Overcomer or Under the Circumstances

 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. (1 John 5:4)  This reality flows from Jesus Christ, who through His death and resurrection, has overcome the world, sin, sickness, and all the works of the devil.  Romans 8:37 confirms this truth, "Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."  God's eternal plan includes for us "to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren" (Romans 8:29) and that we would be a light in this world as we "walk just as He walked" (1 John 2:6)  Just as Jesus overcame, through that victorious resurrection, power and authority has been released for us to also be conquerors that overcome the world.

Man does not realize how far he has fallen.  There is a reason Paul cried out, who is going to save me from this wretched man that I am? Obviously, the next verse (Romans 7:25) recognizes the answer is Jesus.  However, there is a problem.  Man thinks he is okay and can make it on his own strength, his own wisdom, his own ways.  Since all creation also fell according to Romans 8:21, into the bondage of corruption, and combined with the self-centered philosophy of the world, the result is man will have problems and trials.  Man's ways and flesh lead to death.  God has to bring man (us) to the place where we turn from man's ways to receiving help from Him.  We need Jesus to save us, change us, and show us how to live. 

There is an example in nature of a mother pigeon with her young ones which may give insight.  Pigeons make their nest on a perch usually high above the ground.  When mother pigeon thinks that her young ones can and should learn to fly, she lures them to the edge and pushes them off!  As they begin to fall the young bird quickly flaps his wings and starts to fly,  The mother dives behind them catching them (in case they fail) before they reach the ground.  What lesson is in the way this developmental step of growth happens?  We only "fly" when we have to!

Fight the good fight of faith.  The Word makes it clear that we will have battles and that we use faith to overcome them.  Psalm 34:19 points out "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."  On the other hand, do you remember God's warning to Laodicea when they were complacent in their faith and didn't need anything, instead of seeing they were "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."  The good news is, which may not seem like good news to our flesh, that trials and problems are God-designed to wake us up and cause us to seek His help.  Even Jesus went through trials as "the Spirit led him into the wilderness."  Why does James 1:2 say "to count it all joy when you fall into various trials"?  The answer given in the following two verses is that you "may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."  

God knows man's frame and remembers we are dust (Psalm 103:14).  In other words, he knows exactly what we are and what works to get us to where we need to go.  We are "predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29) and He has always planned "that we should be holy and blameless before Him." (Ephesians 1:4)  It is clear that only God can cause and maintain that sharing of divine nature.  Therefore, God needs to bring us to the point where we see our need and choose to depend upon Him.  As we grow through His revelation and have faith in His promises, God allows us to partake of His nature until He becomes "all in all."  God is the master Father, who encourages, nurtures, and yes, even disciplines us, to become what He intended us to be.  God is at work in us "to will and to work" for His pleasure.  Praise God forever. 

Therefore, be of good courage. In every situation, God will make all things work for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Through the victorious life of the Lord Jesus, you are always led in triumph and by faith, overcome.  Give thanks and be patient, the Spirit will manifest that overcoming power of Jesus' resurrection in and through you.

Cancel the Debt

Forgive us our debts (or trespasses) as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

Do you remember the guy in Matthew 18 that was forgiven the two million dollar debt by the master but wouldn't forgive the $20 his fellow servant owed him?  Sounds fair enough that if he was forgiven so much, he should be more than willing to forgive so little. 

However, that is not the way the Lord's prayer reads.  It says that we establish the amount.  The way and amount we forgive is the way and amount we enable God to forgive us!  In other words, if you want to be forgiven completely, then you must forgive others completely.  

Lack of forgiveness only destroys you, not the person you are resenting.  There is a story about a man who was walking on the beach when a gull flew overhead and landed a dropping of his waste right on the man's forehead.  The man shook his fist at the fleeting bird and screamed, "You come back here and clean this up!"  I'm not cleaning this up.  So he went to work the next day with the bird dropping still on his head.  People started wondering about him.  He began to smell so they avoided him.  The point is that bitterness and unforgiveness is like a bird dropping on your head, it destroys you, and begins to negatively impact those around you.  Almost always the person responsible for the hurt is not going to come back and make it right.  He may not even be anywhere around or may not even realize the pain he caused.  Don't let others' actions destroy you! Forgiveness sets you free.

Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.  You choose to forgive, to cancel the debt, to "let it go" as the song in Frozen goes.  Your feelings may still be agitated, but as you speak to yourself, "No, I forgive and cancel the debt. That person owes me nothing" the feelings lose their force and can begin to settle down.  You may be tempted to rehearse the offence and stir your emotions up again.  Don't.  Take every thought captive to obey Christ.  You have the power to take control of your thoughts and feelings.  Notice how David in Psalm 103 speaks to his soul (thoughts, emotions, will) when he says, "Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."  You likewise can tell your soul (your thoughts, feelings, and will) that you have released that person and canceled the debt.  It is finished.  Death and life is set before you, choose life.  Do you see the sowing and reaping principle underlying God's ways?  Give and it will be given.  Forgive and you will be forgiven.  As you make this gracious decision and refuse to allow bitterness to ensnare you, you allow God's Spirit to heal you of the hurt and set you free. 

Jesus died for that sin and hurt which someone has afflicted on you.  He has paid everything for it.  God is clear in His command.  Forgive.  Even if it costs you your life.  It did cost Jesus His, and He forgave.  Romans 5 reminds us that the love and forgiveness of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Perfect love casts out all fear, and all negative strongholds.  It is the same perfect love which Jesus displayed on the cross.  As you choose to let this love enable you to forgive, God gives more grace to cancel the debt, and His peace fills your mind and heart in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6).  He became sin that you might become the righteousness of God.  Forgive and receive His gift of being whole and free forever.  Thank you, Jesus, it is finished.  

Trusting and Thanking God for His Daily Bread

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32)  God is a giver.  God so loved the world that He gave...  It pleases the Father to give you the kingdom.  In Jesus' teaching about us giving our son a fish instead of a serpent, the obvious comparison is how much more will the Father give good things to those who ask Him.  

Give us our daily bread.  Two simple reflections; 1) Since God's nature is to give, it is not difficult to trust Him and give thanks for caring about your needs.  2) Daily bread refers to all that you may need today, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  In the incident where Jesus met the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15) who wanted healing for her daughter, Jesus calls healing the children's bread.  Just like the manna in the wilderness, it is the "what is it" that you need for today. 

Jesus taught us to ask, to seek, and to knock, with the assurance that your Father will cause you to receive, find, and have the door opened to you.  God waits to be gracious to you, but He won't override your free will.  He wants us to come to Him and ask.  He desires us to talk to Him about what is on our hearts and what we need.  God's purpose is always to deepen our relationship with Him until He becomes all in all.  In Philippians 4:6  the Word teaches us "in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known to God."  The point is we can already give thanks as we ask because we know God wants to give. 

Our Father is a good father who longs to meet our needs according to His riches in glory.  Come to Him each day trusting and thanking Him for your "daily bread."

Come, Thy Kingdom!

 The torch has been handed to you.  "I have given you authority" (Luke 11:19)  God established His kingdom with the designation that you have His authority to declare with your mouth "life and death" (Proverbs 18:21), and tells you to "Choose life" (Deut. 30:19).  Both the phrase They kingdom come and Thy will be done are actually imperatives, translated in common English to read "Come, Thy kingdom" and "Be done,Thy will."  These are declarations that we as believers are instructed to make so God's power can be released on the earth.  God confirms His Word that we speak. (Mark 16:20)

Jesus declared repeatedly in His ministry that the kingdom of God "is here" and "has come."  It refers to God establishing a whole new order of life where Jesus is Lord and all things are transformed to submit to His love and rule.  When Jesus declared, "It is Finished," Satan was defeated and all the consequences of sin were totally paid for.  However, Hebrews 2:8-9 reminds us that even though everything is now in subjection to Jesus and under His feet, we don't see this complete victory manifested yet.  God calls on us to agree with His Word, to cry out "Come, Lord Jesus!", and to "hasten the day of His coming" by our declaring this simple request, Come, Thy Kingdom!  Revelation reveals the day is coming when the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdoms of our Lord, on earth as it is in heaven.  Every enemy of love will be removed.  Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Amen, let it be so.

Jesus also told us that the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)  Paul describes the kingdom in Romans 14:17 as "righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit," and in 1 Corinthians 4:20 as "not in word but in power."  Those who receive Jesus Christ, and believe in His name, have been given power  to become the sons of God (John 1:12).  Through salvation we have been made temples of the Holy Spirit and so the very presence of God dwells in us.  We speak and release the power of God to be "king" in us, that His righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit would dominate our lives.

