Here is a brief sneak-peak of my work in progress! needs much prayer. appreciated
“…God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8)
The more I know this, the more I live for Jesus. The more I experience this, the more I love God. He has so loved the world (john 3:16) and I am infected with His love. I cannot help but pass it on. Infections are infectious and we who are so greatly affected by Him cannot help but pass it on!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Blessed "Yet's" of God!
2 Corinthians 3:5
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…”
How interesting is the word of God. So peculiar is our faith that we may proclaim with the Spirit that gives Life that, though we die, yet we live. Though we are weak, yet we are strong and though we are not sufficient, yet we are sufficient. Does this make sense? We are one thing yet we are another? To the natural men who know nothing of the spirit nor of Christ and His miraculous power these things make no sense. But for us the sense lies within the “yets” of scripture. That is, we are one thing yet Christ is another. We are sinners, Yet He is Savior. We are Sinful and yet He is forgiver of sin. And in our passage here: though we be insufficient, yet He is sufficiency for us. It is not about us but about Him in all things and all areas of our undeserved life. Oh that we would remember to be grateful for these “yets” of Christ that have made us acceptable in the Fathers sight for now and for all eternity. Praise the Lord.
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…”
How interesting is the word of God. So peculiar is our faith that we may proclaim with the Spirit that gives Life that, though we die, yet we live. Though we are weak, yet we are strong and though we are not sufficient, yet we are sufficient. Does this make sense? We are one thing yet we are another? To the natural men who know nothing of the spirit nor of Christ and His miraculous power these things make no sense. But for us the sense lies within the “yets” of scripture. That is, we are one thing yet Christ is another. We are sinners, Yet He is Savior. We are Sinful and yet He is forgiver of sin. And in our passage here: though we be insufficient, yet He is sufficiency for us. It is not about us but about Him in all things and all areas of our undeserved life. Oh that we would remember to be grateful for these “yets” of Christ that have made us acceptable in the Fathers sight for now and for all eternity. Praise the Lord.
"We are blessed in You, Oh Jesus!!!" Amen
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Love through Sufferings
2 Corinthians 2:4
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have for you.”
Oh what depth of love we might have within ourselves as we are conformed more and more into the likeness of our Savior. To love as powerful as Christ on the cross. He is bleeding, and yet He is giving life. He is in much anguish and suffering and yet He is experiencing victory for so many souls. He is dying, being poured out, and yet He is vastly in love with those for whom his blood is spilt. This is love, though it be a strange thing to take in; to grasp. You must experience this sort of love in order to scarcely understand. A love that is willing to go through trial and much anguish so that others may experience true joy and everlasting peace. I wonder how many Christians are missing out on the fullness of knowing their Savior because they are too safe. Too scared to step out in faith or too scared to suffer for the well being of others. I’m not talking about being tortured or spread over a splintery cross. But to be spent: emotionally, physically and spiritually stretched beyond your personal bounds for the sake of others. True men and women of God who change lives and effect eternity for the sake of the gospel suffer in this life while others benefit, and yet because of this suffering, they enjoy pure, perfect joy now and in heaven. No wonder scripture says to us about our Savior: “that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…” There is great joy in tears and trial and in sufferings when they are for the purpose of the gospel, the joy of others, and to the glory of God!
"O, Lord, that we might experience you more fully in the fellowship of your sufferings." Amen
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have for you.”
Oh what depth of love we might have within ourselves as we are conformed more and more into the likeness of our Savior. To love as powerful as Christ on the cross. He is bleeding, and yet He is giving life. He is in much anguish and suffering and yet He is experiencing victory for so many souls. He is dying, being poured out, and yet He is vastly in love with those for whom his blood is spilt. This is love, though it be a strange thing to take in; to grasp. You must experience this sort of love in order to scarcely understand. A love that is willing to go through trial and much anguish so that others may experience true joy and everlasting peace. I wonder how many Christians are missing out on the fullness of knowing their Savior because they are too safe. Too scared to step out in faith or too scared to suffer for the well being of others. I’m not talking about being tortured or spread over a splintery cross. But to be spent: emotionally, physically and spiritually stretched beyond your personal bounds for the sake of others. True men and women of God who change lives and effect eternity for the sake of the gospel suffer in this life while others benefit, and yet because of this suffering, they enjoy pure, perfect joy now and in heaven. No wonder scripture says to us about our Savior: “that for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…” There is great joy in tears and trial and in sufferings when they are for the purpose of the gospel, the joy of others, and to the glory of God!
