Wow! So much to share. When you have your eyes open and try to listen to the Spirit, it is truly amazing what He wants to share with you. Remember, "the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." (John 12:26) He will not only teach me all things, but he will remind me of the word. (But I have to read/study the Word for Him to remind me of it...)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (1 Cor. 3:17) When I read and meditate on this scripture I think of all the freedom that needs to occur in my life and in the lives of those around me. There is so much, that it can be over whelming... Things that you or your friends have literally dealt with for years! In the midst of these things that can suffocate at times, we have a beacon of truth that says, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." What do we do with this scripture?
Well first off, we assume that it's true. No matter if you have to go against human nature, past experiences, or what other people think; scripture is absolute truth. And this scripture is reality.
Now from my personal experiences in life I can attest to this scripture. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! My question to you is - Is the Spirit of the Lord there? We are bombarded w/ entertainment, literally 24/7. I went to Italy this summer and I was reminded that the US is the media capital of the world, by FAR! The mass majority of entertainment, probably 80% - 90% is from the US. Outside of work and school Americans are involved in nothing but entertainment. Is the Spirit of the Lord in this entertainment? Is He in your school life? Your work?
The question might arise, "How do we get the Spirit in our lives on a consistent basis so that there can be freedom?" You have to make sure that you are in communication & fellowship with Him. And as far as your entertainment... He should be involved! You should be involved with other believers, reading the Word, studying other literature - "to show yourself approved," worship, service projects, or outreach.
I know what your thinking, life doesn't have to look like this all the time but it should look like it often. This is inviting the Holy Spirit into what you're doing. In reality what will begin to happen is that you will begin to stop inviting Him into what you're doing and He will invite you into what He's doing. Which is greater by far! When you are invited into what He is doing it means making a difference in other people's lives, this is something to live for. I'm reminded of the old commercial for the Marines, "If your life were a book, would anyone want to read it?" When you are involved in what He's doing, your life is interesting enough to read about.
I also want to touch on another scripture that is relevant to this one. "God inhabits the praises of His people." Young people who come into the church after "living life" often make comments like, "If I could just stay in worship, I could stop _______," "When I'm in worship I forget all my issues," and "When I'm in worship, I know what I should do with my life." Why is it, that when we are truly in worship we feel this way? Because "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" and "God inhabits the praises of His people." When we are in worship we are free because God is coming down as we praise Him!
Challenge: Next time you are getting frustrated w/ life, feeling like you're tempted beyond what you can bear, or feeling down & out - praise Him. (In spirit and truth - and watch your circumstance change...)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Jehovah-jireh (The Lord will provide)
"Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no man lives, a desert with no one in it," Job 38:25 & 26
This passage of scripture can seem so simple and none important at first glance. I would challenge you to see the depth of the character of God. This scripture shouts to me the integrity and faithfulness of the LORD!
Here we have God... Who is more than sufficient to water this desert where "no man lives, a desert with no one in it." But does he really have to water it? Can't he just cause whatever is in the desert to grow? (1 Cor. 3:7) But here in a desert, which we so commonly understand to be a place that possesses nothing, He chooses to water the land. No one is here to see it, there is no accountability, we might not even notice if he does it or not (at least for awhile). Yet he chooses to because His very being is faithfulness. His very being has integrity. Also, if he provides for these things that we tend to forget about in the desert, how much more will he provide for us? He will do what he says He is going to do. He will do this regardless if anyone else notices, even if it means nothing to anyone else, even if we crucify Him for it.
Don't discount the promise He gave you. Don't forget or forfeit a vision that he imparted to you. It is real, it was Him, and it will happen - if you let Him bring it to completion. (Philippians 1:6) Don't disqualify these things in your head because you received these things when you were "radical" or "zealous" for the Lord. He still wants to bring these things to completion.
This passage of scripture can seem so simple and none important at first glance. I would challenge you to see the depth of the character of God. This scripture shouts to me the integrity and faithfulness of the LORD!