We also call forth that His will be done.  We purpose to obey His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  By praying this phrase, we align our will with His will, and "pick up our cross daily."  The cross is where His will and our will cross.  We choose and declare to walk in the Spirit of holiness and obedience as we will forever in heaven.  

Furthermore, we can extend this prayer petition to others.  May His kingdom (righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit) come upon our spouses and children, on our leaders and pastors, and on those whom the Spirit brings to mind.  It is releasing the power of God to bless and transform those whom we love.  May His will be done in their lives.  3 John 2 encourages us that He desires above all things that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  Obviously, Jesus' kingdom extends to those who accept His saving work and leadership (making Him Lord.)  We become the Lord's ambassadors who cry out for all men to be reconciled to God and choose to do His will. 

Pray that His kingdom come on the earth as it is in heaven, and that men everywhere turn from their selfish fleshly desires to choosing to do His will. 

"Pray in this manner" Jesus

 "Let God be true and every man a liar," states Romans 3:4.  This simple statement has a lot of applications, especially when we try to put human wisdom, which 1 Corinthians calls foolishness, against God's revealed truth.  Today we will apply this principle to instruct us how God tells His people to pray.

In Luke 11, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.  He replied, "Pray in this manner," and then proceeded to give them what we often call the Lord's Prayer.  Rather than just a recognized, formal recitation, there is divine revelation in the infinite heart desires that He longs for those created in His mage to receive and to express.  Two Scriptural truths come to mind. The Father desires us to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23).  And how can two walk together unless they be agreed (Amos 3;3).  Clearly God gave us these requests so we would allow them in our hearts and declare them with our lips. There is great humbleness and strength in opening our hearts to cry out to God the very issues that are on His heart.  

What are these simple petitions?  Let's take time to consider these 7 prayer principles: 1) our relationship with God, 2) acknowledging how great He is through His name(s), 3) calling forth His kingdom to come and His will to be done, 4) trusting Him and thanking Him for our daily provision, 5) setting our hearts to walk in forgiveness in the same way we receive His forgiveness, 6) depending on God's deliverance and standing in authority over the evil one, and 7) finally, declaring His infinite and eternal praise.   "Holy Spirit, we ask You to open up to our hearts and understanding these powerful requests so we can learn to pray as Jesus taught." 

We will consider the first two petitions in this post, and continue this subject in the following. 

 First, "Our Father" suggests we know our relationship with God.  Because through Jesus we are born again into His family, we can come as His loving, grateful children (1 John 3:1) who trust their "Daddy" God.   All prayer starts and works because He is a Father who cares for His children.

Secondly, we acknowledge how great He is through His name, or through the names that God has given through His Word to describe His nature.  A name reveals the reality of what the individual actually is.  For example, several names of God share how He has dealt with sin.  Jehovah tsidkenu, the Lord is righteous, which informs me that with awesome gratitude I may  declare He is my righteousness.  Did He not become sin so I could become the righteousness of God? (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Jehovah M'Kaddesh is the Lord is my sanctifier, so my only honest response is, thank you, Jesus, for sanctifying me, transforming me from fallen nature that deserves death, into a new creation that now is a temple of God and can be Your light to the world.   To be sanctified means to be set apart for a definite higher purpose.  A person might "sanctify" a nest egg savings account so that he could build that special dream house.    

Our second area of names reveal how close and intimate God is and what He always wants us to know.  Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is here.  At this point when I pray, I imagine myself bowing before the very presence of God, totally satisfied and awed by His love and glory.  A testimony of a 23 year old Atlanta man who died and came back to life was that when he was brought before the Lord Jesus, he was totally satisfied, every thought and need was completely met, and he just wanted to be there forever and give all he had to Him.  That is the attitude and awareness I choose in taking a few moments to be still before Him.  This name reminds me that even though my flesh can't see it, He is actually here and through whatever happens I can know the reality of His presence. He is with me.  Likewise in His presence, Jehovah Shalom, He is peace and wholeness.  Philippians 4:7 reminds me that when rather than be anxious, I simply am to pray with thanksgiving and He will keep my mind and heart at peace in Christ Jesus.

