Reason to Give Thanks

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High according to Psalm 92:1.  This verse also reminds us that when Jesus answered the Pharisees that there was only one who was good, and that was God.  Therefore, it is true that giving thanks is not only a good thing but a "God" thing.

Verse 2 contains some simple reminders of how to do it: to declare your lovingkindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night.  Start your day with an awareness that God's mercy is fresh every morning, and establish this truth for the day by declaring it over your day. Then as you retire for the night, let your closing thoughts and words be giving thanks for His faithfulness in taking care of you in all the events of the day.  

It is both true and humbling to remember what 1 Corinthians 4:7 asks, "what do you have that you did not receive?"  Take time to acknowledge and reflect with a thankful heart all God has given. 

Secondly, Thanksgiving causes us to look forward to all God has for us in the future: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  (1 Corinthians 2:9)  We clearly are the most blessed on the earth, as Psalm 21:6 states, and have every reason to be grateful for His gracious gift of Himself!  

Keep Sowing Seeds

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom.  For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you, according to Luke 6:38.  Clearly, God is so pleased that we choose to care about others rather than just ourselves that He abundantly responds in kind.    

The principle of God, which Galatians 6:7 introduces by reminding us that God is not mocked, is that what a man sows he will surely reap.  This same concept is declared in 1 Peter 3:9 where the Holy Spirit states that we are called to bless that we might receive the blessing.  We don't just do it for the return blessing, but as sure as God is, He does reward our smallest and biggest effort, from giving a glass of water to little one to laying our life down for others.

The obvious problem with giving is that often the people we seek to bless may take advantage of us, or worse yet, turn on us.  So, it is important to remember that we give to God by blessing others, and we do it in obedience to Him.  Then it doesn't matter whether the ones we help appreciate our work or not, God knows our heart and every detail of what we do.  Therefore, Galatians 6:9 reminds us to not be weary in well doing for in due time we shall surely reap.  The central issue is do we trust that God is faithful to His promise.   

The nature of God is love which gives.  Because God is a giver, and is so good, His life in us motivates and empowers us to give: to give thanks to Him always, to give our resources to others in need, and to be ready to bless every person that He directs.  Give and it will be given.  In all this, we simply cannot outgive God, He will surely honor those who honor Him by giving.  Keep sowing seeds and trust God to produce the harvest.  

Thankfully Overcome

 God is the master at reminding us of foundational values through events and seasons.  Just as October challenged us to stand in the authority Jesus has given over the powers of darkness, November is designed to bring us back to acknowledging God's eternal goodness, not just in what we now have, but also in His awesome future for us to dwell in His presence and glory forever.  What God has planned certainly is beyond description and our finite understanding, but nevertheless, true and worthy of rejoicing in His revealed plan and letting it motivate our godly choices.    

Scripture reveals that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.  Surely HIs joy was seeing you and I receive what He was doing to pay for our sins and become children of God to be with Him forever.  Likewise, in Revelation 2 and 3, God sent messages to the various churches with awesome encouragements of "joy" set before those who overcome. 

God is a rewarder of those who seek Him and obey Him.  If God does not overlook having a reward for giving a glass of water to a little one, how much more will not miss rewarding choices to obey our Spirit-led promptings and to put down the screaming lusts of the flesh (Romans 8:13).  He promises life and peace to those who obey the Spirit.  

Therefore, in this season of thankfulness, hear the word from Jesus in John 16:33, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  And the accompanying truth from 1 John 5:4-5, which states that all those who are born again overcome the world through our faith. 

We rejoice together in thankfulness for all the goodness we taste now (Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good); and also for the amazing future goodness God has for those who love Him (Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9)

The Lord has enabled His children to overcome through His death and resurrection; furthermore, He has given us sufficient reason and anointing to be thankful in every situation.  As He overcame, we now thankfully overcome by His power working in us.  

