You shall not go out with haste...for the Lord will
go before you, and the God of Israel will be your
rear guard--Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday
"...God requires that which is past." (Ecl 3:15)
At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all
that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to
arise from remembering the yesterdays. Our present
enjoyment of God's grace is apt to be checked by yes-
terday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our
yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in or-
der to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth
for the future. God reminds us of the past to protect
us from a shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow
"The Lord will go before you."
This is a gracious revelation, that God will send his
forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep
watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the
same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were
not our "rear guard." And God's hand reaches back to
the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today
"For you shall not go out in haste..."
As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the
haste of impetuous, forgetful delight nor with the quick-
ness of the impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out
with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel
will go before us. Our yesterdays present irreparable
things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities
which will never return, but God can transform this de-
structive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness of
the future. Let the past sleep, but let is sleep on the bo-
som of Christ. Leave the broken Irreversible Past in His
hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future IN HIM.
- Oswald Chambers
Monday, December 31, 2018
Sunday, December 30, 2018
Something to think about carefully
HOW THE KINGDOM COMES
When our Lord spoke of the Kingdom of God He said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus had just told His disciples where the Kingdom is and how the Kingdom does not come. Before you can ever see the Kingdom you have to know how it’s not coming — because the first thing we try to do is build it by the natural. The spirit of wisdom and understanding from God must deliver us from our confusion about how the Kingdom of God comes. It cannot be established by force. It cannot be established by law. It will never be established by any kind of political action. It is impossible for it to be established by the will, efforts, or programs of men or of governments.
NOT BY LAW
In the United States today we have the Fundamentalist and Charismatic Christian movements whose burden it is to restructure government and society in the name of the Lord, not by spiritual regeneration, but by constitutional legislation. These are sincere Christians concerned for the social problems confronting the modern world who are being beguiled and deceived into accepting the premise that by partaking in the Babylonish systems of this confused world, they will be able to effect significant changes and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. To those on the “religious right” that seems to be envisioned as a political government that will outlaw abortion, re-institute public prayer in schools and legislate Christian morality on the whole of society. It is their conviction that God’s Word gives them a mandate to infiltrate and exercise godly control over all the political, social, educational and judicial institutions of the nation. They are convinced that the Bible gives us a divinely revealed pattern for social and political action.
But does the law of Moses give us a body of social, economic and political regulations which, when applied, will rescue our nation or any nation from its woes? If a serious problem exists in our society, can we scan the precepts of Moses for a solution? When we discover the Old Testament law to resolve a moral and social difficulty, is it an expression of the Kingdom Jesus taught to lift out the regulation as found in Moses and write it in the law books of our state? Some are claiming that this is God’s method of establishing the principles and power of the Kingdom of God in our world today.
The Church goes out and protests abortion, they demand that the law be changed. The people of God go out and protest homosexual activities, same sex marriages, and a score of other moral issues, demanding that laws be passed based on the laws of God. They have the Old Testament mentality that thinks the way to make America a godly nation is to legislate morality. Let’s force everyone to submit to our standards of right and wrong because we have this authority from God. That’s what the Pope thinks, too. And it’s what the Moslem Fundamentalists and the Orthodox Jews think. It’s what the Serbs think. That’s what Hitler thought. They all think they have authority from God to legislate their particular standard of righteousness and enforce it as the law of the land. With every law there is a punishment for breaking that law. Thus, those who would, in the name of Christ, legislate morality also are responsible for the punishments meted out to those who break the law. They thus become “bearers of the sword” and it brings Christians right back under the Old Covenant — an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth! And they can no longer say with the merciful Jesus, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17).
All Christians who are out protesting abortion and pressing for legislation to ban it and other evils are condemners of the world. The spirit of sonship is not in them. The priesthood of mercy has not been raised up in their hearts. The spiritual dynamic of the Kingdom of God has never been quickened in their consciousness. They would never be able to say to the woman taken in adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” Instead, they would be carrying placards and petitioning the government for stronger laws against adultery. If they themselves did not hold stones in their hands to stone her, they would at least rejoice in the government’s restrictions and be consenting to the stoning, as Saul of Tarsus consented to the stoning of Stephen. They would say, “Praise God, justice was done and a strong signal has been sent out to all our young people and would-be law breakers, that adultery is sin and punishable by death! This will put holy fear in their hearts and preserve the moral values of our nation.” I do not hesitate to say that such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the spirit of sonship. It has nothing whatever to do with the Kingdom of God. It stands, in fact, in opposition to the Kingdom of God. It is a monstrous heresy and a religious delusion. It is spiritual treason.
People want to get all the pornography off the news stands. Am I in favor of pornography? Certainly not! Am I in favor of legislating it out of the land? If I am I become a minister of the law of the Old Covenant, not a minister of deliverance to creation. I tell you today, I will preach to somebody, I will proclaim the love and power of God to him, I will demonstrate the mercy and goodness of the Lord toward him, I will do everything within my power to touch that heart and change that life with the grace of Jesus Christ to experience the holiness of God, but I will not compel him by condemnation and law and punishment — that is not the way of the Kingdom of God. I am not a minister of the law, I am a priest of the Most High God. God is raising up His Kingdom from within men, not from without men. The sons of God are Ambassadors of that Kingdom that establishes righteousness in the earth by transformation, not by compulsion. Man’s government is the instrument of the sword, not the sons of God. We are bound in the spirit to represent only the interests and principles of the Kingdom of God, never the interests or policies of the kingdoms of this world.
Preachers travel up and down the land with their fingers pointed at sinners, picking out a new sin, the sin of the week, to preach against. Their whole message is that the media is ungodly, the government is corrupt, the New World Order is a conspiracy, the educational system is immoral, the abortionists, homosexuals, and others must be stopped, and they breathe out threatenings, hell-fire and damnation against the world from their perch high upon a crag on mount Sinai. That’s not God’s way at all! Our heavenly Father calls us to assume a posture that causes the light of God to shine upon the just and upon the unjust. The way of the Kingdom is not human government. The way of the Kingdom is not trying to get everyone to agree on a law that forbids unrighteousness and godlessness. That is the way of man’s government, they can only deal with evil by restraint. But that is not God’s Kingdom economy. To reign in the Kingdom the heart of the Father in heaven must be raised up within us. Sin cannot be gotten rid of externally. The whole concept of the Kingdom as taught by the preachers today is absurd.
This may surprise some of my readers, but sons of God are not called to point their fingers at the evils of society. JESUS NEVER DID! God did not call us to crusade and announce, “Abortion is evil, you should not do it. There ought to be a law!” No, I do not condone indiscriminate abortion. No, I am not for drugs and immorality and crime. But God did not call me to condemn the world — to condemn either these social evils or those who practice them. The people of God must offer a solution to sin instead of preaching against it. And our solution is not more laws. History proves that laws solve nothing. Does our “war on drugs” remove drugs from the streets and school yards of our nation? Absolutely not! Did “Prohibition” eradicate alcohol and drunkenness from America? No way! God does not need the church to tell society that adultery, hatred, lying, cheating, stealing and killing are wrong. Too much of the message of religion is lambasting sin and telling sinners how evil they are and that they are headed for hell and damnation. I can guarantee you that in their deepest heart they already know that! God needs a people who can offer the solution — the love of God and the power of God to deliver, redeem and transform is the answer. This is the power and glory of the Kingdom of God!
You can get rid of all pornography, you can close down all the abortion clinics, you can close up all the brothels, all the adult book stores, all the nude strip-joints, and all the hell-holes of sin, pass a million laws against sin, send out the army in the streets to enforce them, and sin will still erupt in your very midst because it is the heart that is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Outward sins are merely an effect of the inward sin of heart and nature — they are not a cause. Man does not sin because he sees sin, he sins because it’s a nature to do it. The fact is, I couldn’t have been anything at one time except a sinner because as long as I remained in the consciousness of Adam I would forever be in a consciousness of sinning. But once you begin to come into the consciousness of the Christ the whole concept of sinning becomes foreign to you. You become centered in a God-Christ consciousness which becomes the spirit motivating your actions, the law of life within. Christ within becomes the animating principle and power of your being unto righteousness. And this, precious friend of mine, IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
When our Lord spoke of the Kingdom of God He said, “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Jesus had just told His disciples where the Kingdom is and how the Kingdom does not come. Before you can ever see the Kingdom you have to know how it’s not coming — because the first thing we try to do is build it by the natural. The spirit of wisdom and understanding from God must deliver us from our confusion about how the Kingdom of God comes. It cannot be established by force. It cannot be established by law. It will never be established by any kind of political action. It is impossible for it to be established by the will, efforts, or programs of men or of governments.
NOT BY LAW
In the United States today we have the Fundamentalist and Charismatic Christian movements whose burden it is to restructure government and society in the name of the Lord, not by spiritual regeneration, but by constitutional legislation. These are sincere Christians concerned for the social problems confronting the modern world who are being beguiled and deceived into accepting the premise that by partaking in the Babylonish systems of this confused world, they will be able to effect significant changes and bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. To those on the “religious right” that seems to be envisioned as a political government that will outlaw abortion, re-institute public prayer in schools and legislate Christian morality on the whole of society. It is their conviction that God’s Word gives them a mandate to infiltrate and exercise godly control over all the political, social, educational and judicial institutions of the nation. They are convinced that the Bible gives us a divinely revealed pattern for social and political action.
But does the law of Moses give us a body of social, economic and political regulations which, when applied, will rescue our nation or any nation from its woes? If a serious problem exists in our society, can we scan the precepts of Moses for a solution? When we discover the Old Testament law to resolve a moral and social difficulty, is it an expression of the Kingdom Jesus taught to lift out the regulation as found in Moses and write it in the law books of our state? Some are claiming that this is God’s method of establishing the principles and power of the Kingdom of God in our world today.
The Church goes out and protests abortion, they demand that the law be changed. The people of God go out and protest homosexual activities, same sex marriages, and a score of other moral issues, demanding that laws be passed based on the laws of God. They have the Old Testament mentality that thinks the way to make America a godly nation is to legislate morality. Let’s force everyone to submit to our standards of right and wrong because we have this authority from God. That’s what the Pope thinks, too. And it’s what the Moslem Fundamentalists and the Orthodox Jews think. It’s what the Serbs think. That’s what Hitler thought. They all think they have authority from God to legislate their particular standard of righteousness and enforce it as the law of the land. With every law there is a punishment for breaking that law. Thus, those who would, in the name of Christ, legislate morality also are responsible for the punishments meted out to those who break the law. They thus become “bearers of the sword” and it brings Christians right back under the Old Covenant — an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth! And they can no longer say with the merciful Jesus, “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (Jn. 3:17).
All Christians who are out protesting abortion and pressing for legislation to ban it and other evils are condemners of the world. The spirit of sonship is not in them. The priesthood of mercy has not been raised up in their hearts. The spiritual dynamic of the Kingdom of God has never been quickened in their consciousness. They would never be able to say to the woman taken in adultery, “Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” Instead, they would be carrying placards and petitioning the government for stronger laws against adultery. If they themselves did not hold stones in their hands to stone her, they would at least rejoice in the government’s restrictions and be consenting to the stoning, as Saul of Tarsus consented to the stoning of Stephen. They would say, “Praise God, justice was done and a strong signal has been sent out to all our young people and would-be law breakers, that adultery is sin and punishable by death! This will put holy fear in their hearts and preserve the moral values of our nation.” I do not hesitate to say that such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the spirit of sonship. It has nothing whatever to do with the Kingdom of God. It stands, in fact, in opposition to the Kingdom of God. It is a monstrous heresy and a religious delusion. It is spiritual treason.
People want to get all the pornography off the news stands. Am I in favor of pornography? Certainly not! Am I in favor of legislating it out of the land? If I am I become a minister of the law of the Old Covenant, not a minister of deliverance to creation. I tell you today, I will preach to somebody, I will proclaim the love and power of God to him, I will demonstrate the mercy and goodness of the Lord toward him, I will do everything within my power to touch that heart and change that life with the grace of Jesus Christ to experience the holiness of God, but I will not compel him by condemnation and law and punishment — that is not the way of the Kingdom of God. I am not a minister of the law, I am a priest of the Most High God. God is raising up His Kingdom from within men, not from without men. The sons of God are Ambassadors of that Kingdom that establishes righteousness in the earth by transformation, not by compulsion. Man’s government is the instrument of the sword, not the sons of God. We are bound in the spirit to represent only the interests and principles of the Kingdom of God, never the interests or policies of the kingdoms of this world.
Preachers travel up and down the land with their fingers pointed at sinners, picking out a new sin, the sin of the week, to preach against. Their whole message is that the media is ungodly, the government is corrupt, the New World Order is a conspiracy, the educational system is immoral, the abortionists, homosexuals, and others must be stopped, and they breathe out threatenings, hell-fire and damnation against the world from their perch high upon a crag on mount Sinai. That’s not God’s way at all! Our heavenly Father calls us to assume a posture that causes the light of God to shine upon the just and upon the unjust. The way of the Kingdom is not human government. The way of the Kingdom is not trying to get everyone to agree on a law that forbids unrighteousness and godlessness. That is the way of man’s government, they can only deal with evil by restraint. But that is not God’s Kingdom economy. To reign in the Kingdom the heart of the Father in heaven must be raised up within us. Sin cannot be gotten rid of externally. The whole concept of the Kingdom as taught by the preachers today is absurd.
This may surprise some of my readers, but sons of God are not called to point their fingers at the evils of society. JESUS NEVER DID! God did not call us to crusade and announce, “Abortion is evil, you should not do it. There ought to be a law!” No, I do not condone indiscriminate abortion. No, I am not for drugs and immorality and crime. But God did not call me to condemn the world — to condemn either these social evils or those who practice them. The people of God must offer a solution to sin instead of preaching against it. And our solution is not more laws. History proves that laws solve nothing. Does our “war on drugs” remove drugs from the streets and school yards of our nation? Absolutely not! Did “Prohibition” eradicate alcohol and drunkenness from America? No way! God does not need the church to tell society that adultery, hatred, lying, cheating, stealing and killing are wrong. Too much of the message of religion is lambasting sin and telling sinners how evil they are and that they are headed for hell and damnation. I can guarantee you that in their deepest heart they already know that! God needs a people who can offer the solution — the love of God and the power of God to deliver, redeem and transform is the answer. This is the power and glory of the Kingdom of God!
