Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.10 Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
There is a day that is drawing near, when the LORD will bring desolation on the earth. Nations will rage, kingdoms will totter, the earth melts. In that day, as in EVERY day, God is our refuge and our strength. This Psalm speaks of Him making wars cease, breaking the bows and shattering the spears, and burning chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
We've all heard the first part of this verse. I hadn't planned on sharing all of Psalm 46 tonight, but I just couldn't put it in context without all of it. In the midst of great destruction "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". We're talking about the earth giving way, and mountains being moved into the heart of the sea. I want you to imagine yourself there right now...I don't know about you, but I think I'd be pretty freaked out! I'd be running around trying to do this, save that, help so and so, etc. God ends it all and commands us to be still and know that He is God. Now imagine this scene, it's like the peaceful calm after the storm, the best nights sleep after many without sleep, it's like the satisfying of the deepest craving you have ever had. Then WE will worship HIM. HE will be exalted among the nations, He will be exalted in the earth! "The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah" Amen!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Glorify His name
Psalm 50;14-15
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
I've been thinking about Old Testament sacrifices lately. Bringing the first fruits of labor and giving it as a sacrifice to God as an act of Thanksgiving. In today's era, for many of us, our "first fruit" is our time, talent, and money. I'm not going to go into tithing today, but I do want to talk about the sacrifice of thanksgiving. When we are thankful to another person, we recognize it with sincere and heartfelt words and actions. Doesn't God deserve at minimum the same thing? Doesn't he deserve even more? If our first fruits are our time, talent, and money, we should be giving of these things to glorify HIS name. This is an act of worship, it is to GLORIFY HIM. The key behind understanding everything is to know that God's motive in everything is to be worshipped by HIS creation. If you are struggling, He will deliver you, if it means HE is glorified. If you want to see the power of God, start glorifying HIS name.
14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and perform your vows to the Most High,15 and call upon me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
I've been thinking about Old Testament sacrifices lately. Bringing the first fruits of labor and giving it as a sacrifice to God as an act of Thanksgiving. In today's era, for many of us, our "first fruit" is our time, talent, and money. I'm not going to go into tithing today, but I do want to talk about the sacrifice of thanksgiving. When we are thankful to another person, we recognize it with sincere and heartfelt words and actions. Doesn't God deserve at minimum the same thing? Doesn't he deserve even more? If our first fruits are our time, talent, and money, we should be giving of these things to glorify HIS name. This is an act of worship, it is to GLORIFY HIM. The key behind understanding everything is to know that God's motive in everything is to be worshipped by HIS creation. If you are struggling, He will deliver you, if it means HE is glorified. If you want to see the power of God, start glorifying HIS name.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Take Inventory
1 Corinthians 3;11-17
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Today's entry is a simple message, STOP, and take inventory of what you value. Are the things on your list things that will survive the fire or are they the things that will burn up? Did you include yourself on that list? I ask because many people do not count themselves as valuable, yet God's word clearly says here that we are "God's temple" and that "God's Spirit dwells in you". We are so valuable that God's word says "if anyone destroys God' temple, God will destroy him." That's a powerful statement. Ponder that for a moment, God, the creator, who can have or create anything that He wants, says that "you are that temple". Stop and take inventory of your life today, and make sure to count yourself.
11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
Today's entry is a simple message, STOP, and take inventory of what you value. Are the things on your list things that will survive the fire or are they the things that will burn up? Did you include yourself on that list? I ask because many people do not count themselves as valuable, yet God's word clearly says here that we are "God's temple" and that "God's Spirit dwells in you". We are so valuable that God's word says "if anyone destroys God' temple, God will destroy him." That's a powerful statement. Ponder that for a moment, God, the creator, who can have or create anything that He wants, says that "you are that temple". Stop and take inventory of your life today, and make sure to count yourself.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Rest
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
This is my prayer tonight, not just for myself, but for all who are struggling and feel like they can't hold on. May the LORD grant us all rest tonight.
This is my prayer tonight, not just for myself, but for all who are struggling and feel like they can't hold on. May the LORD grant us all rest tonight.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Remembered
I love the story of Jonah. Many years ago, I remember being so convicted by this book. I know that I didn't directly tie yesterday's entry with Prayer, yet I consider it to be relevant due to it being part of a conversation between God and Joshua. Tonight's text, as you may have guessed, is from the book of Jonah.
Jonah 2;7
7 When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the LORD,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
In a certain way, this verse is a bit funny to me. Jonah is inside the big fish at this point and I can only imagine that this is EXACTLY how Jonah felt. Have you ever had that moment where you were in a place that you knew that you wouldn't have been in if you had followed God's instruction? That is exactly where Jonah finds himself in this situation. Jonah knew that he had disobeyed God, that he had run away from HIS direction and did the opposite of what God wanted him to do. Yet in the midst of the trial and adversity, we see Jonah acknowledge that the LORD is in HIS holy temple and that even though he had not "remembered" the LORD in his folly, he was now ready to pray and return to him.
There are times in this life that we can not face alone. We NEED God, HIS grace and mercy, and HIS healing power. We must remember HIM in all that we do if we are to see the power and glory of HIS name.
I've been on the brink, as I discussed in "Autobiography". "When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD". I don't know where you are tonight, but I do know that even though we may at times forget to remember the LORD, HE never forgets us. He never leaves us, He never forsakes us, and when we think that we can bare no more, HE makes a way. If you are struggling today, I'm praying for you. Jonah was praying from inside the belly of a fish, tonight I know that you may feel like you are even farther from God than this. No matter where you are, God is still in HIS holy temple, He is still on His throne, and He is still BIG God, creator of the universe, author of salvation, conqueror of nations, mighty counselor, redeemer, Savior, more than we deserve, and the true one we desire. Won't you lay down your pride tonight and follow after him? Won't you cry out to Him tonight on His throne? Won't you empty your hands of all your burdens and let the LORD of the universe take control?
I'm praying for you today/tonight. May the LORD bless you and keep you until you meet Him face to face. Amen!
