Not Everyone Who Says, "Lord, Lord."

 What does God really want?  A man complained, "I go to church every Sunday.  I don't steal, kill, or commit adultery like others do.  I go to work and earn a decent living for my family.  How much more does God need?"  People everywhere have their own idea of what God is looking for in order to "pass" the test to get into heaven.  The important thing is what does Jesus say.

Jesus said some serious considerations in Matthew 7 about not judging others, about treating others the way you want to be treated, about many entering the wide gate of destruction and few going through the narrow gate that leads to life, about knowing good and bad people by their fruit, and about having a foundation that stands through the storms of life.  It sounds overwhelming.  Who can do this unless God helps him do it?  Yes, that is the point, God is with us and wants to teach us how to find His will and depend upon God's help to do it. 

Let's start with the foundation of the basic truth from which everything else flows.  The starting point is coming to know Him by believing in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead (thus completely paying for all your sin) and in gratitude declaring that Jesus is Lord (ruler, owner, master) of your life. (Romans 10:9)   

However, Jesus declares in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  Calling on Jesus as Lord must be more than lip service, but a commitment to actually do what He says.  Jesus clearly reveals the Father's will in the Word of God.  Secondly, He sent the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us into all truth.  The purpose of helping us know the truth is so that we do it.  In short, obey His Word.  Jesus said those who love Him obey His commands in John 14:15.

We see this same principle in Micah 6:8, which is a strong verse that answers the question, "What is good and what does God require of you?"  He lists three things: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.  All three have to do with the attitude of the heart and obedience.  To do justly is to do what we know is right; to love mercy is to be so grateful for God's mercy toward us that we also show mercy toward others; and to walk humbly is to acknowledge we need Him and to ask Him to lead us and guide us.  He gives grace to the humble.

Clearly God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him through coming to know Jesus and His love.  Secondly, He calls us to surrender our will and thoughts to His way and truth.  We are called to seek Him and His righteousness, then simply obey the instructions and promptings of the Spirit as He reveals what we are to do.  

Those who enter the kingdom of heaven are those who do the will of the Father.   Not only is this promise talking about being in heaven eternally with Him after we die, but also experiencing the kingdom of heaven, "righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit," (Romans 14:17), now.  

This is the time of year when many people make new year's resolutions, even though these rarely meet the test of time.  However, with God's help, namely the Holy Spirit, we can choose to surrender fresh to acknowledge Jesus' lordship and do the next thing He directs.  We can resolve to obey His desires and thus enter into the Kingdom of heaven with righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit in our heart. 

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Choose Joy

Joy is a choice.  Paul, while in a Roman prison and probably knowing that he would lose his life, wrote the letter to the Philippians. That is why it seems so incredulous that he states in Phil 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice."  Peter and John express the same sentiment, even after being beaten for sharing the good news of Jesus, in Acts 5:41, "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name."  There must be an anchor much deeper and stronger than the present circumstances in which the believer's life and joyful well-being depend upon.  

We just celebrated the birth of Jesus.  We sing the words, "glorious morning when Christ was born!"  We not only celebrate His birth, but also enjoy forever the purpose of His coming.  How can we describe an awesome and excellent God who cares so much about each of us?  This message was declared by the angel "I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." Jesus clearly demonstrated this through taking all men's sins to the cross and releasing everlasting life to all who call upon Him.  He explains to His disciples in John 15 the purpose of His life and His work, "that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."   

Have you noticed that children look forward to Christmas often because of the gifts, but the adults, or the mature, can see beyond the gifts to the loved ones who give gifts as tokens of their desire to give of themselves to those who are dear.  Certainly, in the midst of all God's gifts is the overriding truth that He has given Himself to us, and He desires to be our everlasting strength, joy, and life.  His gift of Jesus clearly reveals not only what He has given to us, but more importantly, the person and Life He is. 

Who are we and how can we respond to the fact that He has not only given Himself to us in coming as a child at Bethlehem, but also that this gift shows His heart which is willing to lay down His life for us in order to purchase our eternal joy with Him?   

In the carol O Holy Night, there is a line "and the soul felt its worth."  The fact that the infinite, glorious God would cheerfully lower Himself to be born a frail, helpless man in the most humble of circumstances, to a poor family in a dirty manager and and be known as from corrupt Nazareth (Can anything good come from Nazareth?), clearly reveals His total commitment to love us.  Psalm 8 reminds us "what is man?" with the answer that God has crowned us with glory and honor.  His coming and establishing us as His children with the authority and gift of ruling with Him forever is beyond our finite understanding, but the truth of His coming, His death and resurrection continue to manifest His eternal devotion to our value and place in His heart forever. 

No matter what happens or how evil the world becomes, the eternal truth of who we are in God's eyes and the value demonstrated by His coming, death, and resurrection far surpass any earthly suffering.  In short, all those who receive Him receive His love and nothing can separate us from the joy of reigning with Him forever.  Let us rejoice. 

Glory to God, Our Horn Lifted Up

 Glory to God in the Highest and His peace to you. 

Yes, Christmas is upon us and heaven's declaration endures forever.  In Psalm 148 it declares, "His glory is above earth and heaven, and He has lifted up a horn for His people."  We may understand a little about God's glory, His greatness and showing His awesome heart, but what is a "lifted up horn?"  I had to look it up.    

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The horn is a term for power or strength as well as a symbol of them.  One definition stated that the “horn” is a metaphor for strength, might, fortitude, for horn is rigid, it can harm and repel enemies, like a deer can repel wolves by horns.  Like in Psalm 89:17: “For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn”, that is to say, “You exalt our power over our enemies.  Horns, like the four horns of the altar can also indicate dominion and authority.  So Jesus is our horn of salvation, only by his authority are you forgiven, made whole, and freed from the attacks of the enemy. 

We are blessed beyond measure.  How can anyone shop for Christmas presents for the person who has everything?  Most of us can't think of one thing that we really need, and likewise, some of the people we shop for have everything they need also.  However, shifting beyond us, what can you and I give to the One who made us, gave us everything, owns everything, and abundantly meets every need.  The answer lies in Romans 8 and 2 Corinthians 5:9, setting our minds on the Spirit and seeking to please Him in all we do.  God desires obedient children who live according to the truth.  Remember the verse in 3 John, "I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth."  