You can get rid of all pornography, you can close down all the abortion clinics, you can close up all the brothels, all the adult book stores, all the nude strip-joints, and all the hell-holes of sin, pass a million laws against sin, send out the army in the streets to enforce them, and sin will still erupt in your very midst because it is the heart that is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Outward sins are merely an effect of the inward sin of heart and nature — they are not a cause. Man does not sin because he sees sin, he sins because it’s a nature to do it. The fact is, I couldn’t have been anything at one time except a sinner because as long as I remained in the consciousness of Adam I would forever be in a consciousness of sinning. But once you begin to come into the consciousness of the Christ the whole concept of sinning becomes foreign to you. You become centered in a God-Christ consciousness which becomes the spirit motivating your actions, the law of life within. Christ within becomes the animating principle and power of your being unto righteousness. And this, precious friend of mine, IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
Thursday, December 27, 2018
What Does It Mean To Live For Jesus?
And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more. --Hebrews 8:11 & 12
What does it mean to live for Jesus? That is a good question. I do not presume to know all the answers, but in my own experience I find that to live for Him is simply to enjoy Him. It is not about what I do or do not do. He loves and enjoys me and allows me to enjoy Him. When God revealed to me that He was not interested in changing me, but all He wanted to do was love me, the response this generated from me was amazing. I have come to see that His love for me has absolutely NO agenda. I John 4:8 indicates that God is Love; because I know that God is Love, then I can look to I Corinthians 13 to find what that Love is. God equals love, so God is patient, God is kind, God is not envious, God is not self-seeking. As I read through that list of what God is, I have to ask myself, “Is this the God that I know?” My answer too often is, "No!" At that point I have a choice. I can stick with my false idea of who God is, or I can take God at His word and believe what He says about Himself. For me to enjoy Him, I first must know Him. The more I know Him, the more I love Him, and the more I love Him, the more I want to know Him.
What does it mean to live for Jesus? That is a good question. I do not presume to know all the answers, but in my own experience I find that to live for Him is simply to enjoy Him. It is not about what I do or do not do. He loves and enjoys me and allows me to enjoy Him. When God revealed to me that He was not interested in changing me, but all He wanted to do was love me, the response this generated from me was amazing. I have come to see that His love for me has absolutely NO agenda. I John 4:8 indicates that God is Love; because I know that God is Love, then I can look to I Corinthians 13 to find what that Love is. God equals love, so God is patient, God is kind, God is not envious, God is not self-seeking. As I read through that list of what God is, I have to ask myself, “Is this the God that I know?” My answer too often is, "No!" At that point I have a choice. I can stick with my false idea of who God is, or I can take God at His word and believe what He says about Himself. For me to enjoy Him, I first must know Him. The more I know Him, the more I love Him, and the more I love Him, the more I want to know Him.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Weakness, My Friend
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.--II Corinthians 12:9
Often when I mention weakness, the Lord keeps asking me one question, “What is My strength hidden in your weakness?” It is known that every negative has a positive. I may be all too familiar with the negative, but the positive is not clear, though it seems to be coming into focus. Things I have struggled with are moving out of the shadows and coming forward into the light. The surprise is that they are not hideous monsters but appear to be tools in the hand of God. I sense there is something great there. I am convinced of something that I have taught for years: There is no one-time fix.
It is deception to believe that "the great Christian someday” will appear when we come to our senses, gain a nearly magical degree of power, never struggle again, and forever move forward without stumbling. In waiting for the great “someday,” the working out of everyday faith is excluded. The wish for “someday” is a nonissue that sidetracks us from embracing today’s path and the way it reveals our weaknesses. The ways of the flesh are such that a one-time deliverance, if given, would allow us to walk away from the One we love and the healthy dependence we must have on Him. Through struggle we continue to run to Him, initially to find victory, but because we find Him we approach for His presence alone. “Everyday” is the friend of the moment and abundance; its experience with weakness ushers us to fellowship with Him, where we hear His voice and strength is given as needed.
I have noticed one other thing. Believers are happiest giving to others of their time, prayers, finances, and attention.When I travel, something happens to me that took some time to figure out. When I am home, I have time to focus on me, on my general state. While on the road, I just do not have the time. Every waking minute is spent preparing for or actually ministering to others. Exciting things happen, there is a lift in my spirit, others have a lift, and I am enthusiastic and free. I simply do not have the natural abilities to minister in my own strength, but that weakness works for me. I must come out of myself, seek Him, and move out in faith. The solution is not to travel more, but to take more of the “traveling attitude” home with me.
- Mike Wells
Often when I mention weakness, the Lord keeps asking me one question, “What is My strength hidden in your weakness?” It is known that every negative has a positive. I may be all too familiar with the negative, but the positive is not clear, though it seems to be coming into focus. Things I have struggled with are moving out of the shadows and coming forward into the light. The surprise is that they are not hideous monsters but appear to be tools in the hand of God. I sense there is something great there. I am convinced of something that I have taught for years: There is no one-time fix.
It is deception to believe that "the great Christian someday” will appear when we come to our senses, gain a nearly magical degree of power, never struggle again, and forever move forward without stumbling. In waiting for the great “someday,” the working out of everyday faith is excluded. The wish for “someday” is a nonissue that sidetracks us from embracing today’s path and the way it reveals our weaknesses. The ways of the flesh are such that a one-time deliverance, if given, would allow us to walk away from the One we love and the healthy dependence we must have on Him. Through struggle we continue to run to Him, initially to find victory, but because we find Him we approach for His presence alone. “Everyday” is the friend of the moment and abundance; its experience with weakness ushers us to fellowship with Him, where we hear His voice and strength is given as needed.
I have noticed one other thing. Believers are happiest giving to others of their time, prayers, finances, and attention.When I travel, something happens to me that took some time to figure out. When I am home, I have time to focus on me, on my general state. While on the road, I just do not have the time. Every waking minute is spent preparing for or actually ministering to others. Exciting things happen, there is a lift in my spirit, others have a lift, and I am enthusiastic and free. I simply do not have the natural abilities to minister in my own strength, but that weakness works for me. I must come out of myself, seek Him, and move out in faith. The solution is not to travel more, but to take more of the “traveling attitude” home with me.
- Mike Wells
God also highly exalted him. Philippians 2:9
Child in the manger,
Infant of Mary;
Outcast and stranger,
Lord of all!
Child who inherits
All our transgressions,
All our demerits
On Him fall.
Once the most holy
Child of salvation
Gently and lowly
Lived below;
Now as our glorious
Mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious
O'er each foe.
Prophets foretold Him,
Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him
On His throne;
Worthy our Savior
Of all their praises;
Happy forever
Are His own.
Mary MacDonald 1817-1890
Tr Lachlan MacBean 1853-1931
Infant of Mary;
Outcast and stranger,
Lord of all!
Child who inherits
All our transgressions,
All our demerits
On Him fall.
Once the most holy
Child of salvation
Gently and lowly
Lived below;
Now as our glorious
Mighty Redeemer,
See Him victorious
O'er each foe.
Prophets foretold Him,
Infant of wonder;
Angels behold Him
On His throne;
Worthy our Savior
Of all their praises;
Happy forever
Are His own.
Mary MacDonald 1817-1890
Tr Lachlan MacBean 1853-1931
Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Saturday, December 15, 2018
Weariness
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31
The spiritual life is not passive. Too often it may look that way when we speak of ceasing from ourselves and our own efforts. The point is that we need to learn to live and serve by the power God has provided, not self-effort. A true spiritual life is even more active, enlarged and vital because the limitless power of God energizes us. Normally the spiritual Christian will occupy himself with effective service for his Lord. We should be yielded and ready to do whatever He may choose. Spirit-filled Christians are quite likely to feel physical exhaustion at the close of the day the same as other people. They are weary in the work, but not weary of the work.
- Lewis Sperry Chafer--1871-1952
A readers comment:
When I am being energized by the Holy Spirit rather than my own fleshly efforts, the task seems too easy. I come away from a day of nudges by my Lord, with a deep sense of satisfaction. As I get older, I have to be careful to do only what I am given by the Lord--I wear out fast, so there are gaps in my day that He fills with His requests. Works out very well!
The spiritual life is not passive. Too often it may look that way when we speak of ceasing from ourselves and our own efforts. The point is that we need to learn to live and serve by the power God has provided, not self-effort. A true spiritual life is even more active, enlarged and vital because the limitless power of God energizes us. Normally the spiritual Christian will occupy himself with effective service for his Lord. We should be yielded and ready to do whatever He may choose. Spirit-filled Christians are quite likely to feel physical exhaustion at the close of the day the same as other people. They are weary in the work, but not weary of the work.
- Lewis Sperry Chafer--1871-1952
A readers comment:
When I am being energized by the Holy Spirit rather than my own fleshly efforts, the task seems too easy. I come away from a day of nudges by my Lord, with a deep sense of satisfaction. As I get older, I have to be careful to do only what I am given by the Lord--I wear out fast, so there are gaps in my day that He fills with His requests. Works out very well!
Friday, December 14, 2018
Thursday, December 13, 2018
Weak Principles
You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me. --John 5:39
I have to get something off my chest that has been bothering me for many years. In an attempt to be unique, and for legitimate reasons, many ministries have arisen over the years, each one saying it has a particular and supposedly new concept that is permanently life changing. Such claims are not true. All we hear are the victory stories; we are not getting the facts. I can be guilty of it myself, but I will tell you a secret: Exchanged life does not work. The cross does not work. Grace does not work. Evangelism does not work. Memorizing Scripture does not work. None of it works. I see what goes on in the inner circles, the things to which not all believers are privy. Among these organizations there have been divorces, affairs, homosexuality, and even worse, glory seeking, material protection (when supposedly the message within the material was given by God), bickering, competition, and more. I have seen it all, and here is why. The best teaching in the world can become a principle that eventually is viewed as needing to be protected. Therefore, only the stories that prop it up are told. I can honestly say that I have a nearly 100% cure rate in my office. Just about everyone will say they were helped that day. What about a year later, though? It is all really simple. It is not the principle of the cross that is effective; it is the Jesus who died on the cross. It is not the principle of grace that will keep a believer, but the grace of Jesus that will. It is not the principle of exchanging one’s life for His; it is the reality of the living Jesus. It is not the Scriptures that keep a person in time of trouble; it is the Jesus to whom they point.It is a struggle to keep things focused on Jesus when principles can be packaged, names added, statistics given, and income produced. With Jesus, any who want and seek Him can have Him. He is much higher than any principle. Walk with a principle for a year and a believer will find himself right where he began. Walk with Jesus for a year and he will be a year beyond where he began.
- Mike Wells
I have to get something off my chest that has been bothering me for many years. In an attempt to be unique, and for legitimate reasons, many ministries have arisen over the years, each one saying it has a particular and supposedly new concept that is permanently life changing. Such claims are not true. All we hear are the victory stories; we are not getting the facts. I can be guilty of it myself, but I will tell you a secret: Exchanged life does not work. The cross does not work. Grace does not work. Evangelism does not work. Memorizing Scripture does not work. None of it works. I see what goes on in the inner circles, the things to which not all believers are privy. Among these organizations there have been divorces, affairs, homosexuality, and even worse, glory seeking, material protection (when supposedly the message within the material was given by God), bickering, competition, and more. I have seen it all, and here is why. The best teaching in the world can become a principle that eventually is viewed as needing to be protected. Therefore, only the stories that prop it up are told. I can honestly say that I have a nearly 100% cure rate in my office. Just about everyone will say they were helped that day. What about a year later, though? It is all really simple. It is not the principle of the cross that is effective; it is the Jesus who died on the cross. It is not the principle of grace that will keep a believer, but the grace of Jesus that will. It is not the principle of exchanging one’s life for His; it is the reality of the living Jesus. It is not the Scriptures that keep a person in time of trouble; it is the Jesus to whom they point.It is a struggle to keep things focused on Jesus when principles can be packaged, names added, statistics given, and income produced. With Jesus, any who want and seek Him can have Him. He is much higher than any principle. Walk with a principle for a year and a believer will find himself right where he began. Walk with Jesus for a year and he will be a year beyond where he began.
- Mike Wells
Saturday, December 8, 2018
Thursday, December 6, 2018
How do you respond to Ephesians 1:4-5?
Question: Ephesians 1 refers to believers as predestined before the foundation of the world. How do you reconcile this with your view that free actions of people (like choosing to believe in Christ) can’t be predestined or even foreknown ahead of time?
Answer: It took three hundred years before anyone in Church history interpreted the New Testament to teach that God individually predestines certain people to go to heaven, and “leaves” (viz. a nice way of saying “predestines”) all others to go to hell. Augustine’s interpretation decisively influenced Church history, and was followed by the early Protestant Reformers and those who continued in the Reformed tradition. The fact that you have trouble reading the verses you mention in a non-Calvinist way testifies to how influential this tradition continues to be in terms of how we (as opposed to the pre-Augustinian church) read the Bible.
As you mention in your question, one of the texts most frequently appealed to in support of this view is Ephesians 1.
He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will…. (Eph. 1:4–5)
In keeping with the Jewish practice of his day, I think Paul was speaking of a corporate election in this passage. When Jews thought of election or predestination, they thought primarily of the nation of Israel. Israel as a nation was elected (not for salvation, but for service). But this didn’t mean that every individual born into Israel was part of God’s chosen people. Only those who kept covenant with God were considered “true Israelites.”
Notice that Paul doesn’t say that God chose us to be in Christ. He rather says God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless. What God chose from the foundation of the world was that whoever is in Christ will be holy and blameless.
Suppose I conduct a conference at which I show a movie clip from The Princess Bride. You choose at the last moment to attend this conference. At the end of the movie clip you raise your hand and ask, “Mr. Boyd, when did you decide that we’d have to watch that silly movie clip,” to which I might respond, “Well, I decided that six months ago.” You then turn around and say, quite accurately, to the whole conference, “Mr. Boyd predestined us to watch this movie clip six months ago.”
But notice, I didn’t predestine that you individually would watch this movie clip. What I predestined is that whoever shows up at this conference would watch this movie clip. Now that you decided (even at the last minute) to be part of this conference, what was predestined for the whole becomes predestined for you. You are part of the “us” who was predestined to watch the clip.
So too, from the foundation of the world God predestined that whoever is in Christ would become holy and blameless in his sight. But he didn’t predestine certain individuals — as opposed to other unfortunate individuals — to be in Christ. This is left up to our choice. Now that you’ve chosen to be in Christ, what was predestined for the group becomes predestined for you. You, with Paul, can say “In Christ WE (who have chosen to believe) were predestined to be holy and blameless…”
I’m convinced this is what Paul is communicating in this passage.
