Is Your Body Prepared?

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. Then I said, 'Here I am…I have come to do your will, my God.'" (Ps 40, Heb 10)

Psalm 40 contains this prophecy about Jesus Christ, and although the prophecy was set in motion at the death of Jesus, it was not completely fulfilled. Prophecy is often like the opening of a well – it takes the right circumstances to bring up the water, but once it’s opened, it continues to flow.

While Jesus death is the opening of this well and the ultimate subject of the prophecy, we are His Body on earth, the Church, and the prophecy continues to be fulfilled through us. God has prepared a Body (the entire church Body) to do His will, but He has also prepared a body for each of us to individually do His will.

Our purpose is to follow suit and continue to be a participant in this prophecy, offering ourselves up for the will of God – which is the reason for our preparation. This does not mean that we’re to be martyred or die on a cross, but that God has prepared us both physically and spiritually to do the work He’s set aside in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10), just as He did with Jesus.

To be prepared means to be equipped, framed, strengthened, taught, made sound, anointed and set into place for a specific purpose. So if you’re wondering why you’ve done some spiritual somersaults, been squeezed through some tough circumstances, had your faith tested, and learned to press through – be assured that your entire being has been prepared for God’s purposes and you are equipped to carry out His will in this earth.

Our perfect response to God's preparation is to say "Here I am, I have come to do your will. I will follow the example of Jesus Christ and submit myself: body, soul and spirit!"

Does Your Doctrine Have Power?

Preconceived ideas can be detrimental to many of life’s circumstances, but they can be toxic to our understanding of the word of God. While we can appreciate doctrine that has been instilled in us, it’s our responsibility to search scripture on a continual basis throughout our lives so that the Holy Spirit can progressively reveal His truths. How many times have we thought we had truth only to find out later that our interpretation had been gained from a scripture taken out of context or someone else’s preconceived idea which was passed along to us?

This was my experience a few years back, and it dealt with not one scripture but a great segment of doctrine in the church I attended. I came to such an extreme point of being uncomfortable about the Jesus that was being preached that I was compelled to re-search scripture in its proper context. This meant no scripture stood alone – it could not be taken out of context one line at a time, but I must read and study greater segments to understand the circumstances and characters around each chapter I read. This was a very difficult time for me as I lost some friendships in this process and became a bit of an outcast in the circle of people I had known as my church family. But this was the choice I had to make - accept His truth or accept the the consequences of turning away from the truth God was revealing. Slowly but surely God began to reveal where my doctrine was erroneous – and He continues to do the same for each of us as we humbly, diligently and persistently take in His word through His Spirit.

When the Sadducees challenged Jesus knowledge of scripture in order to prove their own knowledge, he said to them “You are wrong because you know neither the scriptures nor God's power “(Matt 22:29). God’s word and power go together - one doesn’t exist without the other if we have real truth. Inaccurate doctrine doesn’t produce God’s power-filled results, but we can be so determined to make it come to pass that we’ll push it along in the flesh to get the results we think it should bring. The truth of God’s word comes to pass by His power, but God is not under any obligation to bring about the fulfillment of our interpretation of His word.

This is why we must remain teachable – and refrain from being defensive when others bring up concerns about our doctrine. We’re not to be ‘wishy-washy’ or ‘know it all’, but we’re supposed to be ready to give a reason for what we believe (1 Pet 3:15). That means we are to understand why we believe what we believe, give an explanation that Biblically supports that belief (without stretching it to our liking), and be willing to investigate and change our beliefs when they don’t line up entirely with the Word of God. Breaking off wrong interpretations of the word of God breaks off bondage and brings life. God’s word is life to our bodies – but wrong doctrine has no power to bring about God’s promises (Prov. 4:20-22).

If we remain fixed in doctrine that is ‘somewhat’ correct, even if it sounds and feels good to the flesh, we can expect that it might ‘somewhat’ have power and ‘somewhat’ come to pass. But if we are those who continually study to understand and know our God, we will be vessels through which the truth of His word is continually proven and overflows into the lives of others.

Promises & Prophecy: God's Process and Timing

Waiting for the fulfillment of a promise or prophecy is difficult - but prompting its fulfillment through our fleshly actions is dangerous.

We can learn how to handle the promises of God by understanding Sarah's mistake: she anticipated how God might fulfill the promise of a son then pushed doors open to make it happen. This type of activity generally doesn’t have good results - perhaps because God is not only interested in the end result, but He’s interested in the journey itself. Preparation to handle the end promise often comes on the road to the fulfillment of that promise.

God promised a son to Abraham and Sarah, but instead of letting the promise unfold in God’s manner and timing, Sarah manipulated both her handmaiden and her husband to get what she wanted. Her desire for a child (especially to take away her shame of being barren) dominated her desire for God and she tried to step into God’s shoes in bringing the promise to pass.

The result of Sarah’s push to bring about God’s promise was that she found herself living in the same house as the woman with whom her husband had slept (Hagar) and the woman resented Sarah. Today's blended family dynamics are often difficult, but living in the same house as the mother of your step-children might make for a hellish atmosphere. In the end, Sarah’s plan to obtain a child through her foreign handmaiden backfired and brought out the worst in her, her husband, Hagar and Ishmael (Abraham and Hagar’s son). It also made life a bit miserable for Isaac, Abraham and Sarah’s son, who was later born in God’s manner and timing.