Jonah 2;7
7 When my life was fainting away,
I remembered the LORD,
and my prayer came to you,
into your holy temple.
In a certain way, this verse is a bit funny to me. Jonah is inside the big fish at this point and I can only imagine that this is EXACTLY how Jonah felt. Have you ever had that moment where you were in a place that you knew that you wouldn't have been in if you had followed God's instruction? That is exactly where Jonah finds himself in this situation. Jonah knew that he had disobeyed God, that he had run away from HIS direction and did the opposite of what God wanted him to do. Yet in the midst of the trial and adversity, we see Jonah acknowledge that the LORD is in HIS holy temple and that even though he had not "remembered" the LORD in his folly, he was now ready to pray and return to him.
There are times in this life that we can not face alone. We NEED God, HIS grace and mercy, and HIS healing power. We must remember HIM in all that we do if we are to see the power and glory of HIS name.
I've been on the brink, as I discussed in "Autobiography". "When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD". I don't know where you are tonight, but I do know that even though we may at times forget to remember the LORD, HE never forgets us. He never leaves us, He never forsakes us, and when we think that we can bare no more, HE makes a way. If you are struggling today, I'm praying for you. Jonah was praying from inside the belly of a fish, tonight I know that you may feel like you are even farther from God than this. No matter where you are, God is still in HIS holy temple, He is still on His throne, and He is still BIG God, creator of the universe, author of salvation, conqueror of nations, mighty counselor, redeemer, Savior, more than we deserve, and the true one we desire. Won't you lay down your pride tonight and follow after him? Won't you cry out to Him tonight on His throne? Won't you empty your hands of all your burdens and let the LORD of the universe take control?
I'm praying for you today/tonight. May the LORD bless you and keep you until you meet Him face to face. Amen!
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Be Strong & Courageous
Tonight's entry is from Joshua 1; 5-9
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
3 times the LORD tells Joshua to be "courageous" in these 5 verses. The LORD tells Joshua to obey His word (the Law) and what He commands. He tells Joshua "meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.". He tells Joshua not to be frightened or dismayed, because "the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.".
This scripture is just as relevant today as it was in Joshua's time. The words spoken were spoken to Joshua, but are just as applicable to our own life, our own situation. If we meditate on scripture "God's words" day and night and let it not depart from our mouth, then we will find ourselves in the middle of what God is doing. We become intertwined in the story, because we are now a part of it. We are not to be frightened or dismayed, we are to be strong and courageous, STRONG & COURAGEOUS.
My question tonight to myself and to you dear reader is a tough one, but the answer may change the rest of your life. What areas of your life are you holding back on because of fear? What areas of life are you missing out on because you feel you lack strength? What area of life are you missing out on because you lack courage? Whatever those areas are for you tonight, I want to encourage you to TRUST in the LORD. HE calms all our fears, HE is our Strength, HE is our Courage, & He has commanded us to be strong and courageous and to trust in Him. Don't miss out on the life that God wants for you because you are so caught up in the life that you're afraid of today. I'm not saying it will be easier, but I will take a life with the LORD over anything. Amen!
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
3 times the LORD tells Joshua to be "courageous" in these 5 verses. The LORD tells Joshua to obey His word (the Law) and what He commands. He tells Joshua "meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.". He tells Joshua not to be frightened or dismayed, because "the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.".
This scripture is just as relevant today as it was in Joshua's time. The words spoken were spoken to Joshua, but are just as applicable to our own life, our own situation. If we meditate on scripture "God's words" day and night and let it not depart from our mouth, then we will find ourselves in the middle of what God is doing. We become intertwined in the story, because we are now a part of it. We are not to be frightened or dismayed, we are to be strong and courageous, STRONG & COURAGEOUS.
My question tonight to myself and to you dear reader is a tough one, but the answer may change the rest of your life. What areas of your life are you holding back on because of fear? What areas of life are you missing out on because you feel you lack strength? What area of life are you missing out on because you lack courage? Whatever those areas are for you tonight, I want to encourage you to TRUST in the LORD. HE calms all our fears, HE is our Strength, HE is our Courage, & He has commanded us to be strong and courageous and to trust in Him. Don't miss out on the life that God wants for you because you are so caught up in the life that you're afraid of today. I'm not saying it will be easier, but I will take a life with the LORD over anything. Amen!
Friday, February 22, 2013
"All my Goodness"
Exodus 33; 12-23
12 Moses said to the LORD, See, you say to me, Bring up this people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.14 And he said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.15 And he said to him, If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?
17 And the LORD said to Moses, This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.18 Moses said, Please show me your glory.19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.20 But, he said, you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.
Back in Exodus 33 again today. This conversation between the LORD & Moses has me completely captivated. The intimacy of this moment, and the truth contained therein. God doesn't pull any punches, he lays it out "I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." He is after all God of the Universe and HE is in charge. This is a different encounter than in the book of Job when man is questioning God, this is God saying it as a part of who HE is. Moses asked the LORD to "show me your glory". I LOVE the reply "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD". He goes on to tell moses where to stand on the rock because His glory is so powerful that he must be protected and God covered moses with his hand until He had passed by.
Again tying this back to prayer. Prayer is talking to God like talking to a friend. In this passage, we see it taken to a whole new level. This is the kind of prayer life that we should all aspire to have. The kind of prayer life where we literally are touched by the hand of God, and all of His goodness passes in front of us. Where we find our will aligning to His and know that HE IS GOOD!
12 Moses said to the LORD, See, you say to me, Bring up this people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.14 And he said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.15 And he said to him, If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?
17 And the LORD said to Moses, This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.18 Moses said, Please show me your glory.19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.20 But, he said, you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.
Back in Exodus 33 again today. This conversation between the LORD & Moses has me completely captivated. The intimacy of this moment, and the truth contained therein. God doesn't pull any punches, he lays it out "I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." He is after all God of the Universe and HE is in charge. This is a different encounter than in the book of Job when man is questioning God, this is God saying it as a part of who HE is. Moses asked the LORD to "show me your glory". I LOVE the reply "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name The LORD". He goes on to tell moses where to stand on the rock because His glory is so powerful that he must be protected and God covered moses with his hand until He had passed by.