- Greg Boyd
Answer: It took three hundred years before anyone in Church history interpreted the New Testament to teach that God individually predestines certain people to go to heaven, and “leaves” (viz. a nice way of saying “predestines”) all others to go to hell. Augustine’s interpretation decisively influenced Church history, and was followed by the early Protestant Reformers and those who continued in the Reformed tradition. The fact that you have trouble reading the verses you mention in a non-Calvinist way testifies to how influential this tradition continues to be in terms of how we (as opposed to the pre-Augustinian church) read the Bible.
As you mention in your question, one of the texts most frequently appealed to in support of this view is Ephesians 1.
He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will…. (Eph. 1:4–5)
In keeping with the Jewish practice of his day, I think Paul was speaking of a corporate election in this passage. When Jews thought of election or predestination, they thought primarily of the nation of Israel. Israel as a nation was elected (not for salvation, but for service). But this didn’t mean that every individual born into Israel was part of God’s chosen people. Only those who kept covenant with God were considered “true Israelites.”
Notice that Paul doesn’t say that God chose us to be in Christ. He rather says God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless. What God chose from the foundation of the world was that whoever is in Christ will be holy and blameless.
Suppose I conduct a conference at which I show a movie clip from The Princess Bride. You choose at the last moment to attend this conference. At the end of the movie clip you raise your hand and ask, “Mr. Boyd, when did you decide that we’d have to watch that silly movie clip,” to which I might respond, “Well, I decided that six months ago.” You then turn around and say, quite accurately, to the whole conference, “Mr. Boyd predestined us to watch this movie clip six months ago.”
But notice, I didn’t predestine that you individually would watch this movie clip. What I predestined is that whoever shows up at this conference would watch this movie clip. Now that you decided (even at the last minute) to be part of this conference, what was predestined for the whole becomes predestined for you. You are part of the “us” who was predestined to watch the clip.
So too, from the foundation of the world God predestined that whoever is in Christ would become holy and blameless in his sight. But he didn’t predestine certain individuals — as opposed to other unfortunate individuals — to be in Christ. This is left up to our choice. Now that you’ve chosen to be in Christ, what was predestined for the group becomes predestined for you. You, with Paul, can say “In Christ WE (who have chosen to believe) were predestined to be holy and blameless…”
I’m convinced this is what Paul is communicating in this passage.
- Greg Boyd
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
We Need the Revelation of God
For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but {I received it} through a revelation of Jesus Christ.--Galatians 1:12
At times I read the biographies of godly men who were famous in their differing denominations and experiences. Their stories are quite remarkable. Some have seen Jesus, others conversed with angels and spirits, and others reached a level of devotion not thought obtainable by man. I have noticed one common thread through all of the experiences. The understanding of Christ, the experience of His presence, and the understanding of His work was not the result of study, prayer, devotion or even holiness. The unique understanding and experience of Christ came before the devotion, experience, holiness, or knowledge. Devotion was not the cause of the experience but rather the result of it. In short, the experience, understanding, and growth came as a result of the revelation. Revelation was the beginning point; the initiator was not the work of the man. Revelation is Truth. Revelation is Jesus. Revelation is not merely understanding in the mind but understanding in the spirit. Simply put, knowledge is in the soul, the mind. Revelation comes first into the spirit before it works its way through the mind, will, and emotions and manifests itself in behavior. Revelation is not rooted in study. It comes directly from God. Revelation will carry man much farther than will knowledge. We have come to understand, in a measure, the work of Christ, His work in us, and how things ought to be for the believer. However, this knowledge has also proven itself weak when we find ourselves at our lowest. We know the right thing but cannot seem to do it. This is where revelation is so important. Revelation is not birthed in lofty thoughts or the condition of the body but birthed in God. Therefore, its power is outside us, apart from circumstance, and away from the realm of the world’s events. Revelation can carry us when knowledge cannot. So how do we get it? We have not because we ask not! We may ask for the revelation of God’s Son, of His life living through us as believers, of His purposes and plans, and of the very character of God.
- Mike Wells
At times I read the biographies of godly men who were famous in their differing denominations and experiences. Their stories are quite remarkable. Some have seen Jesus, others conversed with angels and spirits, and others reached a level of devotion not thought obtainable by man. I have noticed one common thread through all of the experiences. The understanding of Christ, the experience of His presence, and the understanding of His work was not the result of study, prayer, devotion or even holiness. The unique understanding and experience of Christ came before the devotion, experience, holiness, or knowledge. Devotion was not the cause of the experience but rather the result of it. In short, the experience, understanding, and growth came as a result of the revelation. Revelation was the beginning point; the initiator was not the work of the man. Revelation is Truth. Revelation is Jesus. Revelation is not merely understanding in the mind but understanding in the spirit. Simply put, knowledge is in the soul, the mind. Revelation comes first into the spirit before it works its way through the mind, will, and emotions and manifests itself in behavior. Revelation is not rooted in study. It comes directly from God. Revelation will carry man much farther than will knowledge. We have come to understand, in a measure, the work of Christ, His work in us, and how things ought to be for the believer. However, this knowledge has also proven itself weak when we find ourselves at our lowest. We know the right thing but cannot seem to do it. This is where revelation is so important. Revelation is not birthed in lofty thoughts or the condition of the body but birthed in God. Therefore, its power is outside us, apart from circumstance, and away from the realm of the world’s events. Revelation can carry us when knowledge cannot. So how do we get it? We have not because we ask not! We may ask for the revelation of God’s Son, of His life living through us as believers, of His purposes and plans, and of the very character of God.
- Mike Wells
Someone has written
As a public persona, do you struggle with desiring the approval of others? How do you deal with it?
No, it’s a great question. I stopped paying attention to statistics. So, in theory, I can learn exactly how many people read my site, how many people follow me on Twitter, how many people follow me on Facebook, numbers, numbers, numbers. I very purposely chose to stop looking at all that because it was doing something really bad within me. I was comparing myself. And the only thing I could compare myself to was other people. And so now I’m judging myself. My happiness, my joy, my sorrow, is dependent on that other person. And really, I can only be joyful if I’m doing better than that other person. Or, if he’s doing better than me, I’m going to be miserable. So it’s a losing game. I should be rejoicing if he’s doing well because he’s writing good material and if people are lauding him and thanking him for the good work he’s done, what does it say about me if I’m resenting that?
So, I had to do some really serious work within to adjust my attitude and to see why that was so hard. And I came to realize I was really struggling with the sin of envy. Envy is a sin that compares, right, so when you’re envious of someone, you compare yourself to that person. When you win the comparison, you grow in pride. When you lose the comparison, you just become miserable. So it’s a sin that never delivers any joy, right. Either way, you’re either going to grow in pride or you’re going to grow in this ungodly anger or sorrow. So, I had to really grapple with that sin and ask the Lord to forgive me for that sin and really fight hard against that sin.
One of the ways I did that was to start praising and to start helping the people that I would naturally compare myself to. So instead of resenting them, I was going to say, read this person, he’s writing great material, and direct people to him. And that was, I think, myself before the Lord just trying to say, I’m serious about this. If that person is going to have a much more successful blog or have many more readers, if that brings glory to you, then I’m going to have to be okay with that. And I think over time, the Lord really helped me to come to grips with that, to be content with that.
But, comparison is the enemy of joy, right. The more we compare ourselves to others the more miserable we become. The more we compare ourselves to Christ, now we’re comparing ourselves to the true standard and we can genuinely grow in holiness.
No, it’s a great question. I stopped paying attention to statistics. So, in theory, I can learn exactly how many people read my site, how many people follow me on Twitter, how many people follow me on Facebook, numbers, numbers, numbers. I very purposely chose to stop looking at all that because it was doing something really bad within me. I was comparing myself. And the only thing I could compare myself to was other people. And so now I’m judging myself. My happiness, my joy, my sorrow, is dependent on that other person. And really, I can only be joyful if I’m doing better than that other person. Or, if he’s doing better than me, I’m going to be miserable. So it’s a losing game. I should be rejoicing if he’s doing well because he’s writing good material and if people are lauding him and thanking him for the good work he’s done, what does it say about me if I’m resenting that?
So, I had to do some really serious work within to adjust my attitude and to see why that was so hard. And I came to realize I was really struggling with the sin of envy. Envy is a sin that compares, right, so when you’re envious of someone, you compare yourself to that person. When you win the comparison, you grow in pride. When you lose the comparison, you just become miserable. So it’s a sin that never delivers any joy, right. Either way, you’re either going to grow in pride or you’re going to grow in this ungodly anger or sorrow. So, I had to really grapple with that sin and ask the Lord to forgive me for that sin and really fight hard against that sin.
One of the ways I did that was to start praising and to start helping the people that I would naturally compare myself to. So instead of resenting them, I was going to say, read this person, he’s writing great material, and direct people to him. And that was, I think, myself before the Lord just trying to say, I’m serious about this. If that person is going to have a much more successful blog or have many more readers, if that brings glory to you, then I’m going to have to be okay with that. And I think over time, the Lord really helped me to come to grips with that, to be content with that.
But, comparison is the enemy of joy, right. The more we compare ourselves to others the more miserable we become. The more we compare ourselves to Christ, now we’re comparing ourselves to the true standard and we can genuinely grow in holiness.
Sunday, December 2, 2018
We Need Righteousness, His Righteousness
And may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.–Philippians 3:9
First man was given the Ten Commandments. Some kept them. Next came the Law; some, in their own estimation, kept it and became self-righteous. They did not understand that we need a life, not a list.Jesus, on purpose, set a standard that we could never achieve. His challenge to us was not that we try hard but a challenge to give up; He wanted us to see that a righteousness that would please God is unattainable for man. With His life on earth He raised the bar so high that all men would give up trying to jump over it. Therefore, Jesus said, “Whoever is angry shall be guilty” and “Whoever looks with lust has committed adultery” (Matthew 5:22 & 28). At that, many began to drop out of the righteousness contest. Some stayed. Then came the final blow, “If your hand offends you cut it off, if your eye, pluck it out.” At that, no one was left to play the self-righteousness game. Jesus did not want us cutting off our hand or going about blind; He wanted us to see that we could not be righteous. We, however, want to find righteousness in ourselves and are surprised when we find none. We even expectantly look for it in others. Telling the people about all of the evil they are doing and how badly they are missing the mark is what many modern-day “prophets” enjoy doing, but that information should surprise no one. It is all summed up in one verse: “There are none righteous, no not one!” The righteousness that we need can only come through Jesus, the only One that is pure righteousness. Once we admit that we cannot be righteous, we will accept His. Righteousness is a gift no less than are faith and salvation. In Him we find everything that we have looked for elsewhere in vain.
- Mike Wells
I am not sure that many in church circles really have a grasp on what God tells us in His Word about the need for righteousness, and that we Believers have, and are, righteous. And, instead of critiquing and criticizing sinners, we need to just share the Gospel, and the gift of His righteousness.
First man was given the Ten Commandments. Some kept them. Next came the Law; some, in their own estimation, kept it and became self-righteous. They did not understand that we need a life, not a list.Jesus, on purpose, set a standard that we could never achieve. His challenge to us was not that we try hard but a challenge to give up; He wanted us to see that a righteousness that would please God is unattainable for man. With His life on earth He raised the bar so high that all men would give up trying to jump over it. Therefore, Jesus said, “Whoever is angry shall be guilty” and “Whoever looks with lust has committed adultery” (Matthew 5:22 & 28). At that, many began to drop out of the righteousness contest. Some stayed. Then came the final blow, “If your hand offends you cut it off, if your eye, pluck it out.” At that, no one was left to play the self-righteousness game. Jesus did not want us cutting off our hand or going about blind; He wanted us to see that we could not be righteous. We, however, want to find righteousness in ourselves and are surprised when we find none. We even expectantly look for it in others. Telling the people about all of the evil they are doing and how badly they are missing the mark is what many modern-day “prophets” enjoy doing, but that information should surprise no one. It is all summed up in one verse: “There are none righteous, no not one!” The righteousness that we need can only come through Jesus, the only One that is pure righteousness. Once we admit that we cannot be righteous, we will accept His. Righteousness is a gift no less than are faith and salvation. In Him we find everything that we have looked for elsewhere in vain.
- Mike Wells
I am not sure that many in church circles really have a grasp on what God tells us in His Word about the need for righteousness, and that we Believers have, and are, righteous. And, instead of critiquing and criticizing sinners, we need to just share the Gospel, and the gift of His righteousness.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Human Nature Fails Us
Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.
2 Corinthians 10:17
On this planet earth, since the cross, and not before, God is
pleased to make His people to be His habitation. He came
down in the person of Christ, but Christ abode alone as far
as the dwelling-place of God was concerned.
It is not because the New Testament saints are more worthy
in themselves than those of old. He that knows himself and
redemption knows that such an idea is a fallacy and a false-
hood; he knows that human nature is good for nothing as be-
fore God; he knows that, in His presence, there is no question
of flesh, or what flesh can glory in.
But this is not all; not only is there a Lord to glory in, but now
we have actual redemption in Christ through His blood. How
does God estimate the precious blood of His Son? What does
He feel about those on whom that blood is put by faith--those
who are washed in it? Does He not as it were say, "I can come
now and take my place in their midst?" This is indeed one of
the precious characteristics of the church.
- William Kelly
Human nature which is called "flesh" in the Bible, can-
not be redeemed, but we constantly look at how we are doing
to see if we are getting better. We, in ourselves, will never get
any better, but our redemption is never dependent on our ef-
forts but upon the redeeming blood of Christ, and the work of
the cross. Because of this I have become His dwelling place.
I can creep close into the down of His wings. He becomes my
place of rest. (Why do I wait until I am at my wits end?)
2 Corinthians 10:17
On this planet earth, since the cross, and not before, God is
pleased to make His people to be His habitation. He came
down in the person of Christ, but Christ abode alone as far
as the dwelling-place of God was concerned.
It is not because the New Testament saints are more worthy
in themselves than those of old. He that knows himself and
redemption knows that such an idea is a fallacy and a false-
hood; he knows that human nature is good for nothing as be-
fore God; he knows that, in His presence, there is no question
of flesh, or what flesh can glory in.
But this is not all; not only is there a Lord to glory in, but now
we have actual redemption in Christ through His blood. How
does God estimate the precious blood of His Son? What does
He feel about those on whom that blood is put by faith--those
who are washed in it? Does He not as it were say, "I can come
now and take my place in their midst?" This is indeed one of
the precious characteristics of the church.