God later called Isaac the son who was “born of the spirit,” and Ishmael the son who was “born of the flesh” (Gal 4:29). Isaac represents freedom in God and Ishmael represents the bondage of fleshly living: manipulating people and circumstances to satisfy the flesh and its timing. True freedom comes by completely trusting God to fulfill His words of promise and prophecy, then submitting to His will.

There is no way to 'manipulate' God (especially by manipulating others) and get God’s desired outcome. If God has given you a promise, wait on His timing instead of prompting others and pushing doors open to help fulfill it in your own manner and timing. If we give the promise back to God and cooperate with Him, He will fulfill it through the Spirit and sanctify our hearts and minds in the process.

“ Behold, I am the handmaiden of the Lord [fully submitted to Your Spirit]; let it be done to me according to what you have said [your way of doing things and your timing].” Luke 1:38

Hitting the Prayer Target with Accuracy!

Jesus seldom applied the same method twice, even when circumstances looked similar to one another. Concerning the blind persons who were healed in the Gospels, one was told by Jesus “Receive your sight,” (Luke 18:35) but Jesus put mud and spittle on another sightless man’s eyes (John 9:6). Matthew 15 records that Jesus healed a multitude more of blind persons, but we are not told what ‘method’ He used for each healing. Perhaps Jesus approach to prayer and healing, taking each circumstance individually, is one of the reasons John said that it would take volumes of books to record all that Jesus did (John 21:25).

Being creatures of habit can often serve us well, however, we sometimes settle into common methods of praying, effectively applying the same ‘medicine’ to every situation that needs a salve. Those methods may work at times, but they are likely not the answer to every situation. Taking some time to search the heart and mind of God may provide powerful revelation about which salve to apply and how to apply it, both physically and spiritually speaking.

What if, instead of routinely using the standard methods we’ve learned to use, we went before the throne of heaven and asked for wisdom on how to pray for each circumstance? What if we didn’t assume there was a demon to bind or a rebuke to be given, but we waited on God to reveal the root of the problem then pulled it up as he directed? God is willing to give us understanding and insight into the precise weapon that’s needed so we can hit the prayer target with accuracy – but we must be willing to ask Him and apply His wisdom.

We have been given a powerful arsenal of weaponry for prayer and ministry – may God help us to choose the one that hits the healing and deliverance target in His perfect timing!

"Call to Me, seeking me and my understanding, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which are hidden from your sight (things you have not distinguished and recognized, nor do you have knowledge of and understand them). I will reveal things that you have not seen, and open your understanding to see what I see." (Jer 33:3 paraphrased)

Do We Have The Guts To Become Abrahams?

God said "Abraham, get out of your native land!" (Gen 12:1)
– Leave the culture behind that has dictated who you are your entire life. You are not a product of your culture: God defines who we are and calls us to His culture and kingdom life. Getting out of the ‘native land’ is to leave the world’s system of expectations and morals, the value they place on things, and their cultural norms. We are no longer of this world; we are in it to be an influence for the glory of God and the salvation of mankind, but our native land is heaven. Paul said “our citizenship [rights and privileges as a community member] is in heaven.” (Php 3:20)

God said "Abraham, leave your kindred!"
-Leave your constant fellowship with unsaved people – they are not your brothers and sisters, they are the world’s brothers and sisters. This is not saying that we are to completely cut them off and forsake witnessing to them, but our kindred are now the people of God. Setting boundaries with people of the world can be one of the hardest elements of Christianity, but Jesus said of His own family “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother." (Matt 12:50). This is not telling us to dishonor our families, but to first seek fellowship with people who are kingdom minded.

God said "Abraham, leave your father’s house!"
-Leave the idea that your DNA is earthly. We have been reborn into a heavenly family with a Heavenly Father. The limitations of our natural DNA have been lifted off of us and we are enabled to fulfill God's calling! Further, we cannot truly love and honor our earthly parents without having God’s heart of love and wisdom, and that is the crux of His DNA. We are kingdom born children of the Living God, born not of the flesh, but of the Spirit. John said “As many as received Him, He gave the power to become the sons of God.” (John 1:3).

God said “Abraham, do these things – let go of the earth and cling to Me. My eyes have roamed the earth looking for someone on whom I can place my blessing, someone who will live life to the fullest through Me, and someone who will believe my Words” (Gen 12:2-3).

Then Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness – conforming to the will and character of God. And Abraham became a vessel of blessing to all the people the earth! (Gal. 3:5 paraphrased).

God's Math = Supernatural Increase

Peace and grace – they’re like twin blessings! Peter tells us how to obtain a continued and increasing flow of both of them: expand and intensify your knowledge of God and fellowship with Him. Peter isn’t telling us to know about God, but to continually become more fully acquainted with God, intimately depend on Him, and see Him as the source of everything that pertains to life. (2 Pet 1:1-2)

This hyper focus on God will bring a flood of peace (exemption from havoc, prospering of the soul, and the blessed state of security in God) and grace (God’s holy influence and favor on your heart and in your life, and great benefits from God).

But these twin blessings won’t come as a little pat on the back to comfort you, there will be a multiplication of them and a synergy that only God can bring. This multiplication of grace and peace will continually flood your being and astronomically shift your focus to the heart of God. Synergy is an unexplainable multiplication – when the sum of the parts is far greater than the effort and elements that are put into it. This supernatural increase of peace and grace are like fast growing plants that reach to the sky – they are unstoppable empowerments from the throne room of God.