"O, Lord, that we might experience you more fully in the fellowship of your sufferings." Amen
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
How 2 Walk - in Grace
“For our proud confidence is this: The testimony of our conscience,
that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom
but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world,
and especially toward you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12
It is no wonder to any battle scarred believer in Christ, that Paul would say that He conducts himself in the grace of God. Rather, it is an immense encouragement to me to hear of the sufferings of Christ being played out in my brothers and sisters in Christ. It brings me to the reality that I am not alone on this planet. I am not alone in struggle, despair, pain and sufferings for Christ. It is in these sufferings that I gain a new understanding of the much needed grace of God. And I do not mean a knowing with the intellect, but I, through trial and suffering know and become aware with a knowledge of the heart, the grace of God that is my everything I need in all circumstances: physical, spiritual, emotional, mental…etc. As I am stretched beyond limit; broken, NO! shattered into pieces that cannot be picked up, there I gain Christ in all of His infinite, abounding grace. He puts me back together as I gain a new gratitude for who He is and for His strength supplied to me. My weakness reveals His strength. In my weakness, He proves His power and it is in this power, His power for us that we must conduct “ourselves in the world and especially toward you.”
"Father, help us to conduct ourselves not in fleshly wisdom but in the Grace that you supply. Amen."
Thursday, September 16, 2010
The Rise and Fall of Men of God - Part 2
“And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the LORD unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.
And he cried against the altar in the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the LORD; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men's bones shall be burnt upon thee.
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”
1 Kings 13:1-3
Imagine if you will, the King, before his pagan alter. He has been entrusted by God with the house of Israel and all the people therein. And he is in complete rebellion and sin, and not only himself but his sin is leading a nation into sin.
Oh that we might understand the consequences and effects of our sinful actions upon others. Like a killer plague and virus does our sin spread to others and through the body of Christ if it is not repented of and severed from our body’s quick as day. And in King Jeroboams rebellion, right before the alter, ready to burn incense before all of Israel and a multitude of false priests, prophets and misled Israelites comes the word of the Lord, once again, out of the mouth of His prophet.
It will not be long in your rebellion before the Lord brings a word to you, straight from heaven, sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel to pierce your heart and bring you to your senses. For God loves His people and He is always willing to set you aright, that you may continue on the blessed path of knowing Him. But not all will heed the word of the prophet. Many choose to walk on their own continually, reaping what they sow in rebellion, only to the destruction of their own flesh and sadly others. Jeroboam would not repent and in his rebellion would bring upon himself a withered hand (healed by the grace of God), a humiliated wife and the death of his son and the death of all of his family. There is a great lesson to be learned from the life of Jeroboam. It is a lesson leading to life and peace should we heed its warning. I find in this story an exhortation to fall in love with the Lord, putting Him first in all our lives. He must be allowed access and full reign into all our being. Allow Christ to guard not only your body but allow Him your mind as well. There is rest in Christ for the believer today. Rest from fear and doubt and the works of the flesh. And rescue from ourselves should we choose to submit to the Lord and accept all of His amazing benefits and glory. For in a life, submitted to Him, His plan, and for His glory alone, we will find and be filled with perfect peace and be able to say along with good king David:
“…The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised…”
2 Samuel 22:1-4
Oh that we might understand the consequences and effects of our sinful actions upon others. Like a killer plague and virus does our sin spread to others and through the body of Christ if it is not repented of and severed from our body’s quick as day. And in King Jeroboams rebellion, right before the alter, ready to burn incense before all of Israel and a multitude of false priests, prophets and misled Israelites comes the word of the Lord, once again, out of the mouth of His prophet.
