If we are to ever do anything big for God then we have to get past the point of blaming God. Maturity requires that we are ready at all times to serve but blaming God can only lead to being spiritually handicapped and emotionally drained making it impossible to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Additionally, we are to hunger and thirst for the things of God but when we blame Him it drives a wedge between us and the very light that illuminates our path in the darkness. God does not change and if that is the case then who surrenders in this battle of the wills? Will God ever respond to your accusations with, “Oh, I didn’t see it that way, I was wrong.” No! I tell you the truth if one side does not have a clear picture it is us, not God! So tell me when will being angry at God ever change the situation so that it turns out better for us? And if that is the case why go down that path at all?
Do you want to live the remainder of this life being angry and bitter or would you rather be able to look back at this journey here on earth and say, “I came through every trial holding God’s hand and He was faithful and because I trusted Him God did some mighty things through my life.” I am determined what we do in this life will echo throughout eternity. If we barely get by will we not wish to go back to do things differently but there will be no going back. And if we allow God to do His will through us will we not be rewarded for being faithful and will this not propel us on towards greater things? You see we do not know what God has in store for the things that are to come and wasting time being angry at God may cost us more than just the years here on earth! Is the ability to show God just how angry you are about a situation worth the regret you will have on the other side? Remember not to trade your birthright for the small things that make you feel good right now (Genesis 25:29-34).
So pray for understanding and the ability to trust God more. The Devil can take my life but he cannot have my soul for I was bought with a price that cost my Lord His life and nothing shall separate me from His love but if choose to walk away from Him God will not take the gift of free will away from me especially after giving everything so that I may have it but instead He will let me go so that I may discover all that I had in Him and so I may return to Him of my own free will.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(Hebrews 12:1-4 NIV)
See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
(Hebrews 12:25-29 NIV)
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Angry at God - Part II
I don’t say these things because I’m heartless or without feeling, just the opposite! Yes pain is a part of life and we all have experienced loss and we’re going to get angry at times but we’ve got to get to a point where we completely trust God, even when we don’t understand the reasons why. The sooner we see Him as holy God and a loving Father the sooner we realize that He is our tower of refuge, our healer, and our hero.
We come to God with the understanding that He is the holy, righteous Creator of all life and only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ are we saved – that’s level one. As we grow in relationship we have more freedom to express ourselves, this is level two. He sees our struggles and our failures, He knows our thoughts and feelings, and we are to work on growing to be more like Jesus in the things we do and say and think but growing is sometimes painful. As we go through trials, if we’re not careful we get this attitude like God owes us something special because of the time we have faithfully served Him but when something doesn’t go our way or we experience the loss of something or someone close to us and we forget the holy, righteous God we knew in level one and instead we begin to scold Him for not protecting us the way we think He should have. The only way to true maturity is that each level builds on the previous one. Yes, we are to be intimate and closer to God than any brother or friend but we can never forget who He is! This idea is not new it is from the Five Levels of Leadership, which is found in John Maxwell’s book Developing The Leader Within You. The levels go in this order position, permission, production, people development, and personhood. You start out following the leader because you have to, then because you want to, next you follow because of what they have done for an organization, next because of what he/she has done for you, finally because of who they are. Learning who God is requires the same level building and though we continue to grow closer to Him we can never forget who He is! Looking at it this way really opens your eyes and makes you think twice about throwing a temper tantrum with God. Yes, hurt and morn the loss but also let God comfort you, don’t push Him away, why would you do that?
As I think about this subject I keep seeing this image of my dogs, who get so excited when I come home from work. After all the jumping (they are both under 30lbs) they immediately go to lying on their backs wanting me to scratch their bellies but it also show submission and trust, if someone they don’t know walks in they go into attack mode! There are some similarities in the relationship between God and me. I love His presence more than anything and I take a posture of submission, knowing He is in control. You see I was in control for a long time and nothing good came of it. If my way was the best then why did I experience so much heartache? No, I long for God’s leading and direction because I trust Him, utterly and completely, with my whole life not just bits and pieces and if that is true how could I possibly ever get mad at the One who gives so much? My very existence depends on His mercy and loving kindness!
We come to God with the understanding that He is the holy, righteous Creator of all life and only through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ are we saved – that’s level one. As we grow in relationship we have more freedom to express ourselves, this is level two. He sees our struggles and our failures, He knows our thoughts and feelings, and we are to work on growing to be more like Jesus in the things we do and say and think but growing is sometimes painful. As we go through trials, if we’re not careful we get this attitude like God owes us something special because of the time we have faithfully served Him but when something doesn’t go our way or we experience the loss of something or someone close to us and we forget the holy, righteous God we knew in level one and instead we begin to scold Him for not protecting us the way we think He should have. The only way to true maturity is that each level builds on the previous one. Yes, we are to be intimate and closer to God than any brother or friend but we can never forget who He is! This idea is not new it is from the Five Levels of Leadership, which is found in John Maxwell’s book Developing The Leader Within You. The levels go in this order position, permission, production, people development, and personhood. You start out following the leader because you have to, then because you want to, next you follow because of what they have done for an organization, next because of what he/she has done for you, finally because of who they are. Learning who God is requires the same level building and though we continue to grow closer to Him we can never forget who He is! Looking at it this way really opens your eyes and makes you think twice about throwing a temper tantrum with God. Yes, hurt and morn the loss but also let God comfort you, don’t push Him away, why would you do that?
