"To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God."
Well now, the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. Have you ever heard that statement and wondered where it came from? There ya go. Solomon wrote it. And one of the best examples in Scripture to find this is in Exodus 12:35-36. But there are certainly many other examples as well.
Solomon's wisdom led him to pronounce that the pursuit of health, wealth, and happiness, a.k.a. the American dream, is useless, of no value, if God is not primary. It is a chasing after the wind. It will get you nowhere, for in the end, everything you fought to get and achieve will just be passed on to someone else who just might fritter it all away. Therefore, what good was it?
In all things in the Christian life, God MUST be number one. He is NOT the co-pilot, He is the PILOT. He calls the shots, gives the orders, directs the operations, makes the way. Only God knows what is truly the best for our lives and only He knows how He wants to go about giving it to us. Our only job is to trust Him implicitly. Unquestioningly. Completely. Unreservedly. And yet we hold back, like a stubborn child who obstinately declares "Mother, I can do it myself!" How much easier it would be on everyone's nerves if the child would simply accept the help, but stubbornness is not of God and it manifests itself from day one in our lives and continues throughout our lives. That's one sin we all need to lay on the altar.
God is not against us having "health, wealth, and happiness", but He wants to go about it in His way, not ours. Before He doles it out He wants to know that we will be able to handle and administer it wisely, to HIS glory, not ours. We all need to put our lives under the microscope and see what it is we are in dire need of. And I think I can safely say, it is nothing. We have food, clothing, and shelter. We could all live within our means if we set our minds to it, but the problem is, we WANT. God said he would meet all our needs, not our greeds. Our personal debt is so staggering because we don't consult the Lord before we spend. If we sought God's ways with as much diligence as we seek high-paying jobs and the luxuries of life, what do you think our lives would be like? One thing's for sure, there would be a whole lot less stress, family arguments, divorces and heart attacks. I would think that one of the greatest obstacles to marital happiness, if not number one, is financial difficulties.
We were created to please God first. To fellowship with Him first. To seek His advice first. To love and obey Him first. To be a sweet, sweet offering to Him. All through the first five books of the Old Testament, you will read "an aroma pleasing to the Lord". 2 Corinthians 2:15 says that ". . . we are to God the aroma of Christ . . . " Our unconditional love and obedience creates this aroma, it's the only thing that will.
We must all make a choice between God and the world. Oh, which way do I go, which way do I go? Joshua 24:15 "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Our Lord Jesus wants only the very best for us, but we must allow Him to tell us how to go about receiving it. Are you ready to put your entire life, spirit, soul and body, in the hands of the Living God?
"Almighty God, help me, save me from myself. Let my life be dedicated to You and only You. Direct my paths, use me to Your glory, do not allow anything to come between me and You. I trust you to take care of all my needs, never fearing for Your Divine provision. Move in me, O God, to be like the apostle Paul, content in every situation of my life, satisfied with all that You have provided. My trust is in You, Lord. Strengthen me in my trust. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Deuteronomy 28
Galatians 6:8
Philippians 4:10-12
Psalm 69:30-32
Proverbs 15:8
Daniel 4:27
John 5:30
Romans 8:8
2 Corinthians 5:9
Proverbs 11:14 - Who's in charge?
"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make a victory sure."
Scripture has an incredible amount of information for good leadership, but it's useless unless the leaders have the mind and heart of God. The books of 1 & 2 Kings are crammed full of all the kings of Israel and Judah; every king is named and Scripture states whether he did right in the eyes of the Lord, or rejected God and followed the practices of pagan nations. In reading the accounts of each king, you see whether the nation of Israel and Judah prospered or was overrun by their enemies. The spiritual condition of the king and subsequently the nation determined their natural state. That was God's promise then and it is God's promise now. Nothing has changed.
If you look back over American history, you will see very clearly when the hand of God was upon the land. Our nation was established on biblical principles and flourished until we began removing God from our public lives and began to re-instate the "high places" of pagan worship: the gods of materialism, self-centeredness, greed, sexual perversity, and oh so much more. Our government officials have declared that God has no place in our nation and it's capital, and we have thus become a stench in the nostrils of the world's nations. We are no longer leaders in world charity, but tied for 5th place with Switzerland. We are slipping and sliding into a morass that seems to have no bottom and the harder our leaders work at getting us out, the deeper we go, simply because they are looking to themselves for answers and not to the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven, earth and America.
Without godly leaders, the wrong kind of people are honored and given high places of authority, thus ensuring corruptness and wickedness in government. Wicked rulers have wicked officials, the people despair and society eventually erodes into a lawless state with little to no morals or ethics. America is well on its way as every day another part of our God-heritage is taken away.
America is in a dark and terrible place spiritually and it is us, the people, who are America. We are in terrible lack of spiritual guidance nationally. We need many, many, many committed spiritual advisers who will by grace have the ear of our highest elected officials. Only God Almighty can change hearts. In that light, then, two questions need to be asked:
(1) What will it take to bring us back to a nation blessed by God?
(2) Am I willing to do what God asks of me to help bring this about?
Both questions need to be brought before the Throne of Grace and we need to wait upon the Lord for His express direction. Some things will be private and personal and some will be public, but we must be willing to do whatever the Lord commands. How we respond to God will show how committed we are to the Lord God Almighty. Saints, the time has come. Are we prepared for spiritual war?
"Lord Jesus, our nation is in deep trouble spiritually. We have neglected Your Word and have not followed Your commands. We have taken on the ways of the world to the fullest measure. We are a hard-headed and stiff-necked people who up to this point have refused to humble themselves. Have mercy, O God Almighty, on your people who are called by Your Name. Forgive us our great sins and move in us that we may be a nation of God once again. Terror fills me, but I must ask - do what it takes to bring this nation back to Your Heart. It is better to be in the hands of a frightful and just God, then condemned for all eternity. Forgive my lack of prayer for our spiritual and national leaders; make a way every day for me to have a time of prayer with you. Use me, Lord, as an instrument in Your hand. I am Yours. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 33:12
Jeremiah 5:30-31
Romans 13:1
1 Timothy 2:1-3
1 Kings 8:22-61
2 Kins 19:14-16
Ezra 9
Scripture has an incredible amount of information for good leadership, but it's useless unless the leaders have the mind and heart of God. The books of 1 & 2 Kings are crammed full of all the kings of Israel and Judah; every king is named and Scripture states whether he did right in the eyes of the Lord, or rejected God and followed the practices of pagan nations. In reading the accounts of each king, you see whether the nation of Israel and Judah prospered or was overrun by their enemies. The spiritual condition of the king and subsequently the nation determined their natural state. That was God's promise then and it is God's promise now. Nothing has changed.
If you look back over American history, you will see very clearly when the hand of God was upon the land. Our nation was established on biblical principles and flourished until we began removing God from our public lives and began to re-instate the "high places" of pagan worship: the gods of materialism, self-centeredness, greed, sexual perversity, and oh so much more. Our government officials have declared that God has no place in our nation and it's capital, and we have thus become a stench in the nostrils of the world's nations. We are no longer leaders in world charity, but tied for 5th place with Switzerland. We are slipping and sliding into a morass that seems to have no bottom and the harder our leaders work at getting us out, the deeper we go, simply because they are looking to themselves for answers and not to the Lord God Almighty, the Creator of heaven, earth and America.
Without godly leaders, the wrong kind of people are honored and given high places of authority, thus ensuring corruptness and wickedness in government. Wicked rulers have wicked officials, the people despair and society eventually erodes into a lawless state with little to no morals or ethics. America is well on its way as every day another part of our God-heritage is taken away.
America is in a dark and terrible place spiritually and it is us, the people, who are America. We are in terrible lack of spiritual guidance nationally. We need many, many, many committed spiritual advisers who will by grace have the ear of our highest elected officials. Only God Almighty can change hearts. In that light, then, two questions need to be asked:
(1) What will it take to bring us back to a nation blessed by God?
(2) Am I willing to do what God asks of me to help bring this about?