Touch Nothing Unclean

 Jesus chose you to belong to Him and be a light in the world rather than just live like the world.  It is awesome to realize that before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians 1:4) He chose you and already had a masterful plan for your life.  However, in the midst of this great calling, Jesus makes it clear that "the world" is the opposite of His truth and that you will experience some of the same consequences He faced in coming to the earth. 

 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18-19)  We need to understand the absolute polar extremes of following Jesus and of living like the world. 

This complete difference between the Kingdom of God and the sin-fallen world causes godly believers to make practical choices.  For the past 30 years I have given a chapel talk to our students entitled, "Don't Drink Dirty Milk," and of course, to make a point I pour dirt into a glass of milk and tempt them to drink it.  The point is that Halloween may seem like fun, and there is candy to be had, but it is foundationally a celebration of Satan: fear, death, demons, evil, anything to arouse the dark side and scare people.  We challenge our kids to choose a godly alternative and avoid the world's way of participating in glorifying the Evil One.

However, the warning from 2 Corinthians 6 is much stronger and more comprehensive than just Halloween. "For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  For you are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate," says the Lord.  "Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you."  "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.   

Notice how God always has our best interests in mind even in this warning, wanting us to experience His intimate fatherly love rather than the fleeting and deceiving pleasures that the world offers.  God's Word clearly calls each of us to keep ourselves clean from the ways of the world and let the love of the Father fill you and guide all that you watch, think, or participate in.  Even though it may look inviting, touch nothing unclean.  

Despise the Shame

What do you see? 

Jesus, according to Hebrews 12:2, was so focused on completing God's will (even unto death) that he "despised the shame" of all the ridicule, beating, torture and pain of death on the cross.  There is both a principle of life and an example that challenges every Christian.  So, let's look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, to learn this lesson.

Whenever we set our heart to obey God or to do something for the Lord, there will always be obstacles and challenges designed to distract and prevent us from moving forward.  We have to learn to despise the shame, in other words, think nothing of the cost compared to the glory of God that comes from obedience.  

Consider the comments of Paul, who also went through beatings, shipwrecks, false accusations and imprisonment, saying on one hand to count the cost and then on the other hand declaring, "the cost is nothing" compared to the glory of God to be revealed.  The point is that there is always a cost, but we have to keep our focus on the prize and not let the cost deter us from accomplishing the God-given task.  Because our flesh may get discouraged by circumstances and quit, God warns us in Galatians 6:9, "let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart." 

Therefore, be encouraged.  God, who is always faithful, will give you both the will and the power to do what He asks. Choose to ignore and think nothing of the effort or abuse that you may have to endure so that you press on to receive the prize.  Faith and patience (same Greek word for endurance) inherit the promises.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and refuse to be side-tracted by the shame or cost.  You will succeed.    

How Big is Your God?

Perception is everything.

In the parable of the talents, the attitude of the one who received the one talent says it all.  "Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed."  Because of his perception of the character of his master, he was afraid and hid his talent instead of thankfully using it and being productive with his gift.

A student who blatantly talks during class and ignores the rules is convinced that teachers are against him and always picking on him.  As a result, he refuses to take correction and continues to be his own worst enemy by getting in trouble and causing others around him to resent his interference.  A homeless person feels that his loss of family, home, and job is due to someone else being cruel to him and his "bad luck."  The criminal thinks the system is unfair and wonders why he is being punished when the other guy who did worse got away with it.  In other words, we haven't changed since the days of Adam and Eve, who conveniently found someone else to blame: "It was the fault of the woman that You God gave me."  "It was the serpent who deceived me."  In each of these examples, the perception or mind set of the individual creates an excuse that justifies his wrong choices.  

Scripture points out that our natural mind is darkened, so naturally verses like Romans 12 clearly instruct us to be renewed in our mind so that we are not like the world in our thinking.  How big is your God?  Does He cause you to walk in favor with God and man?  Do you enjoy His fresh mercy every morning and are you able to declare His faithfulness every night?  Do you in your heart know that He is making all things work for good in your life?  All these "renewed" thoughts come from receiving the Word of God with meekness rather than depending on our own thoughts and feelings.  Fallen nature always thinks our way is right. 