As I think about this subject I keep seeing this image of my dogs, who get so excited when I come home from work. After all the jumping (they are both under 30lbs) they immediately go to lying on their backs wanting me to scratch their bellies but it also show submission and trust, if someone they don’t know walks in they go into attack mode! There are some similarities in the relationship between God and me. I love His presence more than anything and I take a posture of submission, knowing He is in control. You see I was in control for a long time and nothing good came of it. If my way was the best then why did I experience so much heartache? No, I long for God’s leading and direction because I trust Him, utterly and completely, with my whole life not just bits and pieces and if that is true how could I possibly ever get mad at the One who gives so much? My very existence depends on His mercy and loving kindness!
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Angry at God?
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?”
(Job 38:1-5 NIV)
Job had a lot to be angry about if he were dealing with another human that caused him this pain but that was not the case! God clearly allowed Job to be tested, seemingly without cause and when Job finally broke and began questioning God’s ability to be just and fair he received his answer beginning in chapter 38 and ending with chapter 41 and it is not a response I want to get from God.
There is much pain in the world and that includes pain among Christians. People of the world don’t know what to think or who to blame, often they refer to their circumstances as “bad luck” but Christians knowing of God we trade our belief in luck to believing in God’s purpose. Though it is seldom that we know the answer to all of our questions why at the root we know that God has allowed this pain. Too often church leaders tell their congregation it is ok to be mad at God and will often point to Psalms and King David’s struggles. What isn’t said or isn’t heard is that David always reminded himself of the goodness of God and didn’t wallow in pain and anger for very long.
I have seen it over and over again the innocent gets hurt, blames God, gets angry at God, and then gets stuck there. The result is that they cannot heal and they spend the rest of their Christian lives angry at God, broken and powerless to move on. My wife and I once knew an adult Christian lady who was molested as a child, who could not forgive God for not protecting her. As a result she had debilitating headaches that were destroying her life as a mother, wife, and friend. Though she prayed for healing and asked others to pray for the same God remained silent. She and her family eventually moved, looking for professional help; as far as I know healing never came.
Was God “big enough” to take it? Yes but who’s progress is hindered coming through the wall? Did God still love her? Yes! Why didn’t God heal her of these terrible headaches? We don’t know but I believe these are the wrong questions. Why did the Israelites wonder in the desert for forty years? Look at it this way, a godly, human father sees his twin toddlers playing with their favorite toys. They are doing nothing wrong but still he takes they toys away from his two children. What the children don’t know is that their father has something better in store. The one gets mad and throws a tantrum fit to be tied, the other hangs her head and starts to cry. Though this was a small thing it deeply impacted both children. The questions needed to be asked are these: What was in the heart of each child that caused them to respond the way they did? What would you expect the parent’s response to each one is going to be? Would he not correct the one that is displaying “justified anger” and would he not comfort the one that was weeping? And if this is the case which one do you think would begin to understand that the father is indeed good and has good intentions first? The one throwing the tantrum, I don’t think so! Another question is this: how long do you want to sulk and feel separated from God? He’s big enough to take it, are you? On the other hand when I come to a wall I want to go through it as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean I don’t hurt or somehow lack feelings, that doesn’t mean I don’t have questions but long before I got to the wall I decided that God is good no matter what circumstance may come my way.
Time and time again God has restored me and my faith in Him whether it was watching my son almost killed from someone who fell asleep at the wheel and then being told all his dreams had been taken away to now having a full scholarship in college and a promise to be who he originally wanted to be prior to the accident and that’s just one example! There are many more stories I can share like that one but never once was I angry at God or will I be, not because I’m more righteous than someone else but simply because I know God to be good at all times, no matter what circumstances I face and I know He is faithful to grow my faith in Him and His ability and desire to save me! So if you must be angry at God, for He still loves you but if you want healing you have to let go of the anger in order to step out of that dark place so that you may grow in faith knowing God is your only hope of salvation.
Where I struggle is being angry at people when they have hurt me but even that the lesson is the same, for I cannot hold onto anger and receive healing at the same time. Forgiveness combats anger and being secure in God's love combats being easily offended and living detached from the things of this world means that I get to know God's peace.
(Job 38:1-5 NIV)
Job had a lot to be angry about if he were dealing with another human that caused him this pain but that was not the case! God clearly allowed Job to be tested, seemingly without cause and when Job finally broke and began questioning God’s ability to be just and fair he received his answer beginning in chapter 38 and ending with chapter 41 and it is not a response I want to get from God.
There is much pain in the world and that includes pain among Christians. People of the world don’t know what to think or who to blame, often they refer to their circumstances as “bad luck” but Christians knowing of God we trade our belief in luck to believing in God’s purpose. Though it is seldom that we know the answer to all of our questions why at the root we know that God has allowed this pain. Too often church leaders tell their congregation it is ok to be mad at God and will often point to Psalms and King David’s struggles. What isn’t said or isn’t heard is that David always reminded himself of the goodness of God and didn’t wallow in pain and anger for very long.