We love because we are loved, we forgive because we are forgiven, we are filled so that our cups run over to others.  Therefore, as the Word goes forth this season and our hearts realize how great it is to have the Lord raise our horn and give us His peace and joy, our only honest response is to look for ways to please Him.  That is the way to give glory to God.  

What We Need Every Sunrise - (For Son to Rise in Us)

God knows exactly what we need.  In Psalm 143:8 David speaks out what is needed in each of our hearts, "Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul."   

Many times, we wake up with negative feelings and problems running through our minds.  We don't "feel" blessed and walking in abundant life.  In truth we may feel overwhelmed with the challenges. Psalm 142:6 reminds us of the truth that "the enemy is too strong for me."  Sometimes we forget that we are fighting a spiritual war not a flesh battle.  God's mercy is fresh every morning according to Lamentations 3:23, but the Lord waits for us to take it, to receive it.  

So, there is a need to take a moment to stop before God and "hear" Him declare His fresh lovingkindness to set us free from our natural fallen-nature thoughts and feelings.  To "lift up my soul" simply means to turn our focus and attention on Him, letting His Word and the truth of His love transform our thoughts.  Then the truth of Psalm 23 can happen, "He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul."  We let God's Spirit take over and the Word of God dwell richly in us.  

Psalm 142:7 says it even stronger.  "Bring my soul out of prison, so that I may give thanks to Your name."  We are in prison, captured by our flesh until we let God deliver us to know the truth which sets us free. Then we are available and teachable to accept "the way in which we should walk." 

Paul instructs us to pick up His cross daily, obviously to die to the flesh. The Spirit gives us power to put to death the deeds of the flesh helping us set our minds on the Spirit and His truth.  May the Lord continue to renew our minds every morning with His fresh lovingkindness and teach us how we should walk. 

Let this Christmas season remind you of His glory and greatness of love in becoming a man and doing everything needed to ensure that His peace and joy daily fill our hearts.  Every sunrise it is up to us to let the Son rise in our hearts.  

Advent - Has Come and Is Coming

Come.  Advent, of course, means coming.  We celebrate Jesus coming to earth at Bethlehem, and we celebrate His coming to each one of us the moment we acknowledge Jesus as savior and Lord, but the fulfillment and exciting finale is that we know and prepare for His coming back to make all things right.  

Step by step we see the enemy set up all kinds of lies and barricades to entrench evil in the minds and hearts of people, but glory to God, there is no power on earth or hell that can stop Jesus.  When He declared on the cross, "It is finished," it was.  Then we read in Revelation 21 the unfolding of this completed mission with Jesus coming as King of kings overcoming every attack of the enemy with the words, "It is done."  

There is strength and joy in knowing that no matter what negative things are happening to us or what evil is being promulgated by government or media, Jesus is truly king and will overcome the lie and turn every attack of the enemy which he meant for evil into good.  God is not mocked.  I think that is why God promises a special blessing on those who read or hear the words of Revelation.  He wants us to live with the absolute confidence that nothing can separate us from the love of God, and that His love overcomes all.  He will destroy the evil empire and every stronghold that hinders love.  We already have His kingdom and share His victory in our spirits through faith (choosing to believe) in what the Word declares. The kingdom of God in us (Romans 14:17) is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Jesse DuPlantis shares in his testimony of being taken up to heaven where Jesus told him to go back to earth and tell the people one thing: "I am coming back soon, sooner than you think."  Things will not continue the way they have always been, they are moving toward the climax.  It is clearly a day to forgive and make peace, to look for opportunities to bless and share about Jesus, and to walk in the love and power of the Holy Spirit.  We are the most blessed (Psalm 21:4) people on earth who know Him and His forgiving mercy and love, and now can live by His life and Holy Spirit power in us.  Thank you, Jesus.  The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"

 

How Blessed

We have the most to give thanks for, having been drawn by the Spirit to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ forever.  Everything else pales in comparison.  Romans 8:32 likewise puts this in perspective, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things."  So my conclusion is simple, thank God for all the good things that He has blessed you with, family, food, clothing, shelter, health, friends, vehicles, resources, etc., but let all His gifts be the icing on the cake, Jesus and your eternal life being the heart of the matter. 

Psalm 119 starts out with "How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord" and continues to speak of all the good things the Word of God does for us.  It is really hard to read this psalm without appreciating how blessed we are who know Jesus and live by the Word.  In almost every line, the Holy Spirit enlightens, encourages, and reminds us with the overwhelming promises of what the Word of God provides.  Clearly it is both a celebration and a prayer for the believer to receive with awe and thanksgiving the promises of the Word.    

On the opposite side of the coin, in Revelation 20:4 we see that only those who have a commitment to Jesus Christ and His Word are able to resist the Antichrist.  2 Thessalonians 2:10 also points out that only those who "receive the love of the truth" will not fall for the power and signs and false wonders of the Satan during the coming of the lawless one, the antichrist.  

Therefore, my prayer this morning is for you and me to ask the Holy Spirit for a fresh and abiding love for the truth of God's Word and the staying power to never let go of it.  Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4) in our thoughts, feelings, and choices forever!

Your Legacy

Does your life as a godly person make a difference in the lives of others?

That question is answered in Psalm 112 when it reveals powerful blessings for the one who "fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.  His descendants will be mighty on the earth."  Reminds me of the statement of John, in 3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.

Have you heard about the legacy of Jonathan Edwards compared to Max Jukes?  

Jonathan Edwards’ legacy includes: 1 U.S. Vice-President, 1 Dean of a law school, 1 dean of a medical school, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 60 doctors, 65 professors, 75 Military officers, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers, 100 clergymen, and 285 college graduates.

On the other hand, Max Jukes, who lived in New York at about the same time period as Edwards, was in the New York prison system after a life of drunkenness and crime.   Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 190 prostitutes, 150 other convicts, 310 paupers, and 440 who were physically wrecked by addiction to alcohol. Of the 1,200 descendants that were studied, 300 died prematurely.

