This is a meatier word that has to do with our motives. In Judges 17 there is a story of a Levite (priest) which Micah paid for in order to attempt to win the favor of God. The Levite sold out, but God is not one who can be bought. Knowing and having God in our lives is much more a matter of the heart, and not works, money or religious observances. Remember, God told King Saul, "Obedience is better than sacrifice." And, Ps 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." God wants our trust and obedience to Him because we love Him and have faith in Him. God wants us to love Him and have faith in Him because He is worthy of it, not necessarily because we will benefit from it. God doesn't want to be used anymore than we do.
The good news is this: When we love Him and come to Him for the right reasons, or should I say, with the best and purest motives, God blessings flow to us. Being blessed by God is part of being near Him and being a part of Him. God wants to bless us and care for us. He calls Himself our Heavenly Father, and He loves us even more than an earthly father possibly can.
Maybe you came to Jesus because you wanted to be saved from sin and condemnation - I did! But, grow in Him and get to know Him. You will see that there is more, way more. There are purer and more honorable motives that last longer, motivate us stronger, and cause us to be more blessed, than bargaining with God will ever do.
Watch this video clip and chew on this for a while. Let God open your heart and understanding to the truth of what this preacher is saying. Love and serve God because He is God. You won't be sorry you did.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Handling Disappointment
It isn't very often that everything goes just as planned. In fact, these days you can count on things not going as planned and having to make constant adjustments as you go forward. So, how does one cope with disappointments, especially when they involve matters of faith and the Lord? What do we do when it seems like the Lord isn't coming through for us the way we thought that He would?
There is a great little book out called, "The Prisoner in the Third Cell" by Gene Edwards. It talks about John the Baptist. Even though John was a humble and totally committed servant of the Lord, surely he must have had ambitions and aspirations concerning what he was going to do for the Lord. But, once Jesus actually came on the scene and began His public ministry, John's ministry took a dive. First, he began losing his audience. Then his disciples started following another (Jesus). Soon after, he found himself in prison and lost his life. John's ministry was relatively short and it ended on a downward slope.
Along the way to the end, while John was in prison, he sent a messenger to Jesus to ask Him a question. Luke 7:18-19 "John's disciples told him (John) about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" John sent his disciples with this question after he baptized Jesus with water, after he heard the voice of the Father saying, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased" and he saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus as a dove. This was after John proclaimed to everyone that Jesus was the One, the Messiah, the One who was before Him and the One whom he was unworthy to untie his sandals. This was after John heard of all the miracles that Jesus was performing.
When we go through difficult times it can be very hard to see clearly or understand how things are working for good. In this case, John questioned his own faith and understanding of what was going on. Things just weren't going like John planned or thought they would.
Jesus' response to John's question ends with a very startling statement, Luke 7:21-23 "At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
"Blessed is the man who does not fall on account of ME (Jesus)." In other words, blessed is the one who simply hangs on to the faith that saved them and don't give up or quite when God doesn't meet their expectations. It isn't uncommon for God to do things His way rather than ours, after all, He is omniscient and we aren't. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," and not on the circumstance or situation. God is faithful and He will not fail us. His will is good, perfect, and pleasing, even if it is different than what we thought it was going to be. Never doubt what God is doing, and never forget that His will is good, perfect and pleasing. Keep pressing on, and NEVER GIVE UP!
There is a great little book out called, "The Prisoner in the Third Cell" by Gene Edwards. It talks about John the Baptist. Even though John was a humble and totally committed servant of the Lord, surely he must have had ambitions and aspirations concerning what he was going to do for the Lord. But, once Jesus actually came on the scene and began His public ministry, John's ministry took a dive. First, he began losing his audience. Then his disciples started following another (Jesus). Soon after, he found himself in prison and lost his life. John's ministry was relatively short and it ended on a downward slope.