- William Kelly
Human nature which is called "flesh" in the Bible, can-
not be redeemed, but we constantly look at how we are doing
to see if we are getting better. We, in ourselves, will never get
any better, but our redemption is never dependent on our ef-
forts but upon the redeeming blood of Christ, and the work of
the cross. Because of this I have become His dwelling place.
I can creep close into the down of His wings. He becomes my
place of rest. (Why do I wait until I am at my wits end?)
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
PAUL: AN APOSTLE’S JOURNEY
By Baxter Kruger
I have been reading Douglas Campbell’s masterful book on St. Paul. The following two paragraphs speak rather loudly and I wanted to share them.
“Graeco-Roman cities loved appearances. They loved what people looked like, how much money they had, their connections, and how they spoke. Fully trained rhetorical professionals could captivate audiences for hours. They were the rock stars of the ancient world, and they commanded huge fees for their performances. They looked beautiful and spoke beautifully.
In one of the most profound passages he ever wrote, Paul points out that the Christian God revealed in the crucified Jesus could not be more different from this (1st Corinthians 1:18-2:16). By journeying down into the human condition and ultimately accepting a shameful death, Jesus revealed that God was a reaching God, and inclusive and gentle God, who valued everyone, including the most despised and marginalized. Those whom society looked down on, God was especially concerned about and eager to reach. . . This is what a Christian leader should look like. It could hardly be more dramatically countercultural, and Paul lived this leadership style out in person”
(Douglas Campbell, Paul: An Apostle’s Journey, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub., Co, p. 98).
I have been reading Douglas Campbell’s masterful book on St. Paul. The following two paragraphs speak rather loudly and I wanted to share them.
“Graeco-Roman cities loved appearances. They loved what people looked like, how much money they had, their connections, and how they spoke. Fully trained rhetorical professionals could captivate audiences for hours. They were the rock stars of the ancient world, and they commanded huge fees for their performances. They looked beautiful and spoke beautifully.
In one of the most profound passages he ever wrote, Paul points out that the Christian God revealed in the crucified Jesus could not be more different from this (1st Corinthians 1:18-2:16). By journeying down into the human condition and ultimately accepting a shameful death, Jesus revealed that God was a reaching God, and inclusive and gentle God, who valued everyone, including the most despised and marginalized. Those whom society looked down on, God was especially concerned about and eager to reach. . . This is what a Christian leader should look like. It could hardly be more dramatically countercultural, and Paul lived this leadership style out in person”
(Douglas Campbell, Paul: An Apostle’s Journey, Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub., Co, p. 98).
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Gratefulness is Prayerfulness
Heaven is breaking through the veil all day, every day. Hot coffee, warm fire, beautiful sun diamonds on the river, eyes of love looking into ours, animals, children, art, grass, cool breezes, changing seasons, beautiful melodies, delicious smells, warmth, wine, great food . . . all of these wondrous gifts are received through gratitude and thanksgiving. Gratitude opens the door. Gratitude completely rewires the architecture of our brain. Gratitude opens us to receive more and more of the good which lifts us into whole new ways of seeing, perceiving, feeling in our body, and relating to others.
Gratitude creates happiness, not the other way around. Gratitude will bring us to a joy that no longer depends on happiness. Our interior life will become so rich and full of all that we are experiencing and tasting of God in all the moments of our life that we don’t need as much from others or the world anymore. Nothing that the world can give can begin to compare with this state of deep, quiet, unspeakable joy. It is the joy of Heaven.
Gratitude is the infinite giving and receiving of love between us and God and the whole of creation. Gratefulness is prayerfulness. Prayerfulness is prayer without ceasing. Gratitude is all we can offer in return for our awakening to the great Mystery in which we live and move and have our being.
Gratitude is everything.
Gratitude creates happiness, not the other way around. Gratitude will bring us to a joy that no longer depends on happiness. Our interior life will become so rich and full of all that we are experiencing and tasting of God in all the moments of our life that we don’t need as much from others or the world anymore. Nothing that the world can give can begin to compare with this state of deep, quiet, unspeakable joy. It is the joy of Heaven.
Gratitude is the infinite giving and receiving of love between us and God and the whole of creation. Gratefulness is prayerfulness. Prayerfulness is prayer without ceasing. Gratitude is all we can offer in return for our awakening to the great Mystery in which we live and move and have our being.
Gratitude is everything.
Friday, November 23, 2018
So where do we find gratefulness in times of crisis?
Here’s where I find it:
I am grateful that he is always with me, even if my feelings try to tell me otherwise.
I am grateful he has given me life, breath, and subsistence to get through this day.
I am thankful that I have a Father who loves me more than anyone on this planet ever has or ever will.
I am thankful there’s nothing I can do to make him love me one bit less or one bit more than he already does.
I am thankful that every breath I take is in his hands.
I am grateful that Jesus has a way to navigate me through anything life can throw at me, including when others treat me unfairly.
I am grateful that all my hopes and dreams don’t have to be satisfied on this side of eternity.
I am grateful that nothing in this world, or the actions of any person, can keep me from the life and freedom he has for me.
I am grateful that Jesus will get the last word on every one and everything in this world. He hasn’t yet, but he will.
I am grateful he is bigger than any injustice, calamity, lie, or failure.
I am grateful that there’s always a way for me to encourage and be helpful to others who are going through difficult times.
I am grateful for friendships that love through anything, and don’t assume the worst of motives in moments of pain.
And, I am grateful that beauty and joy will once again rise from the ashes of my calamities and lead me to peace.
- Wayne Jacobsen
I am grateful that he is always with me, even if my feelings try to tell me otherwise.
I am grateful he has given me life, breath, and subsistence to get through this day.
I am thankful that I have a Father who loves me more than anyone on this planet ever has or ever will.
I am thankful there’s nothing I can do to make him love me one bit less or one bit more than he already does.
I am thankful that every breath I take is in his hands.
I am grateful that Jesus has a way to navigate me through anything life can throw at me, including when others treat me unfairly.
I am grateful that all my hopes and dreams don’t have to be satisfied on this side of eternity.
I am grateful that nothing in this world, or the actions of any person, can keep me from the life and freedom he has for me.
I am grateful that Jesus will get the last word on every one and everything in this world. He hasn’t yet, but he will.
I am grateful he is bigger than any injustice, calamity, lie, or failure.
I am grateful that there’s always a way for me to encourage and be helpful to others who are going through difficult times.
I am grateful for friendships that love through anything, and don’t assume the worst of motives in moments of pain.
And, I am grateful that beauty and joy will once again rise from the ashes of my calamities and lead me to peace.
- Wayne Jacobsen
Debts Forgiven
Imagine for a moment that your father is the richest man in the entire world. Imagine as well that you are drowning in outrageous debt…debt that you could not repay in a hundred lifetimes. One day, because of his great love, he pays off everything you owe and will owe, past, present, and future. You are free.
Question. in light of all your father has done, how much sense would it make for you to ask him again and again to pay off your debt? Many Christians today are constantly asking God to do something He has already done, once-for-all, 2,000 years ago on a cross, just outside Jerusalem.
Do you see God dispensing forgiveness on a piece-meal basis? Take another look! The word of God says, “It is finished!”…and there’s an empty Cross and an empty tomb to prove it.
- Preston Gillham
Question. in light of all your father has done, how much sense would it make for you to ask him again and again to pay off your debt? Many Christians today are constantly asking God to do something He has already done, once-for-all, 2,000 years ago on a cross, just outside Jerusalem.
Do you see God dispensing forgiveness on a piece-meal basis? Take another look! The word of God says, “It is finished!”…and there’s an empty Cross and an empty tomb to prove it.
- Preston Gillham
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Those who have seen
Blessed are those who have not seen, yet have believed.
John 20:29
How important it is for God to keep us focused on things
that are unseen, for we are so easily snared by the things
we can see! If Peter was ever going to walk on the water,
he had to walk, but if he was going to swim to Jesus, he
had to swim. He could not do both. If a bird is going to
fly, it must stay away from fences and trees, trusting the
buoyancy of its wings. And if it tries to stay within easy
reach of the ground, it will never fly very well.
God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength
and let him see that with his own body he could do noth-
ing. He had to consider his body "as good as dead"
(Heb 11:12) and then trust God to do all the work. When
he looked away from himself and trusted only God, he
became "fully persuaded that God had power to do what
he had promised." (Rom 4:21)
This is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep results
that are encouraging away from us until we learn to trust
Him without them. Then He loves to make His Word as real
to us in actuality as it is in our faith.
- AB Simpson 1844-1919
John 20:29
How important it is for God to keep us focused on things
that are unseen, for we are so easily snared by the things
we can see! If Peter was ever going to walk on the water,
he had to walk, but if he was going to swim to Jesus, he
had to swim. He could not do both. If a bird is going to
fly, it must stay away from fences and trees, trusting the
buoyancy of its wings. And if it tries to stay within easy
reach of the ground, it will never fly very well.
God had to bring Abraham to the end of his own strength
and let him see that with his own body he could do noth-
ing. He had to consider his body "as good as dead"
(Heb 11:12) and then trust God to do all the work. When
he looked away from himself and trusted only God, he
became "fully persuaded that God had power to do what
he had promised." (Rom 4:21)
This is what God is teaching us, and He has to keep results
that are encouraging away from us until we learn to trust
Him without them. Then He loves to make His Word as real
to us in actuality as it is in our faith.
- AB Simpson 1844-1919
Saturday, November 17, 2018
Was It Me or Was It God?
For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for {His} good pleasure.--Philippians 2:13
How does a person become godly? How does a believer pass the test? How does a Christian reach the place where he says with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7)? I regularly meet young men and women with attitudes of faith and trust beyond their years. Did they make themselves that way? Was it their choice? One fellow from Costa Rica at age five told his mother to stop going to the government’s housing application office, saying, “If the Lord wants you to have a house, you will.” A few months later, her employer bought her a home! From where did this five-year-old's faith and confidence come? How had he developed it? What discipleship courses had he taken? Which seminar was it that instilled such faith? Did he come to this place of faith through choice? If so, then he would have something in which to boast, but I do not believe it was choice. “For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). I believe that there are no great men of faith; if the lives of those so named were examined with a magnifying glass, they would be found to be average persons possessed by great faith. “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised. God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God”(I Corinthians 1:26-29). Ultimately, it is important to understand that it is God who is at work in any one of us.
- Mike Wells
How does a person become godly? How does a believer pass the test? How does a Christian reach the place where he says with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (II Timothy 4:7)? I regularly meet young men and women with attitudes of faith and trust beyond their years. Did they make themselves that way? Was it their choice? One fellow from Costa Rica at age five told his mother to stop going to the government’s housing application office, saying, “If the Lord wants you to have a house, you will.” A few months later, her employer bought her a home! From where did this five-year-old's faith and confidence come? How had he developed it? What discipleship courses had he taken? Which seminar was it that instilled such faith? Did he come to this place of faith through choice? If so, then he would have something in which to boast, but I do not believe it was choice. “For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” (Romans 12:3). I believe that there are no great men of faith; if the lives of those so named were examined with a magnifying glass, they would be found to be average persons possessed by great faith. “For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised. God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God”(I Corinthians 1:26-29). Ultimately, it is important to understand that it is God who is at work in any one of us.
- Mike Wells
Friday, November 16, 2018
NON-Approval or DIS Approval
When it comes to how we relate to people whose questionable actions trouble us, perhaps we should use the more nuanced idea of careful NON-APPROVAL rather than the destructive concept of hasty and hostile DISAPPROVAL.
When our hearts spew disapproval, it becomes too easy to harshly judge, quickly condemn and recklessly release toxic negativity toward a person or situation. So many have been crushed by disapproving looks, disapproving tones, and disapproving actions. Sadly, many Christians are better known for their quick abandonment and malicious resentment than for their steadfast friendship. And this "disapproval" always terminates relationship, releases hate, and paralyzes the situation with unrighteous judgment.
Jesus didn't approve (i.e. NON-approval) of the woman's adultery in John 8, but He didn't DIS-approve of her either. And this made all the difference. He was then empowered to save her out of the deadly situation because He didn't enter into toxic "disapproval-mode." He specifically told her, "I do not condemn you: go and sin no more." (v. 11). Jesus practicing NON-APPROVAL (rather than DISAPPROVAL) allowed Him to stay connected to the situation and to tether it to the mercies and deliverances of God.
Disapproval hardens us to become part of the problem. But, non-approval softens our edge and keeps us involved in the solution. We can remain silent without spewing condemnation. We can remain calm without having to curse the men who God still richly loves. And, we can remain available to help those who know NOT what they do. Sure, we don't need to approve evil, but neither do we need to disapprove misled men who bear the precious image of God.
- Richard Murray
When our hearts spew disapproval, it becomes too easy to harshly judge, quickly condemn and recklessly release toxic negativity toward a person or situation. So many have been crushed by disapproving looks, disapproving tones, and disapproving actions. Sadly, many Christians are better known for their quick abandonment and malicious resentment than for their steadfast friendship. And this "disapproval" always terminates relationship, releases hate, and paralyzes the situation with unrighteous judgment.
Jesus didn't approve (i.e. NON-approval) of the woman's adultery in John 8, but He didn't DIS-approve of her either. And this made all the difference. He was then empowered to save her out of the deadly situation because He didn't enter into toxic "disapproval-mode." He specifically told her, "I do not condemn you: go and sin no more." (v. 11). Jesus practicing NON-APPROVAL (rather than DISAPPROVAL) allowed Him to stay connected to the situation and to tether it to the mercies and deliverances of God.
Disapproval hardens us to become part of the problem. But, non-approval softens our edge and keeps us involved in the solution. We can remain silent without spewing condemnation. We can remain calm without having to curse the men who God still richly loves. And, we can remain available to help those who know NOT what they do. Sure, we don't need to approve evil, but neither do we need to disapprove misled men who bear the precious image of God.
- Richard Murray
The Cost of Love
The cost of love is freedom (we are real children, not preprogrammed and mechanized puppet slaves).
The cost of freedom is the risk that it might be misused.
The cost of misuse is the risk of love’s rejection (at least for a season).
The cost of love’s rejection is the possibility (not the necessity) that evil may fill the vacuum created by freedom’s misuse, at least for a season).
A creation eternally destined for love can be temporally expensive.
- Richard Murray
The cost of freedom is the risk that it might be misused.
