Fire to Never Go Out

In presenting the "Final Charge" to our high school graduates, the Lord led me to share a story about the Moravian Christians.  Because they were being persecuted, they fled to Count Zinzendorf in Herrnhut, Germany for refuge.  Unfortunately, there were many scars and much division in the camp.  Zinzendorf cried out to God for direction, reconciliation, and revival.  God gave him a word from Leviticus 6:13, "Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out."   

This "Fire" Word brought about much healing, repentance, and restoration which ignited a prayer meeting in 1727 that lasted for over 100 years.  The ramifications produced much fruit that ultimately changed many parts of the world.  Two of the young Moravian men from this gathering were concerned about the souls of the African slaves on the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix in the Danish West Indies.  However, the only way they could go to share the Gospel with them was to become slave workers, so they chose to sell themselves to the slave owner and became slaves.  As their ship pulled away from the docks, they called out to their loved ones on the shore, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the reward of His suffering!"  

The "fire on the altar that must never go out" is our laying our lives down because He is worthy.  When our eyes are opened we will see His worthiness and join heaven in crying, "Holy, holy, holy.  Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for the sins of the world."  However, by faith and the Word of God it is revealed now to us that He is worthy.  Worthy to receive the reward of His suffering.  Worthy of every sacrifice, every laying down every misunderstanding, every extra effort to love and forgive completely.  Our example of love, Jesus, demonstrated and declared that no greater love has anyone than to lay his life down for his friends.  Therefore, everything we do out of love for Him, and to let this love motivate us to care for others around us, pleases Him.  In short, He is worthy of it all is our fire.  

May He receive the reward of His suffering in what we do and think today.  Never let the fire go out. 

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.       

A Picture of Heaven - Holy, Holy, Holy

"Behold, a door standing open in heaven! (Revelation 4:1)  One glimpse of the glory, power, and absolute authority of heaven makes all the difference, and establishes perfect peace in the heart of the believer.  There is none like You, O God, and Your Word will never pass away. You are worthy to be praised forever.  

God gives us an awesome picture of how totally He is in charge and of the infinite glory of His Kingdom.  This picture of heaven is a powerful image to focus on when we come into His presence in prayer and praise.  Jehovah Shammah, He is here.  Remember when the Queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom, provision, and order, how there was no spirit left in her.  Likewise, when the Holy Spirit reveals to us God's wisdom, beauty, and perfect rule, all of our doubts, fears, and worries completely disappear.  We can totally trust and worship this holy God through all the shaking events because we stand in awe with Him in an unshakeable kingdom. God inhabits and is enthroned in His praises. No wonder Psalm 150 calls everyone that has breath to praise the Lord.  

There is a powerful picture painted in Isaiah 30 that shows what happens as we rejoice in and praise the Lord.  It appears like God is a conductor of an festive orchestra whose arm swings to the music of our joyful worship, and as his hand descends He renders justice to the wicked.  "You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel.  The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire."  The passage goes on to say with tambourines and harps, His voice will be heard, and He will strike with a rod the punishment of the wicked. 

In Revelation 5, one of the most awesome moments in heaven is displayed as a search for someone who could rightfully receive the title deed to rule the earth in righteousness and truth. Behold, Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Son of Man, is found worthy and God the Father hands Him the scroll. This perfect battle plan is wrapped in seven seals with the sure promise to remove everything that opposes God's kingdom of love.  God is love and the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdoms of our Lord, ruled with righteousness and peace. 

As the Lamb, who rightfully earned this reward because of His shed blood, receives the glorious decree, all heaven falls in worship at God's glorious plan.  His sacrifice releases the infinite love and wisdom of God in transforming believers of the Lord Jesus into His priests and king who will rule on the earth forever. Perhaps the greatest miracle on earth is the transformation of the church into a holy bride, fit for a King.  

God has always been revealed as a unshakeable rock, a refuge in the storm, and a very present help in times of need.  Therefore it is consistent of God to provide this glorious picture of His plan and victory to give us peace as He deals with the rebellion of man.  Furthermore, the heart of God is manifested even in the righteous judgments of rebellion,  He is beckoning men to repent and receive His mercy.  God desires all men to be saved, and this is the perfect plan to bring in the greatest harvest possible of souls into the kingdom.  As Psalm 149 declares, God takes pleasure in His people.  God doesn't change, His way is perfect. 

In Luke 21:28 Jesus tells us how we should react, "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  Clearly we are to live by the Word of God, not by bread alone, or by our fleshly perceptions.  This "beyond description of words" revelation of God's throne and glorious triumph over every evil presents us a sure promise of a future and a hope. As we see end time events beginning to happen, rather than be fearful, it is time to look up and cheerfully give Him all our love and praise.  He is worthy to be loved with all our heart, our soul, our mind, and our strength.  Let us rejoice in Him and be glad. 

Humanism versus the God-directed Lifestyle

God so loved the world that He sent Jesus to save sinners and to transform them into new creations, becoming sons of God. Yet the question is for what reason does a person turn to God and receive the forgiveness that Jesus purchased by His blood on the cross. Does one accept Jesus Christ as Lord so he will have a better life and enjoy eternal happiness or is there a better reason?
Humanism, by its very nature, is centered on man, his efforts, his needs, and his happiness. It is natural for human nature to focus on his own thoughts, feelings, wants, and pleasures. This truth is shown quite openly in the expression, “Look out for number one.”
The problem is that man’s human nature has been corrupted through sin. It doesn’t take long for even a baby to demand his own way or a young child to quickly declare “mine” to whatever he desires. Much advertising plays on how vulnerable man is to satisfying his wants, to feeling important, or to gaining the attention of the opposite sex. Man lives for the satisfying of his human nature and its needs and wants. This way of thinking leaves man always wanting more and never being satisfied. There is a reason that Proverbs points out that the way that seems right to man leads to death.
In the book of Jude, the word tells us to contend for the faith. Is it possible that humanism has crept into the church, and even into the way we present the Gospel? Do we “advertise” accepting Jesus so that man can have his needs met and be happy? Are we suggesting that man’s desires are the motivation to get saved?
Let the word of God suggest another perspective: God. He is the almighty infinite being who has demonstrated ultimate love in being pleased to let Jesus be crucified in our place. Rather than destroy man for killing His son, God actually invites man to receive the substitution gift that Jesus took the punishment for him. Truly this kind of merciful God is worthy of all service and praise.
The primary reason for accepting the saving work of Jesus Christ and making Him “lord” or “ruler” of his life is because man has offended an infinite holy God and now recognizes that Jesus deserves to have the reward of His sufferings. Man’s new purpose in life is to glorify God rather than live for himself. Paul states “He [Jesus] died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” in 2 Corinthians 5:15. Man is not only “born again” as a ”new creation” but now lives by the power of the Holy Spirit to offer his life for the glory of God.
The satisfying of human wants will ultimately fail. One cannot serve God by living for his own satisfaction. No matter what man does, there will always be criticism and someone who doesn’t appreciate it. Human wants or what the Bible calls “flesh” will conflict with the spiritual direction of what God desires. Only a deliberate purpose of living to please God will prove to provide the motivation and the persevering power to overcome to the end.
In short, even Christianity and its life-giving principles depends on man’s choice to focus on doing all things to please God rather than expecting God to be his servant and always meet his wants. God does promise that if man seeks Him first, all those needs will be met. God is a loving father who knows that the only way man will enjoy peace and joy is to repent from selfish human nature and to accept by faith the power of the Christ-filled life and the "yoke" of living to glorify God. Man chooses to be a bond-servant of Jesus Christ because God is worthy.