Again tying this back to prayer. Prayer is talking to God like talking to a friend. In this passage, we see it taken to a whole new level. This is the kind of prayer life that we should all aspire to have. The kind of prayer life where we literally are touched by the hand of God, and all of His goodness passes in front of us. Where we find our will aligning to His and know that HE IS GOOD!
Thursday, February 21, 2013
WIll you pray for me?
"HOT DONUTS NOW" lights up at a Krispy Kreme when fresh donuts are ready. "ON AIR" lights up in a radio broadcast booth when the mics are hot and the show is on. "OCCUPIED" shows on the placard of the airplane restroom door when it is in fact occupied. All of these "signs" are used to let other people know what is happening "Inside" a place. It let's others know that if you enter here, you should "know this", "Expect this", or "Behave like this", or "Wait your turn", etc. These things came to mind tonight while I was reading Exodus 33.
Exodus 33;8-11
8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
How cool is that! Moses would enter the tent and the pillar of cloud would descend and the LORD and Moses would speak face to face. That is the kind of prayer life that I am talking about. The kind of prayer life where we enter in and talk face to face with the LORD. The kind of prayer life that people will know that if they ask you "Will you pray for me" that you will do it. Not lip service, or because they are incapable of doing it themselves, but because they know that you will go before God on their behalf and pray for them. When Moses was in the tent, the people saw the sign, just like the "HOT DONUTS NOW", "ON THE AIR" signs. The sign said "TALKING TO GOD FACE TO FACE IN HERE!" That is a powerful testimony of who Moses was. Who do you want praying for you? Don't you want the guy who just walked in the tent, the pillar of cloud came down, and the "TALKING TO GOD FACE TO FACE IN HERE!" sign lit up?
I am not talking about putting on a show, seeking attention from other people, or anything of the sort. What I will say is that whatever you make a priority in your life is what people will know you for. If you know every sports score and all the players, people will label you as a "sports guy/girl". If you are really good at music, people will label you as a "musician". If we get really good at prayer, people might label us "religious", "Jesus Freak", or many other names. When someone needs an answer to a sports question, they call the sports guy/girl. When someone needs someone to play some music at a special event, they call the musician. When they are struggling and have no where else to turn, they turn to the "religious", "Jesus Freak", or whatever else they may be called because that is what they are known for. They will say to you "Will you pray for me? " It is times like this that we are called to Love like Jesus. We get to help them do what they feel they can't do themselves, we get to Talk to God Face to Face on their behalf, and maybe, just maybe, tell them about the love of Jesus and share the Gospel message. We get to serve that person and minister to them just where they are and demonstrate the love of Christ and in that there is no greater purpose.
Please understand that I'm not talking about a "look at me, I go to church and pray" type of attitude. I'm talking about a kind, gentle, humble existence that people will just know because of the time you spend praying with God. It's like spending all day BBQ'ing, you can smell it on your clothes for hours after you've been around it. Others, especially in their time of need, will pick up on it.
Exodus 33;8-11
8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses.10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
How cool is that! Moses would enter the tent and the pillar of cloud would descend and the LORD and Moses would speak face to face. That is the kind of prayer life that I am talking about. The kind of prayer life where we enter in and talk face to face with the LORD. The kind of prayer life that people will know that if they ask you "Will you pray for me" that you will do it. Not lip service, or because they are incapable of doing it themselves, but because they know that you will go before God on their behalf and pray for them. When Moses was in the tent, the people saw the sign, just like the "HOT DONUTS NOW", "ON THE AIR" signs. The sign said "TALKING TO GOD FACE TO FACE IN HERE!" That is a powerful testimony of who Moses was. Who do you want praying for you? Don't you want the guy who just walked in the tent, the pillar of cloud came down, and the "TALKING TO GOD FACE TO FACE IN HERE!" sign lit up?
I am not talking about putting on a show, seeking attention from other people, or anything of the sort. What I will say is that whatever you make a priority in your life is what people will know you for. If you know every sports score and all the players, people will label you as a "sports guy/girl". If you are really good at music, people will label you as a "musician". If we get really good at prayer, people might label us "religious", "Jesus Freak", or many other names. When someone needs an answer to a sports question, they call the sports guy/girl. When someone needs someone to play some music at a special event, they call the musician. When they are struggling and have no where else to turn, they turn to the "religious", "Jesus Freak", or whatever else they may be called because that is what they are known for. They will say to you "Will you pray for me? " It is times like this that we are called to Love like Jesus. We get to help them do what they feel they can't do themselves, we get to Talk to God Face to Face on their behalf, and maybe, just maybe, tell them about the love of Jesus and share the Gospel message. We get to serve that person and minister to them just where they are and demonstrate the love of Christ and in that there is no greater purpose.
Please understand that I'm not talking about a "look at me, I go to church and pray" type of attitude. I'm talking about a kind, gentle, humble existence that people will just know because of the time you spend praying with God. It's like spending all day BBQ'ing, you can smell it on your clothes for hours after you've been around it. Others, especially in their time of need, will pick up on it.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
groaning
Psalm 5;1-2
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
Today, more reflection on prayer. This passage in Psalm 5 stood out to me because of the use of the word "groaning". So many times when praying, I have struggled for words, struggled to express exactly what I was feeling, or needing. This leads me to the next passage:
Romans 8;26-28
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What comfort there is in knowing that the Spirit of the Lord intercedes on our behalf, that He will work all things together for good. He knows what is best for us, even when we can't find the words. I'll take prayer like that, Amen!
1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
Today, more reflection on prayer. This passage in Psalm 5 stood out to me because of the use of the word "groaning". So many times when praying, I have struggled for words, struggled to express exactly what I was feeling, or needing. This leads me to the next passage:
Romans 8;26-28
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
What comfort there is in knowing that the Spirit of the Lord intercedes on our behalf, that He will work all things together for good. He knows what is best for us, even when we can't find the words. I'll take prayer like that, Amen!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Another personal story...