Along the way to the end, while John was in prison, he sent a messenger to Jesus to ask Him a question. Luke 7:18-19 "John's disciples told him (John) about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?" John sent his disciples with this question after he baptized Jesus with water, after he heard the voice of the Father saying, "This is my son in whom I am well pleased" and he saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus as a dove. This was after John proclaimed to everyone that Jesus was the One, the Messiah, the One who was before Him and the One whom he was unworthy to untie his sandals. This was after John heard of all the miracles that Jesus was performing.
When we go through difficult times it can be very hard to see clearly or understand how things are working for good. In this case, John questioned his own faith and understanding of what was going on. Things just weren't going like John planned or thought they would.
Jesus' response to John's question ends with a very startling statement, Luke 7:21-23 "At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
"Blessed is the man who does not fall on account of ME (Jesus)." In other words, blessed is the one who simply hangs on to the faith that saved them and don't give up or quite when God doesn't meet their expectations. It isn't uncommon for God to do things His way rather than ours, after all, He is omniscient and we aren't. Hebrews 12:2 says, "Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith," and not on the circumstance or situation. God is faithful and He will not fail us. His will is good, perfect, and pleasing, even if it is different than what we thought it was going to be. Never doubt what God is doing, and never forget that His will is good, perfect and pleasing. Keep pressing on, and NEVER GIVE UP!
Monday, July 05, 2010
Land of the Free?
We just finished celebrating the birth of our country. And, on this historic date, July 4th, the predominate characteristic attached is that of freedom. We are said to be the land of the Free. And, I suppose that if you compare us to many other nations, we would find this to be comparatively true. But, are we truly free? I declare to you today that no nation is truly free where their is no God. AND, there is no god but the God of the Bible. (I know that sounds narrow minded, but it is the truth none the less.) Unfortunately, secular America has been trying to kick the God of Christianity out of the mainstream of society for nearly 50 years now. And even worse, the American church, in general, is losing their passion for the faith that this nation was once built upon.
Freedom, as many seem to understand it, is becoming an indulgence in selfishness and self-centeredness. Furthermore, there is no true freedom where people have not mastered the control of their own lusts, selfish and evil desires, habits, and the strongholds of their mind. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Spirit lives in us, and God gives us the desires of our heart - right, good and godly desires. When we allow Christ to crucify our fleshly and worldly desires, He replaces them with good, godly and righteous desires. Consequently, we become truly free. When Christ is truly Lord of our heart, mind, and life, then there is no need for laws to control us, whether those laws are secular or religious. Furthermore, whether we live under a democratic government or a dictatorship, we are still free in the ways that really matter. People who are given freedom but don't have the Spirit of Christ and the Word of God to guide them are easily drawn into things that enslave them, such as lust, anger, alcoholism, self-centeredness, fear, covetousness, and the like.
If you truly want to be free, whether you live in America (as back-slidden as it is becoming) or in Iran, give your heart and life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In Him you will find the peace and freedom that truly makes you free. Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free." John 8:36 "He whom the Son (Jesus) sets free, is free indeed."
Freedom, as many seem to understand it, is becoming an indulgence in selfishness and self-centeredness. Furthermore, there is no true freedom where people have not mastered the control of their own lusts, selfish and evil desires, habits, and the strongholds of their mind. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Spirit lives in us, and God gives us the desires of our heart - right, good and godly desires. When we allow Christ to crucify our fleshly and worldly desires, He replaces them with good, godly and righteous desires. Consequently, we become truly free. When Christ is truly Lord of our heart, mind, and life, then there is no need for laws to control us, whether those laws are secular or religious. Furthermore, whether we live under a democratic government or a dictatorship, we are still free in the ways that really matter. People who are given freedom but don't have the Spirit of Christ and the Word of God to guide them are easily drawn into things that enslave them, such as lust, anger, alcoholism, self-centeredness, fear, covetousness, and the like.
If you truly want to be free, whether you live in America (as back-slidden as it is becoming) or in Iran, give your heart and life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In Him you will find the peace and freedom that truly makes you free. Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free." John 8:36 "He whom the Son (Jesus) sets free, is free indeed."
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