Here we have God... Who is more than sufficient to water this desert where "no man lives, a desert with no one in it." But does he really have to water it? Can't he just cause whatever is in the desert to grow? (1 Cor. 3:7) But here in a desert, which we so commonly understand to be a place that possesses nothing, He chooses to water the land. No one is here to see it, there is no accountability, we might not even notice if he does it or not (at least for awhile). Yet he chooses to because His very being is faithfulness. His very being has integrity. Also, if he provides for these things that we tend to forget about in the desert, how much more will he provide for us? He will do what he says He is going to do. He will do this regardless if anyone else notices, even if it means nothing to anyone else, even if we crucify Him for it.
Don't discount the promise He gave you. Don't forget or forfeit a vision that he imparted to you. It is real, it was Him, and it will happen - if you let Him bring it to completion. (Philippians 1:6) Don't disqualify these things in your head because you received these things when you were "radical" or "zealous" for the Lord. He still wants to bring these things to completion.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
God Perspective
I just moved back from Texas about a month ago. Since I have been home the Lord has really been purifying my perspectives. The way that I perceive the world around me, the people around me, and the God around me. This has taken place through a number of teachers - Jesus, My Pastor - Russ Miller (I-tunes James Island Christian Church - A picture of the True Gospel), Matt Chandler (Pod-cast from village church), Francis Chan (book - Crazy Love).
First and foremost my perspective of God has been re-focused. The re-focus has occurred in the revelation that Jesus... God... The triune God. He owes me NOTHING. Now when I say nothing I mean that the fact that I have been given life for 23 years so far without begging for food, always having a roof over my head, never in need... but simply in want. He owes me nothing because He created a world with laws and guidelines that we are to follow. It doesn't matter why He created it the way He did honestly, the point is that He did. And the simple fact that I have already been given all these things is only by His amazing grace.
Now I have heard arguments such as, "Why would God manipulate me into having a relationship with him? If he threatens me with Hell to have a relationship with him." The perspective of this person is apparent. They are looking at life through their eyes instead of God's, because if we could see all that He is capable of then we would not ask this question. A good way to keep things into perspective is to read Job 38 - 41 which has verses like - "Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?"; "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place..."; and "Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this." We should rejoice in the fact that the God who creates something from nothing with words alone... would even let me in on his plan. That he has a plan and he would tell me how to avoid eternal torment and have the esteemed privilege of then spending it with Him! The one that is from everlasting to everlasting. The one that knows all mysteries whether of the human body and how it sustains life or the creatures that inhabit the depths of the sea that we can't even get to yet.
Another inquiry, more popular than the previous, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Again, wrong perspective. You see once again whether we are happy with the conditions that He set on His creation doesn't so much matter. (You don't have to like the law of gravity but regardless of if you believe in it, or agree with it - it is still going to perform the way it was created to perform.) So with the understanding that He is deeply offended when we don't follow His laws and precepts and with the fact again that he created us... He honestly has all right throughout the universe to wipe us off the face of the earth for any one sin that we have ever committed. BUT... in his mercy, that is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22 & 23) he continues to let us live in hope that we might find Him. Yes, so that we can be re-united with the one that knew us before anyone else did... in the womb, (Psalm 139:13-16) but also so that we can meet & know the one who created us with such depth. Depth that is unknown to any other part of his creation. Depth that distinctly sets us apart from animals and all other forms of life. So that he can then fulfill that depth as he is sufficient in every way for every need.
I originally planned on talking about the three topics in my opening paragraph (the world around me, the people around me, and the God around me), but I decided that would be rather lengthy so I'll break it up a bit.
First and foremost my perspective of God has been re-focused. The re-focus has occurred in the revelation that Jesus... God... The triune God. He owes me NOTHING. Now when I say nothing I mean that the fact that I have been given life for 23 years so far without begging for food, always having a roof over my head, never in need... but simply in want. He owes me nothing because He created a world with laws and guidelines that we are to follow. It doesn't matter why He created it the way He did honestly, the point is that He did. And the simple fact that I have already been given all these things is only by His amazing grace.
