ, when we are a branch that has been grafted into His tree, when we have Him as our foundation, we are not only growing towards the heavens,  but living alongside and with our Savior daily.

So we should ask ourselves where we are in this journey? Are we still rolling in the mud? Are we just bursting forth from the ground? Are we cursing the strong heat of the trials, wishing we were back in the mud? Are we shooting up fast and high above the mud in pride of our own accomplishments only to be withered away and fruitless because we are looking down on others and not up at the sun? Have we grown in the past,  but we’ve let ourselves become stunted in our growth because of our concern over whether we’ve gathered enough soil and water at the base of our roots,  worried about our toppling over instead of expecting to be grafted into a new vine? Have we been grafted in and we’re excited to see new buds growing on our branches? Have we been bearing fruit for some time but we’re wondering where it all went?

Yes, we are each at a different place in this journey – but we all have the opportunity to continue growing instead of turning back to the mud. There is something much better than the mud, friends, isn’t there? Don’t you know the truth? Tell someone else,  and find out if they also know that there is something better than the mud. Yes,  we all played in the mud at one time, but we have a better destination and purpose available. Are you Called? Following?  Chosen?

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The fool’s heart and actions say, “There is no God”

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. 

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. 

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord ?  There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. 

You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge.  Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.
Psalm 14:1-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/psa.14.1-7.ESV

There was a time when I walked like a fool,  when I talked like a fool,  when I did foolish things because I did not understand,  because I did not seek after God. I didn’t care about anything nearly as much as I cared about myself. I wanted money,  power,  reputation,  honor from men,  control over the things around me, the ability to enjoy the pleasures of this world without limit, the ability to take and have what want rightfully mine. You see,  I want interested in justice. It wasn’t even about “just us”. It was about “just me”.

But all of that came with a cost. Because that matter that I was serving didn’t know anything about good gifts. Everything that I received eventually revealed an unexpected cost or consequence. That’s what happens when you wish to a genie for the things of this world that he can give you instead of serving the one true God who will give you eternal blessings. Do you realize these are two different masters? Do you know that only one has your loyalty?

You see, we started out serving that other master, but we have an opportunity for our lives to teach. Not everyone else has to be a fool. Not everyone else has to have a wasted youth. Not everyone else has to carry the same scars on their character that reveal the battles we have been through. Not everyone has to be a Paul.

Do you realize that because of Paul’s life example and teaching,  young Timothy’s life was much different? Do we realize that because of the faithful people around him,  Samuel’s life from the time that he was a boy was very different than the world? I wonder how often we don’t understand the impact that our turn from foolishness,  however early or late in our own lives might have on the lives of those around us?

You see,  we aren’t meant to walk and act like fools. And what could be more foolish than claiming with our mouths that we are a child of God,  but living like a child of hell.

If we come to the end of our lives and we have imitated a kind of godliness with some half hearted interest in religion and in escaping hell,  but we have continually denied the power that could make us a holy people set apart for His use, that could reconcile us day to day as we draw close to Him – will we have any defense against the one and only unpardonable sin,  to blaspheme the very Holy Spirit that seeks to save us from ruin?

You see, man would look at each others words to make a decision, a measurement,  a judgement, about the wisdom or foolishness of a man.

But God judges our hearts, because the tongues of wicked men are full of lies and deceit and their slippery words will attempt to hide their true desires.

We cannot fool God about who our real master is. I just wonder if we examine the example of our life’s actions closely enough to reveal who it is most of us truly serve – or if we have been trickled by our slick words and thoughts justifying our own wicked ways.

Our life example is either creating situations where others might learn from our faithfulness and live a life like Samuel and Timothy where there is abundant life throughout – or our life example may leave them with ways years before they seek the Lord and become fruitful and useful to the Lord – or maybe their whole lives are wasted, lost in fruitlessness.

Do we care enough to live differently?

Are we tired of playing the fool?

May we have the eyes,  ears,  and hearts to receive the Lord’s wisdom,  and the understanding to apply it in our lives today. Don’t let it be stolen away from us,  but let us cling to your guidance today and see our lives changed,  and let us find comfort in knowing that tools and opportunities are being stripped from the hands of the enemy by the faithful example of our lives,  visible to all. Help us to rest in your strength,  Lord, so that we will remain humble and not proud even as you refine our lives to be more like you. In your authority, crush the enemy beneath our feet, and rebuke him, Lord, for standing in the way of the needy and the oppressed and the afflicted and the meek and the mourning. Come, Holy Spirit,  come, and fill our lives with your righteous and holy and loving nature. And we wait expectantly and cry out,  come Lord Jesus,  come,  and deliver your people from this world of foolishness and wickedness. Amen.