It will not be long in your rebellion before the Lord brings a word to you, straight from heaven, sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel to pierce your heart and bring you to your senses. For God loves His people and He is always willing to set you aright, that you may continue on the blessed path of knowing Him. But not all will heed the word of the prophet. Many choose to walk on their own continually, reaping what they sow in rebellion, only to the destruction of their own flesh and sadly others. Jeroboam would not repent and in his rebellion would bring upon himself a withered hand (healed by the grace of God), a humiliated wife and the death of his son and the death of all of his family. There is a great lesson to be learned from the life of Jeroboam. It is a lesson leading to life and peace should we heed its warning. I find in this story an exhortation to fall in love with the Lord, putting Him first in all our lives. He must be allowed access and full reign into all our being. Allow Christ to guard not only your body but allow Him your mind as well. There is rest in Christ for the believer today. Rest from fear and doubt and the works of the flesh. And rescue from ourselves should we choose to submit to the Lord and accept all of His amazing benefits and glory. For in a life, submitted to Him, His plan, and for His glory alone, we will find and be filled with perfect peace and be able to say along with good king David:
“…The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised…”
2 Samuel 22:1-4
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Rise and Fall of Men of God- Part 1
“And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
2 Sam 22: 1-4
There is a great confidence to be had in our service to the Lord. Not because of who we are but because of who the Lord is and for all the abundant resources He offers. But those resources are for those who place their confidence in the Lord. But woe to those who stray by their own strength; fighting their own battles; placing confidence in flesh. They are like those who fight without sword and have no reward in eternity. We must remind ourselves of who we serve. Not so much whose side we are on but Who fights on our side for us. He fights for me! This is key to great victory, that we trust that the battle belongs to the Lord; therefore we can keep our hands of misfortune off of His battles, giving rest to our weary hearts and minds. Isaiah wrote:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)
To forsake the word of the Lord is to forsake the Lord Himself. For by His word we live and breathe and exist (John 1). We can rest upon Him because He has given us precious promises to cling tightly to and to trust in. But you must trust that He is for you what He has promised to be, according to His word. David knew that the Lord was his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, the horn of his salvation, his high tower, his refuge and his savior from the enemy! This was the proven God of David’s trust and therefore David could live accordingly as a man who trusteth in the Lord for peace and in war; a man with a “mind stayed on” Jehovah. That is literally, to be leaned or propped, rested and clinging upon the Lord. This is the meaning according to the word of God to be “stayed” or samak upon the Lord. The mind must be brought into submission to God’s word, fully dependent upon him, and useless without Him and his power, supplied from His resources. It says that this brings peace, but why? “Because he trusts in thee.” The word trust here is to place hope, confidence and security in the Lord. It also carries the idea of carelessness. That is, the people and kings of God need not care for God will take care of that which concerns them. But not all men will mix that faithful word with even a mustard seed of faith. Rather, they will throw it out with yesterday’s paper, forgetting the headlines that scream “Trust Not in Your Flesh!” For most are more concerned with themselves than waiting upon the Lord. Always in a hurry and never willing to wait upon Him for strength and confidence. Thus is the case of King Jeroboam; the centerpiece of our story: given all the promises and resources of almighty God, yet throwing them to the swine in exchange for the rebuke of the prophets and the judgment of God. May God help us to learn from those who have gone before us, for we have much to learn.
“And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.”