Today was a difficult day. My inner dialogue went something like this "I'm doing a study on prayer, yet I'm struggling to pray right now". I'd love to tell you that I had some great spiritual revelation today, but the truth is that when days of trouble and strife come (like today was for me) I struggle. I try my best to focus on what God has done in the past, figure out what He may be trying to show me right now, and focus on the future when all of this life's trouble will be just a memory.
In the midst of the study of prayer, one theme that stands out is man crying out to God in times of need. Tonight I will share one of my favorite Psalms and a personal story about God's answering of prayer.
Psalm 3
1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;2 many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.4 I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah5 I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.7 Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
I love how God comes through in this Psalm. While crying out in the presence of great iniquity, with trouble all around, God granted peace, rest, salvation, and deliverance from the enemy.
One of my most memorable encounters with a prayer like this, crying out for deliverance, was in July of 1998. I had a motorcycle accident in which I broke all of the bones in my right arm. They had done surgery to reconstruct my arm, but were able to use just pins to keep the bones in place, no screws or rods. This would be better for me in the long run as I would end up with no foreign structural pieces in my arm (the pins would be removed once the bone was healed). 1 day after the surgery, while still in the hospital, I was in excruciating pain and I could not move my arm at all without screaming. They did some x-rays and said that the surgery was undoing itself and that I was going to have to have another surgery. The pain continued for the next several hours and as they prepared to do put in plates, screws, and rods, they needed more X-rays to know where to put them. The pain reached a whole new level because of the position they needed my arm in for the X-rays. I remember my dad tearing up and not knowing what to do (this was a tough 30+ year cop we're talking about) because I was screaming so badly from the pain. I remember the next part VERY clearly. I SCREAMED to God "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE, JESUS, PLEASE HELP ME!!!!" No sooner did I finish that prayer crying out to God than the pain went away. They did the X-rays and everything looked ok, no need for more surgery, as a precaution, I needed to sleep upright for the next 6-8 weeks. I was told many things after that by Doctors, things like "You will never be able to raise your arm above your head again" and "You will not be able to close all your fingers again"...but you know what, I can...and that is all because of the power of Prayer. This is what I reflect on when days like today seem like too much, and you know what...I Can, because HE Makes it possible. Amen!
In the midst of the study of prayer, one theme that stands out is man crying out to God in times of need. Tonight I will share one of my favorite Psalms and a personal story about God's answering of prayer.
Psalm 3
1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;2 many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.4 I cried aloud to the LORD,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah5 I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.7 Arise, O LORD!
Save me, O my God!
For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
I love how God comes through in this Psalm. While crying out in the presence of great iniquity, with trouble all around, God granted peace, rest, salvation, and deliverance from the enemy.
One of my most memorable encounters with a prayer like this, crying out for deliverance, was in July of 1998. I had a motorcycle accident in which I broke all of the bones in my right arm. They had done surgery to reconstruct my arm, but were able to use just pins to keep the bones in place, no screws or rods. This would be better for me in the long run as I would end up with no foreign structural pieces in my arm (the pins would be removed once the bone was healed). 1 day after the surgery, while still in the hospital, I was in excruciating pain and I could not move my arm at all without screaming. They did some x-rays and said that the surgery was undoing itself and that I was going to have to have another surgery. The pain continued for the next several hours and as they prepared to do put in plates, screws, and rods, they needed more X-rays to know where to put them. The pain reached a whole new level because of the position they needed my arm in for the X-rays. I remember my dad tearing up and not knowing what to do (this was a tough 30+ year cop we're talking about) because I was screaming so badly from the pain. I remember the next part VERY clearly. I SCREAMED to God "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE, JESUS, PLEASE HELP ME!!!!" No sooner did I finish that prayer crying out to God than the pain went away. They did the X-rays and everything looked ok, no need for more surgery, as a precaution, I needed to sleep upright for the next 6-8 weeks. I was told many things after that by Doctors, things like "You will never be able to raise your arm above your head again" and "You will not be able to close all your fingers again"...but you know what, I can...and that is all because of the power of Prayer. This is what I reflect on when days like today seem like too much, and you know what...I Can, because HE Makes it possible. Amen!
Monday, February 18, 2013
I'm Listening if you want to talk God...
Continuing on in the study of prayer today. I kept reading in Genesis, chapter 4 and the story of Cain and Able is a very interesting one. Cain is addressed directly by God regarding his attitude and warned that he must overcome it because sin was on his doorstep. Cain not only gave in to sin, he slew his brother Able and he then "went away from the presence of the LORD" (Gen. 4;16). The dynamic here is a very interesting one, notice who went away from who. Just as in the Garden of Eden, it was man's decision making and self reliance that separated him from God. We see even in the midst of this tragedy that God had mercy on Cain and even marked him for protection, declaring that any man who killed Cain, vengeance would be taken upon him sevenfold. During this same time frame, Adam and Eve are still alive and having children. Eve gives birth to Seth at the end of Genesis chapter 4.
Genesis 4;26
"26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. "
Genesis 4;26
"26 To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD. "
I read several commentaries on Genesis 4;26. Some scholars feel that this is the introduction of idolatry, and that "call" should be translated as "profane". Yet others insist that "Call" is the proper translation. There is also a school of thought that puts it in a hybrid kind of view. That view is that man began to recognize their depravity, their profaneness, and began to call upon the name of the LORD". I am not a bible scholar, hebrew scholar, etc, but what I can say is that at this point in human history, man was continuing to distance themselves from God through their actions. The lineage of Adam is spelled out and we get to the point where God has had enough of the violence of man, hence the flood, Noah and the ark, etc.
What does all of this have to do with Prayer?