The key to this synergy is to increasingly make God the center of your universe. When you sit, when you rise, when you walk and when you rest – it’s all about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His Word is your food and His Spirit is your breath. Criticism, negativity, circumstances – they cannot block the peace and grace of God – they are simply opportunities to apply it for His glory!

Are you willing? He is able! Purposefully put aside every hindrance (thought, word, deed, distraction) that tries to keep you from obtaining an increasingly intimate knowledge of God. Make Him your priority, then dive into His grace and peace!

May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2Pe 1:2)

Teach-ability: Ears to Hear!

Remember Gamaliel? He suggested to the Sanhedrin that they shouldn’t persecute the followers of Jesus (Acts 5). He spoke truth to them so they wouldn’t find themselves fighting against God as they pridefully protected their religious mindsets. They were absolutely certain they had the whole counsel of God within their select group and they immediately crushed anyone whose opinion slightly differed from theirs.

James 4 says that God opposes those who set themselves above others, but for those who are humble and teachable He pours out great grace – He abundantly opens avenues to benefit us! Those avenues may very well be the counsel and wisdom of people who we consider to be ‘less learned’ than us. In fact, the very things that we pray for over and over, those things that seem to be vicious cycles in our lives, may be happening because we have not been open to receiving advice or teaching that will break the cycle.

Sometimes un-teach-ability can be a wall of protection. In effect, if we want to protect our image or control the outcome of circumstances, we won’t be willing to hear ideas that differ from what we desire. For example, I greatly desired my oldest son to live nearby us when he landed his first job. It seemed right that I should ask others to pray and agree with me… but it wasn’t right. And God had to show me through others that I was praying against His will. He had other plans for my son and I was unknowingly fighting against the blessings that God wanted to bring into my son’s life.

Paul told Timothy to break out of his legalism and receive the freedom and healing of God by drinking a little wine for medicinal purposes (1 Tim 5:23). Timothy was perhaps resistant to receiving any advice contrary to what he believed to be the ‘facts’ of Old Testament law. And when the prophet Elisha told Naaman to wash in the River Jordan, Naaman became angry and refused – he wanted Elisha to wave his hands over him and pronounce him healed. Naaman’s humble servants finally convinced him to take a dip in the Jordan, whereupon he was instantly healed (2 Kings 5).

Teach-ability is rooted in humility and humility is willing to say “I don’t really have it all, and I am willing to be instructed by whomever God sends with His wisdom and understanding.” When we humble ourselves we shut the door on the enemy - he is the father of pride and exalts himself above the knowledge of God.

However, being teachable doesn’t require us to be push-overs. It means we are open to what others say, but at the same time we are not defensive and protective. A teachable person listens and ponders, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s mind and will. If what’s given as advice through others is meant for us to receive and use, then God will show us. If it’s not for us, then we can put it on the ‘thanks anyway’ pile and move on in love and gentleness.

“Give instruction to a wise man and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man (one upright and in right standing with God) and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9)

Are Women Required to Love Their Husbands?

Paul must have seen that the men in Ephesus were struggling to love their wives. Perhaps they were treating them more as servants than wives: we aren’t specifically told. On the other hand, Paul must have also seen that the Ephesian women were struggling to be respectful to their husbands - they may have been carrying out their wifely duties, but it wasn’t always in a respectful manner. So Paul encouraged each of them in the areas where they were weak: men needed to learn to love their wives and women needed to learn to respect their husbands. (Eph 5:22-25)

Some people have taken these scriptures to mean that women aren’t necessarily supposed to love their husbands, but it’s required that they show respect. However, this is not in alignment with scripture. A close look at Titus 2 reveals a command for older women to teach younger women to love their husbands – which Paul calls ‘sound doctrine.’ This love is a fondness and affection for one’s spouse, according to Strong’s Concordance.

While we may not always understand how to love in the way God loves, we can learn it! We can watch those who have progressed in the love walk, and listen to those who open the word and teach us how to love, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in loving our spouses well!

“But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine…that older women likewise… be reverent in behavior…teachers of good things— that they admonish the young women to love their husbands [with fondness and affection] and to love their children [with maternal care and tenderness]…” (Titus 2:1-4 AMP with added definitions).

Perspective

Perspective is defined as personal outlook, point of view, take on a situation, or interpretation of something. (Dictionary.com)

Our perspective on things is what sets our attitude. If we believe something, our perspective flows out of that belief and our responses follow it. But personal perspective is not necessarily Truth nor is it necessary valid – even though an individual will generally see his or her perspective as an absolutely correct, as though there could be no possible way of viewing something differently (Isaiah 6:9).

Sometimes we allow our past experiences, self-protectiveness, emotions or desire to skew our perspective, and we veer off of Biblical thinking and reasoning. Being skewed towards one side of an argument or situation means that we focus on one piece of it that seems the most important to us – but God is able to reveal Truth and get us re-focused on His divine and all encompassing view of circumstances and events.

Isaiah 11 tells us that Jesus’ perspective was God driven – and the Holy Spirit inspired His thought life as He lived and walked in the natural realm. Jesus wasn’t governed by what He saw or heard, by His past experiences, or fear of death, and neither should we be - God calls this ‘unrighteous’ decision making. (Isaiah 11:2-3)

There are a multitude of atrocities and violent acts going on around the world at this time. We must be people whose perspective is inspired by the Holy Spirit - not by the world’s actions and reactions or our past experiences - if we are to stay focused on God and allow Him to inspire our prayers and works.