Both questions need to be brought before the Throne of Grace and we need to wait upon the Lord for His express direction. Some things will be private and personal and some will be public, but we must be willing to do whatever the Lord commands. How we respond to God will show how committed we are to the Lord God Almighty. Saints, the time has come. Are we prepared for spiritual war?
"Lord Jesus, our nation is in deep trouble spiritually. We have neglected Your Word and have not followed Your commands. We have taken on the ways of the world to the fullest measure. We are a hard-headed and stiff-necked people who up to this point have refused to humble themselves. Have mercy, O God Almighty, on your people who are called by Your Name. Forgive us our great sins and move in us that we may be a nation of God once again. Terror fills me, but I must ask - do what it takes to bring this nation back to Your Heart. It is better to be in the hands of a frightful and just God, then condemned for all eternity. Forgive my lack of prayer for our spiritual and national leaders; make a way every day for me to have a time of prayer with you. Use me, Lord, as an instrument in Your hand. I am Yours. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 33:12
Jeremiah 5:30-31
Romans 13:1
1 Timothy 2:1-3
1 Kings 8:22-61
2 Kins 19:14-16
Ezra 9
Psalm 16:1 - Bet you can't find me!
"Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge."
refuge: a place of shelter, protection or safety.
A terrible storm is coming and you run for the basement. Someone is chasing you and you run to a police station. Your child gets hurt and runs to your arms. You have a fight with your spouse and you run to your bedroom. You lose your job and you run to a bar. You get sick and you run to the doctor. You gain weight and you run around the track. We are a running people. We are either running to something or away from something, but we're always on the run. We are always looking for a place of refuge, a hiding place that is calm, quiet, restful and safe, a place where we can just simply "be".
This is a beautiful verse of Scripture. Whenever I think of "refuge" I think of running quickly to something or someone. The word "refuge" has always had a sense of urgency for me, a need to hurry to a safe haven because some type of danger is imminent. Unfortunately, a safe haven is not always near by; many times we are caught unawares in a bad or troubling situation and there's no place to go. That is horribly frightening indeed. In the natural, we are at the mercy of our surroundings at any given time and any given situation, and we must make immediate decisions, be they right or wrong, to meet the impending need.
But in the spirit, this is not so. Our God is ever-present, a blink-of-the-eye away from us when we call. I have always carried this vision with me and it has always seen me through some of my darkest times: Jesus is dressed in His flowing robes with great, oversized sleeves, and He's sitting on a bench under a huge shade tree. Whenever I want, at any time, my "little girl self" crawls up on His lap, He wraps His strong, gentle arms around me, and I am totally enveloped in His robe and sleeves. No one can see any part of me, I'm safe and warm and loved and protected and in the only place I want to spend eternity. When I'm very, very still, I think I can almost hear His heartbeat. My refuge. My retreat. My serenity. My joy. My love. My life. My impenetrable shield. Oh my, the sweet, sweet ecstasy of it all, it takes my breath away, it overwhelms me with God's great mercy and compassion. I am safe. Safe.
Our Lord God has promised that all who search Him out will find Him and will know His peace and safety. He is our Rock and our Fortress, our very present help in time of danger. And all the time. Whether it's in peace or in need, Jesus is always waiting to enfold you in Him, to hide you and protect you, to keep you safe. We need to crawl up into His arms just to love on Him, kiss His cheeks, snuggle into His warmth and drink in His heavenly scent. We need to take the time to be refreshed in Him and to let Him know just how much we really, really love Him.
Why do we run to Jesus when we have problems, but we walk to Him just for fellowship? When was the last time you sat alone with your Lord and Master, snuggling and giggling and just loving Him? We do it all the time with our loved ones, what's so different with Jesus? Today's the day to begin something new. Try it, you'll like it.
"Sweet, sweet Jesus, I love sitting with You. I love snuggling up against You and there's no one to push me away. I think of John the Beloved and how he laid his head on Your breast and now I'm doing the same thing. Oh, the joy is unspeakable! I love You so much. There is nothing I need in all the world but You. I don't ever, ever want to leave this place - I long to be with You. Hold me to You, Jesus, never let me go. Always, always draw me closer. I love you, Jesus, I love you . . . . . . "
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 11:28-29
Psalm 28:7
46:1
59:16
Jeremiah 16:19
Nehemiah 8:10
refuge: a place of shelter, protection or safety.
A terrible storm is coming and you run for the basement. Someone is chasing you and you run to a police station. Your child gets hurt and runs to your arms. You have a fight with your spouse and you run to your bedroom. You lose your job and you run to a bar. You get sick and you run to the doctor. You gain weight and you run around the track. We are a running people. We are either running to something or away from something, but we're always on the run. We are always looking for a place of refuge, a hiding place that is calm, quiet, restful and safe, a place where we can just simply "be".
This is a beautiful verse of Scripture. Whenever I think of "refuge" I think of running quickly to something or someone. The word "refuge" has always had a sense of urgency for me, a need to hurry to a safe haven because some type of danger is imminent. Unfortunately, a safe haven is not always near by; many times we are caught unawares in a bad or troubling situation and there's no place to go. That is horribly frightening indeed. In the natural, we are at the mercy of our surroundings at any given time and any given situation, and we must make immediate decisions, be they right or wrong, to meet the impending need.
But in the spirit, this is not so. Our God is ever-present, a blink-of-the-eye away from us when we call. I have always carried this vision with me and it has always seen me through some of my darkest times: Jesus is dressed in His flowing robes with great, oversized sleeves, and He's sitting on a bench under a huge shade tree. Whenever I want, at any time, my "little girl self" crawls up on His lap, He wraps His strong, gentle arms around me, and I am totally enveloped in His robe and sleeves. No one can see any part of me, I'm safe and warm and loved and protected and in the only place I want to spend eternity. When I'm very, very still, I think I can almost hear His heartbeat. My refuge. My retreat. My serenity. My joy. My love. My life. My impenetrable shield. Oh my, the sweet, sweet ecstasy of it all, it takes my breath away, it overwhelms me with God's great mercy and compassion. I am safe. Safe.
Our Lord God has promised that all who search Him out will find Him and will know His peace and safety. He is our Rock and our Fortress, our very present help in time of danger. And all the time. Whether it's in peace or in need, Jesus is always waiting to enfold you in Him, to hide you and protect you, to keep you safe. We need to crawl up into His arms just to love on Him, kiss His cheeks, snuggle into His warmth and drink in His heavenly scent. We need to take the time to be refreshed in Him and to let Him know just how much we really, really love Him.
Why do we run to Jesus when we have problems, but we walk to Him just for fellowship? When was the last time you sat alone with your Lord and Master, snuggling and giggling and just loving Him? We do it all the time with our loved ones, what's so different with Jesus? Today's the day to begin something new. Try it, you'll like it.
"Sweet, sweet Jesus, I love sitting with You. I love snuggling up against You and there's no one to push me away. I think of John the Beloved and how he laid his head on Your breast and now I'm doing the same thing. Oh, the joy is unspeakable! I love You so much. There is nothing I need in all the world but You. I don't ever, ever want to leave this place - I long to be with You. Hold me to You, Jesus, never let me go. Always, always draw me closer. I love you, Jesus, I love you . . . . . . "
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 11:28-29
Psalm 28:7
46:1
59:16
Jeremiah 16:19
Nehemiah 8:10
Job 1:5 - the power of one
"When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them (his children) purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, 'Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.' This was Job's regular custom."
Job lived during the time before the appointment of priests, therefore he assumed the duties as priest and offered sacrifices to atone for the sins of himself and his family. Job did this out of a sense of conviction and his love for God, and also out of deep concern for his children's spiritual well-being. Living in an age before the written law and priests, Job could very easily have left everything and everyone go, but his conscience would not let him. God's Holy Spirit was working in mankind even then.
Right from the get-go, Job is instructing us in our spiritual parental duties. (Oh, for those of us who for whatever reason have no children, there are usually lots and lots of nieces, nephews, cousins, and - if all else fails - friends). Job was fearful that they might have sinned UNKNOWINGLY. My goodness, at that time that law had not yet been given, so I doubt he even knew what was sin and what wasn't !!! How much more we know today, and yet how much less many of us do to protect our loved ones as Job did. Job's custom was to intercede for his children! On a regular basis!! Just in case they had done something to offend God!!
