16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. - 1Th 4:16-18 NKJV
Imagine what this day will look like!! O glorious savior I long for the day when You come and take me into Your arms forever.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Meditations on Ephesians 1:17-19
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power - Eph 1:17-19 NKJV
You want to give to me. The king of the Universe desires to give to me. Gen 1:26 says “Let Us make man in Our image and according to Our likeness and give him dominion.” You have created me to be like You on three levels; image, likeness and dominion. You have desired to give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for knowing three things; the hope of Your calling, the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of Your power toward us who believe. There are three manifestations of Your presence; Father, Son and Spirit. I am a three part being; spirit, soul and body. Psalm 27 tells us that David desired one thing; to dwell in the house of the Lord, behold His beauty and to inquire in His temple.
You are an amazing God, understanding the seen and unseen things in perfection. Nothing escapes Your knowledge, nothing extends beyond Your understanding, and You are calling us to be like You. Magnificent God, pour out Your love and grace upon me. I want to love like You love. I am not even going to attempt to break down these verses but instead I bask in the glory and goodness of Your person, Your presence. Strengthen our hands to do the work of the Lord and deliver us from the hand of the enemy. Your gentleness is making me great. Mold me, shape me, create me and make me like You in every way. I want all You have to give, for You desire to give to me.
You want to give to me. The king of the Universe desires to give to me. Gen 1:26 says “Let Us make man in Our image and according to Our likeness and give him dominion.” You have created me to be like You on three levels; image, likeness and dominion. You have desired to give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation for knowing three things; the hope of Your calling, the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints and the exceeding greatness of Your power toward us who believe. There are three manifestations of Your presence; Father, Son and Spirit. I am a three part being; spirit, soul and body. Psalm 27 tells us that David desired one thing; to dwell in the house of the Lord, behold His beauty and to inquire in His temple.
You are an amazing God, understanding the seen and unseen things in perfection. Nothing escapes Your knowledge, nothing extends beyond Your understanding, and You are calling us to be like You. Magnificent God, pour out Your love and grace upon me. I want to love like You love. I am not even going to attempt to break down these verses but instead I bask in the glory and goodness of Your person, Your presence. Strengthen our hands to do the work of the Lord and deliver us from the hand of the enemy. Your gentleness is making me great. Mold me, shape me, create me and make me like You in every way. I want all You have to give, for You desire to give to me.
Monday, December 27, 2010
A Tearing Heart
My soul is torn, and the tear is growing worse. I have an affliction, a malady of the worst kind. For my desire is entirely for another world, another age, another kingdom, and another King, yet I am trapped in this present time with no escape except through visions, dreams, trances, death and the return of my King. You might say my life is a waste, to expend all my energy hoping for something yet unseen, but knowing that all this you see is coming to an end, how can I choose to live any other way. It is not as if I have hidden away and grown ignorant towards this world, on the contrary I am growing in concern, desiring greatly to warn and to teach every man the mystery of Christ. So few care, so few change; many respond, many proclaim Jesus is Lord, but so few actually live for the age to come. Where are the ones who can see, who are not overly pumped up with the hype of religion and movements, but steadfast and level headed in the faith. The plowers, the laborers, the pioneers who forsake everything in this age for Jesus, those who don’t look back. I have no fathers in the faith, many desire to teach, but few actually lead. My soul is torn and it is a wondrous thing. I hate this world and the things in it because they violently rip men’s hearts from experiencing the truth. We live in an age where faith equals foolishness; nothing can be taken at a word any longer. I believe in what is invisible, and many who are dying and deceived also believe in invisible things, but I have hope in a God, a God who became man and then suffered in my place, winning the ultimate victory over death, rising from the grave. O King Jesus come and visit me in your absence, awaken your people, give us times of refreshing in the Spirit until the Day of Your return. Strengthen us by Your Spirit, take us into truth and let our eyes behold Your glory. Come Lord Jesus.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sometimes Truth Can Hurt