To me, this is the very nature of prayer. Throughout the first, roughly, half of Genesis, we see very personal interactions with God. God speaking, people listening and responding. This is really what prayer is in it's truest form. It is a conversation that takes place between God and man. We see through out the old testament that man became too casual in their encounters with the LORD. Instead of respect, admiration, humility, adoration, or any other host of adjectives, man had a "so what" kind of attitude regarding God and instead focused on pleasing himself and his own desires, disregarding God's desire for intimacy. We see a slow fade in the intimacy of man with God because of man's vast sin and godlessness. God was communicating with chosen men because not all men were listening for God. All of these communications, prayers if you will, are initiated by God. This really got my attention today, Prayer begins by LISTENING FOR GOD...and that is humbling. Prayer doesn't begin with "Dear God...", it begins with a humble heart that says "I'm here listening if you want to talk God..."
Sunday, February 17, 2013
"walking in the garden in the cool of the day"
Today I was thinking about loss and change. I recently had a very good friend of mine move away and all of a sudden it dawned on me...I can't call him at 11pm and say "do you want to get a cup of coffee?". I can't just stop by his house and say hi. All spontaneous meetings will instead have to be phone calls, emails, and other forms of distant communication. Similar feelings surface when someone you know passes away. You begin to realize that you will never talk to them, see a movie with them, or any # of fill in the blank things with them again. I'm not saying that someone moving away is the same as someone dying, but the thought process is similar, just not final.
This got me thinking about prayer. Specifically, what it is, why it is the way that it is, and how it got to be that way. Over the course of the next several days, I will be delving into this topic. Especially after seeing the importance of prayer on the spiritual warfare front, I want to have a better understanding of prayer, what God's word says about prayer, and I want to learn to pray unceasingly, learn to be more cognizant of Prayer, be more reverent in my approach to prayer, and most of all, I just want God to teach me more through His word about prayer.
Tonights scripture doesn't necessarily deal directly with prayer, but I feel it is very relevant. I figure what better place to start than in the beginning.
Genesis 3;8-9
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.9 But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, Where are you?
The imagery in this passage paints a picture of a very intimate, close relationship. To imagine the sound of "the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" gives me chills. Then God called out to Adam. God was looking for him. God was seeking Adam out, to spend time with him, talk with him, have some kind of personal interaction. We all know how Genesis 3 pans out, Adam & Eve, because of their sin, are cast out of the Garden and from that day forward sin has been in the nature of every man & woman ever born.
I find this passage in Genesis 3 to be absolutely paramount as the beginning for a study on prayer because this is where the dynamic of the relationship changed. This is where mankind went from being able to walk with the LORD God in the cool of the day and being intimate and familiar, to having a riff between man and God that required the spilling of blood as atonement for our sin. The dynamic of the relationship changed so much that in order to right our wrongs that the LORD God sent his Son to pay the price for our sin, to restore us unto Himself. I'm looking forward to this study on prayer over the next several days.
The imagery in this passage paints a picture of a very intimate, close relationship. To imagine the sound of "the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day" gives me chills. Then God called out to Adam. God was looking for him. God was seeking Adam out, to spend time with him, talk with him, have some kind of personal interaction. We all know how Genesis 3 pans out, Adam & Eve, because of their sin, are cast out of the Garden and from that day forward sin has been in the nature of every man & woman ever born.
I find this passage in Genesis 3 to be absolutely paramount as the beginning for a study on prayer because this is where the dynamic of the relationship changed. This is where mankind went from being able to walk with the LORD God in the cool of the day and being intimate and familiar, to having a riff between man and God that required the spilling of blood as atonement for our sin. The dynamic of the relationship changed so much that in order to right our wrongs that the LORD God sent his Son to pay the price for our sin, to restore us unto Himself. I'm looking forward to this study on prayer over the next several days.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
The Sword of the Spirit
Epheshians 6;17-20
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
There are so many powerful things about tonight's passage. First and foremost, I don't wan to gloss over the "helmet of salvation". Without protecting the thinking parts, the brain, and all that it contains, their is little value in protecting the rest of the body. That being said, it is 100% imperative that one be assured of their salvation in Christ Jesus. Remember that we saw in Romans 3:23 that "all have fallen short of the glory of God", that means ALL, me, you, your mother in law, EVERYONE. Romans 5:8 provides us with hope "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us", and finally, Romans 6;23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." We must embrace His free gift of Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and from repenting from our old ways. I'm not saying your life will be sin free, but God will forever work on your heart to make you more like Him.
Let's move on to the "Sword of the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication". Simply put, this is our daily prayer burden, our time spent in the word and seeking to be obedient to God's calling. When you hear God calling you to go and do something, YOU GO! Don't take the path of Jonah and run away because you don't agree or don't think you can deal with it. God has put you in all situations so that you may shine the light upon Him and point others to the way of the lord. Amen!!! It's been a tough week for me personally, but God is in control, He knows what He is doing and I trust Him to hold my past, future, and destiny. Who better to control those things then the living God, the Holy & almighty one!!
May your day be blessed, your spirit be lifted, and into His presence may you daily find yourself!Glenn
Friday, February 15, 2013
Have Faith!
Ephesians 6;16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
I don't know about you, but if I could only choose one piece of armor to take into battle, I would choose the shield every time! A shield is so versatile, it can be used to hold off an attack, push back an enemy, blockade oneself in a cave, it is able to wielded in a manner that it offers extra protection for whatever part of the body it is put in front of. This is Faith! Our faith keeps our enemy's attack at bay, our faith extinguishes the flaming darts that satan and his demons wield against us. Faith is no small thing, Jesus said that Faith as small as a mustard seed could tell a mountain to move and it would.