Jesus told several people "be it done to you according to your faith."  Therefore, letting the Word of God "dwell in you richly" makes all the difference in the outcome.  Likewise, in John 15:7, Jesus states that our prayer will be answered and we will be fruitful, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you."  How we perceive God and how we allow the Word of God to be our truth is foundational to having right attitudes and correct actions.  

Simply start each day choosing to let your thoughts and ways be renewed by His revealed truth of who He is and what He has done.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Our perception of God and His goodness will allow us to glorify Him in what we do and to enjoy His glorious provision.  

  

 

Revealing Jehovah Nissi

Jesus' victory over the enemy ensures the promise 

that "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you 

today."

It is always enlightening to see where and how God 

reveals His names.  In Exodus 17, we 

find the famous battle between Israel and Amalek 

where Israel triumphs as long as Moses lifts up the 

rod of God's authority.  As you recall, Aaron and Hur 

were called upon to help hold Moses' hands up and 

God overcame and destroyed the enemy.  The 

conclusion finds Moses realizing this truth about 

God, "And Moses built an altar and called its name, 

Jehovah Nissi (The-Lord-is-My-Banner); for he said,

"Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war 

with Amalek from generation to generation."  

Amalek was a staunch enemy of Israel and the name 

itself means "one who takes away."  Consider that 

Jesus told us that Satan comes to "steal, kill, and 

destroy," or in short, take away the abundant life He 

has given.  Therefore, the promise that the Lord will 

have war with Amalek from generation to generation 

suggests He is able and willing to give the same 

overcoming victory to all people throughout the 

generations.  We simply need to lift up our rod of 

authority, the Word of God, the blood of Jesus, and 

the name of Jesus, and He will overcome and 

destroy the enemy.  

Let's also consider the meaning of "The Lord is My 

Banner."  In the rafters of Ball Arena there hangs a 

triumphal banner, "Denner Nuggets 2023 NBA 

Champions."  The banner is the trophy or 

acknowledgment of their successful overcoming of 

all challengers to become the National Basketball 

Association's champions.  In like manner, the cross 

declares "It is finished," and proclaims Jesus' victory 

over all the powers of darkness for all generations 

to come.  Jehovah Nissi, His banner, declares He 

reigns and triumphs over all.  Therefore, this 

overcoming triumph now is released to all who 

believe in His victory as 2 Corinthians 2:14 states, 

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in 

triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the 

fragrance of His knowledge in every place."  

May God continue to show Himself mighty and ever 

present as a consuming fire over all our enemies 

as we lift the banner of Jesus' cross and triumph, 

Jehovah Nissi.   

---

 

Rest

Jesus rested peacefully as the disciples cried out in panic in the midst of the storm.  He likewise tells us and enables us to rest in the midst of our storms.  

In the midst of life's ups and downs, one consistent word from God is this: rest in Him.  Jesus gave a beautiful illustration in John 15 of how to bear fruit, simply by abiding in the vine.  Hebrews 4:1 speaks of a promise that remains of entering His rest, and a few verses later the exhortation to "strive to enter that rest."  The next verse, Hebrews 4:12, gives us the key: the Word of God is living and powerful.

The children of Israel, through unbelief and disobedience, earned the wrath of God that declared, "They shall not enter My rest."  The explanation states that the Word was not mixed with faith.  Their example is given so we do not make the same mistake, but rather consider and observe God's truth.  

On the seventh day God rested from all His works.  When asked about the work of God, Jesus answered "This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent." (John 6:29)  The reason is simple, Jesus came to do all that was required to bring man back to God, and with that final, "It is finished," the work is already done.   Now the challenge is to be still and know that He is God and rest in the mercy and goodness that His promises declare.  Psalm 132 gives further insight about God's resting place where He abundantly blesses provision, satisfies the poor with bread, clothes priests with salvation and saints shout aloud for joy.  