We have lost some of the edge of the message of the Old Testament prophets. In a country plagued by a complacency spirit within the church, and myriads of self professing Christians hovering around their own version of truth and subscribing to whatever mix of beliefs suites their lifestyle; we could use a little dose of sobriety. Israel was repeatedly warned and judged for unrighteous behavior: mistreating the poor and widow, idol worship, sexual immorality, and wickedness. We flaunt our wickedness with great zeal in America in many of these (if not all) areas, while appeasing our consciences with a watered down notion of not being “judgmental”. Woe to you who call evil things and behaviors good, cool or tolerable. Have we forgotten that God is a righteous God who holds an absolute standard of what is right? Have we forgotten that the ways of God are not negotiable? Proverbs tell us that there is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death (Prov 14:12). We have taken the saying “love the sinner, hate the sin” into the ridiculous realm of political correctness and have completely erased from our minds that there is a judgment of God against sin; there is a lake of fire and real people who choose unrighteousness as a lifestyle will spend eternity there (Rev 14:9-12). Paul tells us that we are not to judge in Romans 2:1 but then continue in the very next verse to say that we know the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things (see Rom 1:18-32 for definition of “such things”). So when you say I have no right to judge you are absolutely correct, but do not deny the standard of the judgment of God plainly revealed throughout Scripture. And if I repeat the warning of God’s judgment on wickedness why am I then judged as judgmental, it is not my judgments that you have a problem with but the Lords, and if you disagree with the Lord’s judgments then how can you be from the Lord. What is the bottom line? God in His mercy tells us very plainly what He disapproves of, and what things will reap His judgment and wrath. To pronounce to the unknowing what God will pour out His wrath upon is also an act of love and mercy giving them an opportunity to repent (change their mind) and turn to God with a whole heart. How many of you know the wonderful story of Jonah? This is a great example of God’s mercy. The reluctant prophet went to the Assyrian capital of Nineveh to proclaim their wickedness to them that they might repent or God would destroy the city. Assyria was Israel’s enemy over the years and yet God wanted to offer them an opportunity to turn from wickedness prior to bringing His judgment. Imagine if Jonahs message was according to our views of “not judging” today. Biblical writers had no problem defining behavior that brings wrath either. They actually gave us many comprehensive (but not all inclusive) lists to allow the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts. Let us look at a few of these lists:
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: - Rom 1:29-31 KJV
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. - 1Cr 6:9-10 NKJV
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Gal 5:19-21 NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. - Eph 2:1-3 NKJV
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things. - Phl 3:18-19 NKJV
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, - Col 3:5-9 NKJV
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. - 1Th 4:3-8 NKJV
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, - 1Ti 1:9-10 NKJV
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. - 2Ti 2:22-26 NKJV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, - Tts 2:11-13 NKJV
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, - Tts 3:3-5 NKJV
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." - 1Pe 1:13-16 NKJV
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, - 1Pe 2:1-4 NKJV
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. - 1Jo 2:3-6 NKJV
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. - 1Jo 2:15-17 NKJV
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. - 1Jo 3:4-10 NKJV
I think it is time to rethink what our lives are supposed to look like in Him. The power is in Jesus to walk this way. If you have been either behaving or approving of these behaviors, God is merciful and calling you to repent and cry out now so you won’t suffer later when wrath is poured out. Remember He died for you, and He loves you with an everlasting love. Your condition does not cause Him to pause in His commitment towards you. I too am full of love and only desire to see us all walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Bless you.