Sometimes we have no idea of the lives we affect by choosing to love God and walk in righteousness.  Clearly Psalm 112 goes on about the blessings of living for the Lord.  His life is described as gracious, merciful, righteous and generous.  He will not fear evil tidings.  His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.  His heart is upheld, he will not fear.  His horn (symbol of power, help, glory, and victory) will be exalted in honor.  However, the greatest joy is the legacy of those we love being conformed to the same godly direction we have chosen and exemplified.  Praise God forever!

You are a light and make a difference even when you don't realize it and in situations beyond your immediate circumstances.  As God says, choose life and see the blessings continue for generations to come.  

Strength in Knowing God is Here

 Sometimes the accuser of the brethren tries to convince us that we are not overcomers and that we fall short of pleasing God.  However, God's Word tears down that lie and builds the unshakeable foundation that we are His beloved, His treasure and joy.  Ephesians 1:18 even goes so far as to reveal that we are "the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."  You are worth dying for, and even stronger, you are the "joy set before Him" that made Jesus willingly lay His life down.  He delights in you.  Can you just be still and know that love?

In the midst of barely getting things done with grades for parent teacher conferences, preparing certificates for the quarterly awards night, and keeping up with teaching, tests, and grading, God showed up.  He sent a prophet to speak a word of encouragement that God was pleased with us and had more blessings coming. Then out of the blue, someone shared that the Holy Spirit told them to send us a significant amount check.  My heart is full and I don't even know how to thank Him or to realize completely how exactly the Lord knows where we are and what we need, but there is a new fire of strength burning in me to press on.  So my word to you is that God is faithful, and He clearly knows and is working in your behalf.  Faith and patience (endurance) inherit the promises.

Maybe the familiar verses from Psalm 103 is a good reminder of all God has done.  "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. "  

Wherever you are and whatever your battle, stop.  Let Him help you realize the Lord is there.  Your strength will be renewed like the eagles and your fullness of joy will be restored in His presence.    

Don't Drink Dirty Milk

God promises His mercy is new this morning, and that surely His goodness and mercy shall follow each of us today!  How do we receive this great love and walk in what we have been given?

Every year, for the past 30 years, we do a school chapel toward the end of October entitled, "Don't drink dirty milk."  The whole point is to help the students discern the difference between the things of God and the things of the devil.  Clearly the spiritual battle intensifies during this season when death, fear, skeletons, witches, creepy and scary things are on display in many places.  The world acts like it is nothing to glorify the powers and traits of darkness.  

There was a father who was asked by his children if they could go to a popular R rated movie because many of the other kids at school had gone and "everybody" was talking about how good the story was.  The children claimed it only had a couple of "bad" parts in it.  So the father answered by making some of their favorite brownies.  He then added an unusual ingredient, a little dog poop.  When the brownies were ready, he invited the children to enjoy one.  "It only has a little dog poop in it."  As you can imagine, the point was well made and they declined the treat.  

In Hebrews 1 it states that because Jesus loved righteousness and hated lawlessness, God anointed Him with the oil of gladness more than any of His companions.  Many places in Scripture we are instructed to love good and hate evil.  Jesus says if you love Me, you will obey My Word.  Then, in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and following, the Word points out the total disparity between light and darkness, good and evil, Christ and Belial, the temple of God (which we are) and idols.  He declares that if we separate ourselves from evil, and touch nothing unclean, He will be a Father to us and treat us as His sons and daughters.  In short, He is so pleased that we choose Him over the temptations of the world, that He will allow us to experience His fatherly love.

God gives His mercy to start new each day and His goodness to keep us filled with His presence.  Don't let the spirit of Esau, who compromised His godly position and inheritance just to satisfy his appetites, cause you to settle for less than the abundant life you enjoy in the Lord.  Don't drink dirty milk.  

Greatest Time on Earth

Christians from 47 states got together at the Communion Colorado gathering yesterday in Colorado Springs, which was set up by Lou Engle and a host of Christian leaders.  The goal was to reconcile the church and to take authority over the powers of darkness through our unity and Scriptural declarations.  It was awesome, inspiring, and most importantly, exactly right.  God gave the church, the Ekklesia, the right to rule the earth.  Jesus declared I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  Likewise, Psalm 8 and Hebrews 2 point out that God created man "a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and have set him over the works of Your hands.  You have put all things in subjection under his feet."  Admittedly Adam and Eve lost this authority to the serpent, but Jesus defeated the devil and has restored this "all authority has been given to me" for the body of Christ to execute on the earth.  

Therefore, we are coming into the greatest period on earth, when we see the church use our weapons which have divine power (2 Corinthians 10:4) to tear down strongholds and everything that opposes the knowledge of Christ.  Two of those weapons are prayer and the blood of Christ.  

Revelation 5 speaks of the bowls of incense, the prayers of the saints, being full before Jesus opens the seals of His perfect plan to establish "His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven" and destroy everything that hinders love.  In 1980 there were only a small handful of 24-hour prayer centers, but by 2018, there were over 20,000.  God is stirring up the body of Christ to pray.  Every time we pray the prayer Jesus gave us, the Lord's prayer, we cry out for this restoration to happen. Thy kingdom, come!  In the words of my English teacher, that is an imperative sentence and a direct command calling God into action.   

Secondly, the blood of Christ was shed to reconcile all men to God and each other.  Jesus made a strong statement in John 17:21, "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."  There is something so powerful about being one that causes unbelievers to acknowledge God's Son and plan.  God also shows His pleasure when brothers are in unity, stating in Psalm 133:3 that there He has commanded the blessing.  At the table of the Lord, the bread and the cup, celebrate the power of His body broken to make us one, and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sin.  As we apply the blood of Jesus and are reconciled to God and every man, we not only have effective prayers, but also we defeat the power and attacks of the evil one who has deceived the whole world.  What an awesome time when Revelation 12:10 and11 is fulfilled, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." 

We can't accomplish this victory by ourselves, and God won't do it without us.  It is His grace to include us in this partnership. Therefore, He is waiting for us to agree with the finished work of the blood of the Lamb and to unashamedly declare His triumph in the face of every attack and lie of the enemy.  