God wants His children to rest in Him and His accomplished work.  In times of struggle, remembering Jehovah Jireh, "my needs are met according to His riches," gives rest.  In times of physical challenge, we are called to declare by His stripes we were healed and to rest in this truth.  Those who seek the Lord will lack "No good thing."  Faith pleases God and He takes pleasure in any choice we make to stand in the power of His Word rather than live in anxiety, fear, and defeat.  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  

Therefore, God's Word to you is whatever your challenge, Jesus has already accomplished what is needed, and you can rest in Him.  Instead of worry, give thanks that it is done.  As Philippians 4:6 states, "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." 

Be still and know He is God.  As we look into His face and His everlasting love for each one of us, we choose to rest in His abundant goodness and enter into His peaceful rest.    

What is Truth?

"What is truth?" was Pilate's question after Jesus stated that He came to bear witness to the truth.  Likewise, in the movie, The Jesus Revolution, the predominate question of the hippie generation was how to find truth.  It is clear that until we have a foundation of truth about life and its purpose that man is floundering in uncertainty and hopelessness.  

On one hand, God has created an awesome universe and rightfully declares in Romans 1:19-20, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."  On the other hand, God has created us in the image of God and given us free will to seek and search for truth.  Proverbs 25:2 says it well, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter."

Jesus told us to ask, to seek, and to knock.  He pointed out that when we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found.  Proverbs 2:1-5 describes an attitude of desiring and determined seeking that brings great results, concluding in verses 4-5, "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  Jesus asked the man with an infirmity at the pool of Bethesda, "Do you want to be healed?" The point is, how much do we really want to know God better and how desperate are we to go after more truth?

Jesus is the truth, and He has given us the Spirit of truth to reveal truth from His Word.  Jesus promised the Spirit would lead us into all truth.  Rather that live by man's worldly standards and understanding of life, we can know the truth about the purpose of life, about God's will and what really matters, about salvation and all Jesus has done to forgive sin and make us a new creation, and finally, eternal judgment and our glorious forever destiny.  We are the most blessed people on earth who know our God and His truth.  

In the third letter of John, John expressed God's heart when he said he had no greater joy than to hear that his children were walking in truth.  The end of the matter is this: seek truth, know truth, walk in truth. 

Let Him Who Has Ears to Hear, Hear

Jesus declared one of the greatest blessings given 

to man, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them, 

and they follow Me."

In John 10, there is an amazing dichotomy between 

Jesus as the door and as the shepherd.  In verse 3, 

He declares, "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the 

sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by 

name and leads them out." A few verses later Jesus 

reveals He is the door., "Most assuredly, I say to you, 

I am the door of the sheep.  If anyone enters by Me, 

he will be saved, and will go in and out and find 

pasture."  Jesus is the door, as the One who shed 

His blood on the cross for all sin that all men must 

enter into as the only way into God's kingdom.  

Nobody can come to the Father except he hear the 

divine call to "Come to me, I will give you rest." 

and responds to His love.  

However, Jesus, the risen Lord, is also the shepherd 

who now by the Spirit of God leads all believers into 

a place of knowing Him and His voice so they can 

follow Him. Once a person has acknowledged His 

call to repent and accept Jesus' death for his sins, 

the believer is now able to walk by faith in response 

to His voice in following Him.  Isaiah talks about 

hearing a voice saying, "This is the way, walk in it."  

Jesus declares that believers know His voice so 

clearly and are so familiar with His voice, that they 

will not know or listen to the voice of strangers.    

My question is how desperately do we desire to 

hear His voice and how do we respond?  Jacob 

wrestled with the angel and refused to let go until 

the angel blessed him.  With that kind of deter-

mination and resolve, we need to come into God's 

presence (through thanksgiving, praise, singing, 

and the truth of His Word according to Psalm 100) 

and then quietly be still until we get a word from 

God. 