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Rare and Precious

NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; there was no frequent or widely spread vision. – 1 Samuel 3:1 AMP
http://bible.com/8/1sa.3.1.AMP

Just like in the days of Samuel,  the Word of the Lord today is “rare” and “precious” – and there is no frequent or widely spread vision. Someone might read this and say,  “but I see religious things posted all over Facebook, and there is a church on every street corner these days, how can you say it is rare?”

That question just goes to prove my point, because there is a valuable difference between the veiled or dead relationship most of the world has when it comes to the Bible – versus the life that it generates in a follower of Christ as the revealed Word of the Lord, as the vision, message, and purpose for our lives that we’ve accepted to lead and guide us. And this unveiling off His Word is for every person that accepts Christ, not just for educated or religious people.

What I’m telling you is that the revealed Word of God is bigger than our preconceived notions about a book written with ink on paper by the hands of mere mortal men. The Word of God is breathed out and inspired and it will breathe abundant life and understanding into the lives of His children, because they will recognize and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, because it has been His same voice since the beginning.

Let’s get back to Hannah’s boy Samuel and be ministered to by his example –

Samuel wasn’t one of the sons of Eli that inherited a position as a priest, as a religious teacher. In fact, it’s the contrast of the darkness and rebellion of these hypocritical “teachers of the law” – that revealed this boy Samuel’s ministering as rare and precious. And it was because he had the vision to share the Word of the Lord, while the others just spoke of religious things. While the sons of Eli, the hereditary protests, were plunging the nation into debauchery, and making men turn away from the Tabernacle services – Hannah’s son, Samuel, was ministering unto the Lord, and even though he was no priest of Israel,  he was clearly a priest in the order of Melchezidek.

And isn’t this true of the overwhelming number of false teachers today that lead people into debauchery and lasciviousness while they print fake heaven tickets, sold for a practiced prayer and a payment plan? Aren’t these the same that are eager to speak of kingdoms and favor and honor while denying the righteousness that comes from a holy spirit of power,  love and self-control?

How rare it is today to find a Samuel. How precious it is to find someone with the vision and complete surrender to the Word of God in their life, not just in their hypocritical words.

One commentator explained Samuel as a white flower growing on top of a dunghill. I think this is a fairly accurate description of those faithful servants today who stand firmly upon the foundation and hold the Word of God as precious, rare, and more valuable than the corrupted, rebellious, and twisted opinions of men.

So we can see the contrast and identify both the value of a teacher like Samuel and the danger of teachers like the sons of Eli. But we can also see a comparison between the types of Christian “walks”. We can see a contrast between the Samuel type of faithful follower since birth growing and serving the Lord through – and the Paul type of apostle that was redeemed from being a persecutor of the church. In fact,  Timothy of the New Testament is more of the Samuel type even as he was a student of Paul.

And if we know that we are the Paul type of follower of Christ,  don’t we want our children to be the type of Samuel and Timothy who remain close and faithful to the Lord throughout their whole lives? We are grateful for the sheer quantity of sin forgiven from our lives, and the drastic change in our lives is a great assurance to ourselves and is great testimony to the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus Christ. But even through we know this life experience of a wasted youth saved by the arresting mercy of Goods grace is what makes us more earnest, humble, and whole-heartedly surrendered – we also recognize the serenity and continuity of a life grown up in the fear of God that has its own charm and blessing.

So it is my hope as a Paul type that my daughter will be a Samuel or Timothy type. McLaren comments on this passage –

“It is well to have ‘much transgression’ forgiven, but it may be better to have always been ‘innocent’ and ignorant of it. Pardon cleanses sin, and even turns the memory of it into an ally of holiness; but traces are left on character, and, at the best, years have been squandered which do not return. Samuel is the pattern of child religion and service, to which teachers should aim that their children may be conformed.”

You see,  I’ve walked that dusty road of an enemy of God changed by the blinding light at the Damascus road – and that life is not what I hope might be modeled and copied. In fact, it is the danger of that old life and the waste and ruin that it produced for a time that should cry out from the mountaintops that His way is better. I do not envy the Samuel way,  because I have died to that old life and now I walk as a new creation so that others might see my life’s testimony and choose a smarter path.