The cost of misuse is the risk of love’s rejection (at least for a season).
The cost of love’s rejection is the possibility (not the necessity) that evil may fill the vacuum created by freedom’s misuse, at least for a season).
A creation eternally destined for love can be temporally expensive.
- Richard Murray
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Monday, November 12, 2018
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Voice of God
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. --John 10:27
I have found that there are two primary reasons that believers are not hearing God. First, imagine a mother looking out the front window of a house watching her children play in the yard, where she has told them to stay. As long as the children are in the yard, do they hear from the mother? No! They do hear her voice if they move to the sidewalk, and they feel the mother’s force as they move into the street. When the children hear nothing, it is proof that they are in the will of the mother. Often the silence believers experience is due merely to being in the will of the Father.
Second, if we are not hearing from God it is important to ask whether we did the last thing that He told us. God often speaks concerning our hearts, the direction of our lives, matters of forgiveness, or anything relating to Matthew 5-7. If we neglected the last thing that we heard from Him, that may be the reason we are not hearing anything new. We simply need to ask the Good Shepherd if we acted on the last bit of instruction; He is more than happy to point it out once again.Be aware, though, to discern whether later the enemy picks up the banner and begins badgering us over our disregard of God’s communication. The enemy’s voice is harsh, critical, condemning, judgmental, and he will often try to bring up past failures of which we have already repented.
I have found that there are two primary reasons that believers are not hearing God. First, imagine a mother looking out the front window of a house watching her children play in the yard, where she has told them to stay. As long as the children are in the yard, do they hear from the mother? No! They do hear her voice if they move to the sidewalk, and they feel the mother’s force as they move into the street. When the children hear nothing, it is proof that they are in the will of the mother. Often the silence believers experience is due merely to being in the will of the Father.
Second, if we are not hearing from God it is important to ask whether we did the last thing that He told us. God often speaks concerning our hearts, the direction of our lives, matters of forgiveness, or anything relating to Matthew 5-7. If we neglected the last thing that we heard from Him, that may be the reason we are not hearing anything new. We simply need to ask the Good Shepherd if we acted on the last bit of instruction; He is more than happy to point it out once again.Be aware, though, to discern whether later the enemy picks up the banner and begins badgering us over our disregard of God’s communication. The enemy’s voice is harsh, critical, condemning, judgmental, and he will often try to bring up past failures of which we have already repented.
Friday, November 2, 2018
Yielded
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said,
"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
Has the Spirit borne witness that you are to do a cer-
tain work for God? As you heed that impression and
pray over it, does it become deeper and more indelible
on your heart? As you yield toward the carrying out
of that impression does there come a deep and settled
peace to your soul? If so, it is the leading of the Holy
Spirit.
...Has there been a time in your life when you came
to the place where it became your fixed intention to
surrender everything to the will of God and working
of the Spirit? Is it right to expect God to lead you to
the field of His choice if you have already determined
in your own heart where you want to go? If you really
want His guidance, you have to be ready to put your-
self in His hands and gladly follow His directions,
wherever they may lead. Does selfish ambition enter
into your plans, the desire for recognition and praise
from other Christians? It is better, and infinitely more
satisfying to please God than men.
- G Christian Weiss
"We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29
Has the Spirit borne witness that you are to do a cer-
tain work for God? As you heed that impression and
pray over it, does it become deeper and more indelible
on your heart? As you yield toward the carrying out
of that impression does there come a deep and settled
peace to your soul? If so, it is the leading of the Holy
Spirit.
...Has there been a time in your life when you came
to the place where it became your fixed intention to
surrender everything to the will of God and working
of the Spirit? Is it right to expect God to lead you to
the field of His choice if you have already determined
in your own heart where you want to go? If you really
want His guidance, you have to be ready to put your-
self in His hands and gladly follow His directions,
wherever they may lead. Does selfish ambition enter
into your plans, the desire for recognition and praise
from other Christians? It is better, and infinitely more
satisfying to please God than men.
- G Christian Weiss
Uncovering Your Brother’s Sins
Now the sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem and Ham and Japheth, and Ham was the father of Canaan. These three were the sons of Noah; and from these the whole earth was populated.Then Noah began farming and planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine and became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him. So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brothers.” --Genesis 9:18-25
There is a lesson for us. Are we to uncover the nakedness of our brother? Many believe it is their job to find the sins of others and then expose them to everyone. Not only is this contrary to Matthew 18, but it will bring a curse upon the fault-finder insofar as he is complicit with the enemy, who accuses the brethren before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10). Let God deal with a man's nakedness. I know a pastor who discovered a hidden sin that another pastor committed some thirty years ago, and out of spiritual jealousy he made sure that everyone found out about it. Is this how we treat the people of God? Yes, if we want to be like Ham. Should we not rather prefer to be like the other two brothers, backing up with the Blood that covers and not publicizing the failures?
It is remarkable that many Christian fellowships will not follow God’s uncomplicated directives for handling discipline among its membership. Very clearly, all discipline begins with the individual accused of some infraction (self-discipline). If self-discipline were followed by each, no other discipline would be necessary.
If there is cause, one person (the “accuser”) is to go to that brother (the “accused), and the accused has a choice to “hear” the accuser, and change his ways, OR to not change. A change ENDS all discussion. Goes no further. Goes to no one else.
Only if the accused brother does not “hear” and “change,” is the one accuser to go to a couple more who go with the accuser to the “offending” brother. Once more, the accused can “hear” and change, OR not. A change ENDS all discussion. Goes no further. Goes to no one else. Finally, IF necessary, the accused is to be taken to the Fellowship with the same process.
It is incumbent on brethren to do as God directs, and take no action to the contrary. Otherwise, as Michael points out, the fault-finder(s) become complicit with the enemy, and ultimately God will deal with them.
May we all be found to act as Shem and Japheth did, and never like Ham. The end result is not good.
There is a lesson for us. Are we to uncover the nakedness of our brother? Many believe it is their job to find the sins of others and then expose them to everyone. Not only is this contrary to Matthew 18, but it will bring a curse upon the fault-finder insofar as he is complicit with the enemy, who accuses the brethren before our God day and night (Revelation 12:10). Let God deal with a man's nakedness. I know a pastor who discovered a hidden sin that another pastor committed some thirty years ago, and out of spiritual jealousy he made sure that everyone found out about it. Is this how we treat the people of God? Yes, if we want to be like Ham. Should we not rather prefer to be like the other two brothers, backing up with the Blood that covers and not publicizing the failures?
It is remarkable that many Christian fellowships will not follow God’s uncomplicated directives for handling discipline among its membership. Very clearly, all discipline begins with the individual accused of some infraction (self-discipline). If self-discipline were followed by each, no other discipline would be necessary.
If there is cause, one person (the “accuser”) is to go to that brother (the “accused), and the accused has a choice to “hear” the accuser, and change his ways, OR to not change. A change ENDS all discussion. Goes no further. Goes to no one else.
Only if the accused brother does not “hear” and “change,” is the one accuser to go to a couple more who go with the accuser to the “offending” brother. Once more, the accused can “hear” and change, OR not. A change ENDS all discussion. Goes no further. Goes to no one else. Finally, IF necessary, the accused is to be taken to the Fellowship with the same process.
It is incumbent on brethren to do as God directs, and take no action to the contrary. Otherwise, as Michael points out, the fault-finder(s) become complicit with the enemy, and ultimately God will deal with them.
May we all be found to act as Shem and Japheth did, and never like Ham. The end result is not good.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
The End Product of True Evangelism
The end product of evangelism is not just to get you out of hell and into heaven, but to get God out of heaven and into you, so that Christ living in your heart might bring God out again into the open where He can be seen. That is what brings glory to God.
This happens when we are prepared to identify ourselves with Christ in His death and to share His resurrection Life: You acknowledge as a redeemed sinner that Jesus, risen from the dead, has come to re invade your humanity so that you can place all that you are at His disposal. Others who look at you will see Him behaving, just as people looked at Jesus and saw the Father behaving.
This is the gospel.
What then is the ultimate end product of our obeying this gospel and entering into the good of that which has been provided for us in Christ to restore us to our true function as human beings?
God has predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). Therefore, when you are finally evangelized and people look at you, they should see the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what God has always had in mind for us, from the eternal ages of the past.
That is why Jesus is the end product of evangelism—His Life indwelling you is exactly what God had in mind when He sent His Son to redeem you and to reconcile you to a holy God. He sent us His Son not just to get you and me out of hell and into heaven, but to get the God of heaven into you and me, so that Christ living in our hearts might be our hope of bringing God again out into the open where He can be seen, to His glory!
We identify ourselves with Him, saying as Paul did in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ,” and we share His resurrection, just as Paul went on to explain in the same verse, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”—not I, but Christ. Paul is saying, “I am a redeemed sinner, and the risen Jesus has come to reinvade my humanity so that He can serve with my hands, walk with my feet, speak with my lips, see with my eyes, hear with my ears, think with my mind, and love with my heart, so that to me, to live now is Christ. It is my privilege as a forgiven sinner to place my humanity at His disposal so that others looking at me will see Him behaving, just as those who looked at Jesus saw His Father behaving.”
This is the gospel as we need to understand it, because the Lord Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21)—sending us on the same terms and for the same purpose.
He is the Sender, and we are the sent ones, and for this reason the only authority you and I can legitimately exercise in any area of life is the authority that derives from our submission to His authority.
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” JOHN 20:21
- Major Ian Thomas
This happens when we are prepared to identify ourselves with Christ in His death and to share His resurrection Life: You acknowledge as a redeemed sinner that Jesus, risen from the dead, has come to re invade your humanity so that you can place all that you are at His disposal. Others who look at you will see Him behaving, just as people looked at Jesus and saw the Father behaving.
This is the gospel.
What then is the ultimate end product of our obeying this gospel and entering into the good of that which has been provided for us in Christ to restore us to our true function as human beings?
God has predestined us “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). Therefore, when you are finally evangelized and people look at you, they should see the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what God has always had in mind for us, from the eternal ages of the past.
That is why Jesus is the end product of evangelism—His Life indwelling you is exactly what God had in mind when He sent His Son to redeem you and to reconcile you to a holy God. He sent us His Son not just to get you and me out of hell and into heaven, but to get the God of heaven into you and me, so that Christ living in our hearts might be our hope of bringing God again out into the open where He can be seen, to His glory!
We identify ourselves with Him, saying as Paul did in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ,” and we share His resurrection, just as Paul went on to explain in the same verse, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”—not I, but Christ. Paul is saying, “I am a redeemed sinner, and the risen Jesus has come to reinvade my humanity so that He can serve with my hands, walk with my feet, speak with my lips, see with my eyes, hear with my ears, think with my mind, and love with my heart, so that to me, to live now is Christ. It is my privilege as a forgiven sinner to place my humanity at His disposal so that others looking at me will see Him behaving, just as those who looked at Jesus saw His Father behaving.”
This is the gospel as we need to understand it, because the Lord Jesus said, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21)—sending us on the same terms and for the same purpose.
He is the Sender, and we are the sent ones, and for this reason the only authority you and I can legitimately exercise in any area of life is the authority that derives from our submission to His authority.
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” JOHN 20:21
- Major Ian Thomas
Monday, October 22, 2018
Seeing How God Works
For most of my life I’ve tried to do God’s work, instead of doing mine. And, honestly, I wasn’t very good at it. That didn’t keep me from trying, however. That’s why in recent years I’ve come to love the prayer Paul prayed for the Colossians and to make it my own every day:
“Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works… As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. (Colossians 1:9-11 MSG)
That’s what I want. I want my mind and spirit to be so attuned to God’s will that I can acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which he works. I wish someone had taught me that when I was younger. When we don’t have any understanding of how God works, we’ll spend all our energies trying to be God to others. Even on our best days, that will only make a mess of things.
When I was a pastor, I thought it was my responsibility to build the church, when Jesus said he would take care of it. (Matthew 16)
In sharing Christ, I thought I was supposed to bring the conviction of God, when Jesus said that was the Spirit’s job. (John 16)
I thought the body of Christ was called to walk in unity, when Jesus asked his Father to bring us there. (John 17)
I assumed it was my responsibility to be better for God, instead of coming to the end of my human efforts and learning to trust his power. (John 15, Philippians 2)
I don’t have to figure out the times and seasons of his return, because that is in the hands of the Father. (Acts 1)
Learning how God works changes everything! He’s not a projection of our better selves, but Wholly Other, who thinks and acts in ways that confound my natural mind. When we think we know best, for ourselves or others, we usually end up working against him rather than with him.
Jesus asked me to love others like he’s loving me, to proclaim with my life and words the reality of Christ, and to help those who want, to know the God I know. It has become a major focus of my walk now to see what God is doing and how he’s working, especially when he isn’t acting in the way I think he should. When he’s not doing what I think is best, what is he doing? That’s where we learn how different, and how much better his ways really are. It is so much easier to live inside what he asks of me today, when I see, if even just in glimpses, how he is working in people and situations around me.
It helps me be more patient, because I realize God is not in the hurry that I am. It makes me softer toward marginalized and hurting people, because I know he doesn’t always wave his magic wand and fix everyone’s need instantaneously, and more often he wants me to be his gift to them. I’m not so settled on my ease and comfort because I know there isn’t any tragedy that he can’t work in for incredible good. And when I’ve given up trying to change me, I give up trying to change others around me as well.
I’m still learning to take my cues from what Father is already doing. Ask him to show you in the very circumstances you’re in right now. Instead of giving into anxiety and trying to fix them yourself, ask him to show you what he is doing. When you know what he’s doing, then you’ll know how you can respond in trust and be part of what he’s doing. It’s more fun than trying to do his job, that’s for sure!
- Wayne Jacobsen
“Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works… As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. (Colossians 1:9-11 MSG)
That’s what I want. I want my mind and spirit to be so attuned to God’s will that I can acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which he works. I wish someone had taught me that when I was younger. When we don’t have any understanding of how God works, we’ll spend all our energies trying to be God to others. Even on our best days, that will only make a mess of things.
When I was a pastor, I thought it was my responsibility to build the church, when Jesus said he would take care of it. (Matthew 16)
In sharing Christ, I thought I was supposed to bring the conviction of God, when Jesus said that was the Spirit’s job. (John 16)
I thought the body of Christ was called to walk in unity, when Jesus asked his Father to bring us there. (John 17)
I assumed it was my responsibility to be better for God, instead of coming to the end of my human efforts and learning to trust his power. (John 15, Philippians 2)
I don’t have to figure out the times and seasons of his return, because that is in the hands of the Father. (Acts 1)
Learning how God works changes everything! He’s not a projection of our better selves, but Wholly Other, who thinks and acts in ways that confound my natural mind. When we think we know best, for ourselves or others, we usually end up working against him rather than with him.