Linger.   Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew 

their strength as declared in Isaiah.  How long do we 

wait, how important is it to us to wait, until we can 

receive His voice that quickens our inner man?  It 

may be helpful to continue by declaring Jesus' words,

"My sheep hear My voice" in order to focus your soul 

that you are waiting in faith.   

God told Moses to write a book of remembrance 

and told Habakkuk to write the vision.  Following 

this pattern, wait on the Lord until you hear His voice 

and can write down what you believe He is saying 

to you.  Like Jacob, refuse to let go until you "know" 

His word to you.  He will speak peace to His 

people (Psalm 85:8).  

Hunger enough to take time and ask the Holy Spirit 

to teach you to hear and to know His voice.  Jesus 

said those who hear and do what He says will be 

blessed (Matthew 7:24), bear much fruit 

(John 15:8), and never be led astray (John 10:28).  

Let him who has ears to hear, hear!

---

 

Worthy of It All!

Seek the Lord with your whole heart.  The Word of God, through verses like this one, convert the soul from selfish thinking into choosing to give our all to Jesus.  The reason is simple: He is worthy.  Our soulish part, "I think, I feel, I want", that is self-oriented must be challenged to obey the spirit which is clearly calling us to "present our bodies a living sacrifice and be transformed by the renewing of our mind to prove the perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)  

Many Christians in parts of the world like Korea, China, or some of the Muslim countries have paid dearly to believe in Jesus.  Often their testimonies force us to see how trivial our "trials" really are.  However, regardless of the intensity, there is always a price.  Jesus says count the cost.  Clearly when we see Jesus, the words of Paul that all his sufferings were nothing compared to the glory of God will also be evident to us too.  

Likewise, there are some Biblical truths like "Jehovah Jireh," or "all my needs are met according to His riches in glory" which are only one side of the coin.  Observing the context presents a bigger picture and a much greater opportunity to understand how to apply these principles.   Abraham (in Genesis 22) was asked to give his son, whom he had believed 25 years for, as a sacrifice.  It was because of this awesome act of obeying God that the Lord provided the ram as the sacrifice instead and was revealed as Jehovah Jireh.  Likewise, the promise in Philippians 4:19 that our needs would be met according to His riches in glory was to the Philippi church that had given more than once to support Paul's ministry.  

Sometimes we preach Jesus as meeting our needs.  This is accurate but lacks true depth.  The point is that He is worthy, He is King of kings, He is the one from whom are all things, through whom are all things, and to whom are all things.  Once we receive the truth of the glory and worthiness of Jesus and all God has done for us, we see that it is our joy and privilege to lay down all our rights for Him.  He who loses his life for Him will find it.  The greater invitation is to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of all and surrender all we are and have because He is worthy.  We are asked to step out in faith that as we honor Him, He will take care of us.  He will certainly show Himself more than we "could think, ask, or imagine" in meeting our needs. 

God invites us (you) to lose our life for Him.  Jesus is worthy of all you are asked to give.  In that willing surrender His presence and pleasure will refresh you.  Seek first the Kingdom of God and all else will be added.  He is worthy.

Like Jesus - Love Good and Hate Evil

"I speak Jesus over every heart and mind," which is the beginning words of a powerful worship song.  There is something supernatural about the peace and power released as we declare His name.   Guess that is why Colossians 3:17 instructs us, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."    

Using the name of Jesus is so much more than just speaking the word Jesus, it is actually the privilege of representing Jesus Himself.  We all agree that Jesus stated that He is the light of the world, but Jesus also said we are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).  Clearly that depends upon God shining through us, which is, of course, the reason He gave us His Spirit.  

Jesus didn't begin HIs ministry until the Spirit of God came upon Him, as He declared in Luke 4, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted ...."  Surely, we have received the same Holy Spirit and Jesus pointed out that the Spirit is given without measure "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. (John 3;34)  Therefore, it follows that with the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, we can and should do the same works that He did.  (Actually, Jesus says we will do greater ones!)