Our children are gifts from God and we are the custodians. They are to be protected, cherished, loved, guided, disciplined, and instructed in the ways of the Lord. There are many, many Christian families that never pray for and with their children. They take them to church, Sunday School, VBS, church camp, and yet they don't spend time in prayer with them and for them. It's incredible but true. How will our children learn what it is like to be specifically prayed out loud for? How will they learn how to pray for others? How will they learn not to be afraid to pray out loud in a group setting? How will they learn it's aright to verbally bless their food in public? How will they learn it's okay to pray with a fellow student when they are having troubles? How will they learn to stand up for their Christian principles in an ungodly world? HOW WILL THEY LEARN?
It is the responsibility of every born-again Christian to see that this is done. Moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends - we are commanded in Proverbs 22:6; "train up a child in the way he must go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This is our obligation. We are without excuse.
This was Job's regular custom, to intercede for his children, to make restitution for them. But we are now under grace, and each and every person must repent for himself. We must teach our families, we cannot entrust this sacred obligation to anyone else. It MUST become a regular custom in every Christian family to have a regular prayer time, where family members can feel the love and power that is in prayer not only for themselves, but in praying for others. We all pray, but do we all pray as a family? There is strength and power in numbers in prayer; if one can put a thousand to flight, then two can send ten thousand (deut 32:30)
The only way America is going to come back to Jesus is through prayer. And it must begin first in me, then in my home and family. If you are not in the habit of regualr family prayer, are you willing to begin in your family? It may be difficult at first, but ask Jesus to make a way for it to happen and then watch the speedbumps melt away. When you ask something of heaven, it's yours! Don't be afraid, God did not give you a spirit of fear. Be bold in the name and power of Jesus Christ! Then watch Him work, give Him the glory and praise His Holy Name.
"Almighty God, forgive me. I am so weak. Strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit, fill my heart and my mouth with the words to speak; show me the way to teach, enlighten and bless my family. Use me to guide all those I love, give me wisdom in prayer and teaching. Let my life be a witness to what I believe in my heart. Lord, I pray for holy boldness, mercy and love that others will see You in me. God, help me to be the holy caretaker of my family. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 1:14
2 Timothy 1:5
Romans 12:12
1 Timothy 2:1
Philemon 1:4
1 Peter 3:12
Job lived during the time before the appointment of priests, therefore he assumed the duties as priest and offered sacrifices to atone for the sins of himself and his family. Job did this out of a sense of conviction and his love for God, and also out of deep concern for his children's spiritual well-being. Living in an age before the written law and priests, Job could very easily have left everything and everyone go, but his conscience would not let him. God's Holy Spirit was working in mankind even then.
Right from the get-go, Job is instructing us in our spiritual parental duties. (Oh, for those of us who for whatever reason have no children, there are usually lots and lots of nieces, nephews, cousins, and - if all else fails - friends). Job was fearful that they might have sinned UNKNOWINGLY. My goodness, at that time that law had not yet been given, so I doubt he even knew what was sin and what wasn't !!! How much more we know today, and yet how much less many of us do to protect our loved ones as Job did. Job's custom was to intercede for his children! On a regular basis!! Just in case they had done something to offend God!!
Our children are gifts from God and we are the custodians. They are to be protected, cherished, loved, guided, disciplined, and instructed in the ways of the Lord. There are many, many Christian families that never pray for and with their children. They take them to church, Sunday School, VBS, church camp, and yet they don't spend time in prayer with them and for them. It's incredible but true. How will our children learn what it is like to be specifically prayed out loud for? How will they learn how to pray for others? How will they learn not to be afraid to pray out loud in a group setting? How will they learn it's aright to verbally bless their food in public? How will they learn it's okay to pray with a fellow student when they are having troubles? How will they learn to stand up for their Christian principles in an ungodly world? HOW WILL THEY LEARN?
It is the responsibility of every born-again Christian to see that this is done. Moms, dads, sisters, brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends - we are commanded in Proverbs 22:6; "train up a child in the way he must go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." This is our obligation. We are without excuse.
This was Job's regular custom, to intercede for his children, to make restitution for them. But we are now under grace, and each and every person must repent for himself. We must teach our families, we cannot entrust this sacred obligation to anyone else. It MUST become a regular custom in every Christian family to have a regular prayer time, where family members can feel the love and power that is in prayer not only for themselves, but in praying for others. We all pray, but do we all pray as a family? There is strength and power in numbers in prayer; if one can put a thousand to flight, then two can send ten thousand (deut 32:30)
The only way America is going to come back to Jesus is through prayer. And it must begin first in me, then in my home and family. If you are not in the habit of regualr family prayer, are you willing to begin in your family? It may be difficult at first, but ask Jesus to make a way for it to happen and then watch the speedbumps melt away. When you ask something of heaven, it's yours! Don't be afraid, God did not give you a spirit of fear. Be bold in the name and power of Jesus Christ! Then watch Him work, give Him the glory and praise His Holy Name.
"Almighty God, forgive me. I am so weak. Strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit, fill my heart and my mouth with the words to speak; show me the way to teach, enlighten and bless my family. Use me to guide all those I love, give me wisdom in prayer and teaching. Let my life be a witness to what I believe in my heart. Lord, I pray for holy boldness, mercy and love that others will see You in me. God, help me to be the holy caretaker of my family. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Acts 1:14
2 Timothy 1:5
Romans 12:12
1 Timothy 2:1
Philemon 1:4
1 Peter 3:12
Esther 2:12 - What do I smell ?
"Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics."
Esther was one of hundreds of single, young, beautiful, women who were in essence kidnapped and taken to the palace of the king. They had no choice in the matter - the king had issued a decree and it must be complied with. They were of many different races and ethnic groups, mostly commoners and very likely what amounted to diamonds in the "extreme rough". An incredible amount of "spit and polish" was required to make them presentable to the king. Initially they were literally scrubbed raw to remove all the filth and grime of the streets so that the eunichs could see what they had to work with. After that began a year-long regimen of skin softening and beauty treatments. They were turned over to "care-givers" who would see to their beauty preparations; diets; and wardrobes. Nothing was left to chance and even the smallest of details was taken into account. When the young woman went before the king, she must be as nearly perfect as possible. Her sole purpose was to please the king. It was a matter of proper respect.
Every Christian is an Esther. We have not been kidnapped for physical servitude to a mortal, but in the spirit, our lives should parallel Esther's as we prepare to enter into the eternal, face-to-face presence of the King of Kings.
Where we received Jesus as our Savior, when we were brought into the kingdom, we certainly were commoners and horribly filthy spiritually. Our initial entrance demanded a thorough cleansing, a debriding of the spirit, and this was accomplished by Jesus Christ and His cleansing attonement. We were scrubbed spotless in that instant. Then began the life-long process of spiritual beauty treatments; the softening of the spirit that would reveal the Fruit of the Spirit; and the perfuming, the process that would make us a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Our "care-giver" is the Holy Spirit and He sees to our spiritual nourishment and beauty treatments. He advises us what to feed on that will enhance our spirits; He recommends our spiritual clothing so that we will be radiant in the eyes of the Lord; and He personally compounds the oils and tinctures that will be the most incredible scent to the senses of God.
Just as Esther followed to the letter the directives of her care-giver, so we must do the same with the Holy Spirit. Esther knew in her heart that her care-giver knew the secret to reaching the king, so she asked His advice in all matters. The Holy Spirit of God knows the secret to reaching the King of Kings and it is in our very best interests to seek His advice in all matters also. When we reject His teaching and guidance, we set back our progress on gaining entrance to the King. The Lord God wants His bride spotless and holy, properly dressed for a royal wedding, and the only way to achieve this state is to follow every direction of the Holy Spirit, no matter what. It is a matter of respect.