The next set of names demonstrate God's concern over the challenges and practical needs of life.  Clearly Jesus has overcome sin, death, and sickness, or in other words, everything that has fallen due to the sin of man.  Jehovah Rapha, the Lord is healer, reveals His taking our sickness and His nature and power to make us whole.  1 Peter 2:24 reminds us that by His stripes we were healed.  Then Jehovah Jireh, the Lord is provider, shows that He sees what we need before we even realize it and has made provision so our needs are met.  Paul reminded the Philippians that their needs were met according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Or 2 Peter 1:3-4 declares that His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness.

Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our victor or banner, allows us to enter into His victory over sin, death, and the devil.  He has not only won through His death and resurrection, but He declares that all those who believe in Jesus also overcome (1 John 5:4).  This is a good place to put on the armor of God: gird your loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, above all take up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, and take up the sword of the Spirit by declaring His Word.   Having put on the armor, it is time to stand.  Take authority over abortion, deception, violence, or whatever the Spirit leads you to exercise your victory and authority over.  God's plan is to crush Satan under your feet (Romans 16:20).  Using the name and authority of Jesus, every knee must bow.  

Finally, Jehovah Rohi, the Lord is my shepherd, gives a beautiful picture of God taking care of us completely and forever.  It summarizes all these names.  My needs are met: I shall not want.  I fear no evil because He is with me. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness.  He sets a table before me, anoints my head with oil (the Holy Spirit), my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me.  I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Hallowed by Thy Name.   Truly, He is love, our hope, our strength, our joy, and desires to be our "all in all."  We praise Him through the specific names that reveal how great He is and allow this truth to renew our mind and to open our heart to love and adore the great I Am.  Be still and know I am God.

 

Life to the Fullest - Teach us the Fear of the Lord

"The reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it rests satisfied." (Prov 19:23 Amp).  Therefore, consider God's invitation in Psalm 34:11-12, "Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.  Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days that he may see good?" Do you see that walking in an attitude of fear of the Lord is designed to give you good, to fill you with abundant life, and cause you to rest satisfied?   Amazingly, this quality is so important to God, that He promises to teach whoever is willing to come to Him.  He has promised more blessings and powerful results from this attitude than any other in Scripture.  

Fear of the Lord is defined in Proverbs 8:13 as "to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way."  This attitude or spiritual quality is the description of Jesus in Hebrews 1:9, who loved righteousness and hated evil for which God honored Jesus by anointing Him "with the oil of gladness more than your companions "  Psalm 19:9 states that the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.  Psalm 34 assures us that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and adds that there is no want to those who fear Him  

Sometimes this term is confused with being afraid, which obviously is a negative result of anticipating evil, but the perfect love of Jesus casts out all fear.  The contrast is found in the words of Amazing Grace, "who taught my heart to fear, and by grace my fears relieved." He is truly an awesome God, all-powerful, infinitely wise and holy, the creator of the universe, so it is no wonder that Psalm 33 declares, "Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him."  We could and probably should be afraid of Him if we did not know His heart.  However, knowing the love of God, who was pleased to have His own Son beaten and brutally slaughtered just to save us, makes us realize He also is awesome in His love which takes away my fear of evil and fills me with peace.  

Learning the fear of the Lord is an awesome realization of the glorious privilege of having the living God dwell inside us.  God Himself has chosen to make His home in us.  So in response to who He is and all He has done, what else can we do but desire and choose to please Him.  Notice the intimacy of this relationship found in Psalm 25, "the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and He will show them His covenant."  God delights in the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:3).   

Each one of us has the most important appointment of our life still coming up.  That is the day when we stand before God and our whole life passes before us.   In Psalm 36, when the Word describes the wicked as "having no fear of God before his eyes" and that he "flatters and deceives himself in his own eyes that his iniquity will not be found out and hated.''  Wrong choices with be not only revealed but hated.  On the other hand, those who walk in fear of the Lord now, will experience the "Well done, good and faithful servant" and rejoice over every time we chose to obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit, love righteousness (and hate evil), and honor God by doing His Word.    

The purpose of this word is to encourage you, put another log on your fire to be holy, and remind you that the Holy Spirit is here to guide you into all truth.  Listen to Him.  May each of us be willing to learn the fear of the Lord and have no regrets when we stand before the living God to receive our eternal reward.  In the name of Jesus, let it be so.