However, the strong hindrance to being this lighthouse and accomplishing these great works is sin.  Even though the blood of Jesus forgives sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness, we have this flesh nature, these desires of body and mind, that is sold out to sin, and the wages of sin is death. It is vital that we choose life and obedience to the Word rather than give in to these selfish seductions.  Notice the attitude of Jesus toward sin, found in Hebrews 1:9, "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than your companions."  Jesus hated sin.  Fear of the Lord is defined as hatred of evil in Proverbs 8:13.

  

Unless we let the Lord help us develop a hatred toward sin, we will always be deceived into thinking it is desirable.  Psalm 34:11 shares God's invitation, "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?  Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it."  God is waiting to teach those who come to Him.

By loving and delighting to do His will, we choose life and can learn to reject, yes even hate, evil.  Psalm 112 declares, "Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments."    

God of the Open Hand

You have been given everything you need to share the fullness of God and to enjoy His mercy and goodness today.  His hand is open to you.

Psalm 104 describes how God in wisdom and power provided everything man and beast needed to thrive on the earth.  Then, verses 27-28 summarizes this interaction: "They all wait for You to give them their food in due season.  You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. "

God is faithful.  He has given us all that we need to meet every need and He calls on us "to gather it up."  Psalm 145 celebrates this theme also, declaring His greatness and heart toward us.  "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.  The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.  The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.  The Lord keeps all who love Him."  You can know that this is how good God is toward you. 

Natural, or soulish man, cannot know or appreciate the gifts of God.  Therefore, the world and those who live by their mind, will, and emotions are just spectators that do not see or know the God who has provided everything.  However, when we receive our born-again spirit, we now can taste and see the goodness of the One who created all things for our good.  Our spirit has three basic functions: worship, revelation, and fellowship, which enable us to live by His Word, to let the revelation of God's greatness and goodness direct our thoughts and feelings.  Our spirit is in charge of the reaction of the soul, as David states in the Psalms, "Bless the Lord, O my soul."  His spirit directed his soul (thoughts, will, and feelings) to worship and yield to God.  The Word is spirit and life, so it provides the revelation, or enabling truth, that produces worship with God.  This fellowship with God allows us to know and enjoy all He has given.      

Let this truth that God's hand is open toward you direct your thoughts and feelings. Receive and rejoice in God's fresh mercy and goodness, for He "satisfies the desire of every living thing."  God's hand is open to you, releasing whatever you need to satisfy your heart's desires.  Just as Jesus asked the blind man in Luke 18, He now asks you, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

 

No More Excuses, Come!

"Come, for all things are now ready." is the invitation given to attend the wedding banquet in Luke 14. This also is the Father's invitation extended to each of us to share His banquet, the celebration feast of Jesus' victory over sin, sickness, and death, as all things are now ready.  Jesus has accomplished the work.    

However, we often are prone to act just as people did in the parable that Jesus told, "but they all alike began to make excuses."  The DNA of fallen human nature is rebellion, to want to do things our own way, and to think that our business, time, and desires are more important that whatever God is calling us to do.  

This invitation also applies to many issues of the heart, so we will focus on one key area, fear of the Lord.  In Psalm 34, the Lord invites us to come and to let Him teach us this crucial character trait which leads to enjoying good, fullness of life, and multiple blessings.  "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?"

The Holy Spirit continues in this Psalm to instruct us "Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.  Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it."   Likewise, Proverbs 8:13 declares "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate."  The Lord desires to give us the same heart and attitude toward sin that He has.  

While our flesh responds negatively to being told what to do, the truth is that all God's commands are for our own good.  Notice Deuteronomy 4:40, "You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time."  God delights in His children willingly choosing to follow His ways because they are the way of life and peace.  