Today, I pray for each of us to have supernatural perspective - and the resulting prayers and actions that follow it. May God help us not to add fuel to a hellish fire, but to burn bright with the love and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!

Why Our Children Are Disrespectful

I realize this may be an offensive picture to some, and it may be a 'funny' picture to others. To me, it's representative of an attitude that has 'surpassed' Godliness and become it's own god in trying to right the wrongs of our nation.

There is a definite line that's been crossed in the Christian community - that of being respectful and fighting for righteousness versus being disrespectful and unGodly. This image was posted on the Facebook wall of a Christian - the white wash was added before posting to this message.

Do we have to wonder why our children are disrespectful when parents put this kind of message out for our kids and the world to see? This does not breed educated, thinking adults; it breeds contempt and ignorance.

If we are fighting for righteousness, it cannot be established with an unrighteous attitude. If our goal is to bring Godliness into our nation, name calling and degrading is not the way to do it. Stick with the issues.

I am not a defender of the wrongs and unGodliness being done in our country, but know that being an honor student doesn't bring about righteousness and the ability to run a country as a nation under God. In fact, many of our past and current leaders graduated from law school with honors - including our current president.

We are not fighting people, but principalities who use people. Let us not become used of the principalities, but let us be those who stand for righteousness and operate at the highest standards of respect and wisdom.

Time to Remove Some Hindrances?

Hindrances can be very subtle. They sometimes start out as a good thing but are turned, ever so slightly, in the wrong direction. As an example, consider Eve (Gen 3:6). She ate of the tree not only because the fruit looked delicious, but because she desired to be wise. Her thinking and decision making process was swayed by her desire for wisdom – a desire that should have made her seek out God as the source of wisdom rather than look outside of Him. That desire became a hindrance to her.

Other words for hindrance are obstacle, impediment, nuisance, constraint and encumbrance. Encumbrance is a banking term used to mean a mortgage or debt, and the Bible tells us that whom we are indebted to is our master (Matt. 6:24). In this instance, we are speaking about ‘what’ or ‘who’ has become our master because we have allowed it to take our attention and affection away from God, weighing us down in the same way a large debt can weigh us down.

As Paul indicated in Hebrews 12, we are to throw off every hindrance that slows us down or distracts us from putting God first in our lives. If we could put an image to this it might be the picture of Elijah, who tucked his long garment under his belt before he ran to Jezreel (1 kings 18). His garment would have tripped him up and slowed him down - leaving him bruised, out of sync with God’s timing, and frustrated - so he removed it from around his legs.

It’s our job to ‘throw off’ the weight of the hindrance – others cannot do it for us. We are responsible to recognize the weight through the help of the Holy Spirit and get rid of it. That weight may have subtly crept up on us in the form of lack of sleep, too much television, over eating, attitudes, Godly desires that have turned to fleshly desires (ie: Eve’s wisdom), or hyper focus on problems instead of God. Those things that take our affection and attention off of God are the hindrances that God wants us to remove – and then RUN the race at Godspeed!

“Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and … active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away from distractions and toward Jesus…” (Heb 12:2-3 AMP paraphrased)

Physical Actions with Spiritual Meaning

Our physical actions spiritually influence the world around us, but on the other hand, the way we physical behave is often the result of spiritual influences.
In effect, our actions either agree with (and increase) the spiritual realm of God, or agree with (and increase) the spiritual realm of satan – it’s that simple. We live in physical bodies which have the immense ability to both influence, and be influenced, spiritually.

Why are we told to lift holy hands in prayer (1 Tim2:8) or physically bow down and worship (Ps 95:6)? Why did God direct the prophet Hosea to marry a prostitute and name his children “not pitied” and “you are not my children?” (Hosea 1) The answer to all of these is that these physical bodies are avenues to establish and carry out the spiritual kingdom of God on earth.

I can see, in my own life, where I’ve missed the mark in this physical life. That’s not to say that I’m living under some type of law and keeping track of every right and wrong, but I’ve lost opportunities to be a spiritual influence by the way I’ve acted out my physical life. The way I care for my body, my posture toward others, being willing to physically move at God's prompting; these are things which bring spiritual influence to the world around me.

We are holy highways on which the desires of God are constantly brought to earth and dispersed at His will, and our physical actions can open that highway to spiritually impact the world around us. The physical acts of weddings, presidential inaugurations, baptisms –these are common acts whose spiritual influence is far greater than the words spoken at these events. But so are the physical actions of each of us as prompted by the Holy Spirit.

What happened when Jesus gave His physical body as an example of complete surrender to God’s will?
What if God prompts you to dance like David?
What if your next breakthrough is simply a physical motion away?
What if our physical bodies were simply another avenue for God to establish His kingdom on this earth?

“You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your body and all of its physical strength" (Deut 6:5 paraphrased).

You Can Enter the Holy of Holies

We are seated with Christ in heavenly realms (Eph 2:6), having entrance to the throne room of God. This is how our days of heaven are manifested on earth – we are deeply connected to our Source and consequently live the life of Christ on earth. Being seated with Christ is being unified with Him in thought and purpose: we “live by heaven’s standards and are motivated by heaven’s impulses” (Baker’s NT Commentary).