When people talk about Faith, what are they talking about? It is Faith in God, His Word, in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. That Jesus is who He said He was, that God IS the Father, and that the Holy Spirit is among us and moves with mighty power. Faith that God is 100% in charge, that He is and always will be on His throne. Faith that God knows what is best for us. Faith that no matter what we are going through, He is with us and He will take care of us. Faith that He knows what He is doing. Faith that our life has a purpose. Faith to trust Him with our life to fulfill His purpose. Faith that stands against all things, regardless of what they seem to say, and says "I know that my redeemer Lives", or "I am a friend of God". When things get hard and there is no reason to believe anymore, that is when your Faith is tested. That is when you hold onto it with everything that you are. You don't use a shield in battle unless you are being attacked. If you are wounded, hurting, and struggling, you hide behind the shield to protect yourself from further injury. This is faith. Cling to your Faith in Christ with all that you are, hang in there, don't give up! Faith saves, Faith delivers us, & Faith draws us to the very place where we should already be...on our face before Jesus in worship...trusting Him to take care of us and lead us down the path that He has chosen for us. HAVE FAITH!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Get Ready
and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15 NIV)
Tonight we look at fitting our feet "with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.". Think about all the life situations that you have been "ready" for: tests, interviews, dates, weddings, birth of a child, purchase of a home, and the list goes on and on and on. Most of these things had to do with physical and mental readiness. So why would Paul say that our feet need to be ready?
The question I ask is what do feet do? The obvious thing is they move us around, but they also hold us up, keep us from stumbling, and they bare the load of everything that the rest of the body has on it. That is powerful stuff! That means the weight of everything we do, every move we make, every burden we carry is resting on and put into motion by the Gospel, it compels us to always be ready and it keeps us from stumbling and our path straight. When we put on the full armor of God, we are in a constant state of readiness, like a military unit waiting to be called into action at a moments notice. We are to be ready to go whenever, wherever, however, & regardless of circumstance that He calls us to go and the Gospel is the "why".
The great commission is exactly what, why, and how that we are to be ready for. We are to be ready to share the gospel wherever we move, wherever we stand, whatever the circumstance, no matter the reason why, however He makes it possible, & no matter the burden. The Gospel is what grounds us and gives us all purpose, it makes our path straight, keeps us from stumbling, it lightens the load of all who embrace it, and is to be share wherever we go. Who of us would be anything without the unconditional love of The Lord Jesus and his free gift of eternal life or a life of forgiveness based on the love of the Son of God?
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19, 20 NIV)
Get your feet"ready"!
Tonight we look at fitting our feet "with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.". Think about all the life situations that you have been "ready" for: tests, interviews, dates, weddings, birth of a child, purchase of a home, and the list goes on and on and on. Most of these things had to do with physical and mental readiness. So why would Paul say that our feet need to be ready?
The question I ask is what do feet do? The obvious thing is they move us around, but they also hold us up, keep us from stumbling, and they bare the load of everything that the rest of the body has on it. That is powerful stuff! That means the weight of everything we do, every move we make, every burden we carry is resting on and put into motion by the Gospel, it compels us to always be ready and it keeps us from stumbling and our path straight. When we put on the full armor of God, we are in a constant state of readiness, like a military unit waiting to be called into action at a moments notice. We are to be ready to go whenever, wherever, however, & regardless of circumstance that He calls us to go and the Gospel is the "why".
The great commission is exactly what, why, and how that we are to be ready for. We are to be ready to share the gospel wherever we move, wherever we stand, whatever the circumstance, no matter the reason why, however He makes it possible, & no matter the burden. The Gospel is what grounds us and gives us all purpose, it makes our path straight, keeps us from stumbling, it lightens the load of all who embrace it, and is to be share wherever we go. Who of us would be anything without the unconditional love of The Lord Jesus and his free gift of eternal life or a life of forgiveness based on the love of the Son of God?
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19, 20 NIV)
Get your feet"ready"!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
The belt of Truth and the Breastplate of Righteousness
Ephesians 6;14
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Tonight we look at the first 2 elements of the armor of God. The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. The belt is central to body armor in that it keep the waist of the loins protected as well as supports the sheath of the sword. The truth is is that of the Gospel. Without the Gospel, we are undone and exposed. The breastplate of armor serves to protect the vital organs, and to many, most notably, the heart. The breastplate of righteousness would have us guard our heart by seeking no other will than that of the father. As we continue to look at how God intends us to wage spiritual warfare, much of it is in a defensive nature, standing firm in our faith in Him. He in turn fights the battle and makes way for us.
May the peace of the Lord be with each of you tonight!
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Tonight we look at the first 2 elements of the armor of God. The belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. The belt is central to body armor in that it keep the waist of the loins protected as well as supports the sheath of the sword. The truth is is that of the Gospel. Without the Gospel, we are undone and exposed. The breastplate of armor serves to protect the vital organs, and to many, most notably, the heart. The breastplate of righteousness would have us guard our heart by seeking no other will than that of the father. As we continue to look at how God intends us to wage spiritual warfare, much of it is in a defensive nature, standing firm in our faith in Him. He in turn fights the battle and makes way for us.
May the peace of the Lord be with each of you tonight!
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Angel armies
The last 2 days, we have talked about the nature of Satan and his demons. Today we will shift focus to God's army of angels and in days to come to putting on the full armor of God. Let us first look at the book of 2nd Kings Chapter 6. The story here is quite interesting, in a nutshell, the King of Syria is coming for Elisha. During the night, the King of Syria's army surrounds the city and Elisha's servant is very upset. Elisha prays for his servant's eyes to be open and then he sees the unseen army of the Lord.
2nd Kings 6;15-17
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, Alas, my master! What shall we do?16 He said, Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.17 Then Elisha prayed and said, O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see. So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Another example of this kind of spiritual warfare is in the book of Daniel. We see an Angel of the Lord rescue Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego from the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3; 24-26
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.25 He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
Still another example of God's angels fighting the battle against Satan and his demons.
Daniel 10;12-14
12 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.
We see an angel of the Lord speaking to Daniel about a struggle against the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" and "Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." (Again with the enemy's forces seeming to be tied to countries or a geographic area).
There are numerous more examples, but the main thing to point out is that in every place where the evil one is waging war, God's angels are battling on our behalf, they are knowledgable about the battle and are helping each other. There is a great battle happening all around us. Tomorrow we will talk about the defenses and weapons of this warfare that God has aptly equipped us with.
Praise God for all He is doing, will do and has yet to do, as long as I have breath, may it be lifted to give His name glory!