You see,  there is great value in the rare life surrendered and faithful to the Word of God. And it is so precious, that when we grasp hold off it,  when we become unveiled to its truth, we might even realize that the blessing can be given to our children as the double portion of a life like a Samuel, Timothy,  or Elisha. And I’m not just talking about our children by birth,  but doesn’t Christ bid us to go out and feed His sheep? Aren’t we each royal priests and ambassadors taking this Good News out to His children? How many might see the rate and precious life of a Samuel instead of a Paul if we were just faithful and spiritually mature and teaching them off His ways?

So are you a Paul or a Samuel?

Will the children of God you influence be satisfied being a Paul or will they know the rare and precious life of a Samuel by following the example of your life today?

Or there is one other option,  that you are neither a Paul or a Samuel – still a slave to your sin,  still lost in the darkness,  not yet a Paul or Samuel at all, not even unveiled or aware of the destruction that you have chosen for yourself.

Regardless of where you were up to this moment, choose to fill your life with more of this rare and precious Word of the Lord today. Let it breathe more abundant life into your heart. Decide to drink of this living water that Jesus Christ offers you freely and openly. Have your eyes opened to the living Word of God. Stand and walk upright,  friend.

hballingerLeave a comment

NOW THE boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare and precious in those days; there was no frequent or widely spread vision. – 1 Samuel 3:1 AMP
http://bible.com/8/1sa.3.1.AMP

Just like in the days of Samuel,  the Word of the Lord today is “rare” and “precious” – and there is no frequent or widely spread vision. Someone might read this and say,  “but I see religious things posted all over Facebook, and there is a church on every street corner these days, how can you say it is rare?”

That question just goes to prove my point, because there is a valuable difference between the veiled or dead relationship most of the world has when it comes to the Bible – versus the life that it generates in a follower of Christ as the revealed Word of the Lord, as the vision, message, and purpose for our lives that we’ve accepted to lead and guide us. And this unveiling off His Word is for every person that accepts Christ, not just for educated or religious people.

What I’m telling you is that the revealed Word of God is bigger than our preconceived notions about a book written with ink on paper by the hands of mere mortal men. The Word of God is breathed out and inspired and it will breathe abundant life and understanding into the lives of His children, because they will recognize and hear the voice of the Good Shepherd, because it has been His same voice since the beginning.

Let’s get back to Hannah’s boy Samuel and be ministered to by his example –

Samuel wasn’t one of the sons of Eli that inherited a position as a priest, as a religious teacher. In fact, it’s the contrast of the darkness and rebellion of these hypocritical “teachers of the law” – that revealed this boy Samuel’s ministering as rare and precious. And it was because he had the vision to share the Word of the Lord, while the others just spoke of religious things. While the sons of Eli, the hereditary protests, were plunging the nation into debauchery, and making men turn away from the Tabernacle services – Hannah’s son, Samuel, was ministering unto the Lord, and even though he was no priest of Israel,  he was clearly a priest in the order of Melchezidek.

And isn’t this true of the overwhelming number of false teachers today that lead people into debauchery and lasciviousness while they print fake heaven tickets, sold for a practiced prayer and a payment plan? Aren’t these the same that are eager to speak of kingdoms and favor and honor while denying the righteousness that comes from a holy spirit of power,  love and self-control?

How rare it is today to find a Samuel. How precious it is to find someone with the vision and complete surrender to the Word of God in their life, not just in their hypocritical words.

One commentator explained Samuel as a white flower growing on top of a dunghill. I think this is a fairly accurate description of those faithful servants today who stand firmly upon the foundation and hold the Word of God as precious, rare, and more valuable than the corrupted, rebellious, and twisted opinions of men.

So we can see the contrast and identify both the value of a teacher like Samuel and the danger of teachers like the sons of Eli. But we can also see a comparison between the types of Christian “walks”. We can see a contrast between the Samuel type of faithful follower since birth growing and serving the Lord through – and the Paul type of apostle that was redeemed from being a persecutor of the church. In fact,  Timothy of the New Testament is more of the Samuel type even as he was a student of Paul.

And if we know that we are the Paul type of follower of Christ,  don’t we want our children to be the type of Samuel and Timothy who remain close and faithful to the Lord throughout their whole lives? We are grateful for the sheer quantity of sin forgiven from our lives, and the drastic change in our lives is a great assurance to ourselves and is great testimony to the redeeming power of the blood of Jesus Christ. But even through we know this life experience of a wasted youth saved by the arresting mercy of Goods grace is what makes us more earnest, humble, and whole-heartedly surrendered – we also recognize the serenity and continuity of a life grown up in the fear of God that has its own charm and blessing.