Is our physical and spiritual appearance showing the proper respect to the Lord God Almighty? What is the condition of our "bridal clothes?"
"Almighty God, King of Heaven and Earth, Lord of Life and Bridegroom of the Church, cleanse me and purify me and make me holy as You are holy. I seek Your wisdom, Lord Jesus, you know what needs done in my life. I lift it up to You, I ask that Your Holy Spirit lead me and teach me what I must do to be a pure and spotless bride for You. Give me a willing heart to obey all things. Let me be a glory to Your Name. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Song of Solomon 4:10
Psalm 19:14
104:34
Zechariah 3:3-4
Matthew 22:11-14
John 14:26
Romans 14:17-19
2 Corinthians 2:15
Hebrews 13:20-22
Esther was one of hundreds of single, young, beautiful, women who were in essence kidnapped and taken to the palace of the king. They had no choice in the matter - the king had issued a decree and it must be complied with. They were of many different races and ethnic groups, mostly commoners and very likely what amounted to diamonds in the "extreme rough". An incredible amount of "spit and polish" was required to make them presentable to the king. Initially they were literally scrubbed raw to remove all the filth and grime of the streets so that the eunichs could see what they had to work with. After that began a year-long regimen of skin softening and beauty treatments. They were turned over to "care-givers" who would see to their beauty preparations; diets; and wardrobes. Nothing was left to chance and even the smallest of details was taken into account. When the young woman went before the king, she must be as nearly perfect as possible. Her sole purpose was to please the king. It was a matter of proper respect.
Every Christian is an Esther. We have not been kidnapped for physical servitude to a mortal, but in the spirit, our lives should parallel Esther's as we prepare to enter into the eternal, face-to-face presence of the King of Kings.
Where we received Jesus as our Savior, when we were brought into the kingdom, we certainly were commoners and horribly filthy spiritually. Our initial entrance demanded a thorough cleansing, a debriding of the spirit, and this was accomplished by Jesus Christ and His cleansing attonement. We were scrubbed spotless in that instant. Then began the life-long process of spiritual beauty treatments; the softening of the spirit that would reveal the Fruit of the Spirit; and the perfuming, the process that would make us a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Our "care-giver" is the Holy Spirit and He sees to our spiritual nourishment and beauty treatments. He advises us what to feed on that will enhance our spirits; He recommends our spiritual clothing so that we will be radiant in the eyes of the Lord; and He personally compounds the oils and tinctures that will be the most incredible scent to the senses of God.
Just as Esther followed to the letter the directives of her care-giver, so we must do the same with the Holy Spirit. Esther knew in her heart that her care-giver knew the secret to reaching the king, so she asked His advice in all matters. The Holy Spirit of God knows the secret to reaching the King of Kings and it is in our very best interests to seek His advice in all matters also. When we reject His teaching and guidance, we set back our progress on gaining entrance to the King. The Lord God wants His bride spotless and holy, properly dressed for a royal wedding, and the only way to achieve this state is to follow every direction of the Holy Spirit, no matter what. It is a matter of respect.
Is our physical and spiritual appearance showing the proper respect to the Lord God Almighty? What is the condition of our "bridal clothes?"
"Almighty God, King of Heaven and Earth, Lord of Life and Bridegroom of the Church, cleanse me and purify me and make me holy as You are holy. I seek Your wisdom, Lord Jesus, you know what needs done in my life. I lift it up to You, I ask that Your Holy Spirit lead me and teach me what I must do to be a pure and spotless bride for You. Give me a willing heart to obey all things. Let me be a glory to Your Name. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Song of Solomon 4:10
Psalm 19:14
104:34
Zechariah 3:3-4
Matthew 22:11-14
John 14:26
Romans 14:17-19
2 Corinthians 2:15
Hebrews 13:20-22
Ezra 7:10 - Whose turn to be the leader?
"For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."
Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader and he lived during the return of Israel from Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple. His name means "Helper", and his entire life was spent in dedication to service to God and to his people. Paramount in Ezra's life was the Word of God - he knew it, he believed it, he obeyed it, and he taught Israel by word and example. He was able to successfully move Israel in the right direction because he adhered to the Word, refused to be compromised, and by his life encouraged a nation to do the same.
The Lord's requirements of us are not that many and not that difficult. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. " Love God with all that you are, and love others as much as you love yourself. Ezra complied and eventually led Israel into national revival. One man CAN make a difference when his heart is pure and his motives are holy.
Why are things like personal revival, church revival, national revival not happening today? Why is there no spiritual fervor, no crying before God for restoration? Why do we drag our feet and have the attitude that someone else will do it, like the pastor - that's his job, isn't that why we hired him? Because it takes time, energy and dedication, not to mention a pure heart in regards to our motives. Our lives are too busy to take time to sit apart with the Lord. Our excuses run on to infinity. We don't want others to think we've gone off the deep end. You know what people say: "you can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good!". And therein lies the problem, we're thinking about the natural and not the spiritual.
One person can make a difference. We all want God to use us to His Glory, but unfortunately we want Him to do it on our terms and conditions. Oh yes we do! Here, not there. This time, not now. This way, not like that. And God's Holy Spirit silently moves past us, searching out the earth for one person. Scripture says Ezra was DEVOTED - he was concentrated one particular thing, God. And therein lies the clue - devotion. Deep, concentrated devotion.
God is searching for that one person who is devoted to Him, and Him alone, that He can use to His great glory and the good of the nation. He knows your life and every, tiny facet of it, so . . . . . Is that person you? If God called you, how would you respond?
"O Lord my God, searcher of hearts, diviner of thoughts, search me and know me, and mold me into Your person. Take all wickedness from me, revive me by your Holy Spirit, make me holy as you are holy. Jesus, my fears are many and they hold me back from you. Take charge of my spirit, soul and body that I may be a true and holy blessing in Your sight. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 51:13
2 Timothy 1:7
2:15
1 John 5:3
Matthew 6:6
Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader and he lived during the return of Israel from Babylon and the rebuilding of the temple. His name means "Helper", and his entire life was spent in dedication to service to God and to his people. Paramount in Ezra's life was the Word of God - he knew it, he believed it, he obeyed it, and he taught Israel by word and example. He was able to successfully move Israel in the right direction because he adhered to the Word, refused to be compromised, and by his life encouraged a nation to do the same.
The Lord's requirements of us are not that many and not that difficult. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength, and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. " Love God with all that you are, and love others as much as you love yourself. Ezra complied and eventually led Israel into national revival. One man CAN make a difference when his heart is pure and his motives are holy.
Why are things like personal revival, church revival, national revival not happening today? Why is there no spiritual fervor, no crying before God for restoration? Why do we drag our feet and have the attitude that someone else will do it, like the pastor - that's his job, isn't that why we hired him? Because it takes time, energy and dedication, not to mention a pure heart in regards to our motives. Our lives are too busy to take time to sit apart with the Lord. Our excuses run on to infinity. We don't want others to think we've gone off the deep end. You know what people say: "you can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good!". And therein lies the problem, we're thinking about the natural and not the spiritual.
One person can make a difference. We all want God to use us to His Glory, but unfortunately we want Him to do it on our terms and conditions. Oh yes we do! Here, not there. This time, not now. This way, not like that. And God's Holy Spirit silently moves past us, searching out the earth for one person. Scripture says Ezra was DEVOTED - he was concentrated one particular thing, God. And therein lies the clue - devotion. Deep, concentrated devotion.
God is searching for that one person who is devoted to Him, and Him alone, that He can use to His great glory and the good of the nation. He knows your life and every, tiny facet of it, so . . . . . Is that person you? If God called you, how would you respond?
"O Lord my God, searcher of hearts, diviner of thoughts, search me and know me, and mold me into Your person. Take all wickedness from me, revive me by your Holy Spirit, make me holy as you are holy. Jesus, my fears are many and they hold me back from you. Take charge of my spirit, soul and body that I may be a true and holy blessing in Your sight. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 51:13
2 Timothy 1:7
2:15
1 John 5:3
Matthew 6:6
John 5:17 - work, work, work and MORE work
"Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.' "
Work, work, work, and MORE work. Does the work ever end? What about retirement, don't I get to stop working then? Do I have to work till I die? Good grief, already, I'm tired and I need a rest !!!!!! Sound familiar? I'm sure it does. Seems like I've said that a time or two myself, and just recently, too.