Jesus asked me to love others like he’s loving me, to proclaim with my life and words the reality of Christ, and to help those who want, to know the God I know. It has become a major focus of my walk now to see what God is doing and how he’s working, especially when he isn’t acting in the way I think he should. When he’s not doing what I think is best, what is he doing? That’s where we learn how different, and how much better his ways really are. It is so much easier to live inside what he asks of me today, when I see, if even just in glimpses, how he is working in people and situations around me.
It helps me be more patient, because I realize God is not in the hurry that I am. It makes me softer toward marginalized and hurting people, because I know he doesn’t always wave his magic wand and fix everyone’s need instantaneously, and more often he wants me to be his gift to them. I’m not so settled on my ease and comfort because I know there isn’t any tragedy that he can’t work in for incredible good. And when I’ve given up trying to change me, I give up trying to change others around me as well.
I’m still learning to take my cues from what Father is already doing. Ask him to show you in the very circumstances you’re in right now. Instead of giving into anxiety and trying to fix them yourself, ask him to show you what he is doing. When you know what he’s doing, then you’ll know how you can respond in trust and be part of what he’s doing. It’s more fun than trying to do his job, that’s for sure!
- Wayne Jacobsen
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Two Tracks
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. --Matthew 10:34
There are times in life when we would like everything to run on one track, and, as with every issue, there can be both the legitimate and the illegitimate side. For example, because of a vocational change a man is asked to move, which will make him miss his friends immensely. He would like God either to take away his yearning for his friends or allow him to stay put. He wants life on one track. Mourning for the loss of relationships speaks well of the man; however, to be undone and refuse the move does not.
Running on one track and forcing everything to fit within the one theme can be destructive. A woman visiting me proclaimed, “I am a terrible Christian. The Bible says, ‘In everything give thanks,’ but my husband recently died and I cannot stop crying.” True, the Bible does say that. It also gives accounts of many men of God as they tore their clothes in anguish at the news of the death of a loved one. It is legitimate to weep but may be illegitimate to weep for years. We need to accept that in our Christian life there are more tracks than one that run parallel concurrently.
Unbelieving man wants to systematize God so that everything is on one track. This order would alleviate the unknown and relieve us of the necessity to exercise our faith. God has never been, nor can He be, systematized. We are not Muslims who base their lives in teaching and creed. Rather, our lives center around a person, a relationship. This leads to situations such as being urged to honor father and mother, and yet at the same time being warned to reject father and mother if they get in the way of following Christ. In a relationship with Christ both truths are possible, for in Him we can love and honor the parents, but Him comes before them, and so if parents want to come before Christ they are not covered by Matthew 15:4 but are under the command of Matthew 10:37.
I am not saying that the Christian life is one of balance; that would be Taoism. We are not attempting to find the middle ground. Instead, every issue in life is a coin with two sides, and it takes both sides, though they can be opposing, to make up the coin. Whether one side is legitimate and the other is illegitimate depends upon the Lord’s leading in the situation.
There are times in life when we would like everything to run on one track, and, as with every issue, there can be both the legitimate and the illegitimate side. For example, because of a vocational change a man is asked to move, which will make him miss his friends immensely. He would like God either to take away his yearning for his friends or allow him to stay put. He wants life on one track. Mourning for the loss of relationships speaks well of the man; however, to be undone and refuse the move does not.
Running on one track and forcing everything to fit within the one theme can be destructive. A woman visiting me proclaimed, “I am a terrible Christian. The Bible says, ‘In everything give thanks,’ but my husband recently died and I cannot stop crying.” True, the Bible does say that. It also gives accounts of many men of God as they tore their clothes in anguish at the news of the death of a loved one. It is legitimate to weep but may be illegitimate to weep for years. We need to accept that in our Christian life there are more tracks than one that run parallel concurrently.
Unbelieving man wants to systematize God so that everything is on one track. This order would alleviate the unknown and relieve us of the necessity to exercise our faith. God has never been, nor can He be, systematized. We are not Muslims who base their lives in teaching and creed. Rather, our lives center around a person, a relationship. This leads to situations such as being urged to honor father and mother, and yet at the same time being warned to reject father and mother if they get in the way of following Christ. In a relationship with Christ both truths are possible, for in Him we can love and honor the parents, but Him comes before them, and so if parents want to come before Christ they are not covered by Matthew 15:4 but are under the command of Matthew 10:37.
I am not saying that the Christian life is one of balance; that would be Taoism. We are not attempting to find the middle ground. Instead, every issue in life is a coin with two sides, and it takes both sides, though they can be opposing, to make up the coin. Whether one side is legitimate and the other is illegitimate depends upon the Lord’s leading in the situation.
Monday, October 15, 2018
He Delights in You
How many of you believe that God delights in you?
Most of us feel that He tolerates us on a good day.
I watched a You Tube video this afternoon on this
very subject and rather than trying to summarize it,
I will post it below. Malcolm Smith is one of my
favorite teachers. He can get more out of one verse
of scripture than anyone I know. I once was at a
conference where he taught on one verse for one
hour, at least four times. And, each talk was differ-
ent in its emphasis. What was the verse?
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3 King James
"He Delights in you" out of Luke 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfWp8jF9bLc
Most of us feel that He tolerates us on a good day.
I watched a You Tube video this afternoon on this
very subject and rather than trying to summarize it,
I will post it below. Malcolm Smith is one of my
favorite teachers. He can get more out of one verse
of scripture than anyone I know. I once was at a
conference where he taught on one verse for one
hour, at least four times. And, each talk was differ-
ent in its emphasis. What was the verse?
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Isaiah 26:3 King James
"He Delights in you" out of Luke 15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfWp8jF9bLc
Himself
Truly you are a God that hides Yourself...
Isaiah 45:15
There is many a Christian who has has not
reached Christ, and there is weakness. There
is a larger blessing than forgiveness--that is
HIMSELF. Nothing will satisfy Christ but re-
vealing His heart to you, and you will never
grow until you know Him. It is impossible
to grow unless you are under the power of
His love.
- Edward Dennett 1831-1914
Isaiah 45:15
There is many a Christian who has has not
reached Christ, and there is weakness. There
is a larger blessing than forgiveness--that is
HIMSELF. Nothing will satisfy Christ but re-
vealing His heart to you, and you will never
grow until you know Him. It is impossible
to grow unless you are under the power of
His love.
- Edward Dennett 1831-1914
2 Reasons why Coveting is a Serious Sin
Taking Sin Seriously
What makes coveting such a serious sin? First, we covet when we want for ourselves what belongs to someone else. Coveting is more than thinking, “It’d be great to have a nice house,” or “I’d like to have a better job.” Coveting longs for someone else’s stuff to be your stuff. Coveting says, “I want their house. I want his job. If only I could have what they have, then I’d be happy.” One way of looking at things is to see the tenth commandment as the internalization of the eighth commandment. Just as adultery of the heart is lust, and murder of the heart is hatred, so theft is the heart of covetousness. When Achan stole some of the devoted things from Ai, he first “coveted them” and then “took them” (Josh. 7:21). Likewise, James says, “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:3). Those two sentences stand in parallel. Coveting is desiring something or someone that is not yours to have. Sex may be a good thing. Possessions may have their place.
But they’re both bad when the thoughts are illicit when you want what does not belong to you. Coveting is a violation of the second great commandment. Remember how Jesus summarized the two tables of the law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matt. 22:37–40). Coveting fails to love your neighbor as yourself. When we’re covetous, we think only (or, at least, supremely) of what is good for us: what we would like, what would make us happy, and what could make our lives better, regardless of how others are affected. It’s easy for us to see how selfish children can be. They are happy with their Christmas presents until they see a sibling or friend get something bigger and better. Suddenly their Super Awesome Barbie Action Playhouse isn’t so super awesome anymore. And you know what happens next? You’ll hear those immortal words: “It’s not fair!” This prompts one of the much-beloved mom or dad lectures about starving kids living in a crater on the moon. But as easily as we can see the selfishness of children, we can be blind to our own self-regard. We notice the camper down the street or the new addition with all the righteous indignation of kids on Christmas morning. Coveting is not just saying, “I would like something.” That can be fine. We all have wish lists. Coveting goes further and says, “Why did you get that? I wanted it! I am angry because you are happy, and I’d be happier if we could trade places.” Coveting wants what other people have.
What Our Coveting Reveals
Second, we covet when our desire leads to or is an expression of, discontentment. According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.”1 If the first point looked at coveting as a violation of the second table of the law, then the second point stresses how it also violates the first table of the law. When we covet, we don’t believe that God is big enough to help us or good enough to care. Our discontentment is an expression of how much more we think God owes us. There’s a reason that “do not covet” is the last of the ten commandments. It comes at the end because it is such a fitting summary of everything that has come before. It’s impossible to covet and love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. It can seem strange that the Ten Commandments starts with such lofty ideals—“I am the Lord your God. . . . You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:2)—and then ends with a prosaic whimper: “Stop looking at that donkey.” But do you see how the two are connected? God is saying, “I’m the only God you need. Don’t turn to Baal. Don’t turn to statues. And don’t turn to animals or friends or abilities either. Let nothing else capture your gaze and affections ahead of me!”
Coveting is idolatry (Col. 3:5). It says I can’t live without that person, place, or possession. It makes a god out of our desires. The tenth commandment is not an anticlimactic afterthought. “Don’t murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. And try to be happy with what you have.” The command not to covet is actually the practical summation and heart-level culmination of the other nine commandments. Even though we understand from Jesus that the commandments all have an internal dimension, it would be easy to focus on mere external obedience if we didn’t have the tenth commandment. When you look at the first nine commandments, they almost seem possible, at least in a perfunctory sort of way. “Don’t kill people.” I can do that. “Don’t sleep around.” I’m good. “Don’t lie under oath.” Got it. But just when we might be tempted to check off one commandment after another, we land on the tenth commandment and realize that we can’t possibly keep this moral code to perfection. We can conceive of making it through life without a golden calf to worship, but no honest person can think of living out their days free from coveting.
What makes coveting such a serious sin? First, we covet when we want for ourselves what belongs to someone else. Coveting is more than thinking, “It’d be great to have a nice house,” or “I’d like to have a better job.” Coveting longs for someone else’s stuff to be your stuff. Coveting says, “I want their house. I want his job. If only I could have what they have, then I’d be happy.” One way of looking at things is to see the tenth commandment as the internalization of the eighth commandment. Just as adultery of the heart is lust, and murder of the heart is hatred, so theft is the heart of covetousness. When Achan stole some of the devoted things from Ai, he first “coveted them” and then “took them” (Josh. 7:21). Likewise, James says, “You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:3). Those two sentences stand in parallel. Coveting is desiring something or someone that is not yours to have. Sex may be a good thing. Possessions may have their place.
But they’re both bad when the thoughts are illicit when you want what does not belong to you. Coveting is a violation of the second great commandment. Remember how Jesus summarized the two tables of the law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” (Matt. 22:37–40). Coveting fails to love your neighbor as yourself. When we’re covetous, we think only (or, at least, supremely) of what is good for us: what we would like, what would make us happy, and what could make our lives better, regardless of how others are affected. It’s easy for us to see how selfish children can be. They are happy with their Christmas presents until they see a sibling or friend get something bigger and better. Suddenly their Super Awesome Barbie Action Playhouse isn’t so super awesome anymore. And you know what happens next? You’ll hear those immortal words: “It’s not fair!” This prompts one of the much-beloved mom or dad lectures about starving kids living in a crater on the moon. But as easily as we can see the selfishness of children, we can be blind to our own self-regard. We notice the camper down the street or the new addition with all the righteous indignation of kids on Christmas morning. Coveting is not just saying, “I would like something.” That can be fine. We all have wish lists. Coveting goes further and says, “Why did you get that? I wanted it! I am angry because you are happy, and I’d be happier if we could trade places.” Coveting wants what other people have.
What Our Coveting Reveals
Second, we covet when our desire leads to or is an expression of, discontentment. According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, “The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his.”1 If the first point looked at coveting as a violation of the second table of the law, then the second point stresses how it also violates the first table of the law. When we covet, we don’t believe that God is big enough to help us or good enough to care. Our discontentment is an expression of how much more we think God owes us. There’s a reason that “do not covet” is the last of the ten commandments. It comes at the end because it is such a fitting summary of everything that has come before. It’s impossible to covet and love the Lord your God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. It can seem strange that the Ten Commandments starts with such lofty ideals—“I am the Lord your God. . . . You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:2)—and then ends with a prosaic whimper: “Stop looking at that donkey.” But do you see how the two are connected? God is saying, “I’m the only God you need. Don’t turn to Baal. Don’t turn to statues. And don’t turn to animals or friends or abilities either. Let nothing else capture your gaze and affections ahead of me!”
Coveting is idolatry (Col. 3:5). It says I can’t live without that person, place, or possession. It makes a god out of our desires. The tenth commandment is not an anticlimactic afterthought. “Don’t murder. Don’t commit adultery. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. And try to be happy with what you have.” The command not to covet is actually the practical summation and heart-level culmination of the other nine commandments. Even though we understand from Jesus that the commandments all have an internal dimension, it would be easy to focus on mere external obedience if we didn’t have the tenth commandment. When you look at the first nine commandments, they almost seem possible, at least in a perfunctory sort of way. “Don’t kill people.” I can do that. “Don’t sleep around.” I’m good. “Don’t lie under oath.” Got it. But just when we might be tempted to check off one commandment after another, we land on the tenth commandment and realize that we can’t possibly keep this moral code to perfection. We can conceive of making it through life without a golden calf to worship, but no honest person can think of living out their days free from coveting.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
The “Much More” of Your Salvation
If I asked you what the Lord Jesus has done to save you, almost instinctively you would say, “He died to save me.”
That is the natural answer. Notice carefully, however, what Paul says in Romans 5:10. Through the death of Jesus we indeed “were reconciled to God”; and yet, “much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
It is true that the death of Jesus saves us from the punitive consequence of sin and restores us to a true relationship with God after we were born spiritually dead, alienated from the life of God. Yet the very purpose of that new relationship is to enable us thereafter to “be saved by His life,” and this is the “much more” of our salvation.