This is especially true with knowing and doing what is good and right with God.  God literally promises us many delicacies at this "fear of the Lord" banquet: (verse 7) angel of the Lord encamps around and delivers you, (verse 9) have no want, (Psalm 25:12-15) God teaches him in the way He chooses, and he shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth, (Psalm 15:14) God reveals His secrets and shows His covenant.  God deliberately fills His Word with many more awesome promises of blessing for having "fear of the Lord," and invites us to choose to come to this special place with Him.  

The point is that we cannot be one of those that make excuses, but rather be one of those who chooses to let Him teach us how to depart from evil and do good in all we do.  Jesus says, "Be holy as I am holy."  No more excuses, Come. 

You are God's Favorite!

"Let the favor of the Lord be upon us." God declares in Psalm 90:12.   We are called upon to let, or to allow, His favor to be upon us.  Reminds me of one of the faith statements that Smith Wigglesworth often quoted, "God is more eager to answer than we are to ask."  God desires His favor to rest on us.  

As in all things, it is God who both initiates and completes this work.  In Psalm 5:12, He declares, "For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield."  What a great deal!  He gives us His righteousness (Remember 2 Corinthians 5:21, He became sin that we might become the righteousness of God.) and then because we have His righteousness, we can also then enjoy His favor which surrounds us like a shield.  A shield protects us from all the attacks of the enemy, as the shield of faith in the armor of God promises. 

There is a difference between doing a favor for someone and having favor.  Doing a favor is a one-time act, but having favor is a continuing attitude toward you that desires to bless and give to you all the time.  In our family, whenever one of the kids gets something at Christmas or at other times, they tease each other saying that this is because they are "Mom's favorite."  Well, that is not far from the truth of how God feels about you.  The verse in Psalm 21:6 states we, (or I) have been made kings and are the "most blessed forever."  In short, the truth is that because you have His favor, you can know you are God's favorite.  Only God is such a magnanimous person that He can treat each of us as "His favorite."

We can grow in realizing that we have His favor.  Jesus, in Luke 2:52, is reported that He grew "in favor with God and men."  Let this Word of truth daily settle in your thoughts and heart, because of His fresh mercy, you can be assured that He is pleased with you and that His favor rests upon you.

Rejoice and be gald, you favorite of God!

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

In Psalm 83, God declared that His plan will overcome the evil forces that are trying to destroy godliness on the earth, "that they may know the You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth."

God is not mocked.  The world's way of openly defying God's laws and creation by homosexuality, transgender, promiscuity, and outright selfishness and rebellion often gives the impression that the whole purpose of life is simply to give in to all the desires of the flesh.  We, of course, know that just as Peter's attempt to stop Jesus from going to the cross, this is fueled by Satan.  We say just as Jesus said, "Get behind Me Satan, you are not on the side of God but of man." (Matthew 16:23) 

We live in an awesome time.  God is raising up prophetic voices who are calling for Christians to respond through repentance, prayer in faith, and taking authority to turn the tide and open the gates for the Holy Spirit to "renew the face of the earth." (Psalm 104:30)   Clearly, God has a plan that will overcome the best laid plans of the enemy, and He chooses to use you and I to carry it out.  We are familiar with the 2 Chronicles 7:14 call, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land."  God's plan is to rule through us, and use the authority He has given, what you bind on earth is bound in heaven.

Never has there been such an importance, such urgency, such a strong call as the voice of God that is speaking today.  Prophetic words from Dutch Sheets, Give Him 15 daily reports, Clay Nash, Intercessors for America, Christ for the Nations, Youth with a Mission, Fred Markert, and many others are the Paul Revere's of the day, shouting the message that God is awakening the church to unite in prayer, repentance, and standing in the authority of Jesus' name to take this land (and the world) back for Him.  Clearly the signs of the times are so blatant that we cannot ignore them; however, rather than get disgusted or frustrated, the Lord gives us direction and strength to stand in the gap and overcome through Him.