And yet, work has been a part of man even since the time of the garden. Genesis 2:15 tells us this: "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." God did not create us to be couch-potatoes, but to be productive, even in Paradise. The only difference being, the work in Paradise wasn't really work at all because it was the perfect place, it was Paradise. No weeds! And now our work outside of the garden is to glorify God and lead others to eternal life in Him that they may glorify Him also. Never-ending, even in retirement. We may retire from secular work, but we NEVER retire from glorifying God with our lives and we never retire from leading the unsaved to salvation. There is no retirement plan in God's work.
Genesis 2:2 says: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work" but our verse today says that God is still working, and so is Jesus. Hmmmm, is there a contradiction? I don't think so. God stopped working on the seventh day because He has finished creating the world. THAT work was now complete. Phew! I'm tired and I need a rest, said the Lord. Well, actually, God didn't get tired, but He knew WE would, so He gave us a day of rest, which, by the way, we don't use as it was intended, but that's another day. We have a day of rest instituted by God. But when the next day rolled around, He was back at work. Not creating, because that was all done, but now God is busy keeping everything from falling into total chaos: He is at work in every believer's life, trying to keep us on the straight and narrow; He is at work keeping control on Satan and his employees so that they don't completely overrun the world; He is at work in us, using us to His glory; He is at work in non-believers, working in their hearts and drawing them to Himself; He is at work keeping the universe from falling in on itself until the proper time; God is at work IN EVERY THING AND EVERY ONE until the time of its and our completion and we return to God.
Oh my gosh, what would happen in this world, this universe, if God retired and called it quits? That time is coming, saint. Revelation 20:7-9 says: "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. . . " Until this time, God is at work protecting us. Glory to His Name !!
Today we honor the work force, the men and women of America who have made our country what it is. Every one of us have been or are in that number. Thank you, America, for all your hard work and dedication. But after we have worked our allotted number of years, we will retire and hopefully enjoy the "golden years" as they have become known.
But today, and every day, let us remember our Lord and God, Creator of heaven and earth, the Sustainer of life and Giver of all gifts, whose mercies and compassions are new every morning and who never closes and eye or turns His head from His children. He never sleeps, never ceases to care for us; His work continues forever. Praise be to God for His love and grace to us!
"Thank you, Lord God Almighty, for your constant love and care of us. Thank you for working in our lives to make us what You want us to be - holy unto You. Thank you for never wavering in your faithful care and vigilant watchfulness. Help me, Lord, to always remember that You are forever at work in my life. Amen."
Work, work, work, and MORE work. Does the work ever end? What about retirement, don't I get to stop working then? Do I have to work till I die? Good grief, already, I'm tired and I need a rest !!!!!! Sound familiar? I'm sure it does. Seems like I've said that a time or two myself, and just recently, too.
And yet, work has been a part of man even since the time of the garden. Genesis 2:15 tells us this: "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." God did not create us to be couch-potatoes, but to be productive, even in Paradise. The only difference being, the work in Paradise wasn't really work at all because it was the perfect place, it was Paradise. No weeds! And now our work outside of the garden is to glorify God and lead others to eternal life in Him that they may glorify Him also. Never-ending, even in retirement. We may retire from secular work, but we NEVER retire from glorifying God with our lives and we never retire from leading the unsaved to salvation. There is no retirement plan in God's work.
Genesis 2:2 says: "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work" but our verse today says that God is still working, and so is Jesus. Hmmmm, is there a contradiction? I don't think so. God stopped working on the seventh day because He has finished creating the world. THAT work was now complete. Phew! I'm tired and I need a rest, said the Lord. Well, actually, God didn't get tired, but He knew WE would, so He gave us a day of rest, which, by the way, we don't use as it was intended, but that's another day. We have a day of rest instituted by God. But when the next day rolled around, He was back at work. Not creating, because that was all done, but now God is busy keeping everything from falling into total chaos: He is at work in every believer's life, trying to keep us on the straight and narrow; He is at work keeping control on Satan and his employees so that they don't completely overrun the world; He is at work in us, using us to His glory; He is at work in non-believers, working in their hearts and drawing them to Himself; He is at work keeping the universe from falling in on itself until the proper time; God is at work IN EVERY THING AND EVERY ONE until the time of its and our completion and we return to God.
Oh my gosh, what would happen in this world, this universe, if God retired and called it quits? That time is coming, saint. Revelation 20:7-9 says: "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. . . " Until this time, God is at work protecting us. Glory to His Name !!
Today we honor the work force, the men and women of America who have made our country what it is. Every one of us have been or are in that number. Thank you, America, for all your hard work and dedication. But after we have worked our allotted number of years, we will retire and hopefully enjoy the "golden years" as they have become known.
But today, and every day, let us remember our Lord and God, Creator of heaven and earth, the Sustainer of life and Giver of all gifts, whose mercies and compassions are new every morning and who never closes and eye or turns His head from His children. He never sleeps, never ceases to care for us; His work continues forever. Praise be to God for His love and grace to us!
"Thank you, Lord God Almighty, for your constant love and care of us. Thank you for working in our lives to make us what You want us to be - holy unto You. Thank you for never wavering in your faithful care and vigilant watchfulness. Help me, Lord, to always remember that You are forever at work in my life. Amen."
2 Chronicles 15:1-2 - Who has your ear?
"The Spirit of God came upon Azariah son of Oded. He went out to meet Asa and said to him, 'Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be bound by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.' "
Asa King of Judah did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord. He destroyed the high places, altars, and Asherah poles, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. Although Asa was a man of God and did his best to comply with all the commands of the Lord, he was still human, with human faults and failings. But one thing Asa did show wisdom in, and that was to listen to the man of God, Azariah. Asa welcomed people who had a close relationship with God, and he listened to and complied with their messages.
Just as Asa welcomed people of God into his life, so should we. Fellowship with other committed Christians gives us encouragement; strengthens us for the battles we face; lets us know we're not alone in our struggles; and many times direct words from the Lord are given. Spending time with Spirit-filled people helps us to learn God's counsel. Spending regular time in discussion and prayer with others who can help us discern God's will for our lives is a definite blessing. Unity in prayer brings powerful results, grows our faith, and is a visible witness to those who watch our lives.
Azariah told Asa that "the Lord is with you when you are with Him." Our Lord God will not remain where He is not wanted. He is a gentleman and bows to our wishes and desires. If we truly mean to live our lives without God, He will leave us to our own devices and the consequences of our choices. The Holy Spirit will try to draw us back to God for only so long, and then He leaves. God does not force Himself on us; He is our choice. If you have ever felt like "throwing in the towel" and calling it quits with the Lord, gather in your committed Christian friends and have them pray for you. If you are struggling with your walk with God, the enemy of your soul is ripping and tearing at you - call for reinforcements!!!! It will be a hard move but in this case, the end justifies the means. Just do it!!!
Azariah also said "If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." God knows where we are every second in eternal time, He doesn't need to search us out. Holy GPS, God's Positioning System, is never turned off. God is ever-present in our lives, like a second skin, but He can't shed us. The first move is always up to us. WE must seek Him out and WE must reject Him if we want no further communication with Him. The choice is ALWAYS OURS. God never moves. If He appears distant or absent from our lives, then we must examine ourselves to see what we did that led us out of God's sphere. God never moves, we do. Just like God doesn't send anyone to hell; we chose where we will spend eternity by our own actions. WE make the choices that determine our own eternity.
Does the Lord seem distant from you? Is there something in your life that needs attended to? Who are you associating with and what is filling your heart? Do you need a spiritual re=evaluation?