2nd Kings 6;15-17
15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, Alas, my master! What shall we do?16 He said, Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.17 Then Elisha prayed and said, O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see. So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Another example of this kind of spiritual warfare is in the book of Daniel. We see an Angel of the Lord rescue Shadrach, Meshach, And Abednego from the fiery furnace.
Daniel 3; 24-26
Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They answered and said to the king, True, O king.25 He answered and said, But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
Still another example of God's angels fighting the battle against Satan and his demons.
Daniel 10;12-14
12 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.
We see an angel of the Lord speaking to Daniel about a struggle against the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" and "Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." (Again with the enemy's forces seeming to be tied to countries or a geographic area).
There are numerous more examples, but the main thing to point out is that in every place where the evil one is waging war, God's angels are battling on our behalf, they are knowledgable about the battle and are helping each other. There is a great battle happening all around us. Tomorrow we will talk about the defenses and weapons of this warfare that God has aptly equipped us with.
Praise God for all He is doing, will do and has yet to do, as long as I have breath, may it be lifted to give His name glory!
Monday, February 11, 2013
The nature of our enemy, part 2
Tonight we will look at 3 accounts of the same event, from 3 different perspectives.
Matthew 8;28-29
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.29 And behold, they cried out, What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?
Mark 5;6-10
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.8 For he was saying to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!9 And Jesus asked him, What is your name? He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many.10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
Luke 8;30-31
30 Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him.31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.
There are 3 distinct things in these 3 passages I that we need to take note of.
Matthew 8;28-29
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.29 And behold, they cried out, What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?
Mark 5;6-10
6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him.7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.8 For he was saying to him, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!9 And Jesus asked him, What is your name? He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many.10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.
Luke 8;30-31
30 Jesus then asked him, What is your name? And he said, Legion, for many demons had entered him.31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.
There are 3 distinct things in these 3 passages I that we need to take note of.
- We see in Mathew 8;29, that the demons were surprised that Jesus was there, hence the statement "before the time". The demons were only expecting to see Jesus on the day of judgement, because they know that they will be cast into the abyss at that time.
- In Mark 5;10, the demons beg not to send them out of the country, indicating that there is some tie to the geography and them.
- In Luke 8;31 the alternative to the demons "leaving the country" as referenced in Mark 5;10, is for them to be cast into the Abyss.
Throughout scripture, Satan is called "prince of the earth", "prince of the power of the air", "god of this age". We saw in Job how Satan roams the earth. We see it again in 1 Peter 5;8 "8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." This is a well orchestrated attack, one conducted with military precision (don't worry, have hope, in the days to come we will look at the other side of the coin, God and His army of angels). The things I found most interesting is these 3 accounts is that the demons were terrified and unsuspecting that Jesus was even going to be around at the time he was, they only expected him at the end of the age. I found it interesting that it would appear that if Satan is the prince of the earth, he seems to have divided his demons into certain geographic areas or God has limited them to roam in certain places and if they were cast out of that area, they were cast into the abyss. How cool is it that Satan doesn't know God's plans, he only knows that his future is eternal damnation and "torment". Even his minions know of the "torment" they will face.
Tomorrow, we move on to talk about putting on the whole armor of God and how God uses his Angels in this constant struggle.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The nature of our enemy, part 1
Ezekiel 28;13-19
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.14 You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.16 In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I exposed you before kings,
to feast their eyes on you.18 By the multitude of your iniquities,
in the unrighteousness of your trade
you profaned your sanctuaries;
so I brought fire out from your midst;
it consumed you,
and I turned you to ashes on the earth
in the sight of all who saw you.19 All who know you among the peoples
are appalled at you;
you have come to a dreadful end
and shall be no more forever.
Today continues our study on spiritual warfare as referenced in Ephesians 6. Today we look at the enemy and his fall from Grace. Ezekiel 28;13-19 is referencing Satan. Satan was created by God as a beautiful creature, his heart became proud because of his beauty and he turned his back on God and instead sought to glorify himself. We see this same characterization of Satan in the book of Job (see my post on Job and Lance Armstrong). In the coming days, we will be looking at spiritual warfare, putting on the full armor of God, and the nature of the enemy. Today begins our look at the enemy (as will many of the days to follow). The attribute I want to address tonight is that of pride.
Pride is one of the primary weapons of Satan. We see this in Genesis 3;4-5 "4 But the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die.5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Satan appeals to Eve's sense of pride when he tells her that if she eats of the fruit that she too can be like God. Satan lies to us every day in this manner, his temptation is most powerful when he tells us we can be important, God like, if we would only______fill in the blank. Beware of these deceptions, for the consequences are great. Sin entered the world at this very moment and to this very day we are destined for eternal sorrow without embracing the cross and the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ.
I confess to you that by even writing of spiritual warfare, the onslaught by the enemy has begun. Attack after attack, after attack, has happened/is happening. Prior to talking about how to wage spiritual warfare and what tools God has given us, it is of the utmost importance that we understand the nature of our enemy and even more importantly, how he differs from the nature of the Lord Most High. Be prepared for battle, because it is coming, whether you want it or not.
13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;
every precious stone was your covering,
sardius, topaz, and diamond,
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle;
and crafted in gold were your settings
and your engravings.
On the day that you were created
they were prepared.14 You were an anointed guardian cherub.
I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God;
in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.15 You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created,
till unrighteousness was found in you.16 In the abundance of your trade
you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned;
so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,
and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub,
from the midst of the stones of fire.17 Your heart was proud because of your beauty;
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I exposed you before kings,
to feast their eyes on you.18 By the multitude of your iniquities,
in the unrighteousness of your trade
you profaned your sanctuaries;
so I brought fire out from your midst;
it consumed you,
and I turned you to ashes on the earth
in the sight of all who saw you.19 All who know you among the peoples
are appalled at you;
you have come to a dreadful end
and shall be no more forever.