So it is my hope as a Paul type that my daughter will be a Samuel or Timothy type. McLaren comments on this passage –

“It is well to have ‘much transgression’ forgiven, but it may be better to have always been ‘innocent’ and ignorant of it. Pardon cleanses sin, and even turns the memory of it into an ally of holiness; but traces are left on character, and, at the best, years have been squandered which do not return. Samuel is the pattern of child religion and service, to which teachers should aim that their children may be conformed.”

You see,  I’ve walked that dusty road of an enemy of God changed by the blinding light at the Damascus road – and that life is not what I hope might be modeled and copied. In fact, it is the danger of that old life and the waste and ruin that it produced for a time that should cry out from the mountaintops that His way is better. I do not envy the Samuel way,  because I have died to that old life and now I walk as a new creation so that others might see my life’s testimony and choose a smarter path.

You see,  there is great value in the rare life surrendered and faithful to the Word of God. And it is so precious, that when we grasp hold off it,  when we become unveiled to its truth, we might even realize that the blessing can be given to our children as the double portion of a life like a Samuel, Timothy,  or Elisha. And I’m not just talking about our children by birth,  but doesn’t Christ bid us to go out and feed His sheep? Aren’t we each royal priests and ambassadors taking this Good News out to His children? How many might see the rate and precious life of a Samuel instead of a Paul if we were just faithful and spiritually mature and teaching them off His ways?

So are you a Paul or a Samuel?

Will the children of God you influence be satisfied being a Paul or will they know the rare and precious life of a Samuel by following the example of your life today?

Or there is one other option,  that you are neither a Paul or a Samuel – still a slave to your sin,  still lost in the darkness,  not yet a Paul or Samuel at all, not even unveiled or aware of the destruction that you have chosen for yourself.

Regardless of where you were up to this moment, choose to fill your life with more of this rare and precious Word of the Lord today. Let it breathe more abundant life into your heart. Decide to drink of this living water that Jesus Christ offers you freely and openly. Have your eyes opened to the living Word of God. Stand and walk upright,  friend.

hballingerLeave a comment

Two sets of eyes and ears?

We are reading Billy Graham’s “Hope for Each Day” as our daily devotional,  and today’s verse was quoted as:

“They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. –
Ezekiel 12:2 NIV”

And this opened a wonderful discussion between my wife and I about spiritual seeing and hearing versus physical and the hand of God on our lives,  etc.

It reminded us also of:

“But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. – 2 Corinthians 3:14”

and

“even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:17”

It reminded me of that time in my life when I could not hear His voice – or truth be told,  I want interested in listening to His voice,  so I did not hear it.  It reminded me of that time in my life when I could not discern the spiritual influences affecting my life and the lives of those around me. And I sharpen my sight and hearing so that I can be a good Berean and examine myself and test all spirits against the truth of the Word of God. And as a result of this sharpening, the difference between darkness and light becomes so much more evident. The underlying desires that drive myself and that drive others becomes more evident in the words and actions that either testify for our against us.

And after we wrapped up our family devotional, and after I wrapped up my prayer devotional from Reinder’s “Seeking His Face” prayer devotional, I thought,  this is such a good verse, let me see where it is rooted,  let me examine deeper. I wanted to gain more understanding of the context and background of such a wonderful piece of scripture that made us excited about praising Him and trusting Him and expecting continued growth and commitment to Him in our lives because of the evidence of His healing touch on our lives as He reveals more of Himself to us.

And I opened up Ezekiel in ESV and found:

“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house.”
Ezekiel 12:2 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.2.ESV

And at that moment, I read it and asked myself – “Is this even the same verse that we read?” Because it spoke in such a different type of revelation,  not just about me, not just about my family’s growth and our being drawn closer to the Lord – but it spoke of the darkness surrounding us. And I became even more hungry to understand what this part of the book of Ezekiel was sharing,  so I read on:

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”  And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
Ezekiel 12:1-7 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.1-7.ESV

And I began to understand the importance of accepting that we are dwelling amongst darkness,  amongst many who are blind and deaf to the Word of God, who do not have the spiritual eyes or ears to hear His voice because they do not love Him. They do not seek His desires,  but I trapped by things of this world and the honor of men. They do not truly want to be freed,  they are not ready to be awakened to a life of costly discipleship because it sounds burdensome and they do not believe that the prize is worth a cost – especially if they can get it for free.