1 Kings 11:37, 38
This is the word of the Lord, out of the prophets mouth, directly to “the mighty man of valor (11:28)” The scenario is a peculiar one as it always seems; whenever a prophet of God is on the scene. Pre-king jeroboam is on his way out of the city of Jerusalem when Ahijah the prophet meets him with a message, sent from heaven. The delivery is quite interesting and picturesque. I can imagine the warrior, Jeroboam, in awe at the onset of Ahijahs prophecy as Ahijah takes Jeroboams new garment, tears it into 12 pieces and then begins to explain the word of God for this pre-king. In summary, God is going to give Jeroboam ten tribes of Israel to reign over as king due to the disappointing fact that Solomon had disobeyed the word of the Lord. There are always consequences to our actions of disobedience, and there are often actions to our disobedient and faithless thoughts, should we allow them to linger long. Allow me to fast forward: King Solomon sleeps with the sharks, his son Rehoboam becomes King over Israel but Israel does not like him so they rebel, kill one of the kings right had men, then king Rehoboam flees leaving the people to appoint Jeroboam as king over the land of Israel just as the Lord said He would. Ok, no worries. Right? Everything is finally taking place exactly how it was prophesied. I can trust that all is well and will continue well… right? Ya, maybe in a textbook world, but not in the realm of God’s Word. The Lord chooses to leave our characters and heroes raw and really just how they were; flaws, sin and the rest. God’s word is pure reality at its finest and worst, all to the glory of God. As for Mr. King Jeroboam, his gravest mistake would be one of his first moves. He takes His eyes off of the Lord and instead, places them onto his circumstances and the raging, always chaotic world around him.
“And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah”
1 kings 12:27, 28
Oh the sin of trusting in self and that nasty sin of a jealous heart. Both will pull you down before the blinking of an eye should you not submit yourself to Christ. But to submit seems the road less ventured. And the ‘us’ route seems to be the popular road for travels. Jeroboam would resort to his own flesh in making foolish decisions to help settle his jealousy. He would build idols of cows and place them in the north and in the south and influence his people Israel to worship there instead of in Jerusalem. He would appoint his own priests who were not of the tribe of Levi and the king would himself, offer sacrifices at idolatrous altars, both of which were contrary to the word of God. This was the beginning of a rebellious idol worshipping reign that would bring the reproach of God upon himself and his household.
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; thou savest me from violence.
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”
2 Sam 22: 1-4
There is a great confidence to be had in our service to the Lord. Not because of who we are but because of who the Lord is and for all the abundant resources He offers. But those resources are for those who place their confidence in the Lord. But woe to those who stray by their own strength; fighting their own battles; placing confidence in flesh. They are like those who fight without sword and have no reward in eternity. We must remind ourselves of who we serve. Not so much whose side we are on but Who fights on our side for us. He fights for me! This is key to great victory, that we trust that the battle belongs to the Lord; therefore we can keep our hands of misfortune off of His battles, giving rest to our weary hearts and minds. Isaiah wrote:
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)
To forsake the word of the Lord is to forsake the Lord Himself. For by His word we live and breathe and exist (John 1). We can rest upon Him because He has given us precious promises to cling tightly to and to trust in. But you must trust that He is for you what He has promised to be, according to His word. David knew that the Lord was his rock, his fortress, his deliverer, his shield, the horn of his salvation, his high tower, his refuge and his savior from the enemy! This was the proven God of David’s trust and therefore David could live accordingly as a man who trusteth in the Lord for peace and in war; a man with a “mind stayed on” Jehovah. That is literally, to be leaned or propped, rested and clinging upon the Lord. This is the meaning according to the word of God to be “stayed” or samak upon the Lord. The mind must be brought into submission to God’s word, fully dependent upon him, and useless without Him and his power, supplied from His resources. It says that this brings peace, but why? “Because he trusts in thee.” The word trust here is to place hope, confidence and security in the Lord. It also carries the idea of carelessness. That is, the people and kings of God need not care for God will take care of that which concerns them. But not all men will mix that faithful word with even a mustard seed of faith. Rather, they will throw it out with yesterday’s paper, forgetting the headlines that scream “Trust Not in Your Flesh!” For most are more concerned with themselves than waiting upon the Lord. Always in a hurry and never willing to wait upon Him for strength and confidence. Thus is the case of King Jeroboam; the centerpiece of our story: given all the promises and resources of almighty God, yet throwing them to the swine in exchange for the rebuke of the prophets and the judgment of God. May God help us to learn from those who have gone before us, for we have much to learn.
“And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel. And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.”