Have you been reconciled to God by Christ’s death? I hope you can say, “Yes, I can think back to the day when the Holy Spirit convicted me of the fact that I was a guilty sinner, and convinced me that the precious blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. I remember the day when I deliberately received Him as my personal Redeemer and put my trust in Him.”
If you truly have been reconciled to God, then a perfectly logical question to ask would be, Are you being saved by Christ’s life? The question is important because this is the “much more” of your salvation. If your Christian experience is limited only to being reconciled to God by the death of Christ, yet you are not being saved by the present reality of His Life, then you are obviously missing the “much more” of your salvation. In fact, you are missing the whole purpose for which Christ died. You are cheating Him of that for which His blood was shed.
Reconciled to God by Christ’s death … and saved by His Life—the one is a crisis of the moment; the other is the process of a lifetime and on into eternity. The crisis precipitates the process. The crisis, if it is valid, should be followed by the process.
Reconciled to God by Christ’s death, and being saved by His Life—the crisis involves an initial act of faith that accepts Christ for what He did; the process involves an attitude of faith that continues to enjoy all that Christ is. For He not only died for what you have done; He rose again from the dead to take the place of what you are, which He does by His Holy Spirit indwelling you.
This is the gospel, the whole of it. Anything less than this falls short of the gospel as revealed in the Word of God.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ROMANS 5:10
That is the natural answer. Notice carefully, however, what Paul says in Romans 5:10. Through the death of Jesus we indeed “were reconciled to God”; and yet, “much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
It is true that the death of Jesus saves us from the punitive consequence of sin and restores us to a true relationship with God after we were born spiritually dead, alienated from the life of God. Yet the very purpose of that new relationship is to enable us thereafter to “be saved by His life,” and this is the “much more” of our salvation.
Have you been reconciled to God by Christ’s death? I hope you can say, “Yes, I can think back to the day when the Holy Spirit convicted me of the fact that I was a guilty sinner, and convinced me that the precious blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. I remember the day when I deliberately received Him as my personal Redeemer and put my trust in Him.”
If you truly have been reconciled to God, then a perfectly logical question to ask would be, Are you being saved by Christ’s life? The question is important because this is the “much more” of your salvation. If your Christian experience is limited only to being reconciled to God by the death of Christ, yet you are not being saved by the present reality of His Life, then you are obviously missing the “much more” of your salvation. In fact, you are missing the whole purpose for which Christ died. You are cheating Him of that for which His blood was shed.
Reconciled to God by Christ’s death … and saved by His Life—the one is a crisis of the moment; the other is the process of a lifetime and on into eternity. The crisis precipitates the process. The crisis, if it is valid, should be followed by the process.
Reconciled to God by Christ’s death, and being saved by His Life—the crisis involves an initial act of faith that accepts Christ for what He did; the process involves an attitude of faith that continues to enjoy all that Christ is. For He not only died for what you have done; He rose again from the dead to take the place of what you are, which He does by His Holy Spirit indwelling you.
This is the gospel, the whole of it. Anything less than this falls short of the gospel as revealed in the Word of God.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. ROMANS 5:10
- Major Ian Thomas
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Trees
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.--John 15:1
A certain tree farmer has taken the time to show me all the procedures involved in harvesting almonds. I have decided that the strenuous effort involved in bearing fruit does indeed rest on the shoulders of the gardener, whose job it is to prune, level the land, water, fertilize, mow, and out-and-out baby the trees in the hope that all conditions will be perfect for the trees to accomplish what they do naturally in God’s order, bear fruit!It is interesting to note that when the trees are laden with almonds, a steel arm grasps the trunk of the tree, an umbrella-type contraption is inverted under the tree, and the arm shakes the tree until it provides the gardener with his hard-earned fruit.
God does it all. We need only attain to what believers do naturally as we are tended to, and sometimes God must shake us to get the fruit that is His.
A certain tree farmer has taken the time to show me all the procedures involved in harvesting almonds. I have decided that the strenuous effort involved in bearing fruit does indeed rest on the shoulders of the gardener, whose job it is to prune, level the land, water, fertilize, mow, and out-and-out baby the trees in the hope that all conditions will be perfect for the trees to accomplish what they do naturally in God’s order, bear fruit!It is interesting to note that when the trees are laden with almonds, a steel arm grasps the trunk of the tree, an umbrella-type contraption is inverted under the tree, and the arm shakes the tree until it provides the gardener with his hard-earned fruit.
God does it all. We need only attain to what believers do naturally as we are tended to, and sometimes God must shake us to get the fruit that is His.
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
When Hardship Comes to Stay
It was a surprise visit by an unwelcome visitor like it is for so many sufferers. I didn’t know that day that Mr. Hardship would knock on my door, barge his way in, and take residence in the most intimate rooms of my life. And I didn’t have any idea how his presence would fundamentally change so many things for the long run. I watched him go room to room through my life rearranging everything, wondering what things would be like if and when he finally left. If I could have, I would have evicted this unwanted stranger, but I failed at all my attempts to boot him out the door or deny that he had taken residence in my life. I spent way too much time trying to figure out why he had knocked on my door and why he had chosen this particular moment, but I never got clear answers to my questions.
Once I realized that I couldn’t kick Mr. Hardship out of my life, I gave myself to trying to understand how to live with him or around him. His presence made me feel like an actor in a drama where everyone had a script but me. I felt unprepared and unable, not just the day he first entered, but day after day. Sure, I had known that Mr. Hardship was out there, and I had heard the stories of how he had entered other people’s doors, but somehow I didn’t think it would happen to me. Embarrassment washed over me as I thought of the silly platitudes and empty answers I had casually given people when they’d been caught in the confusing drama I was now in. And I thought about how foolish I’d been to think that this unwanted stranger who, somehow, someway, enters everyone’s door, would for some reason omit mine.
Because I did not have the power or control to make Mr. Hardship leave, I ran to the place where I have always found wisdom, hope, and rest of heart. I ran to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, into the arms of my Savior. As I dove into the narrative of the gospel, which is the core message of God’s Word, I realized something profoundly important and wonderfully comforting: I wasn’t unprepared after all. The message of God’s sovereign control over me and my world, the gospel’s honesty about life in this fallen world, the comfort of the right-here, right-now presence and grace of the Savior, and the insight into the spiritual war that rages in my heart had prepared me well for the entrance and presence of this unwelcome stranger.
I am no longer angry or discouraged that Mr. Hardship entered my door unexpectedly that day. Although I still struggle with the pain and weakness that he has left me with, I know that I am better off because of his presence. No, I don’t like the travail of pain or loss any more than you do, but in my suffering, a miraculous thing happened: Mr. Hardship became a tool of my Savior to produce very good things in me, things that I am sure could not have been produced any other way.
Once I realized that I couldn’t kick Mr. Hardship out of my life, I gave myself to trying to understand how to live with him or around him. His presence made me feel like an actor in a drama where everyone had a script but me. I felt unprepared and unable, not just the day he first entered, but day after day. Sure, I had known that Mr. Hardship was out there, and I had heard the stories of how he had entered other people’s doors, but somehow I didn’t think it would happen to me. Embarrassment washed over me as I thought of the silly platitudes and empty answers I had casually given people when they’d been caught in the confusing drama I was now in. And I thought about how foolish I’d been to think that this unwanted stranger who, somehow, someway, enters everyone’s door, would for some reason omit mine.
Because I did not have the power or control to make Mr. Hardship leave, I ran to the place where I have always found wisdom, hope, and rest of heart. I ran to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in so doing, into the arms of my Savior. As I dove into the narrative of the gospel, which is the core message of God’s Word, I realized something profoundly important and wonderfully comforting: I wasn’t unprepared after all. The message of God’s sovereign control over me and my world, the gospel’s honesty about life in this fallen world, the comfort of the right-here, right-now presence and grace of the Savior, and the insight into the spiritual war that rages in my heart had prepared me well for the entrance and presence of this unwelcome stranger.
I am no longer angry or discouraged that Mr. Hardship entered my door unexpectedly that day. Although I still struggle with the pain and weakness that he has left me with, I know that I am better off because of his presence. No, I don’t like the travail of pain or loss any more than you do, but in my suffering, a miraculous thing happened: Mr. Hardship became a tool of my Savior to produce very good things in me, things that I am sure could not have been produced any other way.
Why Are You So Afraid?
"Don't you care if we perish...?" Mark 4:38
Many of you have read the story of Jesus sending the
boats and His disciples to the other side after a grueling
day of ministry. He lay down in the back of the boat
on a cushion and fell deeply asleep. Suddenly a furious
squall came up with waves pouring into the vessels.
These seasoned fishermen were terrified and resentment
rose within. "What's wrong with Jesus? He is still sleep-
ing and we are about to drown! So, they shake him and
say, "Don't you care...?"
Jesus, does not answer them but stands in that rocking
boat and says something like, "stop" to the wind and
then speaks three words to the waves, "Peace, be still"
He then turns to His disciples--wimps everyone--and
says, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you even yet have
confidence in me?"
Reader, it is so easy to go from great joy and confidence
to descent into fear. Some days it comes with the morn-
ing coffee and the news....
God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power, love and a sound mind!
Many of you have read the story of Jesus sending the
boats and His disciples to the other side after a grueling
day of ministry. He lay down in the back of the boat
on a cushion and fell deeply asleep. Suddenly a furious
squall came up with waves pouring into the vessels.
These seasoned fishermen were terrified and resentment
rose within. "What's wrong with Jesus? He is still sleep-
ing and we are about to drown! So, they shake him and
say, "Don't you care...?"
Jesus, does not answer them but stands in that rocking
boat and says something like, "stop" to the wind and
then speaks three words to the waves, "Peace, be still"
He then turns to His disciples--wimps everyone--and
says, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you even yet have
confidence in me?"
Reader, it is so easy to go from great joy and confidence
to descent into fear. Some days it comes with the morn-
ing coffee and the news....
God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power, love and a sound mind!
Sunday, September 30, 2018
The Holy Spirit
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, {that is} the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me.
- JOHN 15:26
What is the Holy Spirit? It is the Spirit that represents God, who is holy. There are many different types of salesmen in the world, each representing something different. Car salesmen are different from appliance salesmen, because they are representatives for two different products. In the same way, there are many spirits in the world, all representing something different. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus and will not be doing things contrary to what Jesus did. It is unfortunate that so many spirits proclaim a witness to Jesus but actually are like that man who says he is merely doing a survey when he really wants to sell windows. These false spirits are not representing Jesus. There was a Hindu, considered a god, who was just plain weird; he jerked as he talked and walked, and he made no sense. He was god, so he said, but he made god out to be strange. Another Hindu god thirsts for blood. Is this really god? We see many spirits in the Christian world that portray something much different from Jesus but proclaim they are from Jesus. Was Jesus weird, spectacular, entertaining, or exhibiting uncontrolled emotion? Was He educated or consumed with taking up offerings? Did He offer visions, promise wealth, or sing until the miraculous appeared? The Spirit of Jesus will represent Jesus; He will never be something strange and weird.
- Mike Wells
- JOHN 15:26
What is the Holy Spirit? It is the Spirit that represents God, who is holy. There are many different types of salesmen in the world, each representing something different. Car salesmen are different from appliance salesmen, because they are representatives for two different products. In the same way, there are many spirits in the world, all representing something different. The Holy Spirit represents Jesus and will not be doing things contrary to what Jesus did. It is unfortunate that so many spirits proclaim a witness to Jesus but actually are like that man who says he is merely doing a survey when he really wants to sell windows. These false spirits are not representing Jesus. There was a Hindu, considered a god, who was just plain weird; he jerked as he talked and walked, and he made no sense. He was god, so he said, but he made god out to be strange. Another Hindu god thirsts for blood. Is this really god? We see many spirits in the Christian world that portray something much different from Jesus but proclaim they are from Jesus. Was Jesus weird, spectacular, entertaining, or exhibiting uncontrolled emotion? Was He educated or consumed with taking up offerings? Did He offer visions, promise wealth, or sing until the miraculous appeared? The Spirit of Jesus will represent Jesus; He will never be something strange and weird.
- Mike Wells
What Really Is Sin?
Sin includes all the lies that the human race has been telling about God the Creator down through the centuries.
Sin is universal and represents the margin of difference between all that God is (in whose image we were made) and what we are on our own.
Sin is anything that falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), so that God will evaluate sin as any behavior that falls short of what He does, what He says, and what He is.
Sin therefore is exposed simply by relating our behavior to God’s behavior. God is perfect, and by that perfection you and I can recognize sin, because sin is anything which falls short of His perfection.
God Himself is therefore the only standard by which sin is recognizable.
Sin also is defined in the Bible as faithless independence: “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). It is an attitude of “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
In light of this understanding of sin, what then does repentance involve?
Repentance means stepping out of independence back into dependence, and the measure of your repentance will be the measure of your dependence. Every area of your life in which you have not learned to be truly dependent on God is an area of your life in which you have not as yet repented.
Christ died for us so that He, risen and alive, might now come and dwell within us, so that we might no longer be egocentric, self-oriented, living only for our own interests: “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Never be sorry for your self. Just be sorry for your sin!
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
ROMANS 3:23
Sin is universal and represents the margin of difference between all that God is (in whose image we were made) and what we are on our own.
Sin is anything that falls short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23), so that God will evaluate sin as any behavior that falls short of what He does, what He says, and what He is.
Sin therefore is exposed simply by relating our behavior to God’s behavior. God is perfect, and by that perfection you and I can recognize sin, because sin is anything which falls short of His perfection.
God Himself is therefore the only standard by which sin is recognizable.
Sin also is defined in the Bible as faithless independence: “Whatever is not from faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). It is an attitude of “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).
In light of this understanding of sin, what then does repentance involve?
Repentance means stepping out of independence back into dependence, and the measure of your repentance will be the measure of your dependence. Every area of your life in which you have not learned to be truly dependent on God is an area of your life in which you have not as yet repented.
Christ died for us so that He, risen and alive, might now come and dwell within us, so that we might no longer be egocentric, self-oriented, living only for our own interests: “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
Never be sorry for your self. Just be sorry for your sin!