I have seen it over and over again the innocent gets hurt, blames God, gets angry at God, and then gets stuck there. The result is that they cannot heal and they spend the rest of their Christian lives angry at God, broken and powerless to move on. My wife and I once knew an adult Christian lady who was molested as a child, who could not forgive God for not protecting her. As a result she had debilitating headaches that were destroying her life as a mother, wife, and friend. Though she prayed for healing and asked others to pray for the same God remained silent. She and her family eventually moved, looking for professional help; as far as I know healing never came.
Was God “big enough” to take it? Yes but who’s progress is hindered coming through the wall? Did God still love her? Yes! Why didn’t God heal her of these terrible headaches? We don’t know but I believe these are the wrong questions. Why did the Israelites wonder in the desert for forty years? Look at it this way, a godly, human father sees his twin toddlers playing with their favorite toys. They are doing nothing wrong but still he takes they toys away from his two children. What the children don’t know is that their father has something better in store. The one gets mad and throws a tantrum fit to be tied, the other hangs her head and starts to cry. Though this was a small thing it deeply impacted both children. The questions needed to be asked are these: What was in the heart of each child that caused them to respond the way they did? What would you expect the parent’s response to each one is going to be? Would he not correct the one that is displaying “justified anger” and would he not comfort the one that was weeping? And if this is the case which one do you think would begin to understand that the father is indeed good and has good intentions first? The one throwing the tantrum, I don’t think so! Another question is this: how long do you want to sulk and feel separated from God? He’s big enough to take it, are you? On the other hand when I come to a wall I want to go through it as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean I don’t hurt or somehow lack feelings, that doesn’t mean I don’t have questions but long before I got to the wall I decided that God is good no matter what circumstance may come my way.
Time and time again God has restored me and my faith in Him whether it was watching my son almost killed from someone who fell asleep at the wheel and then being told all his dreams had been taken away to now having a full scholarship in college and a promise to be who he originally wanted to be prior to the accident and that’s just one example! There are many more stories I can share like that one but never once was I angry at God or will I be, not because I’m more righteous than someone else but simply because I know God to be good at all times, no matter what circumstances I face and I know He is faithful to grow my faith in Him and His ability and desire to save me! So if you must be angry at God, for He still loves you but if you want healing you have to let go of the anger in order to step out of that dark place so that you may grow in faith knowing God is your only hope of salvation.
Where I struggle is being angry at people when they have hurt me but even that the lesson is the same, for I cannot hold onto anger and receive healing at the same time. Forgiveness combats anger and being secure in God's love combats being easily offended and living detached from the things of this world means that I get to know God's peace.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Life to the fullest
The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
(John 10:10 MKJV)
Do you want the most out of life? To hear Jesus’ words in our youth and believe no matter what we do life is not complete until we surrender all to Him would give us such a head start but it usually doesn’t happen until we are older because we have to experience for ourselves the highs and lows of living. This is why the young are to honor and respect the elder but being old doesn’t automatically grant you passage to wisdom. Regardless of our age it is the walking out our journey with the Lord, the falling down and learning He is there each time to pick us back up.
Our family recently took home a rescue dog from a shelter. His name is Bear and he has many trust issues, we know very little about his past but do know he was one of many dogs his first owner had and was neglected. When we first brought Bear home with us he only wanted our youngest son. We stretched and challenged what he believed to be true about people by consistently showing we were trust worthy and eventually he began to open up to the rest of the family. He not only depends on us but now he understands his own needs better and he trusts us. He is still learning but there are some things that have shaped him that cannot be undone and so it is with us. We have to learn God is trust worthy by surrendering our will for His and letting down our walls, as we do our old lives fall away and our new family is so much better but there are still things that we have experienced that have bent our beliefs but unlike Bear if we draw closer to God, seeing our desperate situation He has the power to move mountains. Now our only hurdle is our own ability to believe what He says is true without doubting. Only then are we ready for the next level of life-changing power Jesus says He eagerly awaits to show us.
And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.
(Matthew 17:20 MKJV)
The fullest life possible is the life that recognizes God’s voice, who knows how to listen, who is obedient, and who will allow God to stretch them without any remnants of doubt. Yet we are still human and try as we may life has bent our belief system but the more we can awaken our spirits to God’s truth the fuller our life becomes.
(John 10:10 MKJV)
Do you want the most out of life? To hear Jesus’ words in our youth and believe no matter what we do life is not complete until we surrender all to Him would give us such a head start but it usually doesn’t happen until we are older because we have to experience for ourselves the highs and lows of living. This is why the young are to honor and respect the elder but being old doesn’t automatically grant you passage to wisdom. Regardless of our age it is the walking out our journey with the Lord, the falling down and learning He is there each time to pick us back up.
Our family recently took home a rescue dog from a shelter. His name is Bear and he has many trust issues, we know very little about his past but do know he was one of many dogs his first owner had and was neglected. When we first brought Bear home with us he only wanted our youngest son. We stretched and challenged what he believed to be true about people by consistently showing we were trust worthy and eventually he began to open up to the rest of the family. He not only depends on us but now he understands his own needs better and he trusts us. He is still learning but there are some things that have shaped him that cannot be undone and so it is with us. We have to learn God is trust worthy by surrendering our will for His and letting down our walls, as we do our old lives fall away and our new family is so much better but there are still things that we have experienced that have bent our beliefs but unlike Bear if we draw closer to God, seeing our desperate situation He has the power to move mountains. Now our only hurdle is our own ability to believe what He says is true without doubting. Only then are we ready for the next level of life-changing power Jesus says He eagerly awaits to show us.