"Lord Jesus, I love you. I need you in my life every second of every day. I seek you out, Lord; I invited you to lead my life. Guide me and lead me by Your Holy Spirit. Fill my life with Your Divine Appointments, so that I will always walk in wise counsel. Use me to Your glory, O God, forever. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 (5-8)
Jeremiah 29:13
John 7:17
Joshua 1:5
24:15
1 Kings 8:57
Psalm 65:4
Matthew 12:5
John 14:18
Asa King of Judah did what was good and right in the sight of the Lord. He destroyed the high places, altars, and Asherah poles, and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to obey his laws and commands. Although Asa was a man of God and did his best to comply with all the commands of the Lord, he was still human, with human faults and failings. But one thing Asa did show wisdom in, and that was to listen to the man of God, Azariah. Asa welcomed people who had a close relationship with God, and he listened to and complied with their messages.
Just as Asa welcomed people of God into his life, so should we. Fellowship with other committed Christians gives us encouragement; strengthens us for the battles we face; lets us know we're not alone in our struggles; and many times direct words from the Lord are given. Spending time with Spirit-filled people helps us to learn God's counsel. Spending regular time in discussion and prayer with others who can help us discern God's will for our lives is a definite blessing. Unity in prayer brings powerful results, grows our faith, and is a visible witness to those who watch our lives.
Azariah told Asa that "the Lord is with you when you are with Him." Our Lord God will not remain where He is not wanted. He is a gentleman and bows to our wishes and desires. If we truly mean to live our lives without God, He will leave us to our own devices and the consequences of our choices. The Holy Spirit will try to draw us back to God for only so long, and then He leaves. God does not force Himself on us; He is our choice. If you have ever felt like "throwing in the towel" and calling it quits with the Lord, gather in your committed Christian friends and have them pray for you. If you are struggling with your walk with God, the enemy of your soul is ripping and tearing at you - call for reinforcements!!!! It will be a hard move but in this case, the end justifies the means. Just do it!!!
Azariah also said "If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." God knows where we are every second in eternal time, He doesn't need to search us out. Holy GPS, God's Positioning System, is never turned off. God is ever-present in our lives, like a second skin, but He can't shed us. The first move is always up to us. WE must seek Him out and WE must reject Him if we want no further communication with Him. The choice is ALWAYS OURS. God never moves. If He appears distant or absent from our lives, then we must examine ourselves to see what we did that led us out of God's sphere. God never moves, we do. Just like God doesn't send anyone to hell; we chose where we will spend eternity by our own actions. WE make the choices that determine our own eternity.
Does the Lord seem distant from you? Is there something in your life that needs attended to? Who are you associating with and what is filling your heart? Do you need a spiritual re=evaluation?
"Lord Jesus, I love you. I need you in my life every second of every day. I seek you out, Lord; I invited you to lead my life. Guide me and lead me by Your Holy Spirit. Fill my life with Your Divine Appointments, so that I will always walk in wise counsel. Use me to Your glory, O God, forever. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Deuteronomy 31:6,8 (5-8)
Jeremiah 29:13
John 7:17
Joshua 1:5
24:15
1 Kings 8:57
Psalm 65:4
Matthew 12:5
John 14:18
1 Chronicles 14:8-16 - A Short Lesson
". . . Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: 'Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?' . . . "
The Philistines represent the sin in our lives, and as Israel was always under attach from one foreign nation or another, so are our lives always under attack from the enemy of our souls, coming at us from different directions and in different ways. God has commanded us to take the offensive; go after the sin and eradicate it. But different sins require different approaches, and so we must inquire of the Lord what He would have us do to rid it from our lives.
". . . The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire . . . "
Often in battle, soldiers would take souvenirs of their victories, mementos of what they had accomplished. Apparently these warriors took the gods left behind by the Philistines, so David ordered them completely destroyed. So too, we cannot hold on to ANY part of sin if we are to be holy unto the Lord. When we seek the Lord and He reveals to us what must be done, we must move forward in faith performing exactly as God has commanded. We cannot question God, He alone knows what is the very best for our lives and we must trust Him implicitly. To do any less is to court with disaster. Our Lord God wants us pure and holy and it can only be achieved by His means, and His alone. Do not hold on to ANY remnants of sin, lest you slide fully back into it.
" . . . so David inquired of God again and God answered him, 'do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.' . . . "
Every time we want to eliminate sin from our lives, we must inquire of the Lord. The same plan doesn't work for everything. Some sin we can simply repent of and go on, others may require intense prayer time, and still others may involve fasting or isolated time away with the Lord. David had to go to the high places and smash altars, burn idols, cut down their Asherah poles. It was a very hard-fought war. Erasing sin from our lives always is. The enemy of our souls doesn't want us to be triumphant over sin and death and he is fighting us tooth and nail to keep us pinned down under constant attack. Only our God knows the plans to defeat Him, and we must see Him out for the battle plan. The only proper response to sin is to get rid of it completely. We cannon be a follower of God and hold on to those things which tie us to the world. Anything that would replace God in our hearts must be completely removed.
" . . . So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer . . . "
Obedience ALWAYS brings rewards. God blesses our lives when we are obedient, gives us peace and serenity. Our relationship with Him is greatly enriched and our prayer time is oh so sweet. Obedience brings us back into right standing with the Lord, gives us direct access to the Throne Room and nothing and no one can get between us and our Abba. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in this world that compares with that!
We are engaged in a spiritual war and we must approach it as warriors. Jesus Christ is our commander-in-chief and only He knows the battle plans. Ask Him what your orders are for today, and every day of your life. I encourage you to read all of these verses to get the full picture. Let the Spirit of God expound on it in your heart. As God told Jehospaphat at the Valley of Ammon: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of tis vast army. For the battle is not yors, but God's." Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding . . .
"Lord Jesus, you are my all in all. I trust you with every aspect of my life; spiritual, mental and emotional, and physical. You know me inside and out and what I need to do to accomplish Your will for my life. Encourage me day by day to always seek Your will for my life. Quicken me with Your Holy Spirit, to seek Your face, listen to Your voice, and act in immediate obedience. My heart's desire is to serve You only. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:10-14
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Chronicles 16:11
Psalm 105:4
Matthew 11:12
Proverbs 16:7
Romans 12:2
Psalm 37:4
1 Corinthians `15:57
The Philistines represent the sin in our lives, and as Israel was always under attach from one foreign nation or another, so are our lives always under attack from the enemy of our souls, coming at us from different directions and in different ways. God has commanded us to take the offensive; go after the sin and eradicate it. But different sins require different approaches, and so we must inquire of the Lord what He would have us do to rid it from our lives.
". . . The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire . . . "
Often in battle, soldiers would take souvenirs of their victories, mementos of what they had accomplished. Apparently these warriors took the gods left behind by the Philistines, so David ordered them completely destroyed. So too, we cannot hold on to ANY part of sin if we are to be holy unto the Lord. When we seek the Lord and He reveals to us what must be done, we must move forward in faith performing exactly as God has commanded. We cannot question God, He alone knows what is the very best for our lives and we must trust Him implicitly. To do any less is to court with disaster. Our Lord God wants us pure and holy and it can only be achieved by His means, and His alone. Do not hold on to ANY remnants of sin, lest you slide fully back into it.
" . . . so David inquired of God again and God answered him, 'do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.' . . . "
Every time we want to eliminate sin from our lives, we must inquire of the Lord. The same plan doesn't work for everything. Some sin we can simply repent of and go on, others may require intense prayer time, and still others may involve fasting or isolated time away with the Lord. David had to go to the high places and smash altars, burn idols, cut down their Asherah poles. It was a very hard-fought war. Erasing sin from our lives always is. The enemy of our souls doesn't want us to be triumphant over sin and death and he is fighting us tooth and nail to keep us pinned down under constant attack. Only our God knows the plans to defeat Him, and we must see Him out for the battle plan. The only proper response to sin is to get rid of it completely. We cannon be a follower of God and hold on to those things which tie us to the world. Anything that would replace God in our hearts must be completely removed.
" . . . So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer . . . "
Obedience ALWAYS brings rewards. God blesses our lives when we are obedient, gives us peace and serenity. Our relationship with Him is greatly enriched and our prayer time is oh so sweet. Obedience brings us back into right standing with the Lord, gives us direct access to the Throne Room and nothing and no one can get between us and our Abba. There is nothing, absolutely nothing in this world that compares with that!