And don’t misunderstand me, I do not begrudge anyone who is satisfied with the free gift of grace. I do not begrudge anyone that would hope to barely make it into the gates of heaven,  because that is exactly my attitude and perspective. I would love to sit at His feet praising Him eternally and never leaving His presence, but I’ll have more than I deserve as long as I at least get to be there. I’ll long for the seat at His feet, kissing His feet and washing them with my tears – but just give me a seat at the table, Oh Lord. That seat that is wholly undeserved by the evidence of my life that comes so short of bringing you honor and glory,  Lord – please just save a seat at the table for your servant. I trust in your grace and mercy. I trust that you know my heart and that I am not deceived by the tricks of my own flesh and that enemy of your love.

And it encouraged me that this man of God obeyed as God commanded. It encouraged me that He obeyed openly and transparently, not hiding from the call, and obeying God explicitly, even to the point of covering His face and focusing on his faithfulness, not what God was going to do to this land and people. God had not called him in this instance to be an overseer or a watchman for these rebellious people headed for destruction, he called him to be an example.

So I still wanted to understand more,  so I read on. 

In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God : This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. And they shall know that I am the Lord , when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord .”
Ezekiel 12:8-16 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.8-16.ESV

And this warning of the coming destruction,  of the coming wrath,  of the coming judgement upon these rebellious people who would rather hide their sin like the prince covering his face in shame as he hoped to escape the net of the consequences for his rebellion.

And I understand the shift of perspective. Those in rebellion want to hide their sins from the light because that is what their heart truly desires and they may even be shamed by their rebellion,  but they are not interested in turning to God and obeying him both in the light of day when me can see AND  when others cannot see unless they really examine closely. I know this because I am familiar with those broad paths that I used to walk.

When we are blind to the truth, we want to enjoy the appearance and reputation and benefits of our titles and positions more than we are interested in fulfilling the responsibilities given us. How many times have I, myself, sought a better job or position or title,  focused on the perception of authority, when it was really a commitment to greater responsibilities.

And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the Lord .”
Ezekiel 12:17-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.17-20.ESV

And yes, this is a fearful judgement upon the rebellious. Especially when we know that we were once a party to the ways of darkness and that it is only by the grace of God that we were called out into the light. It is only by the power of His Holy Spirit that we now have eyes to see and ears to hear the judgement and destruction of those we once considered friends,  neighbors,  and family. And this isn’t something that we take joy in,  just like the Lord does not delight in the destruction of the wicked. He would rather they believe, lay down their sin,  repent, and come to Him so that He can breath life into their dead bones.

And our natural question then becomes,  when will this come?  Am I safe enough to play in the mud with the pigs for a while longer before I decide to turn back and return to my Father’s house? Is it far away?  Or is it near?

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God : I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the Lord ; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God .”  “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God : None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God .”
Ezekiel 12:22-25, 27-28 ESV
http://bible.com/59/ezk.12.22-28.ESV

So I believe that it is important that we ask ourselves –

Am I the one called to come out of the darkness of the rebellious ways of the world around me,  to see and hear and obey?

Am I unashamedly and whether visible or unseen by the eyes of men obeying the will of God with the example that my life before the eyes of an all seeing,  all knowing God?

Or will I be found cowering in shame,  hoping to escape the net of his just and righteous judgement when the day comes?

It reminds me of the warnings of Jeremiah before the disaster of Lamentations:

“How Babylon is taken, the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a horror among the nations!  The sea has come up on Babylon; she is covered with its tumultuous waves.  Her cities have become a horror, a land of drought and a desert, a land in which no one dwells, and through which no son of man passes.  And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and take out of his mouth what he has swallowed. The nations shall no longer flow to him; the wall of Babylon has fallen.  “Go out of the midst of her, my people! Let every one save his life from the fierce anger of the Lord !  Let not your heart faint, and be not fearful at the report heard in the land, when a report comes in one year and afterward a report in another year, and violence is in the land, and ruler is against ruler.  “Therefore, behold, the days are coming when I will punish the images of Babylon; her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.  Then the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them, shall sing for joy over Babylon, for the destroyers shall come against them out of the north, declares the Lord .  Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel, just as for Babylon have fallen the slain of all the earth.  “You who have escaped from the sword, go, do not stand still! Remember the Lord from far away, and let Jerusalem come into your mind:  ‘We are put to shame, for we have heard reproach; dishonor has covered our face, for foreigners have come into the holy places of the Lord ’s house.’  “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will execute judgment upon her images, and through all her land the wounded shall groan.  Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me against her, declares the Lord .  “A voice! A cry from Babylon! The noise of great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans!  For the Lord is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised,  for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the Lord is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.  I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.  “Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.”
Jeremiah 51:41-58 ESV
http://bible.com/59/jer.51.41-58.ESV

And that is about history,  about an example,  about a shadow of what is yet to come. Revelation males it clear what lies ahead.

Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;  for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.  Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed.  As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’  For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”  And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”  And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls.  “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!”  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,  “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!  For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?”  And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.  Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!”
Revelation 18:4-20 ESV
http://bible.com/59/rev.18.4-20.ESV

hballinger1 Comment

Sugar coated?

Psalms 2:1-12 NLT
Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one.
“Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.

For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
The king proclaims the Lord ’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”

Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
http://bible.com/116/psa.2.1-12.NLT

————-

How many falsely spread lies that grace allows for living an immoral life? How many want to throw off the chains of their condemned brothers and sisters and let hell itself storm the gates of heaven? How many don’t want justice or righteousness to prove the winner, by virtue of changed lives? But instead they would rather fling open the gates wide themselves so that all of the wickedness that they love so much could enter into heaven with them?

And I understand mercy,  friend – but do you go to far by twisting the Word of God into lies? Do you deny the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin and death? Do you sell lies to the very people who are seeking truth and hope so that your own conscience is clear about your sinful ways, while your pockets and bank accounts are still full with the riches from your real master?

Do you take pride in your number of religious converts? Well, your fathers did too, and Christ told them that these proselytes were twice the child of hell that they were themselves. Even though your tricks have shifted from burdensome religion and law to lawlessness and lasciviousness – do you not recognize the rotten fruit and thorns and wickedness that your lies have produced?

You subtract from the Word of God and think that you are better than those who add to it – because you are blind,  naked,  and helpless – even though you believe yourself wise because you understand the deep darkness of Satan. You have grasped hold of that enemies words of “Do as thou wilt” and you have coveted so greatly his darkness and loved not the light and righteousness of God’s ways. You are accursed. Repent now before it is too late. He comes with a sword in His mouth to destroy you for your rebellion,  your harlotry, your whoredom, your drunkenness, your wickedness, your lies, and your carnal lifestyle of hypocrisy. Take heed, those who have ears to hear.

I too feel victim to these lies for a season. Wake up. Hear the truth. Please. Hear the truth.

hballingerLeave a comment

Our Example

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.
Philippians 3:17 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.3.17.NLT

If we are going to call ourselves by His name, we should take hold of the power, love, and self-control that is promised to come in the Holy Spirit. We should grow and become mature and be able to say “pattern your life after mine” and not be proud in that statement,  but humbled by the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2ti.1.7.NLT

Realize that our vessels were once filled with all of the vile sin and desires of our wretched hearts. But we receive His Holy Spirit into our lives:
– as we come into communion with Him daily
– as we study and learn from the Word of God
– as we seek His face in prayer
– as we make decisions to resist temptation and rely upon Him for strength to overcome evil
– as we decide to walk in the Spirit bearing the fruit of His nature instead of responding in the flesh to life’s circumstances
– as we serve others knowing that we are serving Him
– as we share Truth, Hope, Faith,  and Love with the lost and spiritual needy of this world

You see, empty and worthless religion alone will allow some to talk about and learn about something on Sunday but remain lukewarm in their walk throughout the week. Professing Christ without possessing Him will allow some to remain stunted with no growth in their lives. And where there is no spiritual maturity,  there is either a babe in Christ or one whose faith is dead and no longer alive or growing at all.

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Hebrews 5:12-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/heb.5.12-14.NLT

So do you say that you are still on milk and do not know how to do what is right? Do you not yet have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong? Are you still a babe that needs more teaching about those things that lead to death and that are evidence of those who are enemies of the Lord and who serve another master?

Or do you know the difference between right and wrong and you have chosen that you will not serve the Lord? Have you decided that you will follow in the footsteps of your wicked father,  the devil who is cast from the heavenly places because of his prideful attitude and his self glorifying nature? Have you set your heart on being cast into the eternal flames with him, with the sin and darkness that you choose to live more than Him who loves you? I hope and pray that this is not you, friend. Our if it is,  that you will repent and turn your eyes to the Lord before it is too late.

Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Isaiah 55:6-7 NLT
http://bible.com/116/isa.55.6-7.NLT

So your life today should be an example to those around you of his Holy Spirit that lives withing you if you are truly born again and Holy Spirit filled. You should be walking in the Spirit,  which looks quite different than walking in the flesh. Yes,  it takes power,  and love, and self-control to do this. But that is what He gives us. He pours out His own divine nature into our lives, more and more, as we grow in our relationship with Christ. He lives in us and with us,  as we become more aware of His ways.