May the Lord set our hearts (your heart) on fire with the fresh anointing of the Spirit to allow the blood of the Lamb to cleanse and reconcile you with Him and with every person who comes to mind.  Then rather than just try to survive the attacks of the world, we stand together in prayerful unity to fight the good fight until we see the glory of God revealed in triumph on the earth. What a privilege to be a part of what the Lord is doing in this greatest time on earth.  God who calls you is faithful and also will do it!

Possess Your Possessions

  We are the most blessed forever according to Psalm 21:4. The Lord Jesus Christ has made us whole, given us His faith, His righteousness, His wisdom, allowed the Holy Spirit to release the same power that raised Him from the dead in our bodies, and has given us the mind of Christ.  He promises to always be with us and to never leave or forsake us.  We are overcomers, always led in triumph, and have the assurance that no weapon formed against us shall proper.  We can walk "just as He walked" 1 John 2:6.   All the promises of God are yea and amen.  No wonder the Lord asks "What more could have been done for My vineyard?"  

 This same victorious revelation is given in Psalm 65:4. "How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts.  We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple."  Jesus states the fact that He chose you and appointed you to bear fruit.  He who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.  Twice in 1 Timothy 6, Paul tells his spiritual son, Timothy, to take hold of eternal life.  Later in 2 Timothy 1:14, he instructs him to "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure that has been entrusted to you.

 The point is that we are blessed beyond our natural ability to know and understand.  Yet God has sent the Holy Spirit to reveal His mind and lead us into all truth.  Just as the children of Israel were brought into the promised land, it was up to them to use God's power and anointing to defeat the enemies and possess the land, so we have been given this eternal inheritance won by Jesus Christ on the cross and through His resurrection.  He then tells us to use the authority and power in His name to make known His Gospel to every creature on the earth and to be His light in the darkness of this world.  

 As a man thinks in his heart so is he.  Obviously, if we don't take time and focus on what the Lord has done and given us, we will be deceived into thinking we are not good enough, not overcoming, and will still fail.  The battle is in our mind.  The good news is we have weapons with divine power to take every thought captive and overthrow everything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God.  My admonition this morning is to ask the Holy Spirit, our helper and counselor, to teach us how to use prayer, the Word, and the authority given in the name of Jesus to keep our mind and heart filled with the truth and peace of Christ.  

 God has given us (you) all that you need "for life and godliness" and through His Word provided the great and precious promises to escape the lusts of the flesh and partake of divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).  God made it possible for you to be a mighty warrior equipped for every good work, and promises to be with you to help you bear eternal fruit.  Choose to hear and receive the promises that the Spirit is saying to His people (to you!).  Let him who has ears to hear, hear.  As you read carefully and continue to think and reflect about the Word, as you "let the Word dwell in you richly," you will realize what the Lord has given you.  Deliberately let that awesome truth and goodness fill your mind and heart so you can possess or have what is actually yours. Possess your possessions.   

 

He Provides, We Choose

Hear this admonishment from 2 Thessalonians 3:5, "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ."  God has provided and demonstrated His infinite love for us, and then even directs our hearts to receive and cherish His affection, but we still have the free will to choose.  We can accept it or reject it.  By accepting His infinite love, the power is released to transform us by overcoming all our other thoughts and fears.  

The second part of that challenge, "the patience of Christ," reminds us how He faithfully waits for us to come to the end of ourselves and turn to Him.  Jesus explained this truth as the father in the prodigal son parable who waited and watched for the wayward son to return. Love is patient.  When the love of God controls us, we have that power to sow our words and actions and to wait for the precious fruit to grow.  Do not be weary in well doing for in due time we shall surely reap. 

God has ways of reminding us that He loves us just for who we are and is pleased with every little thing we do to share His love with others.  Last night we had the opportunity to join several hundred people celebrate God's work of bringing the Gospel to over 200 million people through Every Home Crusade.  Most of us weren't on the front lines, just merely small supporters of the ministry.  Yet God's presence assured us that each one was a part of what He is doing to reach the world and let "every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."  Sometimes we forget that in spite of our daily troubles and human weaknesses, God still uses us to accomplish His purposes. 

My word today for you is to take a moment just to stop and let His love and presence fill your heart.  Then patiently choose to do the things and meet the needs He allows you to see.  Even the proverbial "glass of water to a small child" shall have eternal rewards.  As Psalm 58 concludes, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is God who judges in the earth."

We pray that you don't lose heart in your present struggles but continue to pray and do what is in your power to share this all-important Gospel of Jesus' love for every person on earth.  God has provided His love, we choose to receive it and let it control us.  May God plant this fervent desire to spread the love and truth of Jesus into the hearts of each one of us and give us opportunity to speak and to be His light in the darkness.   

Enough

Can you imagine God greeting you, "O mighty man of valor," when you, like Gideon, are cowardly hiding from the enemy and troubled by what is going on in the world?  Does it sound too good to be true, that God sees you as an overcoming, mighty one who is always led in triumph and who crushes the evil one under your feet?  Yet, what He has done is enough to make you more than you could think or imagine.  Let God be true and every man a liar, according to the words of Romans 3:4.  

In Psalm 50 God closes with the words, "to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God."  Salvation is the noun describing being saved or delivered from.  When Jesus healed or touched someone, He would say "be made whole."  To be whole is to be completely delivered or saved from sin and all the effects of sin.  However, until God is able to transform our thinking and heart to know our "we are made whole" salvation, we continue to limp between two different opinions. On one hand we are filled with faith that the "Christ is in you" life of God is overcoming all circumstances, and on the other hand, that we are just weak human beings who fail often.  Our verse in Psalm 50 affirms that as we choose to obey God, He begins to show us His salvation, how He has made us whole and overcomers and how totally we are free from the old fallen-nature ways.   Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would lead us and guide us into all truth.  As we let the Word dwell in us richly, the Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit until we "know" what Jesus has given us and are able to walk in it.  In the first letter of John, there are something like 23 "by this we know" statements.  The ultimate definition of eternal life given by Jesus in John 17 is "that they may know the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent."   God wants us to know we are whole in Him and has made provision for us to come to that conviction that it is already accomplished.  