And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief. For truly I say to you, If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Move from here to there. And it shall move. And nothing shall be impossible to you.
(Matthew 17:20 MKJV)
The fullest life possible is the life that recognizes God’s voice, who knows how to listen, who is obedient, and who will allow God to stretch them without any remnants of doubt. Yet we are still human and try as we may life has bent our belief system but the more we can awaken our spirits to God’s truth the fuller our life becomes.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
To listen with our hearts
Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality. Then the LORD said to Samuel, "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to Me and has refused to obey My command." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night. Early the next morning Samuel went to find Saul. Someone told him, "Saul went to the town of Carmel to set up a monument to himself; then he went on to Gilgal." When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!" "Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded. "It's true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle," Saul admitted. "But they are going to sacrifice them to the LORD your God. We have destroyed everything else." Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did He tell you?" Saul asked. And Samuel told him, "Although you may think little of yourself, are you not the leader of the tribes of Israel? The LORD has anointed you king of Israel. And the LORD sent you on a mission and told you, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, until they are all dead.' Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD's sight?" "But I did obey the LORD," Saul insisted. "I carried out the mission He gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. Then my troops brought in the best of the sheep, goats, cattle, and plunder to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal." But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, He has rejected you as king."
(1 Samuel 15:9-23 NLT)
I believe Saul did believe he was obedient to God’s command; the problem is he listened to God’s prophet without hearing. The scripture tells us Saul greeted Samuel cheerfully saying, “May the Lord bless you, I have carried out the LORD’s command!” God’s prophets were not to be deceived, for everyone knew the cost would be great and therefore the position demanded reverence. The problem is Saul had a preconceived idea of what victory looked like and though he listened to God’s prophet the words was not given the opportunity to soak into his heart because Saul’s will repelled them as oil repels water. When the battle was over his lie was so convincing even Saul himself believed it, how surprised he must have been at Samuel’s reply. This is important because there are many people who sit in churches today and “listen” as they sit under godly teaching but all along have their own ideas of what a successful life looks like and on Monday they enter the battlefield assured they are doing as God planned. They only succeed in deceiving themselves because what they do is not God’s will but their own and when things don’t turn out the way they expected guess what they do – they sacrifice to the Lord but like Samuel told Saul, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” yet they do it anyway having nothing else to offer and then they start the cycle all over again. This happens repeatedly until it is impossible for them to hear God’s Word, still they go through the motions and it is these people Jesus tells us about in Matthew chapter 7.
"Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.'
(Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)
You see they only way for these people to relate to God is through deeds but God says it’s not as much what you do but whether or not you know Him and because they have caused themselves to go deaf through self-indulgence they are cut off from God. To the Christian nothing is more important than their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to chase hard after Him and to hunger and thirst for righteousness, yes faith without works is dead but works without a relationship with Jesus Christ is not living! We know Him by spending time with Him in the same way I can hear my wife’s voice in a crowd we are to know God so intimately that we recognize Him in our daily lives even though there are many things going on around us. We know the character of God by reading His Word and He leads us by our hearts but our hearts must be conditioned to hear His small still voice, as a gentle breeze arouses the hair on my arm my heart is to be sensitive enough to know when Jesus is passing by, this is how we listen with our hearts.
(1 Samuel 15:9-23 NLT)
I believe Saul did believe he was obedient to God’s command; the problem is he listened to God’s prophet without hearing. The scripture tells us Saul greeted Samuel cheerfully saying, “May the Lord bless you, I have carried out the LORD’s command!” God’s prophets were not to be deceived, for everyone knew the cost would be great and therefore the position demanded reverence. The problem is Saul had a preconceived idea of what victory looked like and though he listened to God’s prophet the words was not given the opportunity to soak into his heart because Saul’s will repelled them as oil repels water. When the battle was over his lie was so convincing even Saul himself believed it, how surprised he must have been at Samuel’s reply. This is important because there are many people who sit in churches today and “listen” as they sit under godly teaching but all along have their own ideas of what a successful life looks like and on Monday they enter the battlefield assured they are doing as God planned. They only succeed in deceiving themselves because what they do is not God’s will but their own and when things don’t turn out the way they expected guess what they do – they sacrifice to the Lord but like Samuel told Saul, “Obedience is better than sacrifice” yet they do it anyway having nothing else to offer and then they start the cycle all over again. This happens repeatedly until it is impossible for them to hear God’s Word, still they go through the motions and it is these people Jesus tells us about in Matthew chapter 7.
"Not everyone who calls out to Me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to Me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God's laws.'
(Matthew 7:21-23 NLT)
You see they only way for these people to relate to God is through deeds but God says it’s not as much what you do but whether or not you know Him and because they have caused themselves to go deaf through self-indulgence they are cut off from God. To the Christian nothing is more important than their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to chase hard after Him and to hunger and thirst for righteousness, yes faith without works is dead but works without a relationship with Jesus Christ is not living! We know Him by spending time with Him in the same way I can hear my wife’s voice in a crowd we are to know God so intimately that we recognize Him in our daily lives even though there are many things going on around us. We know the character of God by reading His Word and He leads us by our hearts but our hearts must be conditioned to hear His small still voice, as a gentle breeze arouses the hair on my arm my heart is to be sensitive enough to know when Jesus is passing by, this is how we listen with our hearts.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Live in the light of His love
Live in the light, for the day is coming when all will be revealed and those who have become accustomed to the shadows will have the most to hide. For the Lord leads His people by the light of His Word and those who belong to Him seek Him diligently and they shall not fall.