When we were ‘saved’ and accepted Christ as our Savior it was much more than a washing of sins and reserving of our spot in heaven – those were the blessed beginnings. When the curtain to the temple was torn in two, at the death of Jesus, we were given complete access to the Holy of Holies (the throne room of heaven and the presence of God), and opportunity to daily commune with the God of the Universe. By the Holy Spirit we enter the Holy of Holies where we sit at His feet and hear His voice, understand His wisdom and receive His love (Heb. 6, 10, Is. 6). Our job is to apply that wisdom and love in the earthly realms in God’s timing and manner.

Going into the Holy of Holies with God gives us opportunity to seek Him for each individual decision and circumstance in our lives. No two circumstances are the same and we need God’s insight for each one - we are not people of method and law as it relates to living for Him, applying the same answer to every concern.

As we commune with God, He helps us avoid picking up the wrong weapon for the battle or even fighting a battle that isn’t ours to fight. As we purposely sit at His feet, God reveals motives, hurts and roots behind both our own and other people’s conduct. He knows the core of each problem and the target that needs to be hit through prayer or other action: here is the place to wait on Him and receive His answers.

We have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who became the final living sacrifice and gave His blood that we would have access to the throne room of heaven. Therefore, we can have confidence that God is waiting for us to commune with Him and we enter in to His presence not solely for the purpose of receiving answers and wisdom, but for fellowship with Him, the Blessing above all blessings. Here is where God lavishes His love on us and frees us of the fear and turmoil of the world (Heb 4:14-16 paraphrased).

Afraid to be Me

Afraid to be Me

Our individuality is a gift from God: we are each uniquely formed and prepared for a specific work that is assigned to us (Eph 4:11, Jer 1:5). And though we're each cut form a different mold and individually crafted by the Master Sculptor, we fit together in the Body of Christ like pieces of a puzzle.

As we become the sanctified individuals God has intended us to be, we learn how to love and serve in the unique way that God has created us to love others and serve Him. But if we allow ourselves to be conformed to other’s norms, we may wind up walking in disobedience to God – never fulfilling His purposes through us for His glory.

This is not to say that any one of us should put his own interests above unity in the Body of Christ, but that each one should allow the Holy Spirit freedom to develop him into the person God has called him to be – thereby becoming free to be a fully functioning member of the Body. Developing self is not selfishness toward the Body of Christ - if each person is a seeker of God individually and allows himself to be transformed to God’s design for him, he will fit into the Body perfectly.

Sadly, many of us have not become the unique individuals God has intended us to be – and perhaps this is part of the reason we don’t see God’s power and creativity abounding in the world today. We feel pressured to conform – causing us to use our God given creativity within “acceptable” boundaries which bring comfort to men’s flesh. We must dress a certain way to fit in, behave a certain way to be accepted, and speak with a certain lingo to communicate with the group. This can cause us to love through the lense of other’s expectations of us and live in fear of being rejected. This is not mature love – perfect love casts out fear.

We miss out considerably when we exclude people because they aren’t ‘like us.’ John the Baptist was quite different than his contemporaries….but his personality was necessary for the work God called him to. What individual ‘quirks’ do you have that may be the avenue to bring God’s power and love to others?

Being a unique individual is not an excuse to be rude or selfish, or keep us from being an integral part of His Body - that would be negating the purpose of individuality. Becoming a fully mature, unique, child of God is becoming who God has created us to be in Him so that we can love and be a witness as no other person can be. This is not because we are better or greater, but because we are created to minister His love through our own unique, sanctified personalities.

Perhaps it's time to break out of the mold that has kept you stifled and held the love of God captive inside of you. You're not just another brick in the wall - you're a living, breathing, life giving, master crafted, unique individual - perfectly formed for His glory!

Convicted - Not Condemned!

 Don't let the enemy turn God's sweet conviction into condemnation!

God gives us revelation about ourselves because He wants to bring us freedom and move us forward in becoming more Christ-like.  This revelation from God is called conviction - it's God's way of revealing sin issues within our hearts and exposing something that’s damaging to us and possibly to others as well.  If we stop getting conviction, or refuse to receive it, we’ll become stagnant in our growth and perhaps even a bit hard-hearted or stiff-necked.

Sometimes, however, that conviction is turned upside down by the enemy:  what God reveals for the purpose of bringing freedom can be turned into torment.  Conviction is a starting point for repentance and new growth, but the enemy can twist-up convicting revelation from the Lord and use it to keep us in a pool of self-condemnation.

If God says ‘be more gentle’ the enemy will tell us we’ve run over people all our lives and we’ll never change because we grew up in a rough family and people are sick of being around us and we have nothing to offer and yada,yada, yada.

But God says “I’m giving you an answer to your prayer.  When you asked me why the same thing keeps happening over and over in your relationships I gave you this revelation.  Now open my word and look into the word ‘gentle,’ then use it as a springboard for a new beginning in this area.” 

Conviction from the Lord is a sign of His love and active involvement in our lives.  That conviction might sting when we first get the revelation, but we cannot allow repentance and Godly sorrow to be turned into heaviness and self-condemnation by the enemy.  The devil’s condemnation is his effort to entrap us in self-absorption on the very thing that God meant for freedom. 

God leads and we follow – He does not hide Himself behind aggressive behavior toward us or push us into self-condemnation.  Don't allow what God meant for good to be turned for bad by the enemy - His conviction is an opportunity for sweet surrender.

“ Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24)

Resolving Problems: The Bull in the China Shop

One of the reasons we can never be 100% certain, when judging things by our own eyes and by natural appearance, is that we are limited in our sight. Without revelation from the Spirit of God we are very one sided and self protective in our decision making.

The human mind judges things, in part, based on past experiences – and we sometimes find it easier to sympathize with someone if we’ve had that same experience. But we might also go back to that experience, even subconsciously, and use it as a plumb line for discerning other circumstances: those may be times when we find ourselves coming to the wrong conclusion.

Even when we’re absolutely sure we’ve discerned a situation correctly, it may be a good idea to step back and ask God what’s behind the scenes that we can’t see. When we want to move in and ‘fix’ it, there may be something deeper under the surface of the situation that is much bigger than we anticipated or much different than we judged from our perspective.

In short, we know in part, it’s really that simple. And giving others the benefit of that understanding is one way of working through situations whose endings are potentially toxic.

Our confidence is in the Lord – we cannot have confidence in our flesh and our ability to understand more than we have confidence in God’s way of dealing with difficulties. We’re not called to have a ‘bull in a China shop’ mentality: a thoughtful and reflective spirit gives room and time for the Lord to move and it keeps us from doing damage to ourselves and others when we lack full understanding.

“The Lord's slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim 2:24-25)

My Sheep, Your Sheep - Competition Between Churches

If you’ve been around the Christian community very long you’ve probably experienced a strange phenomenon which seems to be gaining ground. Many churches, even of the same denomination, are very protective of their sheep – sometimes to the point of charging them to disassociate with others of the same belief.

I’m not making a blanket statement and saying that all churches are this way, but there are enough of them that it seems to be an epidemic. People leave one church and go to another for various reasons (and this is not an accusation against either the specific church or the sheep concerning why this happens) but warnings against other churches are commonly shared with those that are leaving. It’s odd that we can see how wrong someone else is but can’t see where we err in understanding – granted, sometimes it’s valid to protect sheep from what lurks down the highway.

John the Baptist refused to participate in a fight for sheep (John 3): He knew they all belonged to Jesus anyway. John’s disciples thought they had ‘first dibs’ on baptizing; it was their ministry and now others were copying it! His disciples were flustered because people were leaving ‘their group’ and going to ‘Jesus' group,’ but John put a quick end to their complaints by saying that “No one can claim anything that has not been sent to Him by God.” In other words – if they’re supposed to be here, they will be here, but if not, we are all fighting in the same Army anyway!

John’s disciples saw Jesus’ ministry as a rival, but the same attitude was with Jesus disciples when they saw others driving out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9). Jesus told His disciples that whoever was not against Him was ministering for Him – those that are serving God are all FOR God, not against one another, regardless of location.

It's quite obvious from Paul's letters to the churches that none of them was serving perfectly - they were a work in progress. But in spite of their issues, we have no record of Paul or anyone else telling believers to stay away from specific NT churches. While caution never hurts, it seems we have reached a point of abrasively criticizing other churches, even when we've previously broken bread with them and know their hearts for the Lord.

Perhaps there’s an element of feeling rejected that comes into play in these types of circumstances - but personal feelings of rejection can be healed by forgiving others, and accepting a dose of God’s reality as recorded in both John 3 and Mark 9. But more importantly, we should be content to know that the sheep who have left our fold are still serving God and fellowshipping with other believers – and we are continuing to do what God calls us to do as a small part of the larger Army! In the end, we who believe are linked arm in arm in Kingdom service.

Peace to the Church!

Before You Pick Up A Stone.....

They dragged the woman to Jesus, forcing her half dressed body into the midst of the temple crowd where Jesus was teaching. There she stood in front of the crowd; both her and Jesus had been ‘put on the spot’ in front of everyone in the temple.

“What do you want us to do with her, Master?” they sarcastically asked Him. Jesus knew their intention was to trap Him – they’d been waiting for a moment to catch Him and label Him as a lawbreaker - even if they had to set Him up to do it!

But as people often do who seek self elevation, they had given Jesus just enough information to swing the argument to their favor, hoping to be elevated in the eyes of the people who stood by and watched. The accusers hoped to be rid of Jesus once and for all and regain the honor and status that ‘belonged to them.’

But where was the other half of the adulterous duo – it takes 2 to tango – even the law recognized that both parties were guilty (Deut. 22). When Jesus asked if any of the accusers were without sin they began to disappear one by one – hoping that Jesus wouldn’t confront their own sins.

They knew that Jesus had seen into them –he had seen their adulterous and greedy hearts. But what they didn’t perceive was that Jesus was giving them as much mercy as He was giving the adulterous woman. Jesus offered them the same forgiveness he offered her, knowing full well that the bucket of each of their sins was overflowing.

When they scattered from the scene it was because of fear – fear of being exposed. But the adulterous woman left forgiven and whole! She stood in front of Jesus and faced her sin and received His love and forgiveness, but they left in bitterness of heart, agitated at having been humiliated.

Jesus waited until the accusers left, then spoke gently to the woman. He had no need to prove himself ‘right’ in the eyes of the crowd because His motive was to restore this woman to God. The accuser’s motive is to point out his own righteousness by illuminating the wrong in others: a method of gaining followers and self satisfaction.

We who love God also love the brethren – we are not those who fall into the trap of being the accuser of the brethren. We are those who offer mercy and forgiveness, those whose motives spring from a deep desire to see those who are caught in sin fully restored to God.