Jesus declares He is the first of many brethren, who share His life and nature.  It seems almost unbelievable and too much to grasp that what Jesus has done has literally made us like Him.  We just need to receive it.  Note the words of 1 John 4:17, "as He is, so are we in the world." We are partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4), but the remainder of that section describes how to press in to make it our own, namely to diligently add to your faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, brotherly kindness love; to brotherly kindness love, love.  Therefore, He can conclude the clincher, that if we do these things we will never fail or be unfruitful.  

The point is Jesus has accomplished what the name Jehovah JIreh declares, God is enough. There is a song, Jireh by Maverick City, that states "You are enough, forever enough, always enough, more than enough."  Our hope of glory, Christ in us, establishes that the overcoming power and love of God lives in us and causes us to always be more than enough for every challenge.  Praise God forever for His glorious salvation!

Touch Other Lives

If you want to touch other lives, it will cost you.  

One of my daughters is having a baby this weekend.  They have prayed for this child and are excited and grateful to be at this point after the challenges of the last 9 months.  However, as we all know, having a baby leads to a new cost beyond pregnancy, whether it is losing sleep, changing diapers, feeding the baby and cleaning up messes, and a multitude of other things which take time, effort, and attention.  Yet God has planted in the hearts of parents a great joy and fulfillment in handling every step of this child's development and growth.  Their greatest joy is seeing him/her become the person God has called and knowing they have given this precious one the foundation to live according to the truth for the Lord (3 John 1:4).  Compared to this joy, the cost is of little concern.  

This is a strong example of how God our Father willing paid the price of sending His Son and seeing Him "bruised" (Isaiah 53:10) to give us life.  The price seemed like nothing because of His love for us and our well-being forever.  Transferring this motivation to our laying down self to serve God, Paul in Romans 8:18 shares "...the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us."

There are times and circumstances which affect our thinking and emotions and may even cause us to get weary in doing good.  David, in both Psalm 42 and 43, asks the question, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why are you disquieted within me?" with the following personal instruction, "Hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."  Choosing hope has the power to broaden our attention and help us depend on more than our own thoughts and feelings.  When we set our mind on the "things" of above, we can re-adjust our focus and realize God has given sure promises which go far beyond our present challenges, and we will again praise Him.  However, God also has another reason for us to choose joyful hope over our negative feelings.   

In Colossians 1:24, Paul states that he "rejoices in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church."  We know Jesus declared "It is finished." on the cross and the price for every sin and its consequence was paid in full.  However, there is a cost to be paid if we want to be like-minded to Jesus, willing to lay our life down (Phil 2) to meet the needs of others.  Since God's ultimate goal for each of us is "to be conformed to image of His Son," (Romans 8:29) the needs around us are the sticks on the altar, the opportunity to grow to be like Jesus, as we put others first at the cost of our own life.  God gives us a joy and fulfillment in accomplishing our purpose when we choose to obey Him even at the cost of our convenience, time, and effort.  Count it all joy, as James 1 states, and let this trial process build patience and produce its full work, which is becoming "perfect and lacking nothing."

God wants to grow us up to be able to have true fellowship with Him.  

The Word dwelling in us produces a hopeful, positive attitude and transforms us into His nature.   Be of good cheer as you pay the price of your calling and touch the lives of others.  It will be worth it a million times over and forever.       

To Will and To Work for His Pleasure

"For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil 2:13)" is one of the most awesome declarations of the Christian life.  When we get home from this life and our eyes are opened, we will see how much and how many times God influenced our decisions and them provided the power to complete the task.  It always reminds me of when I flip on a light switch and the electric company provides the power which makes the light shine.  I turned on the lights but depended on the power to make it happen. 

The interesting thing is that the beginning of that verse is the call to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."  When we hit verses that don't seem consistent with what we usually think, (in this case that salvation rests on the fact that Jesus has paid it all), it is an opportunity to ask the Holy Spirit to give understanding.  

The theme of Phil 2 is to have the mind of Christ, which is to "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves."  Then Paul further suggests that we "have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, namely to humble ourselves by obedience even if it costs us everything.  The obvious question is how can we do that?  

As a born-again Christian, the Holy Spirit gives life to our spirit, and He literally dwells in us.  John 14 would suggest that the Father and Jesus also make their home in us.  So, since God Himself dwells in us, we have the same power that raised Christ from the dead giving life to our mortal bodies.  Ephesians 1 describes this as "the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe." It is by this power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to submit to Jesus as Lord, or owner and boss of our lives. 

However, we are also made in the image and likeness of God which means that we have free will.  There is a reason why Scripture has statements like "Choose this day whom you will serve," or "whosoever will," or "I set before you, life and death, choose life."   God can do in and through us only what we choose.  

Therefore, going back to our Philippians 2:12 verse, we need an attitude of "fear and trembling" or fear of the Lord that we willingly choose to obey the promptings of the Spirit.  When we submit to what He wills, He gives the power to do it, which, of course, give God pleasure.  Jesus clearly paid for it all, and His words "It is finished" establishes His total redemption forever.  However, to let this salvation have its complete work in us, we need to agree with His thoughts and ways by obeying His will. 

Start fresh today in His mercies which are new this morning, and simply obey the Spirit's leadings.  As you yield your will to His will, God's power is released to work and you will accomplish your purpose, which is to give Him pleasure.  All things were created according to Revelation 4 for His pleasure.  It follows that when God wills and works in us, we will "shine as lights in the world" (Phil 2:15). 

Do Not Neglect the House of God

"Thus we will not neglect the house of our God" is the covenant promise made to God in Nehemiah 10.   The children of Israel, who had miraculously been brought back from 70 years of slavery in Babylon, saw God help them rebuild the Temple and complete the wall of protection.  Now in thanksgiving and worship they were confessing their sin, dedicating their lives to obey the Word, and committing their resources to support the servants of God. 

It follows, that the Holy Spirit translates this passage to New Testament believers to not neglect maintaining the welfare of the inner man since we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  In response for all the Lord has done, Psalm 103 reminds us to bless the Lord with everything that is in us, not forgeting all His benefits.   

The words of Jesus, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, give direction and instruction for how to be faithful to the presence of God and all He has done for us.  When we get busy and involved in worldly concerns, it is easy to be like those who rejected the (Matthew 22) king's invitation to attend the wedding feast.  Because, there is always an excuse.  I have purchased five oxen and have to try them out, I have married a wife and cannot come, etc.  We do not neglect the house of God, our temple where God lives in us, by putting His commands and His service first, not just when convenient. 