For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
(Psalms 36:9 NLT)
Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.
(Psalms 43:3 NLT)
Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, forsaking all others and surrendering their will for His, they will be made to bow before Jesus and with their tongues confess Him as Lord on that dreadful day but those who love Him and are obedient now, of their own free will, on that day they will lay their crowns at His feet and will reign with Him in the place that He has prepared for them. So stop judging others, setting brother against brother but live according to God’s commandments so that His will is done in your life. 1 John 4:18 tells me that perfect love casts out all fear and if I love as Jesus leads me then I have nothing to fear in this life or the next. Death does not have a hold on me “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21)
For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. '" Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
(Romans 14:7-12 NLT)
Fear of being lost for eternity can’t keep us, though it might bring us to Christ only His love can keep us and only His love can move each of us towards Him and light our path so we do not stumble and fall.
For You are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
(Psalms 36:9 NLT)
Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.
(Psalms 43:3 NLT)
Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, forsaking all others and surrendering their will for His, they will be made to bow before Jesus and with their tongues confess Him as Lord on that dreadful day but those who love Him and are obedient now, of their own free will, on that day they will lay their crowns at His feet and will reign with Him in the place that He has prepared for them. So stop judging others, setting brother against brother but live according to God’s commandments so that His will is done in your life. 1 John 4:18 tells me that perfect love casts out all fear and if I love as Jesus leads me then I have nothing to fear in this life or the next. Death does not have a hold on me “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21)
For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live, it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead. So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to Me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God. '" Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.
(Romans 14:7-12 NLT)
Fear of being lost for eternity can’t keep us, though it might bring us to Christ only His love can keep us and only His love can move each of us towards Him and light our path so we do not stumble and fall.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Free to know yourself
Express your feelings; be in touch with what’s going on inside of you so that you are aware of what’s going on around you. Too often we suppress our feelings so much that we become blind to everything else around us. I’ve done it, we’ve all done it, the problem is we’ve been trained to think being too sensitive or too aware of our own feelings makes us self-centered somehow and it is true those who are self-centered seem to be constantly aware of their own needs but it is what they do with that knowledge that determines if they are self-centered or an instrument for God’s using.
When someone hurts me I can either withdraw and seek seclusion for the purpose of allowing the pain to grow roots deep in the soil of my heart or I can recognize the weight of it, grieve the pain, and release it into my Heavenly Father’s hands; understanding most times the offender’s actions came out of being broken just like me and though the enemy meant it for evil my God turns it into something beautiful. For it is through this journey on earth that we learn how to live and by depending on God to see us through He grows us into something we could have never been without His constant companionship to help us find our way in this spiritual darkness.
Don’t you see child, life isn’t living carefree with a silver spoon in your mouth because in that place we become stagnate and growth is nonexistent, why should we leave such comfort? It’s like the adult child living with their parents because they don’t want to miss out of all the benefits that come their way but the whole time they miss their God-intended purpose in life, never truly knowing who they are. Living life to the fullest requires that we don’t hide our hearts but instead reveal it to the only One who is worthy of receiving it; that we run to the adventure and we disregard the fear flung our way used to manipulate us by the ones who lack understanding of what real living is all about.
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
(Psalms 31:2-5 NIV)
Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever." In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
(Psalms 118:4-6 NIV)
Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed."
(Isaiah 52:2-3 NIV)
God sent His Son to die in our place so that we may have the freedom to choose eternal life; this free will cannot be taken from us but sadly we unknowingly give it away to things that control us whether it be bitterness, strife, anger, drugs, alcohol, sex, food, television, our jobs… the list goes on and on and like Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew the cost of us being entertained, lining our pockets, or finding escape from the pain has a very high cost.
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
(Genesis 25:29-34 NIV)
God You are honored and lifted high above your people, for who is like you in all the earth or heavens above! Help me so that I never despise my birthright, don’t let pain keep me from wanting to be near you. Bestow upon me understanding and patience so I may see what holds true value and help me to forgive others when their actions or words cause pain and so that I too may be forgiven. I know You are in control and I am not I have trusted lesser things before but now I trust You and You cannot be defeated; You are the lifter of my head and in the shadow of your wing I find peace and rest. I love you Lord, in Jesus’ name amen.
When someone hurts me I can either withdraw and seek seclusion for the purpose of allowing the pain to grow roots deep in the soil of my heart or I can recognize the weight of it, grieve the pain, and release it into my Heavenly Father’s hands; understanding most times the offender’s actions came out of being broken just like me and though the enemy meant it for evil my God turns it into something beautiful. For it is through this journey on earth that we learn how to live and by depending on God to see us through He grows us into something we could have never been without His constant companionship to help us find our way in this spiritual darkness.