“We must be able to exercise gentleness and forbearance toward those who err, since we ourselves are also liable to moral weakness.” (Paraphrased, Heb. 5:2)

When Freedom Turns Into Captivity

As New Testament people, we are not under a law which requires us to schedule temple visits, give certain offerings on certain days, or celebrate holy days. We know that God is looking for relationship with us, and out of that relationship should flow the desire to fellowship with Him, walk in obedience and serve others.

But the freedom we’ve been given can easily turn into a trap of the enemy if we are not mindful in the Lord of how our human flesh operates and how the enemy takes advantage of our weaknesses. Freedom from structure, freedom from specific requirements to meet together, freedom to do what we want to do….these freedoms are blessings that can turn into opportunities to neglect the life of God in us and through us. And perhaps most importantly, when our freedoms are used incorrectly they can damage the spiritual walk of other people.

What kind of freedoms might be easily abused?
-Food freedoms – how free are we when we become sick from our diets and this limits our ability to serve God?
-Fellowship freedoms – how free are we when the enemy can isolate us from fellowship and keep us from the accountability the Body offers?
-Financial freedoms – how free are we when we can swipe a piece of plastic today and have to work another 15 hours next week to pay it off?
-Doctrinal freedoms – How free are we when we allow society to dictate what God's word says? God brings His word to pass, not varied interpretations of His word.

These are hard things to take in - but they are not meant for condemnation - just to make us aware of how the enemy may be trying to trap us in our 'freedom.'

In reality, our freedom is not freedom FROM something, but freedom TO the Lord. The Holy Spirit in our lives takes us into full fellowship, where true freedom resides – but freedom without responsibility is a usurping of the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God empowers us to freely serve and love Him – and that empowerment leads to spiritual discipline and perseverance – the freedom to grow in Him, and know Him and show the real Him to the world around us!

Stand fast in Christ - empowered by the Holy Spirit Don’t be entangled in false freedom, only to find yourself in bondage. Christ has made us free indeed – free to serve Him in all righteousness. (Paraphrased, Gal 5:1)

Holy Determination - Get It Today!

Jesus had a mission: He knew the purpose of His life and He refused to be swayed from that purpose. Though Jesus was fully human, He refused to take on the distractions that came from men’s ideas and mindsets. Jesus chose instead to give Himself fully to God’s plan and He kept Himself focused on fulfilling that plan in God’s way.

This is what Godly determination and spiritual tenacity do in us: they keep us focused first on God and His plans, and second on the avenue with which He desires us to accomplish His will.

Determination is a drive of the heart. It’s not something that comes from the head or it would be swayed with various trains of thought. Determination has made a decision and sees life’s purpose as the means for living out that decision.

Tenacity is a holy boldness that conquers the worst of resistance to the will of God. It’s a bulldozer when needed or a gentle word when needed – but its power lies in accomplishing the will of God at the expense of self preservation and self satisfaction. Tenacity is willing to give up popularity or comfort or anything that keeps the will of God from moving forward.

Men’s ideas and plans are like anchors to the will of God, but holy determination and tenacity are the super-human powers that push through the worst of men’s mindsets and insults and distractions. Determination and tenacity are empowerments of God that cause us to brush off the world and push heavenward to the glory of God.

“Now when they saw the boldness [holy tenacity and determination] of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they wondered; and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” John 4:13

When we walk in His determination and tenacity, people will see that we have been with Jesus!

Pessimism: The Faith Killer!

Pessimism is defined as “the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions and problems (Dictionary.com).”

By its nature, pessimism is lack of love. According to 1 Cor. 13, love is always ready to believe the best. That’s not to say that love is blind, it’s most certainly truthful and honest, but it does not project or emphasize outcomes, or assess situations, with the worst of the worst results in mind.

When the Israelites were sent into the Promised Land to spy it out, 10 pessimists and 2 optimists made up the scouting party. Caleb and Joshua optimized their love for God by seeing things through His eyes, the eyes of faith, and they came back with a good report from the Promised Land. The 10 pessimists came back with a fearful report and it caused the entire Israelite community to enter into rebellion (Number 13).

This is not to say that optimism must always have a wonderful report – but it has a God report! God’s way and will and word are prominent in the life of the optimist – he seeks God for each avenue in life and sees it as the best outcome because it’s prescribed by God. In the worst of circumstances, such as Paul and Silas’ imprisonment, the optimist can sing praise to God while shackled to a cold, stone floor (Acts 16).

Everyone has a down day once in a while, but a pessimistic life style does not give glory to God. One may even say that pessimism resembles false prophecy – because it does not seek God’s will and way but projects its own thoughts and words in place of God’s. On the other hand, true optimism has to be based on trusting God and accepting His will.

For the person who leans toward pessimism, a study of the love of God may be the cure. A revelation of God’s power and an understanding of the promises in His Word may wash away the tendency to see the worst in other people and circumstances, replacing it with great faith, which works by love.

Stuck in a Rut of Excuses!

Stuck in a Rut of Excuses!

I’ve found myself making excuses, at times, for staying in a rut. Perhaps it’s human nature to be comfortable where we’re at, even though we dream of better circumstances and know there’s more to life than what we’re living. Not only do we limit ourselves, but we may limit God’s work and will in our lives when we allow our minds to stay stuck in that rut.