Most of us would find it difficult to wait quietly before God for ten minutes after reading the Word, yet we have no difficulty wasting many times that amount on our cell phones, social media, youtube, or even TV.   It is also easy to plan and do whatever it takes to get the worldly things we desire (which will pass away), and only as an after-thought, how can I please God with my resources.  It takes a change of mind to realize that it is God's time and money, and that we are stewards, or caretakers of what He has given.

One of the things that I spoke to the young people at school on Friday was instruction about how they use the Internet.  Some of my young men are challenged to stay pure in what they watch on Instagram, Tik-Tok, Youtube and other sites.  There is a true incident that happened to a friend of mine who found the Lord in college, but was still tempted with immorality.  One day, as he was sitting at the bar in a strip club, he heard the Lord say to him, "Jim, just want you to know that I am with you here."  So the challenge given to these high school boys was to realize that Jesus was right with them as they go online, and to only participate in sites He would be pleased to have you watch.

The same principle works for us, for what we let ourselves think about, for what attitudes we hold on to, and for what we cherish as important to our well-being.  No wonder Paul, in 2 Corinthians 10, defines the spiritual battle and stats that we need to use our God-given weapons of divine power to be "destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."  If we could see Jesus physically sitting with us, what would we find acceptable to think or do?  The point is do not neglect the house of God. 

Bad News: Battle; Good News: You Overcome!

You are an overcomer.  You live by faith.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  Receive God's plan for you as stated in Romans 15:13,  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."   

Hope is a sure promise of sharing Jesus' victory.  It shouldn't surprise us that life has battles.  1 Peter 4:12 reminds us not to consider it strange at the fiery trials we face.  Paul shared in Corinthians that an effective door had opened for him to share the Gospel, but there were many adversaries.  All through Biblical history, whether re-building the temple, the walls of Jerusalem, David's challenge with Saul, etc., there have always been obstacles that seek to prevent man from doing God's will.  That is why Galatians 6:9 encourages us to persevere, "do not get weary in well-doing for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

1 John 5 gives a message that is even stronger, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"  As you stand in faith that Jesus is the Son of God, who overcame, and now His resurrection power dwells in you, you are transformed into an overcomer.

When you are in the middle of problems, take time and let the Word dwell in your richly until you can rest in the spirit and stand in all God has promised and what He has called you to believe.  As Galatians 4 reminds us, we are heirs of God, but if we stay as little children, we don't know all we possess.  It clearly is a season where the Holy Spirit is encouraging us to possess our possessions and not be intimidated by the enemy's threats and setbacks.  Having done all, stand.

My prayer is that you continue to strive to enter that rest of faith and are able to set your mind on the Spirit who knows and reveals all that God has given you.  You will have victory and overcome in the name and triumph of Jesus. 

Behold the Man!

Pilate invited the crowd to "Behold" Jesus.  Everything is decided by how we behold Him.  

The foundation is that God is love and He simply desires to love and be loved.  This relationship for us starts, of course, with receiving.  Romans 5:5 declares the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Spirit of God who has been given to us.  It is beyond our finite understanding of why, but the Lord simply loves being in our presence and enjoys us loving Him by being in His presence.  

How much time does the average Christian (or you and I) spend in His presence, not asking or talking, but waiting on Him and just enjoying being with Him?  When was the last time you just sat and were still before Him? Someone, who died and went to heaven but was sent back, reported that Jesus was grieved that people wanted what the Lord has (such as healing, power, miracles, strength, etc.), but didn't simply want Him.  

Psalm 17:15 suggests that not only will we be satisfied, but also changed as we take time to behold Him.  "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."   We see the same principle in 2 Corinthians 3:18, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  In His light, we become light.

Therefore, purpose to want more "of Him" rather than just to get things "from Him."  There is fullness of joy in His presence.  So today, take time to just be still and enjoy Him and who He is.  We talk about a relationship with the Lord, but do we keep the relationship alive and growing by spending time with Him, not just asking things from Him.  As Ephesians 1:23 reveals, Jesus' goal and ultimate purpose is to be "all in all."  Take time to "Behold the Man" in love with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and let Him reveal Himself to you.  

Be a Lamb, End a Lion!

Because Jesus laid His life down as an obedient Lamb, He earned the right to rule as the Lion.  (Philippians 2)

This same dichotomy can be seen in the Christian life.  Paul said that through many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of God.  2 Corinthians 4 speaks about how we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the power may be of God and not of us. The following description of being hard-pressed, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, etc. shows the reality that the struggle in the world can in no way take away the life and joy of what we have and who we are in the Lord.  We are "the Lion" that God has called to rule if we become "the lamb" who obediently submits to the Master.

2 Corinthians 4:10 reveals this key, "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."  Jesus said no one takes My life from Me, I lay it down of Myself.  Yet, in truth, His laying His life down brought about the greatest blessing that could ever happen to man, changing our very nature as believers into children of God.  Likewise, when we freely release our life, our desires and rights, we allow God's power to be released in and through us.  A simple attitude shift of "how can I bless someone today," instead of "what about me?" will open the door for the life of Jesus to be manifested. 

Paul, two chapters later, describes how he and his Christian team were regarded in this two-fold perception, "as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."  The world rejected Jesus and according to John 15, will reject those who follow Him.  However, know that whatever the price, God honors your obedient laying down your life with His abundant inner strength, joy, and peace.  The glory does not compare to the sacrifice.  What you sow as a Lamb, you will surely reap by the Lion power of God.

 

Weak, But Really Strong!

 Most of us don't feel like we are that good or doing very much for the Kingdom of God, yet the bottom line is that we are precious to the Lord.  Maturity in the Lord isn't always how much we accomplish or how great people think we are, but rather how much we learn to "walk humbly with Him."  

"When I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10)  Paul was aware of his weakness and actually declared that when He realized his weakness, it forced him to depend upon God, which ironically, made him strong.  2 Corinthians 4:16 sums it up this way, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day."  All life is designed to motivate us to turn away from trusting our flesh and instead learn to walk by faith trusting the supernatural life of God being manifested in and through us.  