Don’t you see child, life isn’t living carefree with a silver spoon in your mouth because in that place we become stagnate and growth is nonexistent, why should we leave such comfort? It’s like the adult child living with their parents because they don’t want to miss out of all the benefits that come their way but the whole time they miss their God-intended purpose in life, never truly knowing who they are. Living life to the fullest requires that we don’t hide our hearts but instead reveal it to the only One who is worthy of receiving it; that we run to the adventure and we disregard the fear flung our way used to manipulate us by the ones who lack understanding of what real living is all about.
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
(Psalms 31:2-5 NIV)
Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever." In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
(Psalms 118:4-6 NIV)
Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed."
(Isaiah 52:2-3 NIV)
God sent His Son to die in our place so that we may have the freedom to choose eternal life; this free will cannot be taken from us but sadly we unknowingly give it away to things that control us whether it be bitterness, strife, anger, drugs, alcohol, sex, food, television, our jobs… the list goes on and on and like Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of stew the cost of us being entertained, lining our pockets, or finding escape from the pain has a very high cost.
Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!" (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.
(Genesis 25:29-34 NIV)
God You are honored and lifted high above your people, for who is like you in all the earth or heavens above! Help me so that I never despise my birthright, don’t let pain keep me from wanting to be near you. Bestow upon me understanding and patience so I may see what holds true value and help me to forgive others when their actions or words cause pain and so that I too may be forgiven. I know You are in control and I am not I have trusted lesser things before but now I trust You and You cannot be defeated; You are the lifter of my head and in the shadow of your wing I find peace and rest. I love you Lord, in Jesus’ name amen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Self-preservation
Show me someone who refuses to dig deeper into who they are and I will show you someone who has added layers over the years to the point of eliminating their ability to feel, in order to reduce their risk of being hurt but show me someone who has hit bottom, exposing all that they are and all that they are not and who has walked out of that pit holding Jesus’ hand and I will show you someone who has left pride behind and does everything with passion and a fire inside and who doesn’t have time for games.
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed Him.
(Mark 1:16-18 NLT)
Mark tells an incredible story but it’s what he doesn’t say that reminds me why I began following Jesus in the first place. Fisherman in that day were not highly regarded, they lived hard lives that rose and fell like the waves of the sea. Sometimes they would work all day and catch nothing and other times they would catch enough to keep them going. They became accustomed to feast or famine and many drank their troubles away, wondering if there wasn’t more to life. They were looked down upon by the community and kept to themselves much of the time because they were told that they had nothing of value. Those who were strong learned to stay focused on their responsibilities so that their families had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over their heads but regardless of their success they knew their place in society and there was no escaping.
Is it any wonder that when Jesus called Simon and Andrew they left their belongings behind without hesitation? They knew what it was like to be naked and exposed while doing what was necessary to survive. It’s the rest of the town that would have had difficulties abandoning everything in order to follow Jesus. Their layers of self-preservation would have prevented them from living out a life of passion, which would have brought about the very freedom they sought but could not find. You see we can either layer our hearts with pride in order to protect it from pain or we can passionately leave everything that feels safe in order to know who God has created us to be but we cannot do both! Why do we think we can go to church, tithe, do Bible study, and yet still not feel anything. The opposite is true as well, to go out into the world full of passion and not knowing Jesus can only end one way – failure and pain. These are the ones who become addicts as a way of coping with large amounts of pain. Whether you are an addict or a pew warmer or both the answer is a close relationship with Jesus, understanding our own desperate situation, releasing our grip on pride, to know ourselves, and to live out with passion, who God says He has made us to be.
Listen to Jesus’ words…
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.
(John 10:10-11 NLT)
Does this sound like someone who is concerned about self-preservation or doesn’t know what it is like to feel or be passionate about something? Lord, help us to understand your purpose for us better and give us courage to live the life you meant for us to live, in your Son’s name, amen.
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!" And they left their nets at once and followed Him.
(Mark 1:16-18 NLT)
Mark tells an incredible story but it’s what he doesn’t say that reminds me why I began following Jesus in the first place. Fisherman in that day were not highly regarded, they lived hard lives that rose and fell like the waves of the sea. Sometimes they would work all day and catch nothing and other times they would catch enough to keep them going. They became accustomed to feast or famine and many drank their troubles away, wondering if there wasn’t more to life. They were looked down upon by the community and kept to themselves much of the time because they were told that they had nothing of value. Those who were strong learned to stay focused on their responsibilities so that their families had food to eat, clothes to wear, and a roof over their heads but regardless of their success they knew their place in society and there was no escaping.
Is it any wonder that when Jesus called Simon and Andrew they left their belongings behind without hesitation? They knew what it was like to be naked and exposed while doing what was necessary to survive. It’s the rest of the town that would have had difficulties abandoning everything in order to follow Jesus. Their layers of self-preservation would have prevented them from living out a life of passion, which would have brought about the very freedom they sought but could not find. You see we can either layer our hearts with pride in order to protect it from pain or we can passionately leave everything that feels safe in order to know who God has created us to be but we cannot do both! Why do we think we can go to church, tithe, do Bible study, and yet still not feel anything. The opposite is true as well, to go out into the world full of passion and not knowing Jesus can only end one way – failure and pain. These are the ones who become addicts as a way of coping with large amounts of pain. Whether you are an addict or a pew warmer or both the answer is a close relationship with Jesus, understanding our own desperate situation, releasing our grip on pride, to know ourselves, and to live out with passion, who God says He has made us to be.