You hold the key to the revival that the world needs. If Christ is at all important to you,  He is all important – there is no room for lukewarm, carnal “Christians” who are slaves to sin in the body of Christ, at the table of Almighty God, in the family of the Children of God.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.  A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
John 8:34-36 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jhn.8.34-36.NLT

And you will say, “but my sins are forgiven, I have confessed” –

1 John 1:9-10 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

But I will ask you, are you still only looking at yourself? Are you still only concerned with claiming a heaven ticket for yourself and escaping the punishment that you deserve for your sinful ways? Is your hardened heart not yet softened for your brothers and sisters in need? And they do not need to claim a name with their mouths but insist on denying the power, love,  and self-control that can make them holy.

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

Is time to grow up.

It’s time to have life breathed into your life and to see life breathed into the lives of those around you.

Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord ,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord ! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’” So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’” So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord . I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord , have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”
Ezekiel 37:3-14 NLT
http://bible.com/116/ezk.37.3-14.NLT

If you will be content in something,  be content with what you have in this world,  whether it is little or it is much. But do NOT become content with how little you know of God. Do NOT be content with how little time you spend with Him. Do NOT be content with how little you love Him.

Do not decide to turn back because you think that there is a cost. Has the enemy told you there is value in the sin and temptation and pleasures and treasures of this world that you cling to so strongly? Do you not know that they are worthless and are poison for your life and the lives of others? Lay down what is temporary and worthless,  and take hold of what is valuable,  priceless,  and eternal.

hballingerLeave a comment

Are you certain? Why?

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.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
http://bible.com/116/php.1.6.NLT

We can be confident that if God has started a work in us, that it will be completed. We can be confident,  when we look and see lives that are being filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit,  with the change that comes from seed that has been planted and watered and has been budding and growing over time into a new and changed character in a person that there is something spiritual at work inside them. And when God starts a work in someone,  He intends to complete it,  so we can find confidence in His being faithful and true.

I look to the story of Balaam and his donkey. That very same donkey that he had ridden all of his life suddenly began acting quite different than usual. It resisted the way that Balaam wanted to go because it knew that if he went that way Balaam would be killed. But Balaam was concerned about how foolish he was looking to those around him by his not being able to follow in the same path where those men with him were going. He wasn’t concerned with the why, and he didn’t think about whether or not this path might be contrary to God’s will,  he intended to follow it. So he began beating his donkey.

“But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord , “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.” But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, “Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials.
Numbers 22:30-35 NLT
http://bible.com/116/num.22.30-35.NLT

If we know someone, especially if we have known them long enough to know their character,  the baseline of their normal behavior, we can also recognize when there is difference in their behavior that is “out of character” for them. We can have reasonable expectations for how both their emotional feelings and rational mind are going to work together to respond to a situation our circumstance, because we’ve seen the evidence and know their patterns. But there are also spiritual influences that can alter this normal/baseline behavior.

We can recognize the spiritual influence of growth and change in ourselves if we have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and we are indeed born again Children of God, because our lives will be altered and we will bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is how those who are spiritual can make right judgements about whether or not someone is “in the faith”. In fact, this is how we can encourage others to have confidence that God will complete the work that He has begun.

And it is not because someone pretends that they are perfect and without sin, because those are blind, lying to themselves, without any real understanding of the ways of c Good,  but blinded by their own prose and religious attitudes. It is also not because of a strong but short lived interest in God because someone has come to the knowledge of their sin and have felt shame and guilt and reacted in emotion towards the Word of God for a short time and then turned back to the ways of the world.

Paul in this letter to the Philippians can have confidence in what the Lord is going to accomplish in their lives because he has seen the change to their character,  the change to their baseline attitudes,  the change to their desires and motivations that comes from a new heart and the teaching and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul can confidently trust in the Lord and encourage them that the Lord will complete His work in them, not just because He saw them say a prayer,  not just because he saw them dunked under water, but because he saw the evidence of true change in their lives. If we know the change of repentance, if we examine our lives and see true change and interest in following the will of God,  we can find confidence in that.

But if we are more interested in following in the ways of the world, and we are frustrated that we can’t go the way of the world, afraid that we are going to look foolish in the eyes of the world if we don’t walk that same path that they are walking – if we are more interested in our own way, we might need to examine ourselves for fruit and determine whose way and life is truth and which leads to destruction.