We are engaged in a spiritual war and we must approach it as warriors. Jesus Christ is our commander-in-chief and only He knows the battle plans. Ask Him what your orders are for today, and every day of your life. I encourage you to read all of these verses to get the full picture. Let the Spirit of God expound on it in your heart. As God told Jehospaphat at the Valley of Ammon: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of tis vast army. For the battle is not yors, but God's." Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding . . .
"Lord Jesus, you are my all in all. I trust you with every aspect of my life; spiritual, mental and emotional, and physical. You know me inside and out and what I need to do to accomplish Your will for my life. Encourage me day by day to always seek Your will for my life. Quicken me with Your Holy Spirit, to seek Your face, listen to Your voice, and act in immediate obedience. My heart's desire is to serve You only. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Ephesians 6:10-14
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Chronicles 16:11
Psalm 105:4
Matthew 11:12
Proverbs 16:7
Romans 12:2
Psalm 37:4
1 Corinthians `15:57
2 Kings 2:9 - Follow the Leader
"When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied."
Elisha was Elijah's student; he followed Elijah wherever he went; watched what he did; listened to what he said; learned all that he could learn. Even when Elijah told Elisha to turn back, he would not. Elisha looked at Elijah as his father and according to Deut 21:17, the firstborn son received a double portion of the father's inheritance. Elisha was, therefore, asking to be Elijah's heir, or successor, the one who would continue as the leader of the prophets. The decision was not Elijah's but God's, and God granted the request because Elisha's motives were pure. Elisha's goal was not to be greater then Elijah, but to do more for God.
All of us are students of Jesus Christ. He is the one we follow; learn from; listen to; emulate. In the Old Testament, men physically followed their teacher; the disciples of John the Baptist physically followed him and learned from his teachings; other disciples physically followed Jesus so that they could learn from Him. Today, we follow in the spirit, led by God's Holy Spirit, as we study and ingest the living Word of God. We may have teachers who lead and guide us through studies, but ultimately, we choose how closely we want to follow Jesus by the amount of intimacy we share with Him.
Elisha was a great man and he did many great things, but he was not self-serving. He was just as willing to serve the poor as the wealthy. Elisha was an effective replacement for Elijah because in addition to learning from him, he also built on his master's achievements. Like Elisha, we must have pure motives before the Lord, learn from Him, and build on what Jesus did when He walked the earth. When we ask for something such as great power or ability, we need to examine our hearts to see what our motives are. Is what we are asking for intended to glorify us? Do we want to be popular and highly thought of? How much of "me" is in the asking? We must also remember that with great power and ability comes great responsibility. Are we willing to accept that?
Elijah, Elisha, and Messiah Jesus were men of integrity who did not try to make themselves great at the expense of others. Even though Jesus is God's son, and God, he still had to make a choice of obedience. All three sought the will of God in all they did. They were humble, honest and faithful. They are our examples of people who completely immersed themselves in God and were profoundly obedient. There was no compromise.
How is my Christian integrity? Have I compromised my faith principles so I won't make waves or upset anyone? What are my motives for serving the Lord?
"Lord Jesus, Master Teacher, search my heart and try me. Root out all that is in me that is unholy and self-serving. Purify me for service for You. Teach me by Your Holy Spirit, that I may learn only the holy truth. Use me to Your honor and glory only. Thank you for those who have gone before me to encourage me to do Your will. Give me strength, Lord, to always be obedent to You, and only You. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:29-31
John 14:12
Psalm 4:4
139:23
Proverbs 20:27
Ecclesiastes 7:25
1 Corinthias 2:10
.
Elisha was Elijah's student; he followed Elijah wherever he went; watched what he did; listened to what he said; learned all that he could learn. Even when Elijah told Elisha to turn back, he would not. Elisha looked at Elijah as his father and according to Deut 21:17, the firstborn son received a double portion of the father's inheritance. Elisha was, therefore, asking to be Elijah's heir, or successor, the one who would continue as the leader of the prophets. The decision was not Elijah's but God's, and God granted the request because Elisha's motives were pure. Elisha's goal was not to be greater then Elijah, but to do more for God.
All of us are students of Jesus Christ. He is the one we follow; learn from; listen to; emulate. In the Old Testament, men physically followed their teacher; the disciples of John the Baptist physically followed him and learned from his teachings; other disciples physically followed Jesus so that they could learn from Him. Today, we follow in the spirit, led by God's Holy Spirit, as we study and ingest the living Word of God. We may have teachers who lead and guide us through studies, but ultimately, we choose how closely we want to follow Jesus by the amount of intimacy we share with Him.
Elisha was a great man and he did many great things, but he was not self-serving. He was just as willing to serve the poor as the wealthy. Elisha was an effective replacement for Elijah because in addition to learning from him, he also built on his master's achievements. Like Elisha, we must have pure motives before the Lord, learn from Him, and build on what Jesus did when He walked the earth. When we ask for something such as great power or ability, we need to examine our hearts to see what our motives are. Is what we are asking for intended to glorify us? Do we want to be popular and highly thought of? How much of "me" is in the asking? We must also remember that with great power and ability comes great responsibility. Are we willing to accept that?
Elijah, Elisha, and Messiah Jesus were men of integrity who did not try to make themselves great at the expense of others. Even though Jesus is God's son, and God, he still had to make a choice of obedience. All three sought the will of God in all they did. They were humble, honest and faithful. They are our examples of people who completely immersed themselves in God and were profoundly obedient. There was no compromise.
How is my Christian integrity? Have I compromised my faith principles so I won't make waves or upset anyone? What are my motives for serving the Lord?
"Lord Jesus, Master Teacher, search my heart and try me. Root out all that is in me that is unholy and self-serving. Purify me for service for You. Teach me by Your Holy Spirit, that I may learn only the holy truth. Use me to Your honor and glory only. Thank you for those who have gone before me to encourage me to do Your will. Give me strength, Lord, to always be obedent to You, and only You. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
John 3:29-31
John 14:12
Psalm 4:4
139:23
Proverbs 20:27
Ecclesiastes 7:25
1 Corinthias 2:10
.
1 Kings 3:3 - Oops, I slipped . . . . .
"Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places."
Solomon is considered the wisest man who ever lived, yet his life showed many, many poor personal choices. He aligned himself with Egypt by marrying a pagan, the daughter of Pharaoh, and then went on to marry thousands of other pagan women, thereby creating alliances with the forbidden foreign nations of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and the Hittites. He permitted his wives and concubines to worship their gods in their manner, even building them temples to do so in, thereby affecting his loyalty to God. He compromised his faith by offering sacrifices and incense on the high places. Solomon asked God for wisdom in his dealings with people, but he did not apply that wisdom to his personal life. Eventually his leadership suffered and so did that of his successors.
Effective leadership can be nullified by an ineffective personal life. From the president of the country to the lowliest worker, every person is a leader to someone, whether it be a nation, a family, a church, a business, a teacher, a nursery worker, a nanny, an older sibling, a . . . . .. . . . and the list grows and grows. Everyone has influence over others to one degree or another. If our personal life is not in line with the word of God, our leadership will falter, leaving a trail of mounting problems and impending crisis's. We cannot compromise our faith by so much as one tiny thought, let alone acting in the way of the world. We cannot say we love God and follow His commands, and then step out of line and walk with the world. Compromise creates confusion and indecision. God granted Solomon wisdom to administer justice, but because of his sin in his worship, he failed in personal relationships, eventually over-taxed the people and drafted them into forced labor and military service. And with this sin in worshiping false gods, his children and his nation followed in his footsteps.
We must be very careful, very diligent, very purposeful in adhering to the complete word of God. We cannot twist it to suit our means, we must conform to it. Our entire attitude toward God and His Word affects every aspect of our relationships, starting with our immediate family, branching out into our work place, spreading to our neighbors and acquaintances, to those we meet casually, and in an ever-widening circle. The actions of our lives and our attitude toward God is our constant unspoken witness, and is the basis of all our decisions and deeds. It is that which will leave its mark on the world.