Listen to Jesus’ words…
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.
(John 10:10-11 NLT)
Does this sound like someone who is concerned about self-preservation or doesn’t know what it is like to feel or be passionate about something? Lord, help us to understand your purpose for us better and give us courage to live the life you meant for us to live, in your Son’s name, amen.
Monday, October 6, 2014
How God speaks to us
God speaks to us first through His Word, all that we seek can be found hear but it does require that we know Him, seek Him first, and know how to listen to the leading of His Holy Spirit. Too often we get stuck or lack the faith to believe yet God loves us and though His answer is in the love letter He has provided sometimes He will speak to us through other people, situations, or His law. Sometimes it is for the purpose of correcting us and sometimes it is for the purpose of growing us up, that is why you must always understand that God is good at all times.
I have been saved for 35 years and the older I get the more I believe it doesn’t make sense to get upset with God when something does not go my way. Some believe this is a necessary step in order to be in touch with your emotions because there will be times that you are naturally frustrated at situation knowing God could have made it happen another way but if you believe everything happens for a reason and at the same time you believe God is good in all situations then clearly the problem is not with God but that you don’t understand what He is up to. Is our time not more wisely spent seeking God’s will then becoming upset that things didn’t go your way? Have you ever seen a child upset at the parent because they did get something they wanted at the grocery store? It’s not a pretty sight! Spiritually speaking, those who get upset at God because something didn’t go their way are acting the same way.
Job went through more than anyone else has, seemingly without reason. God did not give Job a reason why, nor did God give a reply to Job’s many questions but Job knew his position, knowing right from wrong and he stood firm in the things he believed knowing that God was just, in spite of what his friends had to say. And like Job we must know who God is and walk by faith, not by sight. Though our eyes may tell us God is nowhere to be found and our friends may lead us astray it is our unshakable faith in our loving Heavenly Father that becomes the life line we hold onto. As you seek God for answers ask Him for understanding and that your eyes may be opened so that He might give you the strength to endure this test and yes express your heart’s cry, weep before Him day and night but never become angry at God, for this only reveals the fact that you do not know God the way you should. If you recall when Job finally broke and began to doubt God’s goodness God’s reply was stern and fearful.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
(Job 38:1-4 NIV)
Whether it’s King David running for his life or Job ready to give up because of the weight that had been placed on his shoulders what God wants most from us is that we are honest and we speak from our hearts. God doesn’t like lip service, He doesn’t like prayers that are well thought out for the purpose of tickling the ears of those in the room but what He wants most is that we know Him and that we communicate with Him from our very core and that we do it with all praise and honor that’s due Him. This is what God calls a righteous person, someone that knows Him intimately and who trust Him regardless of circumstances, who walks by faith and not by sight, someone who stands up to those who talk out of ignorance and reveals the distance between themselves and God, and someone who shares the Good News with others and tells of God’s faithfulness to forgive sins. God promises to be near this person and to hear their prayers when the call out to Him.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16 NIV)
So the next time you are being tested think about how God has been dealing with you prior to this, has your heart been heavy, have you listened to the whisper of His Holy Spirit or have you been avoiding God? I have found that most difficulties only come after I have refused to listen to what He told me in His Word or I’ve been indifferent to the moving of His Holy Spirit. You see He loves us too much to let us wonder away deaf and blind but instead He gently wipes the mud from our faces, leads us to the fountain to bathe us and when He catches our attention we grow in Him being more mature than we were before and more willing to listen the next time.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:2-8 NIV)
I have been saved for 35 years and the older I get the more I believe it doesn’t make sense to get upset with God when something does not go my way. Some believe this is a necessary step in order to be in touch with your emotions because there will be times that you are naturally frustrated at situation knowing God could have made it happen another way but if you believe everything happens for a reason and at the same time you believe God is good in all situations then clearly the problem is not with God but that you don’t understand what He is up to. Is our time not more wisely spent seeking God’s will then becoming upset that things didn’t go your way? Have you ever seen a child upset at the parent because they did get something they wanted at the grocery store? It’s not a pretty sight! Spiritually speaking, those who get upset at God because something didn’t go their way are acting the same way.
Job went through more than anyone else has, seemingly without reason. God did not give Job a reason why, nor did God give a reply to Job’s many questions but Job knew his position, knowing right from wrong and he stood firm in the things he believed knowing that God was just, in spite of what his friends had to say. And like Job we must know who God is and walk by faith, not by sight. Though our eyes may tell us God is nowhere to be found and our friends may lead us astray it is our unshakable faith in our loving Heavenly Father that becomes the life line we hold onto. As you seek God for answers ask Him for understanding and that your eyes may be opened so that He might give you the strength to endure this test and yes express your heart’s cry, weep before Him day and night but never become angry at God, for this only reveals the fact that you do not know God the way you should. If you recall when Job finally broke and began to doubt God’s goodness God’s reply was stern and fearful.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
(Job 38:1-4 NIV)
Whether it’s King David running for his life or Job ready to give up because of the weight that had been placed on his shoulders what God wants most from us is that we are honest and we speak from our hearts. God doesn’t like lip service, He doesn’t like prayers that are well thought out for the purpose of tickling the ears of those in the room but what He wants most is that we know Him and that we communicate with Him from our very core and that we do it with all praise and honor that’s due Him. This is what God calls a righteous person, someone that knows Him intimately and who trust Him regardless of circumstances, who walks by faith and not by sight, someone who stands up to those who talk out of ignorance and reveals the distance between themselves and God, and someone who shares the Good News with others and tells of God’s faithfulness to forgive sins. God promises to be near this person and to hear their prayers when the call out to Him.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16 NIV)
So the next time you are being tested think about how God has been dealing with you prior to this, has your heart been heavy, have you listened to the whisper of His Holy Spirit or have you been avoiding God? I have found that most difficulties only come after I have refused to listen to what He told me in His Word or I’ve been indifferent to the moving of His Holy Spirit. You see He loves us too much to let us wonder away deaf and blind but instead He gently wipes the mud from our faces, leads us to the fountain to bathe us and when He catches our attention we grow in Him being more mature than we were before and more willing to listen the next time.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
(James 1:2-8 NIV)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Understanding our need
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.