In Psalm 8, God speaks of the majesty and greatness of the heavens, the moon, and the stars, which makes the psalmist cry out, "What is man that you are mindful or him?"  Compared to the infinite wisdom of God's creation, we seem like less than a speck of dust.  Then in almost utter amazement, he declares, "Yet man is crowned with glory and majesty. You have made him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put everything under his feet."

Who could possibly be up for such a task?  Absolutely, only with God's power!  Therefore, the bottom line is that we are meant to be constantly connected with the power of God, walking in faith of what God's Word declares, letting the anointing of the Holy Spirit break the yoke if we are to rule over the work of God's hands.  In short, this connection is prayer.

Have you heard the expression, sticks out like a sore thumb?  If you ever had one, you know how it just seems to get hit or rubbed wrong all the time.  You can't do anything without noticing it.  That is the way prayer is meant to be.  Everything and every need, maybe every breath, is meant to keep us in constant touch with the Lord.  In Ephesians 6, Paul reveals the protection of the armor of God, but what is it that holds it all in place?  Yes, the final instruction is to "pray at all times in the Spirit...be alert with all perseverance."  Our awareness of needing God and walking with Him is meant to be an "at all times" experience, just a simple talking and walking with Him through everything.  It is in this dependent relationship that we are strong.   

Need Ammunition, Not a Ride!

When the USA offered to evacuate President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, his reply was "We need ammunition, not a ride!"  God doesn't want us to hide or be removed from trouble but rather has given us the ammunition, the divine power, to overcome the enemy and all his tactics.  God sees you the same way He spoke to Gideon when he was cowardly hiding from the Philistines, "You mighty man of valor!" 

There is a strong word in Psalm 149., "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edge sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written.  This is an honor for all His godly ones.  Praise the Lord!"  The ball is now in our court.  Clearly there is a spiritual battle of gigantic proportions going on with abortion, perversion, lust, greed, persecution, violence, drugs, murder, lies, etc.  The spiritual forces behind these actions are stronger than human nature and natural defenses. We must overcome using God's power and ammunition.  

Just as Jesus pointed out that He has not left us orphans but has equipped us with the Holy Spirit, we have His Word and weapons of divine power to overcome every attack of the enemy.  Praising God and declaring the Word bind and overcome the enemy that Jesus has already judged.  John 16:11 states that the ruler of this world (the devil) is judged. It is our honor or gifted position as His body and representatives of earth to execute that judgment. 

We are called to rule in this life, not hide from it.  Through Jesus living inside us, we are the light of the world that overcomes darkness.  Yes, sin, sickness, and death reign in this world, but notice the victory that Romans 5:17 declares, "For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."  Much more we reign.  Where sin abounds, grace abounds more.

Rather than just get disgusted and frustrated by what we see on the news and in the world, we are the watchmen God has set up to do something about it.  It is a day to build ourselves up in our most holy faith, pray in the spirit, put on the armor, of God and take authority of the power of darkness. Jesus in Luke 1019 told His disciples, "I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  God inhabits or is enthroned in His praises.  Praising God and giving thanks releases God's power.  Declaring the Word establishes life--life and death are in the power of the tongue.  Fight the good fight of faith. 

Stand in faith and prayer against the onslaught of the enemy and all that deceived, sinful man brags about against God.  And greater goal, in the process of exercising His power and authority in healing and deliverance, our hearts will grow in knowing Him and the power of His resurrection.  Yes, the ultimate goal is knowing and pleasing God.  Praise God forever! 

Servants are Blessed

I'm Free!  Free to be a servant of the Lord, goes the simple chorus.  Yet, our independent flesh wants to be the boss and not have to listen to anyone, not even God, much less be a servant.  However, clearly man's ways are not God's ways.

In Psalm 143:12, David declares victory over his enemies and great blessings because, "I am Your servant."  He trusts God to teach him to do His will, because "to You I lift up my soul."  Our soul is our inner self, so to lift up your soul means you choose to set you mind and heart and your desires on what pleases God. In other words, lay down what you think and change to desire what He asks, in order to receive the goodness and overcoming life that flows from pleasing your master.  

Psalm 143 continues to remind us of God's faithfulness and righteousness, "Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!" and "Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in You."  As sure as God is faithful and righteous, He honors those who honor Him.  As David declares, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life."  

A servant looks to his master to know what to do.  Verse 10 is the prayer of a servant, "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God."  Nothing motivates like having a good reason, and in the next verse God gives it.  "Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.  For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me."  All the Holy Spirit leading and reviving of abundant life is because that is the way to glorify His name.  Even Psalm 23 gives the same reason, "lead me in the way of righteousness for Thy name's sake."  Do it all for Him, He is worthy.

Servants have a heritage, as expressed in Isaiah 54:17.  "No weapon formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.   As servants of God, we are protected from all the power of the enemy and have authority to condemn (render powerless) all those who speak against us.  Servants of God are directed to say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."  Thank you, Jesus, it is well with my soul.  

Hope is Eternal

Hope overcomes defeat.  When our favorite sports team has a losing season, we say wait until next year.  In hard times we console ourselves by thinking tomorrow will be better.  Natural man needs to look forward to things getting better.  There is a quote credited to Hal Lindsay, "People can live 40 days without food, 3 days without water, 8 minutes without air, but only a second without hope."  While the exact duration may vary, the point is that hope is essential for life.  

Just what is hope?  A dictionary states, "a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of its fulfilment," but a simpler definition is that we trust things will work out for good.  We expect to make it through and be okay. 

The words in Romans 14:4 give Christians a strong foundation for this vital quality, "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."  God's Word was written to give us hope, a confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises.  However, it also includes the admonition to persevere.  Since faith is the evidence or substance of things hoped for, likewise, this "patience" or "endurance" quality is required.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  

There is a place of rest or peace that comes from setting our mind on the spirit, on the truth of God's Word (which is spirit and life), and holding fast to that promise through whatever challenges and conflicting thoughts may come.  We can choose to take our thoughts captive to obey Christ (and the promises He has given), knowing that His words have divine power to overcome all the lies of the flesh or of the enemy.  A good way to hold on is to speak the Word out loud.  Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  Just as God spoke the world into existence, our words carry life or death.  Choose life by speaking God's truth and refusing to give place to the negative.

Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and comforter.  One of the ways He helps us is by leading us to truth and bringing into remembrance the words of Jesus.  When we hear the voice of the Spirit and settle it in our hearts, this becomes a sure anchor of hope that He will confirm His Word.  We can stop striving or worrying about the situation.  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:13)

Psalm 62:5 instructs us to "wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him."  Take time to let the Word of God replace our human thinking and choose to trust Him to do what He says.  Then hope will be so much more than the wishful thinking that "hope springs eternal" suggests, but rather an eternal rock upon which we stand unshakeable.  As a God of hope, He is pleased, according to Hebrews 10, when we hold fast our confidence to the end.  The Spirit will empower you and strengthen your hope until you see the fulfillment of His promises in all your situations.  Hope is eternal.        

Purpose of Education

 "What do you know?" a friend would ask as his greeting instead of  "how are you?"  The truth is most of us "know" a lot of things, facts, ideas, feelings, etc., but it was always tough to give a specific answer.  Maybe a better question is "What do you know that impacts your life?" rather than asking for a volume of unrelated facts that one could share. 

From infancy a child is learning how to live in this world and gaining instruction to shape his life.  In a general sense this is called education.  Education is defined by Noah Webster, "The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners; education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations."  More than a series of subjects, facts and methods, education affects our understanding, the formation of character, and the way we prepare for being useful in life.

Since God created the world and all that is in it, Psalm 19 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork."   The underlying principle is that everything created and rightly understood will show the glory of God.  Facts lead to conclusions which give understanding.  All truth, every aspect of creation, shows the wisdom and eternal power of God (Romans 1:20).   

This truth is further declared in Colossians 1:16-17, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Therefore, it follows that the study of all things would show His ways and His nature.  From God's perspective, Colossians 2:3 reveals "Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Therefore, the purpose of all wisdom and knowledge is to reveal and come to know Jesus Christ.

Likewise, Jesus explained that the ultimate purpose of life is "that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)  Everything else that does not lead to a greater knowledge of Him is wasted effort and deception leading to destruction.  

Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  Likewise, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord." according to Psalm 111:10.  Anything that is built upon any other foundation than respect and awe for the wisdom and authority of God will not stand. 

Fallen nature's thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways.  In order to know God we are told "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)  Jesus promised if we continue in His Word, we would know the truth.  The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. Therefore, the purpose of education is to have the mind and heart enlightened by truth to know Jesus and to be changed into a "new creature" who walks in His ways.  

Wait upon the Lord

  The Isaiah 40 song "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles..." came into my mind this morning, and then in reading Billy Wilson's book, "Gen Z: Born for the Storm," that same theme was repeated. It was the Holy Spirit's way of reminding me that clearly God honors those who receive the Word with meekness, who humble themselves to receive from Him.  

Part of the fall was yielding to Satan's temptation, "you shall be like God."  The great deception is that fallen man now pridefully thinks he is God, and that his opinion is all that matters.  However, God in Isaiah 55 is strong to declare that "HIs thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways."  Therefore, realizing that we need to humble ourselves and let His truth renew our mind and heart in taking time to "wait upon the Lord" is the attitude that God honors with strength, power, and understanding (Isaiah 40:29-31).  

Paul reinforces this principle in Romans 12, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  As we humbly present ourselves to God, the key to surrender is letting the Word of God transform our thinking from the arrogance of man's thoughts to the simple truth of God which stands forever.  In short, according to Romans 3:4, let God be true and every man a liar.

It is difficult to "walk through the valley of death" where man's pride thinks he can alter God's plan for male and female, His statute for marriage, His command not to kill babies, and even the arrogance of man to change what the Word reveals about the nature of God.  So many issues and divisions are directly stemmed to man's pride in thinking his thoughts are always right.  However, God is not mocked, and foolish man will never overcome Him whose truth abides forever. Psalm 119:78 states, "Let the proud be put to shame; for they have overthrown me wrongfully."  

One translation of Isaiah 40 states they that "hope" in the Lord.  Hope and wait have the same root and source, depending upon God to confirm His Word.  Therefore, choose to depend upon God as you cast your cares upon Him, seek Him for wisdom, and let His Word dwell in you richly.  Those who choose to let His "being Lord" go beyond just words but also to be truly yielding will give Him permission and wait on Him to direct their thoughts and ways. 

Keep Peace in the Storm

In Psalm 112:7 the Lord explains one of the benefits of believing in Him, "He will not fear evil tidings; his heart is steadfast trusting the Lord."  

God's call today is to receive His peace and not let the world overcome us by taking His peace from our hearts.  Before His trial and death, Jesus spoke to the disciples, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27  God hasn't changed and His Word is eternal; therefore, hear Him speak His peace to you.

Jesus was able to still the raging storm at sea because there was no storm in Him.  "Peace, be still."  Jesus said "the evil one has nothing in Me."  Now we also have been given His righteousness and authority to overcome.  God has given us the weapons of our warfare, which have divine power.  Receive and speak the Word, acknowledge the blood of Jesus, and put on the armor of God.  We overcome the enemy by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony, and we love not our lives unto death.  Even Psalm 23 declares, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, because You are with me."

 However, the challenge in the spiritual battle (2 Corinthians 10:4) is to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Philippians 4:6-8 even tells us how by committing trouble to the Lord and letting His peace guard our hearts and minds.  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Then He tells us to change the channel by focusing on His qualities and faithfulness. "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

Jesus even went a step further. In the beatitudes found in Luke, He tells us to "rejoice in that day and leap for joy!"  In John, He reminds us of His victory, "In the world you will have tribulation.  Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."   

The strongest way to maintain the peace and joy He gives, is to give thanks in all circumstances.  Because we trust Him we know He works all things for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  Therefore, what the world and devil mean for evil, God uses to grow us and to reveal His transforming power for good. 

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. (Proverbs 4:23) Take thoughts captive. Give situations to God with thanksgiving, and walk in His peace.  Choose to trust God in all situations. Jesus says, "Peace, be still" to the storms of your life.