How does the world see you today? What kind of a witness are you projecting? What kind of a legacy are you leaving for your family? What would history record of your spiritual life and the decisions you made as a result of it?
"Lord God Almighty, strengthen my heart, that it will be ever and always true to Your every command. Keep me from straying, no matter how short the step may seem. My heart's desire is for my eyes to never leave Your sweet, holy face. Fill me with Your holy wisdom that I may use it in every facet of my life. Use me to Your Glory. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Nehemiah 13:26
Psalm 90:12
James 1:5
Deuteronomy 4:5-7
Psalm 37:30
51:6
111:10
Proverbs 11:2
Luke 2:52
1 Corinthians 1:20
2:5
Solomon is considered the wisest man who ever lived, yet his life showed many, many poor personal choices. He aligned himself with Egypt by marrying a pagan, the daughter of Pharaoh, and then went on to marry thousands of other pagan women, thereby creating alliances with the forbidden foreign nations of Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon and the Hittites. He permitted his wives and concubines to worship their gods in their manner, even building them temples to do so in, thereby affecting his loyalty to God. He compromised his faith by offering sacrifices and incense on the high places. Solomon asked God for wisdom in his dealings with people, but he did not apply that wisdom to his personal life. Eventually his leadership suffered and so did that of his successors.
Effective leadership can be nullified by an ineffective personal life. From the president of the country to the lowliest worker, every person is a leader to someone, whether it be a nation, a family, a church, a business, a teacher, a nursery worker, a nanny, an older sibling, a . . . . .. . . . and the list grows and grows. Everyone has influence over others to one degree or another. If our personal life is not in line with the word of God, our leadership will falter, leaving a trail of mounting problems and impending crisis's. We cannot compromise our faith by so much as one tiny thought, let alone acting in the way of the world. We cannot say we love God and follow His commands, and then step out of line and walk with the world. Compromise creates confusion and indecision. God granted Solomon wisdom to administer justice, but because of his sin in his worship, he failed in personal relationships, eventually over-taxed the people and drafted them into forced labor and military service. And with this sin in worshiping false gods, his children and his nation followed in his footsteps.
We must be very careful, very diligent, very purposeful in adhering to the complete word of God. We cannot twist it to suit our means, we must conform to it. Our entire attitude toward God and His Word affects every aspect of our relationships, starting with our immediate family, branching out into our work place, spreading to our neighbors and acquaintances, to those we meet casually, and in an ever-widening circle. The actions of our lives and our attitude toward God is our constant unspoken witness, and is the basis of all our decisions and deeds. It is that which will leave its mark on the world.
How does the world see you today? What kind of a witness are you projecting? What kind of a legacy are you leaving for your family? What would history record of your spiritual life and the decisions you made as a result of it?
"Lord God Almighty, strengthen my heart, that it will be ever and always true to Your every command. Keep me from straying, no matter how short the step may seem. My heart's desire is for my eyes to never leave Your sweet, holy face. Fill me with Your holy wisdom that I may use it in every facet of my life. Use me to Your Glory. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
Nehemiah 13:26
Psalm 90:12
James 1:5
Deuteronomy 4:5-7
Psalm 37:30
51:6
111:10
Proverbs 11:2
Luke 2:52
1 Corinthians 1:20
2:5
2 Samuel 6:16 - It's time for dancin' in the streets
"As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart."
Although Michal was David's first wife, she had the same attitudes as her father, therefore she was called "Saul's daughter", not David's wife. It's amazing that we become known by the people we emulate and follow, not necessarily those to whom we are aligned. Just as Saul was self-centered and bent on having control of everything, so was Michal. Even to the point of resenting David for his public display of his love for God.
Every family has at least one member who despises and ridicules us for our faith. That's just the way it is. Abundantly blessed is the family who can claim salvation for every member, immediate and extended. They are rare and precious gems. Even Jesus' natural brothers and sisters did not all accept Him as Messiah. The Bible records only one. So we are in very good company indeed.
Although Michal loved David and even saved his life, when the circumstances of her life changed for the worse, she allowed herself to become a bitter woman, feeding on her misery instead of turning her life over to God. When David danced his way into Jerusalem before the Ark, loving and praising his great God, Michal's bitterness turned to anger, then jealousy, and eventully hate and she spewed out her venom on David. Their once love-relationship died and ceased to be.
Feelings of bitterness, resentment, jealousy and hate that go unchecked will destroy any relationship. We must not allow these sinful feelings to escalate into open warfare. We must guard our hearts and minds against such things. When we see others totally immersing themselves in Jesus, reveling in the love and fellowship, unashamedly proclaiming to the world who the Lover of their souls is, we should join in the celebration, not criticize them for PDA - public displays of affection!! We're certainly not ashamed of some of the "over-the-top" PDA's that some people engage in today. We walk down the street holding hands with our loved one; we kiss one another in public; we snuggle together on park benches. It's part of our everyday life.
"Sweet Jesus, I love you. I lift my hands and dance in praise and worship of you. I refuse to allow the world to dictate how I will express my feelings for you. I rejoice with David as he danced into Jerusalem. My spirit soars in exctasy as I praise and worship you. Help me to be loving and gentle with others, so that they will be freed from the bonds of the world that would hold them back from their abandonment in you. As I praise and worship you, let my eyes be only on your face, I want to see only you. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
1 Chronicles 16:9
2 Chronicles 20:20-23
Psalm 5:11
32:11
104:33
Jeremiah 31:13
Hebrews 2:12
Although Michal was David's first wife, she had the same attitudes as her father, therefore she was called "Saul's daughter", not David's wife. It's amazing that we become known by the people we emulate and follow, not necessarily those to whom we are aligned. Just as Saul was self-centered and bent on having control of everything, so was Michal. Even to the point of resenting David for his public display of his love for God.
Every family has at least one member who despises and ridicules us for our faith. That's just the way it is. Abundantly blessed is the family who can claim salvation for every member, immediate and extended. They are rare and precious gems. Even Jesus' natural brothers and sisters did not all accept Him as Messiah. The Bible records only one. So we are in very good company indeed.
Although Michal loved David and even saved his life, when the circumstances of her life changed for the worse, she allowed herself to become a bitter woman, feeding on her misery instead of turning her life over to God. When David danced his way into Jerusalem before the Ark, loving and praising his great God, Michal's bitterness turned to anger, then jealousy, and eventully hate and she spewed out her venom on David. Their once love-relationship died and ceased to be.
Feelings of bitterness, resentment, jealousy and hate that go unchecked will destroy any relationship. We must not allow these sinful feelings to escalate into open warfare. We must guard our hearts and minds against such things. When we see others totally immersing themselves in Jesus, reveling in the love and fellowship, unashamedly proclaiming to the world who the Lover of their souls is, we should join in the celebration, not criticize them for PDA - public displays of affection!! We're certainly not ashamed of some of the "over-the-top" PDA's that some people engage in today. We walk down the street holding hands with our loved one; we kiss one another in public; we snuggle together on park benches. It's part of our everyday life.
- Why don't we publicly declare our love for Jesus Christ as unashamedly as we declare our natural love?
- What is it that stops us?
- Why do we rail against those who do it?
- Why are we jealous of those who are freed up in their worship?
- Why do we permit our circumstances to dictate our reactions?
"Sweet Jesus, I love you. I lift my hands and dance in praise and worship of you. I refuse to allow the world to dictate how I will express my feelings for you. I rejoice with David as he danced into Jerusalem. My spirit soars in exctasy as I praise and worship you. Help me to be loving and gentle with others, so that they will be freed from the bonds of the world that would hold them back from their abandonment in you. As I praise and worship you, let my eyes be only on your face, I want to see only you. Amen."
FOR FURTHER STUDY:
1 Chronicles 16:9
2 Chronicles 20:20-23
Psalm 5:11
32:11
104:33
Jeremiah 31:13
Hebrews 2:12
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