(Romans 3:23 NLT)
My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. But You, O LORD, will sit on Your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
(Psalms 102:11-12 NLT)
The secret to life is knowing our need and answering God’s call. Without understanding our need we cannot hear God’s answer for that need, without hearing God’s answer we are left to lesser things. These things try to fill our lives but nothing satisfies, not drugs, not alcohol, not money, or possessions, not even other relationships but only God’s love and it’s only when we respond to that love do we understand we have a Creator who desires relationship with us and wants to see us to grow and mature in Him. As we mature we are to help others see their need and point to the one answer.
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!" Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?”
(John 14:6-9 NLT)
You see Philip did not see clearly his need and therefore could not see that Jesus was the answer, for if he would had recognized his own need his eyes would have been opened and who was standing before him that day would have been revealed. Like Philip we know of Jesus, we go to church, we pray and read the Bible because that is what we are supposed to do but have we ever dove into the depths of our own heart to see our desperate situation, do we know what we lose when we don’t surrender all to His Lordship? An American pastor once told a pastor from China, “We are praying for you, that God would deliver you from the persecution you face daily.” And the pastor from China said, “We are praying for you, that you would face more persecution so that you faith becomes stronger.”
When we’re in a group setting and we pray at the closing why are all the prayer requests for people we know, even people we don’t know (friends of friends)? Is it easier to talk about other people’s needs than it is to talk about our own? If real relationships are to happen how about we pray for each other! How about we become vulnerable to each other enough to expose our own needs? You want to see your group grow by leaps and bounds by practicing the things Jesus teaches, you want to see real community happen, then restrict the group to share only prayer request based on their own need. Don’t be surprised when people in the group start sharing how God has been speaking to them during the week about the things they have been praying for in the group. Also watch how ice breakers aren’t needed to get people to open up but true genuine love and compassion for each other is shown and encouraged. Soon your group will be too big to be considered a small group and it will need to break into other smaller groups, from a single seed comes a bountiful harvest! In this situation God’s love is truly experienced and people can’t get enough of it all because one person recognized their need and became vulnerable and open in a safe environment, allowing God to provide the answer through His children and allowing others to practice God’s love.
(Romans 3:23 NLT)
My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. But You, O LORD, will sit on Your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
(Psalms 102:11-12 NLT)
The secret to life is knowing our need and answering God’s call. Without understanding our need we cannot hear God’s answer for that need, without hearing God’s answer we are left to lesser things. These things try to fill our lives but nothing satisfies, not drugs, not alcohol, not money, or possessions, not even other relationships but only God’s love and it’s only when we respond to that love do we understand we have a Creator who desires relationship with us and wants to see us to grow and mature in Him. As we mature we are to help others see their need and point to the one answer.
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. If you had really known Me, you would know who My Father is. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him!" Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?”
(John 14:6-9 NLT)
You see Philip did not see clearly his need and therefore could not see that Jesus was the answer, for if he would had recognized his own need his eyes would have been opened and who was standing before him that day would have been revealed. Like Philip we know of Jesus, we go to church, we pray and read the Bible because that is what we are supposed to do but have we ever dove into the depths of our own heart to see our desperate situation, do we know what we lose when we don’t surrender all to His Lordship? An American pastor once told a pastor from China, “We are praying for you, that God would deliver you from the persecution you face daily.” And the pastor from China said, “We are praying for you, that you would face more persecution so that you faith becomes stronger.”
When we’re in a group setting and we pray at the closing why are all the prayer requests for people we know, even people we don’t know (friends of friends)? Is it easier to talk about other people’s needs than it is to talk about our own? If real relationships are to happen how about we pray for each other! How about we become vulnerable to each other enough to expose our own needs? You want to see your group grow by leaps and bounds by practicing the things Jesus teaches, you want to see real community happen, then restrict the group to share only prayer request based on their own need. Don’t be surprised when people in the group start sharing how God has been speaking to them during the week about the things they have been praying for in the group. Also watch how ice breakers aren’t needed to get people to open up but true genuine love and compassion for each other is shown and encouraged. Soon your group will be too big to be considered a small group and it will need to break into other smaller groups, from a single seed comes a bountiful harvest! In this situation God’s love is truly experienced and people can’t get enough of it all because one person recognized their need and became vulnerable and open in a safe environment, allowing God to provide the answer through His children and allowing others to practice God’s love.
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