1 Kings 11:37, 38
This is the word of the Lord, out of the prophets mouth, directly to “the mighty man of valor (11:28)” The scenario is a peculiar one as it always seems; whenever a prophet of God is on the scene. Pre-king jeroboam is on his way out of the city of Jerusalem when Ahijah the prophet meets him with a message, sent from heaven. The delivery is quite interesting and picturesque. I can imagine the warrior, Jeroboam, in awe at the onset of Ahijahs prophecy as Ahijah takes Jeroboams new garment, tears it into 12 pieces and then begins to explain the word of God for this pre-king. In summary, God is going to give Jeroboam ten tribes of Israel to reign over as king due to the disappointing fact that Solomon had disobeyed the word of the Lord. There are always consequences to our actions of disobedience, and there are often actions to our disobedient and faithless thoughts, should we allow them to linger long. Allow me to fast forward: King Solomon sleeps with the sharks, his son Rehoboam becomes King over Israel but Israel does not like him so they rebel, kill one of the kings right had men, then king Rehoboam flees leaving the people to appoint Jeroboam as king over the land of Israel just as the Lord said He would. Ok, no worries. Right? Everything is finally taking place exactly how it was prophesied. I can trust that all is well and will continue well… right? Ya, maybe in a textbook world, but not in the realm of God’s Word. The Lord chooses to leave our characters and heroes raw and really just how they were; flaws, sin and the rest. God’s word is pure reality at its finest and worst, all to the glory of God. As for Mr. King Jeroboam, his gravest mistake would be one of his first moves. He takes His eyes off of the Lord and instead, places them onto his circumstances and the raging, always chaotic world around him.
“And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah”
1 kings 12:27, 28
Oh the sin of trusting in self and that nasty sin of a jealous heart. Both will pull you down before the blinking of an eye should you not submit yourself to Christ. But to submit seems the road less ventured. And the ‘us’ route seems to be the popular road for travels. Jeroboam would resort to his own flesh in making foolish decisions to help settle his jealousy. He would build idols of cows and place them in the north and in the south and influence his people Israel to worship there instead of in Jerusalem. He would appoint his own priests who were not of the tribe of Levi and the king would himself, offer sacrifices at idolatrous altars, both of which were contrary to the word of God. This was the beginning of a rebellious idol worshipping reign that would bring the reproach of God upon himself and his household.
"O Lord, keep us from our idols, our flesh and all things that are displeasing to you. Amen."
Friday, September 3, 2010
When The Lord Speaks - Part 2
The last we spoke, our ordinary man, Isaiah stood in awe and fear before the throne of God. The posts were shaken, the room filled with smoke, and the seraphim cried, "holy holy holy!". Wow! Can you remember the mood: quite serious, fearful, and humble. If you did some homework and read the entirety of the chapter you would have heard the rest of the prophets cry: " I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips..."
I am a man; defiled, is Isaiah's cry; I am a nasty sinner; in our own plain language. Forget any temptation to believe that you have been reading a fairy tale or bedtime story. It is the trickery of time and the craftiness of our enemy to dull our faith by convincing us to read through the Bible as if it were only some book, when the Lord would have us experience Him through its true and living words and events. Do not be fooled, Isaiah was a real man: flesh and blood, body and spirit; full of emotion and feeling... just like you and me. A real man, before the presence of the Almighty! Now, maybe you can relate in some small way, at least in your humanity: desperate for redemption; longing for peace; needy for salvation; but lost in sin and among a people gross with the like. I know I can relate. But relation does not stop there...
Though lost in the deepest pits of despair; tainted by every sin imaginable, a man humbled himself and like Job, repented in dust and ashes (job 42:6). Though relatable to our hero, I am not talking about Isaiah anymore, I am talking about me. Can you relate? Have you been there? I have learned something great from the Lord; that He, in His awesomeness can create beauty from ashes. The best place on earth I have ever been, has been on my knees, being resuscitated, filled and most importantly, forgiven. Though men fall down as dead before the presence of The King, They shall be revived, called, and empowered to go! That's why I said above that relation does not stop at fear and trembling, but like Isaiah, our souls have been touched by hot coals and our spirits brought to life by His life giving spirit. In our humility, we have been forgiven all our sins and by the power and glory of HIS life giving grace we may now enter into the most holy place with great boldness (Heb 4:16), knowing that our great forgiver desires to be our able and willing empowerer.