Now I have heard arguments such as, "Why would God manipulate me into having a relationship with him? If he threatens me with Hell to have a relationship with him." The perspective of this person is apparent. They are looking at life through their eyes instead of God's, because if we could see all that He is capable of then we would not ask this question. A good way to keep things into perspective is to read Job 38 - 41 which has verses like - "Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, 'Here we are'?"; "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place..."; and "Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this." We should rejoice in the fact that the God who creates something from nothing with words alone... would even let me in on his plan. That he has a plan and he would tell me how to avoid eternal torment and have the esteemed privilege of then spending it with Him! The one that is from everlasting to everlasting. The one that knows all mysteries whether of the human body and how it sustains life or the creatures that inhabit the depths of the sea that we can't even get to yet.
Another inquiry, more popular than the previous, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Again, wrong perspective. You see once again whether we are happy with the conditions that He set on His creation doesn't so much matter. (You don't have to like the law of gravity but regardless of if you believe in it, or agree with it - it is still going to perform the way it was created to perform.) So with the understanding that He is deeply offended when we don't follow His laws and precepts and with the fact again that he created us... He honestly has all right throughout the universe to wipe us off the face of the earth for any one sin that we have ever committed. BUT... in his mercy, that is new every morning (Lamentations 3:22 & 23) he continues to let us live in hope that we might find Him. Yes, so that we can be re-united with the one that knew us before anyone else did... in the womb, (Psalm 139:13-16) but also so that we can meet & know the one who created us with such depth. Depth that is unknown to any other part of his creation. Depth that distinctly sets us apart from animals and all other forms of life. So that he can then fulfill that depth as he is sufficient in every way for every need.
I originally planned on talking about the three topics in my opening paragraph (the world around me, the people around me, and the God around me), but I decided that would be rather lengthy so I'll break it up a bit.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Nothing Else Matters
"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me, and when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last..." Rev. 1:12-17 (emphasis added)
John sees the LORD and is immediately overwhelmed! From the time he sees the fullness of the LORD he collapses as though he were a dead man. Like the first round in a Mike Tyson fight, except he falls face first toward the only other person in the ring and then has no movement outside of his lungs expanding and retracting. And the only reason this simple necessity of life is happening is because the one who's presence demands this reaction sustains his every breath.
If you are in the place where John is...
...there's no showing off here
...there's no pride here
...it doesn't matter if you're married here
...it doesn't matter what kind of car you have
...it doesn't matter where you live
...it doesn't matter how many friends you have
...it doesn't matter what sickness or disease, what race or royalty, what frailty or power - NO MAN is moving without His permission in HIS presence.
You see, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3 (emphasis added) The only way I can perform a normal day is by the release of His grace. "'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring,'" Acts 17:28 (emphasis added) "For by him all thins were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers of authorities; all things were created by him for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Col. 1:16 & 17 (emphasis added)
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last..." Rev. 1:12-17 (emphasis added)
John sees the LORD and is immediately overwhelmed! From the time he sees the fullness of the LORD he collapses as though he were a dead man. Like the first round in a Mike Tyson fight, except he falls face first toward the only other person in the ring and then has no movement outside of his lungs expanding and retracting. And the only reason this simple necessity of life is happening is because the one who's presence demands this reaction sustains his every breath.
If you are in the place where John is...
...there's no showing off here
...there's no pride here
...it doesn't matter if you're married here
...it doesn't matter what kind of car you have
...it doesn't matter where you live
...it doesn't matter how many friends you have
...it doesn't matter what sickness or disease, what race or royalty, what frailty or power - NO MAN is moving without His permission in HIS presence.
You see, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word." Hebrews 1:3 (emphasis added) The only way I can perform a normal day is by the release of His grace. "'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring,'" Acts 17:28 (emphasis added) "For by him all thins were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers of authorities; all things were created by him for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Col. 1:16 & 17 (emphasis added)
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