Today continues our study on spiritual warfare as referenced in Ephesians 6. Today we look at the enemy and his fall from Grace. Ezekiel 28;13-19 is referencing Satan. Satan was created by God as a beautiful creature, his heart became proud because of his beauty and he turned his back on God and instead sought to glorify himself. We see this same characterization of Satan in the book of Job (see my post on Job and Lance Armstrong). In the coming days, we will be looking at spiritual warfare, putting on the full armor of God, and the nature of the enemy. Today begins our look at the enemy (as will many of the days to follow). The attribute I want to address tonight is that of pride.
Pride is one of the primary weapons of Satan. We see this in Genesis 3;4-5 "4 But the serpent said to the woman, You will not surely die.5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Satan appeals to Eve's sense of pride when he tells her that if she eats of the fruit that she too can be like God. Satan lies to us every day in this manner, his temptation is most powerful when he tells us we can be important, God like, if we would only______fill in the blank. Beware of these deceptions, for the consequences are great. Sin entered the world at this very moment and to this very day we are destined for eternal sorrow without embracing the cross and the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ.
I confess to you that by even writing of spiritual warfare, the onslaught by the enemy has begun. Attack after attack, after attack, has happened/is happening. Prior to talking about how to wage spiritual warfare and what tools God has given us, it is of the utmost importance that we understand the nature of our enemy and even more importantly, how he differs from the nature of the Lord Most High. Be prepared for battle, because it is coming, whether you want it or not.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Prepare for war!
Ephesians 6;10-12
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
All of life is a great battle. It is an epic war waged since the fall in the Garden of Eden. Satan will take every good thing and try and pervert it, twist it, and draw us away from God. This battle can not be won by flesh and blood, it is spiritual in nature, though it does impact our flesh and blood. In the next several days I will be talking about "putting on the whole armor of God" and waging spiritual warfare. Today's message is simple, be aware of the things that draw you away from God, because that is where the enemy is waging war in your life. Now that we know there is a battle raging on, prepare for war!
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
All of life is a great battle. It is an epic war waged since the fall in the Garden of Eden. Satan will take every good thing and try and pervert it, twist it, and draw us away from God. This battle can not be won by flesh and blood, it is spiritual in nature, though it does impact our flesh and blood. In the next several days I will be talking about "putting on the whole armor of God" and waging spiritual warfare. Today's message is simple, be aware of the things that draw you away from God, because that is where the enemy is waging war in your life. Now that we know there is a battle raging on, prepare for war!
Friday, February 8, 2013
Autobiography
The following is a very personal story, it is my story.
When I was in 8th grade, I struggled with fitting in as so many teenagers do. My external struggle was not near as great as my internal struggle. I had become accustomed to being picked on by other kids, really for just being inquisitive and having an above average vocabulary. This was a difficult thing to deal with and lead me to internalize many of my emotions as I didn't feel there was anyone I could talk to. I had a core group of 3 or 4 friends that had earned my trust and that was about it. The thing I remember most was a feeling of worthlessness. Somehow along the way I had begun to believe that my life was no longer worth living. My thoughts were literally the loudest thing I could hear, everything else was just a drone in the background. I was self absorbed and came to the conclusion that no life would be better than the life I was living. I came so close many times to taking my own life. My Dad was a police officer and I remember him telling me "people who commit suicide are the most selfish people. They cause so much hurt and pain and leave the mess for everyone else to clean up...they are cowards!". Those words played over and over inside my head and kept me from crossing the line so many times.
One of my 3 or 4 friends of mine invited me to go to his youth group one night. I asked my parents and they let me go (our church didn't have many people my age). I remember hearing things that night that I had never heard before. Singing songs of praise, which I had never been exposed to before, it was not my parent's church, it was different, it seemed to have substance, something behind it. I attended as often as I could and my parents would allow. I made more friends, I asked questions, and then came a day where I had had enough.
I remember the day very clearly, as if it was yesterday. I was on the back deck of my parent's home grilling hot dogs and talking to my friend who had invited me to his youth group. It was cloudy and just beginning to rain. He had to go home for dinner, but before he left I said I wanted to ask him a question. He waited for my question, so I asked him, what was so different between he and I? Why did I feel worthless, hopeless, and not want to see tomorrow? Why did he not feel the same way? What was his reason for hope? He gave me a very simple statement. He said that God had sent His only son, Jesus, to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin and that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. He explained that God wants a relationship with us, that the price for all my sin had been paid, and that all I needed to do was accept God's free gift of eternal life and accept Jesus as my Lord and saviour. Then he went home.
The rain picked up and as I stood all alone on the deck of my parent's home and I began to pray. I prayed like I had never prayed before, personal, heart felt, like having a conversation with a friend. I told God that I was desperate, that I didn't have a reason to live anymore, that I needed Him to change me, that I accepted His free gift of eternal life, that I wanted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I cried out to God in my hour of need, and HE DELIVERED! I remember going to bed that night with peace, peace that I hadn't felt since being a small child. That day I became a new creation and God has been doing a work in my life ever since. I'm not saying that life hasn't had ups and downs, challenges, and at times it has felt like the weight was too much. The difference between before and after is I have Hope because God is still on His throne no matter what, He is still in charge no matter what, and that is enough.
I have had many struggles and challenges in life. Things that have even made me question God and His very existence. Through it all I can tell you that He is faithful and again and again HE DELIVERS. It's not always what I want, but it is ALWAYS what I need. God is FAITHFUL.
I write all of this for one reason, to encourage you, to tell you there is Hope in a hopeless world. Hope has a name and it is JESUS. The God of the universe sent His son to earth. He lived a sinless life and died a gruesome death on a cross. He took the punishment for our sin. The book of Romans tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(3;23), that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"(6;23) and that "Christ demonstrates His love for us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (5;8). I don't know where you are today, but if you have never understood this before or never given your life to Jesus, today can be your day of salvation. All you need to do is accept His free gift. He will change you for all eternity, I know it to be true, because I wouldn't be here without the saving, healing power of Jesus.
Maybe today you are reading this and you have accepted Jesus but you are struggling with where you are right now. I want to encourage you also. This life is temporary. Glory is coming, He is coming again, and we will be with Him for all eternity!
2nd Corinthians 4;16-18
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
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