Dear friend, maybe you feel powerless? maybe you feel sinful, wicked, and completely unworthy? Maybe you have fallen before the Lord and feel unable to get back up? condemned? Maybe you have been drowning in legalism and pharisitical-religious-idioticy (i have been there)? Are you face to the ground and overwhelmed? Allow me to encourage you to stop listening to the voice of condemnation. Stop striving in your own flesh. I implore you, stay where you are, strive no more. Remain face to the ground. Be quiet. Be still and hear the voice of the Almighty calling you by name... He hears your cry and He sees your state. He comes to you out of the dust and ashes, hot coal in hand. Allow Him to purify your soul. He will cleanse you of all sin and wash you from all uncleanness. The rumors are true: our God is a consuming fire. Rest in that fire and be cleansed for eternity.
Amazing... The same God to be feared is the God who forgives... The God who humbles is the God who exalts... When we are weak He is strong... When we are faithless, He remains faithful... Though we be a weak, sinful people, He in His love and Grace offers strength and purity. Though we be ordinary, He is a God of the extraordinary. Its seems to me, that our God is in the business of taking ordinary men and women and empowering them to do the seemingly impossible. May i challenge you? His business has not gone bankrupt! He is the same yesterday today and forever. Its time to get over ourselves and to forget about our insufficiencies. He has given us grace upon grace! Where are the redeemed who will trust in faith that our God will be faithful and strong on their behalf just as He has been since Genesis 1:1? Do you not have the strength? the time? the words? the status? the list goes on... He has more than enough of all the above and more. In His grace He offers the Strength that you do not deserve. He gives the power by HIS Spirit that you do not have nor deserve and so on and so forth. This is His grace toward you daily. Though you be a single man prostrate on the floor of the temple of God, He will raise you up, forgive you your sin and call you out....
"who will go for Me? Who shall I send?"
The Lord, He calls. Who will answer His call?
"Lord, Help us to remember Your strength and favor toward us and to remember that we are only men. It is not by our strength but by Your Spirit. Thank You Lord. Amen."
I am a man; defiled, is Isaiah's cry; I am a nasty sinner; in our own plain language. Forget any temptation to believe that you have been reading a fairy tale or bedtime story. It is the trickery of time and the craftiness of our enemy to dull our faith by convincing us to read through the Bible as if it were only some book, when the Lord would have us experience Him through its true and living words and events. Do not be fooled, Isaiah was a real man: flesh and blood, body and spirit; full of emotion and feeling... just like you and me. A real man, before the presence of the Almighty! Now, maybe you can relate in some small way, at least in your humanity: desperate for redemption; longing for peace; needy for salvation; but lost in sin and among a people gross with the like. I know I can relate. But relation does not stop there...
Though lost in the deepest pits of despair; tainted by every sin imaginable, a man humbled himself and like Job, repented in dust and ashes (job 42:6). Though relatable to our hero, I am not talking about Isaiah anymore, I am talking about me. Can you relate? Have you been there? I have learned something great from the Lord; that He, in His awesomeness can create beauty from ashes. The best place on earth I have ever been, has been on my knees, being resuscitated, filled and most importantly, forgiven. Though men fall down as dead before the presence of The King, They shall be revived, called, and empowered to go! That's why I said above that relation does not stop at fear and trembling, but like Isaiah, our souls have been touched by hot coals and our spirits brought to life by His life giving spirit. In our humility, we have been forgiven all our sins and by the power and glory of HIS life giving grace we may now enter into the most holy place with great boldness (Heb 4:16), knowing that our great forgiver desires to be our able and willing empowerer.
Dear friend, maybe you feel powerless? maybe you feel sinful, wicked, and completely unworthy? Maybe you have fallen before the Lord and feel unable to get back up? condemned? Maybe you have been drowning in legalism and pharisitical-religious-idioticy (i have been there)? Are you face to the ground and overwhelmed? Allow me to encourage you to stop listening to the voice of condemnation. Stop striving in your own flesh. I implore you, stay where you are, strive no more. Remain face to the ground. Be quiet. Be still and hear the voice of the Almighty calling you by name... He hears your cry and He sees your state. He comes to you out of the dust and ashes, hot coal in hand. Allow Him to purify your soul. He will cleanse you of all sin and wash you from all uncleanness. The rumors are true: our God is a consuming fire. Rest in that fire and be cleansed for eternity.