Such was the case with the lame man who sat at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5. For 38 years, the same amount of time the Israelite’s formally went around the mountain in Exodus (they spent 2 traveling), this man waited for someone to put him in the pool so he could be healed.

Jesus words to this man must have felt like a brick upside of his head: “Do you want to be healed?” Today we might respond by asking “Seriously? I’ve spent 38 years begging people to carry me down these ultra-steep steps and drop me in the pool, and you ask if I want to be healed?”

This man defended himself with a string of excuses that might hit home for some of us:

- “I have no man to put me into the pool” - he depended on people rather than God

- “I have to wait until the water is stirred” - he depended on circumstances rather than God

- “Someone has to put me IN THE POOL” - he depended on a location rather than God

-“While I’m waiting someone gets into the pool before me” - he blames others for not helping him enough and getting in his way

-It was the Sabbath Day – he limited himself to a particular day of the week or period of time.

Perhaps Jesus is saying today “Get up! Pick up that roll of excuses you’re laying on and wake up your faith in Me!”

The Living Water isn’t confined to a location or set of circumstances. Dive in!

(Excerpts taken from "The Gospel of John: Believe and Live" by Elmer Towns)

Taboo People!

Jewish Rabbi’s developed offshoots of the law which they gave equal standing with the law. One of those offshoots, or rules, stated that no man could talk with a woman in public, not even his wife.[1] To further this idea, the Rabbi’s considered it blasphemous to teach the law, in any degree, to a woman.

Knowing these ‘rules’ fully, Jesus purposefully met with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Not only did he speak with her alone, but He discussed the gift of living water with her and initiated a revival in the Samaritan town of Sychar.

In human eyes, seen through the Jewish culture of the day, the Samaritans were un-savable and undeserving of God’s attention - the Jews considered them to be taboo and worse than animals. But Jesus broke the boundaries of their culture and purposely gave living water, salvation, to this Samaritan woman who’d had 4 husbands and was now living with a man.

A woman, an adulterer, and worst of all, a blasphemous Samaritan - someone that today’s religious mindset might put the ‘taboo’ sticker on. Someone who doesn’t agree with our doctrine. Someone who has been rejected because of our man-made rules. But God sent Jesus out of His way to meet with this woman and bring her salvation: He opened her eyes through the gift of prophecy in Jesus – a true example of how He gifts us for the purpose of extending grace to others.

Because Jesus went outside of the cultural and religious box, the Samaritans had living water and forgiveness given to them, and the schism of division between the Jews and the Samaritans began to close on that day. The town of Sychar was changed and revival broke out – their hearts were turned to God.

Man-made ideas sometimes sneak into our doctrine and are given equal standing with God’s Word. These mindsets cause us to reject certain kinds of people instead of rejecting ideas that don’t agree with the Word of God. Jesus separated the ideas from the person – He loved the person and rejected both the Samaritan and Jewish ‘religion’, but He stood strong in the Truth of God’s Word.

God help us to reject religion, live in Your Truth and take that Truth to those we’ve considered ‘taboo.’

1. (Baker’s NT Commentary, Jn 4:27).

The Spirit Hovers...And the Word Becomes Flesh!

With His spoken Word, God created the universe. That ‘Word’ is Jesus Christ (John 1) – He is the creative Word through which God brought the world into existence, and He still resounds as the Living Word in the natural universe. This is why the natural world around us testifies to the existence of God – His imprint remains on it because through His Word of Power (Jesus Christ) He created and formed it into His divinely inspired handiwork (Romans 1:20).

Just as creation testifies of the existence of God, we also do as we’re transformed into His image. The Living Word, Jesus Christ, the Bible – they are one in the same - and as the Bible is opened, read, and understood by us regularly, that same Word changes us from the inside out. We become a product of His creation, just as the natural world is, but for us it’s a spiritual creation.

John 1:1 says “The Word became flesh.” This is talking about Jesus Christ becoming a blood and flesh human being. However, in a spiritual sense, the same thing happens to us. As we read the Word and take it into our hearts, the Holy Spirit broods over it, just as He brooded, hovered over and nurtured the Word at creation (Gen. 1), causing the Word to take root and grow. As the Word is established in us we are recreated into the image of God, and once again, the Word becomes flesh.

This is our process of sanctification and becoming more Christ-like. We actually become a part of His body extended from heaven (where He is the head), to earth (where we are His body) (Eph 1:22-23). This is not to say that we become equal to God, but that we take on the character and image of Jesus Christ and form His Body on earth.

However, if we want to be changed into His image, we must develop a love for the Word and spend time in it – giving the Spirit of God something to brood over and nurture in our lives.

Today I pray for all who read this – that God would give us an immense hunger, desire and passion for Him and His Word. I pray that God would help us to submit to the Spirit’s brooding and we would become a living Epistle, the Word made flesh, for His glory!

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.” (John 1:14)

The Next Great Power Supply!

Love is so completely foreign to the operation of the world that it may be the one thing that causes them to stop and take note!

The world has satisfied itself through medical science, space travel and amazing architectural feats - but love can never be simulated.

The greatest, untapped power supply of our time may be the love of God!

Love endures through the worst trials, showing patience and kindness
Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or self promoting
Love is never arrogant and inflated with pride
Love is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly
Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking
Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful
Love takes no account of the evil done to it – paying no attention to a suffered wrong
Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person
Love never fails
(1 Cor 13)

God help us to understand and operate in your love – perfected and fully furnished for your glory!