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: - Rom 1:29-31 KJV
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. - 1Cr 6:9-10 NKJV
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Gal 5:19-21 NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. - Eph 2:1-3 NKJV
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame who set their mind on earthly things. - Phl 3:18-19 NKJV
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, - Col 3:5-9 NKJV
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. - 1Th 4:3-8 NKJV
9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, - 1Ti 1:9-10 NKJV
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. - 2Ti 2:22-26 NKJV
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, - Tts 2:11-13 NKJV
3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, - Tts 3:3-5 NKJV
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." - 1Pe 1:13-16 NKJV
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, - 1Pe 2:1-4 NKJV
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. - 1Jo 2:3-6 NKJV
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. - 1Jo 2:15-17 NKJV
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. - 1Jo 3:4-10 NKJV
I think it is time to rethink what our lives are supposed to look like in Him. The power is in Jesus to walk this way. If you have been either behaving or approving of these behaviors, God is merciful and calling you to repent and cry out now so you won’t suffer later when wrath is poured out. Remember He died for you, and He loves you with an everlasting love. Your condition does not cause Him to pause in His commitment towards you. I too am full of love and only desire to see us all walk in a manner worthy of the gospel. Bless you.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
An Issue of Blood: Pressing In
To lay out the story very briefly, Jesus was traveling to Jarius’ home to heal his 12 year old daughter when a woman who had an “issue of blood” for 12 years touched the hem of His garment to receive healing from her reproach. This woman had tried everything to find her cure, spending her entire living on physicians and had only grown worse. Jesus was her only hope. When she heard He was passing by she said if only I could touch the hem of His garment I would be made well. What did she know about Jesus? What had she seen? What had she heard? His fame was great at this stage of His ministry and He could scarcely find any privacy except the wee hours of the morning before the sun even began to rise. A great multitude was always following Him seeking something. She was unclean according to the Torah and anything or anyone who touched her would be unclean according, (Lev 15:25-28) and yet she pressed through a crowd defiling not only all she came in contact with but also the one she was attempting to touch. This woman had no hope in Moses and was reduced to a life of isolation and ridicule. The religious would not be found near her nor would there be a place found for her in the Temple. She would have been closed off from all the devout and would only find community with those who were lawless or taking her money to treat her. After twelve years enough was enough. Here comes a man who had healed lepers. If He tolerated and healed the leprous then surely she could find her answer in this Man. For they too were unclean like her. Yet fear and partial understanding kept her from seeking a full encounter, but simply touching the Hem of His garment would be enough for her. But this was a man, a Rabbi, who healed the sick, who cast out demons and who silenced the Pharisees. A man who knew the Scripture. A man who would know that this hem of His garment represented keeping the law, honoring the Sabbath. He healed on the Sabbath in opposition to the zealous, surely He would remember her. So she pressed, surely defiling many, and she reached Him. Touching the hem of His garment she was immediately cleansed. She would have been overjoyed, instant relief for her body and nobody knew who she was or what she did, but Jesus also felt the power go out of Him. He stopped and scanned the crowd asking “Who touched me?” No one answered and Peter even questioned how He could possibly know in such a crowd, weren’t many touching Him? Jesus persisted, someone touched my clothes and I felt power leave me. He must have made eye contact with the woman because she perceived that she was not hidden. With fear and trembling she came forward and explained her situation for all to hear. Imagine the disgust of those who she brushed by knowing now they were unclean, surely there was some trouble coming for her. Jesus simply looks at her and tells her to be comforted; her faith has made her well, and dismisses her without any rebuke whatsoever.
What a beautiful story, but what about today? What can we learn from this woman in our approach to Jesus? This woman pressed in beyond reproach, beyond ridicule, and beyond fear to touch the garment of the Man we call Lord and God. Our lesson is in the pressing. We live in a world that is pressing in from all sides telling us what to do and how to do it. We cower to the opinions and ideas of men while staring at Jesus from afar. Maybe if we just imitate this action or that behavior we will see His power move in our lives and we call it faith. No!! We must press through the crowd without receiving their words and touch His garment. The healing was immediate upon touching Jesus, but the touching Him took time and effort. It took a revelation of who He is and of what He can do. Are we ever close enough? Not until we receive, have we drawn close enough. We must press through the crowds of naysayers, the crowds of religious people who mock our dependency on God, the satisfied who really just want to see something, we must press beyond friends, beyond family, beyond reason, beyond our reputation to the very feet of Jesus, and then we will experience Him! Your uncleanness is healed in touching Him, and you shall be set free. Press in.
What a beautiful story, but what about today? What can we learn from this woman in our approach to Jesus? This woman pressed in beyond reproach, beyond ridicule, and beyond fear to touch the garment of the Man we call Lord and God. Our lesson is in the pressing. We live in a world that is pressing in from all sides telling us what to do and how to do it. We cower to the opinions and ideas of men while staring at Jesus from afar. Maybe if we just imitate this action or that behavior we will see His power move in our lives and we call it faith. No!! We must press through the crowd without receiving their words and touch His garment. The healing was immediate upon touching Jesus, but the touching Him took time and effort. It took a revelation of who He is and of what He can do. Are we ever close enough? Not until we receive, have we drawn close enough. We must press through the crowds of naysayers, the crowds of religious people who mock our dependency on God, the satisfied who really just want to see something, we must press beyond friends, beyond family, beyond reason, beyond our reputation to the very feet of Jesus, and then we will experience Him! Your uncleanness is healed in touching Him, and you shall be set free. Press in.
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