Amazing... The same God to be feared is the God who forgives... The God who humbles is the God who exalts... When we are weak He is strong... When we are faithless, He remains faithful... Though we be a weak, sinful people, He in His love and Grace offers strength and purity. Though we be ordinary, He is a God of the extraordinary. Its seems to me, that our God is in the business of taking ordinary men and women and empowering them to do the seemingly impossible. May i challenge you? His business has not gone bankrupt! He is the same yesterday today and forever. Its time to get over ourselves and to forget about our insufficiencies. He has given us grace upon grace! Where are the redeemed who will trust in faith that our God will be faithful and strong on their behalf just as He has been since Genesis 1:1? Do you not have the strength? the time? the words? the status? the list goes on... He has more than enough of all the above and more. In His grace He offers the Strength that you do not deserve. He gives the power by HIS Spirit that you do not have nor deserve and so on and so forth. This is His grace toward you daily. Though you be a single man prostrate on the floor of the temple of God, He will raise you up, forgive you your sin and call you out....
"who will go for Me? Who shall I send?"
The Lord, He calls. Who will answer His call?
"Lord, Help us to remember Your strength and favor toward us and to remember that we are only men. It is not by our strength but by Your Spirit. Thank You Lord. Amen."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
When The Lord Speaks - Part 1
It stresses the fibers of my being while trying to imagine the scene presented to us here. The vision alone is more than could ever fill our imagination. Can you see it now? at least try with me. Lets see if we can fill our minds eye with as much glory as possible (Col.3:1-2)(phil.4:8).
The location: the very throne-room of the Lord!
The cast: Isaiah, a few present angels, and the God who created the universe.
The mood: Worship, Fear, power, and humility.
I can see it now: myself, only a man, standing before the presence of the creator of the universe. I know my first response: grab some floor! I cannot imagine being able to stand in His awesome presence. The worship and declaration of His holiness alone shake the posts! His created angels cover not only their faces but the very ground that they walk upon in the presence of His majesty. There have been few men who stood in the presence of God; some fell on their faces, some fell down as dead, some felt unworthy and some cried: "woe is me!" And here in the midst of such awesomeness is one man. Thats right, i didn't say The man, or the best man or the greatest man or the most capable or the strongest... but a man.
The response of the man, Isaiah, is that of humility, shame, repentance and awe. what does he mean, undone? The word is da^ma^h (Hebrew). If your strange like me, you might think that the word sounds allot like our word, dumber (daw-maw). For that is precisely how the prophet Isaiah felt. the word means to be dumb or silent; to fail, parish; cease or be cut down; and lastly to be utterly undone. wow! pretty strong language. words are literally taken out of Isaiah as he is brought low and humbled by the presence of the almighty. cutting straight to my point: how are you standing in HIS presence? What is your posture in worship (and i don't mean physically)? Are the posts of your heart being shaken at the declaration of His holiness (after all, your body has been called, the temple of the holy Spirit)? Are you proud in heart or are you humbled by His presence? Do you fear your God or have you become one to be feared yourself? lastly, though we could go on, Do you watch your words (after all, we are continually in His presence.)?
Do you remember the mood (from above)?: Worship, power, fear and humility. true worship is done in the power of the Holy spirit as Gods people Fear Him in humility. True worshipers worship Him in Spirit and in truth. may i encourage you to examine your spiritual posture in worship? and may we realize the greatness of God declared in the truth of His Word and worship accordingly, For He is a great God who desires to empower ordinary people who will humble themselves in worship. After all, He exalts the humble.
"Lord, will You to examine our innermost being? will You reveal the darkness of pride and replace it with the beauty of humility. Show us a glimpse of your glory and use this ordinary man."
May you and i learn to live in reality... Jesus is reality.
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