Just because you’ve ignored that other voice in your head because it sounds foolish and limiting and restrictive doesn’t mean that you are wise or right.

Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
Proverbs 12:15 NLT
http://bible.com/116/pro.12.15.NLT

I wonder how often we beat and resist the very donkey in our lives that has c a message from God for us,  because we are more interested in listening to the world than God?

This is why it is important that we examine ourselves – not so that we can think that, we’ve arrived – no,  that is pride! But so that we can have confidence in the Lord that He is, at work in us and that our deceitful heart is not deceiving us.

“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord , search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jer.17.9-10.NLT

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you ; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT
http://bible.com/116/2co.13.5.NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 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! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:16-26 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.16-26.NLT

Can I trust in the Lord and have confidence that He will complete the work that He has started in you,  friend? The answer depends not on God,  but on you,  whether or not you have believed,  received and repented so that His work has yet begun in you. Because His promises are faithful and true.

I hope the answer is yes. Our I hope if the answer has been no up to this moment,  that it will be yes today and forevermore and eternity as you surrender your life to Him,  choosing to now walk in the one way,  the one truth,  the one life,  Jesus Christ.

Choose the narrow gate of our only Hope in Jesus Christ, and walk the narrow path of Faithfulness, and the Holy Spirit of Christ will come upon you and anoint you with the Love of God that pours out upon His Children.

There is no greater peon,  there is no greater prize, than to serve at the feet of the Lord and never leave His presence – and I’m not talking about one day after you are dead. I’m talking about today, now, while your service is of use in waking others to the truth.

Awake,
Arise,
Go.

hballingerLeave a comment

Am I just offering a slice, or the whole?

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Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 NLT
http://bible.com/116/gal.5.25.NLT

How often do we allow God in certain parts or areas of our lives,  but leave Him out of others? Remembering Him during specific times of religious observation and then placing Him back on the shelf as we go about the rest of our life.

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This kind of partial interest in God opens up our lives for all kinds of negative influences over our lives and doesn’t take advantage of the power of the Spirit that could make us Holy and equipped for His use throughout our daily lives. This kind of partial interest in God leads us into empty,  repetitive religious practice with little or no real substance or relationship with God, with little or no change to our hearts and our lives.

But this is not the picture of a follower of Christ – even if it is an accurate depiction of many who participate in religious ceremonies and call themselves Christians because they were once baptized, or once said a prayer, or once called out Lord, Lord. And even those who study diligently and can speak about the Word of God to great depths of theology,  or who perform great works in His name – if they are doing it for their own purposes and glory and honor,  they have already received their reward and they will realize in the end that He never knew them.

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Can we begin to see how narrow the gate is that leads to life and that it involves a full and living relationship with our Savior? Can we see the dangers of taking the broad path of the way the world thinks is right but that leads to destruction? Can we see the value in clinging to the Lord and letting the Holy Spirit guide us and lead us in all areas of our lives?

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And I don’t say this to shame you over your past, but to encourage you to press in,  to draw close to God – because when we straw close to Him, He draws close to us. We should understand the perspective and attitude of Hope that turns or eyes toward the Lord for His guidance –

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 4:7-10 NLT
http://bible.com/116/jas.4.7-10.NLT

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And this humility is where we find Hope and where our eyes are trained to look to Him as our guide and our comforter – and it leads us to a life of faithfulness when we learn to remain in this stance,  this position of reliance upon God in all areas of our lives. And a faithful life walking in the Spirit with Him leads to all kinds of fruit and blessings in our lives as we become a blessing and a refreshing renewal to those around us,  because we know love – true Godly love that pours out in service even onto those who are undeserving or who might consider themselves our enemies or enemies of God. And this is where the wonder of God can be seen, in that peace that men can’t understand,  in that love that is given with no expectation of repayment,  in that amazing grace that is extended even though it isn’t deserved or earned.

Do we realize that we are missing out on opportunities to share that love when we only let Him into parts of our lives? Are we compartmentalizing our lives and missing out on so many blessings – and in turn withholding blessings from others for their lives as well?

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Lord, help us to open our lives fully to be filled and led and overflowing with the annointing of your Holy Spirit. Don’t allow us to be satisfied or complacent or lukewarm in religious knowledge about you – but help us press in and draw close so that we know you and you know us. Share together in our lives and walk with us, today. Help us,  you are our hope,  you are the way, you are the life that we seek – tale our life, our whole life,  and male it yours. Amen.