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
ROMANS 3:23
- Major Ian Thomas
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Three Kingdoms
Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax-gatherers and harlots will get into the kingdom of God before you.” --Matthew 21:31
There are three kingdoms to which one can belong, the kingdom of good, the kingdom of evil, and the kingdom of God.The kingdoms of good and evilhave much in common. Both are fortresses with folks inside attempting to get out and others outside attempting to get in. Inhabitants are kept inside through threats, punishment, intimidation, and the fear of death. Wars are mounted and men enlisted to expand both. The comparisons are endless, for they come from the same tree.Interestingly, a good kingdom delivered Europe from an evil kingdom, and when it was all over, Europe became post-Christian. Conversely, think of all the pockets of the Kingdom of God that can be found in countries long ruled by evil kingdoms, where no good kingdom stepped in to deliver the people. Both the kingdom of good and the kingdom of evil are enemies of the Kingdom of God. Good is the enemy of the best, and though moralism is an enemy of Christianity, many persist in seeing Christianity merely as the kingdom of good as they exert effort toward changing the world system to agree with it. We are all suffering fatigue from the world’s presentation of what it portrays as compassion. Pictures are shown of some injustice somewhere in the world from dolphins in tuna nets to stolen aid for the hungry. Unfortunately, such images only stir up those who would never do such things to begin with; they do nothing to change the behavior of the people who participate in the atrocities. It could be concluded that “good” people only point out the behavior of bad people to make themselves look and feel better. “Good” people feel they have done something by throwing words at a problem; they want to project to others an image of doing something valuable to resolve the world’s problems, to raise money for the organization that discovered the bad thing, or to blindly assist in the way they think is right.
Is it not interesting that Jesus, in the midst of the Roman system, said nothing about it? In the midst of slavery, abortion, taxation, the annihilation of cultures, and unjust government, He said nothing. Instead, He emphasized the Kingdom of God. He was not fighting evil with good. In fact, He equally resisted evil and good (Pharaseeism) with the Kingdom of God. We must decide how we will live, and that, in turn, will determine that to which we will respond and make our life's goal. We can live in the evil kingdom and return good with evil. We can live in the good kingdom and make sure evil is punished with evil, or we can live in the Kingdom of God, returning evil with good.
Jesus could see clearly the Invisible Kingdom, and He has given us the capacity to see the same. When we see what He sees, our priorities change. We cannot be bothered by (if it is true) the depleting ozone layer to the extent that it would take us from our mission that has eternal significance. It can be annoying to turn on the television and be told by the unbelieving world what needs to be of utmost significance to us, when their whole outlook revolves around such things as gun control, freedom of speech, freedom from religion, equality, expressions of discrimination, whales, and more. Then there are the methods that are guaranteed to fix all the problems: education, understanding, ribbons, walks, and money. Well, amen. It is said that earth is as close to hell as a believer will ever come and as close to heaven as an unbeliever will ever come. This has caused me to change my attitude and lower my frustration, for this world is all the unbelievers have. If they want to keep it nice, improve it to suit themselves, and throw their lives into working for what is ineffective, they should. I was told of a South American politician who stole one billion dollars. I responded, “Is that all? Since he is going to hell anyway, he really should have taken more!” Jesus is the issue, and everything else is a non-issue, for it will cease to exist on the day that every knee bows.Nothing else will matter. However, we are not to be frustrated with the world when it loves the world; the world loves itself and its own, and that is all the world has, for the world has nothing in Him nor He in it.
- Mike Wells
There are three kingdoms to which one can belong, the kingdom of good, the kingdom of evil, and the kingdom of God.The kingdoms of good and evilhave much in common. Both are fortresses with folks inside attempting to get out and others outside attempting to get in. Inhabitants are kept inside through threats, punishment, intimidation, and the fear of death. Wars are mounted and men enlisted to expand both. The comparisons are endless, for they come from the same tree.Interestingly, a good kingdom delivered Europe from an evil kingdom, and when it was all over, Europe became post-Christian. Conversely, think of all the pockets of the Kingdom of God that can be found in countries long ruled by evil kingdoms, where no good kingdom stepped in to deliver the people. Both the kingdom of good and the kingdom of evil are enemies of the Kingdom of God. Good is the enemy of the best, and though moralism is an enemy of Christianity, many persist in seeing Christianity merely as the kingdom of good as they exert effort toward changing the world system to agree with it. We are all suffering fatigue from the world’s presentation of what it portrays as compassion. Pictures are shown of some injustice somewhere in the world from dolphins in tuna nets to stolen aid for the hungry. Unfortunately, such images only stir up those who would never do such things to begin with; they do nothing to change the behavior of the people who participate in the atrocities. It could be concluded that “good” people only point out the behavior of bad people to make themselves look and feel better. “Good” people feel they have done something by throwing words at a problem; they want to project to others an image of doing something valuable to resolve the world’s problems, to raise money for the organization that discovered the bad thing, or to blindly assist in the way they think is right.
Is it not interesting that Jesus, in the midst of the Roman system, said nothing about it? In the midst of slavery, abortion, taxation, the annihilation of cultures, and unjust government, He said nothing. Instead, He emphasized the Kingdom of God. He was not fighting evil with good. In fact, He equally resisted evil and good (Pharaseeism) with the Kingdom of God. We must decide how we will live, and that, in turn, will determine that to which we will respond and make our life's goal. We can live in the evil kingdom and return good with evil. We can live in the good kingdom and make sure evil is punished with evil, or we can live in the Kingdom of God, returning evil with good.
Jesus could see clearly the Invisible Kingdom, and He has given us the capacity to see the same. When we see what He sees, our priorities change. We cannot be bothered by (if it is true) the depleting ozone layer to the extent that it would take us from our mission that has eternal significance. It can be annoying to turn on the television and be told by the unbelieving world what needs to be of utmost significance to us, when their whole outlook revolves around such things as gun control, freedom of speech, freedom from religion, equality, expressions of discrimination, whales, and more. Then there are the methods that are guaranteed to fix all the problems: education, understanding, ribbons, walks, and money. Well, amen. It is said that earth is as close to hell as a believer will ever come and as close to heaven as an unbeliever will ever come. This has caused me to change my attitude and lower my frustration, for this world is all the unbelievers have. If they want to keep it nice, improve it to suit themselves, and throw their lives into working for what is ineffective, they should. I was told of a South American politician who stole one billion dollars. I responded, “Is that all? Since he is going to hell anyway, he really should have taken more!” Jesus is the issue, and everything else is a non-issue, for it will cease to exist on the day that every knee bows.Nothing else will matter. However, we are not to be frustrated with the world when it loves the world; the world loves itself and its own, and that is all the world has, for the world has nothing in Him nor He in it.
- Mike Wells
Fulness of Joy
You will show me the the path of life;
In Your presence is fulness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures
Forevermore. Psalm 16:11
In His presence is fulness of joy, and fulness of joy
is nowhere else. Just as the simple presence of the
mother makes the child's joy, so does the simple
fact of God's presence make our joy. The mother
may not make a single promise to the child or ex-
plain any of her plans or purposes, but she is, and
that is enough for the child. The child rejoices in
the mother herself, not in her promises. And to the
child there is behind all that changes and can change,
the one unchangeable joy of the mother's existence.
While the mother lives, the child will be cared for,
and the child instinctively, if not intelligently, re-
joices in knowing this.
And to the children of God as well there is behind all
that changes and can change, the once unchangeable
joy that God is. And while He is, His children will
be cared for, and they ought to know it and rejoice in
it as instinctively and far more intelligently than the
child of human parents. What can God do, being what
He is? Neglect, indifference, forgetfulness, ignorance
are all impossible to Him. He knows everything. He
cares about everything. He can manage everything.
AND, He loves us!
- Hannah Whitall Smith
In Your presence is fulness of joy;
At your right hand are pleasures
Forevermore. Psalm 16:11
In His presence is fulness of joy, and fulness of joy
is nowhere else. Just as the simple presence of the
mother makes the child's joy, so does the simple
fact of God's presence make our joy. The mother
may not make a single promise to the child or ex-
plain any of her plans or purposes, but she is, and
that is enough for the child. The child rejoices in
the mother herself, not in her promises. And to the
child there is behind all that changes and can change,
the one unchangeable joy of the mother's existence.
While the mother lives, the child will be cared for,
and the child instinctively, if not intelligently, re-
joices in knowing this.
And to the children of God as well there is behind all
that changes and can change, the once unchangeable
joy that God is. And while He is, His children will
be cared for, and they ought to know it and rejoice in
it as instinctively and far more intelligently than the
child of human parents. What can God do, being what
He is? Neglect, indifference, forgetfulness, ignorance
are all impossible to Him. He knows everything. He
cares about everything. He can manage everything.
AND, He loves us!
- Hannah Whitall Smith
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Major Ian Thomas Quotes
"The One who calls you to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature is the One who by your consent, goes into all the world and preaches the Gospel to every creature through you!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"The moment you come to realize that only God can make a man godly, you are left with no option but to find God, and to know God, and to let God be God in and through you."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Jesus Christ Himself is the final exegesis of all truth. He is all that we need to know about God, and He is all that we need to know about man."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Christian living is not a method or technique; it is an entirely different, revolutionary principle of life."
- Major Ian Thomas
"The measure of a man's worth is the measure in which he no longer lives "to and for himself," but "to and for Jesus Christ." No more and no less!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"To live "to and for yourself" is to "walk after the flesh"! To live "to and for Christ" is to "walk after the Spirit"!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"There are few things quite so boring as being religious, but there is nothing quite so exciting as being a Christian!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"There are those who have a life they never live. They have come to Christ and thanked Him only for what He did, but do not live in the power of who He is."
- Major Ian Thomas
"A man could have all the money in all the banks in all the world, and be worth nothing so far as God is concerned, if he were still living "to and for himself"!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"The moment you are redeemed through the atoning death of Christ upon the cross, you receive the Holy Spirit within your human spirit."
- Major Ian Thomas
"There is something, which makes Christianity more than a religion, more than an ethic, and more than the idle dream of the sentimental idealist. It is this something, which makes it relevant to each one of us right now as a contemporary experience."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Christ in you, on the grounds of redemption this is the Gospel! To preach anything less than this must inevitably produce "Evan-jellyfish" folk with no spiritual vertebrae, whose faith does not "behave!""
- Major Ian Thomas
"The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by our consent lives that life of righteousness through you!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"Man was so engineered by God that the presence of the Creator within the creature is indispensable to His humanity."
- Major Ian Thomas
- Major Ian Thomas
"The moment you come to realize that only God can make a man godly, you are left with no option but to find God, and to know God, and to let God be God in and through you."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Jesus Christ Himself is the final exegesis of all truth. He is all that we need to know about God, and He is all that we need to know about man."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Christian living is not a method or technique; it is an entirely different, revolutionary principle of life."
- Major Ian Thomas
"The measure of a man's worth is the measure in which he no longer lives "to and for himself," but "to and for Jesus Christ." No more and no less!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"To live "to and for yourself" is to "walk after the flesh"! To live "to and for Christ" is to "walk after the Spirit"!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"There are few things quite so boring as being religious, but there is nothing quite so exciting as being a Christian!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"There are those who have a life they never live. They have come to Christ and thanked Him only for what He did, but do not live in the power of who He is."
- Major Ian Thomas
"A man could have all the money in all the banks in all the world, and be worth nothing so far as God is concerned, if he were still living "to and for himself"!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"The moment you are redeemed through the atoning death of Christ upon the cross, you receive the Holy Spirit within your human spirit."
- Major Ian Thomas
"There is something, which makes Christianity more than a religion, more than an ethic, and more than the idle dream of the sentimental idealist. It is this something, which makes it relevant to each one of us right now as a contemporary experience."
- Major Ian Thomas
"Christ in you, on the grounds of redemption this is the Gospel! To preach anything less than this must inevitably produce "Evan-jellyfish" folk with no spiritual vertebrae, whose faith does not "behave!""
- Major Ian Thomas
"The One who calls you to a life of righteousness is the One who by our consent lives that life of righteousness through you!"
- Major Ian Thomas
"Man was so engineered by God that the presence of the Creator within the creature is indispensable to His humanity."
- Major Ian Thomas
The World
When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.--John 16:13
I was asked, “If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanists eat?” Humanism, which through such vehicles as the U.N. and EU (European Union) has taken hold of so many developing countries, is an attempt to wrestle moral authority away from the Church.It is nonsense on several levels. First of all, humanists present their objecting messages to people who would not act a certain way anyway. They show pictures of dolphins swimming in industrial waste, which enrages the people who would not be irresponsible with the waste anyway and leaves those who are fouling the water unaffected. Such activities throw words at a problem and accomplish nothing. Second, humanists define a problem that does not exist, set out to fix it, and by so doing create a real problem that is greater than the imaginary one. Third, there is no basis for certain moral statements made. Humanism has a moral foundation vaguely familiar to what is seen in Christianity, and yet it denies Christ and His power. Fourth, it is filled with compromise. One compromises to someone who is already compromised. It is compromise compromised, so loose in the end that it is ridiculous. Yet the humanists push away through the U.N. and other groups in nearly every developing country in which I work to spread their merely man-centered wisdom of the world. If Christ had not opened my eyes, I would probably be on the front row listening; I do not have any illusions about finding substance in my own flesh. One persecuted Christian was telling me about other believers who had compromised with the cruel government. I said, "That would be me!" He said, "You would not!" I said, "I would. There is nothing good in my flesh. I own it and now look to the Lord to keep me.
I was asked, “If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanists eat?” Humanism, which through such vehicles as the U.N. and EU (European Union) has taken hold of so many developing countries, is an attempt to wrestle moral authority away from the Church.It is nonsense on several levels. First of all, humanists present their objecting messages to people who would not act a certain way anyway. They show pictures of dolphins swimming in industrial waste, which enrages the people who would not be irresponsible with the waste anyway and leaves those who are fouling the water unaffected. Such activities throw words at a problem and accomplish nothing. Second, humanists define a problem that does not exist, set out to fix it, and by so doing create a real problem that is greater than the imaginary one. Third, there is no basis for certain moral statements made. Humanism has a moral foundation vaguely familiar to what is seen in Christianity, and yet it denies Christ and His power. Fourth, it is filled with compromise. One compromises to someone who is already compromised. It is compromise compromised, so loose in the end that it is ridiculous. Yet the humanists push away through the U.N. and other groups in nearly every developing country in which I work to spread their merely man-centered wisdom of the world. If Christ had not opened my eyes, I would probably be on the front row listening; I do not have any illusions about finding substance in my own flesh. One persecuted Christian was telling me about other believers who had compromised with the cruel government. I said, "That would be me!" He said, "You would not!" I said, "I would. There is nothing good in my flesh. I own it and now look to the Lord to keep me.
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