Therefore, my word today is "Let's do it."  Father, we unite our hearts and minds with the Lord Jesus and His victory over evil by dying on the cross, and humbly seek Your face.  We repent of living for ourselves and receive your grace of forgiveness for all our fleshly choices, and now join the army of believers who are taking the sword of the Spirit, declaring your Word of truth to tear down all the strongholds of wickedness.  We declare, Jesus is Lord, and every power of darkness must bow.  In the name of Jesus, (put in the area of evil that you are particularly mindful of), I break your power and tell you to "be gone."  

Fight the good fight of faith and we shall see the Lord reign in our land and on the earth.  Jesus overcame, and we join His victory and overcome the world by our faith. (1 John 5:4)

 

Honest to God

God is merciful, and He is also completely just.  

Psalm 76 describes the ultimate power of God in judging the earth and why those who oppose Him should fear His wrath.  However, on the other side of the coin, verse 9 reveals His heart toward certain others, "When God arose to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth."  He judges wickedness but saves the humble.

The crux of the whole judgment matter is pride versus humbleness.  What does God require but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God?  Scripture is clear that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.  Did not Satan fall because of pride, and did not Eve submit to the lie of pride that she would be "like God" if she ate the fruit?   

David, after he repented from sinning with Bathsheba and killing Uriah, prayed with new understanding, in Psalm 51:6, that God, "you desire truth in our inmost being."  What is the truth?  First Corinthians 4:7 explains this truth by declaring that everything we have, our mind, our heart, our faith, our talents, our health, our life, is all received, so we have nothing to boast about.  Since the truth is that we have nothing because of our own efforts but rather all is the gift of God, our only honest response to Him is to be thankful and humbly admit we depend upon Him for everything.  The truthful attitude, being humble and thankful, motivates us to obey and is what pleases God.

Furthermore, Isaiah 57:15 confirms this truth, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  When we honestly acknowledge our need for His help and forgiveness, He is right there to revive us.

Be honest to God as you humbly admit your need and walk obediently with a grateful attitude in all He has given you to do.  God will dwell with you and you will be blessed forever!

You Shall Go Out With Joy!

A friend of ours loves to meet our needs and do 

special things for us. And then when we express 

our joy and gratefulness for his gift, he replies, 

"It makes me so happy that you enjoy it."

God is so much more like that.  He is a cheerful 

giver who "takes pleasure in the welfare of His 

children."  He has given us "all things that pertain 

to life and godliness" according to 2 Peter 1:3.   

What glorifies and pleases God most is when we 

receive His gifts with joy and thankfulness.

Therefore, it follows that every Christian that has 

received His gift of salvation and the "all else" 

provided should be someone who continually 

exhibits joy and thankfulness.  While It is God's 

will, according to 1 Thess 5:23, that we give 

thanks in all circumstances, this message will 

focus on being filled with joy.

In John 15, Jesus shares about abiding in Him 

and in His Word which enables us to bear fruit.  

He compares our relationship to Him as close as 

branches joined to the vine.  Then Jesus points 

out why He has given us this truth, "that My joy 

may be in you and your joy may be full."  Likewise, 

in Psalm 16, God declares "in His presence is 

fullness of joy."  Being with and in Jesus is being 

filled with His joy.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness 

is what Jesus instructed all men.  But what is the 

Kingdom of God where Jesus reigns as King?  

According to Romans 14, the kingdom of God is 

"righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."  

Clearly, our joy is a testimony that Jesus rules in us.  

This joy is so strong and dominant that we can even 

"count it all joy" when trials come, knowing that our 

loving Father is working good in us.

As Christians we are told to "rejoice, and again I say 

rejoice."  This is a command.  We can choose to 

reject any other thought or feeling that tends to focus 

on the troubles of the world and instead, focus on the 

goodness and mercy of God.  Surely goodness and 

mercy will follow each of us today and forever.  We 

are so blessed that our only honest response to all 

He is and has done for us is to be filled with joy and 

thankfulness.  This attitude so pleases God that He 

declares in Isaiah 55:12, "you shall go out with joy, 

and be led out with peace; the mountains and the 

hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all 

the trees of the field shall clap their hands."    

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