(1 Corinthians 5:11 NLT) I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.
Do you remember in high school being instructed not to date the immoral person, having the ideal that you could change them for the better? What about your friends you choose to hang out with? It’s because their constant justification for living the way they do begins to wear down your own resistance to sin and without realizing it you adopt their reasons for giving in to temptation. By walking into their camp you affectively allow this person to put blinders on you so you cannot see God’s direction any more. Instead we are to shine God’s light and be steadfast with roots that run deep next to His Living Stream. As we shine God’s light people will be attracted to you not the other way around. Paul made it very clear that coming in contact with this kind of person (the unbeliever) isn’t the issue he said, “You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.” but having this person in your inner circle, one who claims to be a believer, he goes on to say, “Don’t even eat with such people.”
As a believer you have been adopted into a kingdom unknown by the world. God paid a high price to be able to call you His own and we are to guard our hearts and keep them set apart for Him alone but when we listen to the counsel of the immoral person we turn our backs on the very One who died for us. The enemy is cunning and he knows a frontal attack would only brazen us and cause us to stand firm for what we believe but if he could send spies into our ranks he would eventually be able to turn us. The key is communicate with our Lord regularly asking for His guidance and help with where you should go, who you should see, even the smallest of things and He will be faithful to guide you. The moment you lose the ability to follow and hear His voice you should be concerned and if you notice not being able to hear Him when you are around certain people examine their lives to see if they are immoral. Paul also says, “But it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.” He wasn’t talking about judging people in other churches he was referring to people in your inner circle, he was telling you it is your job to guard your own heart so that it may remain soft towards the things of God.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
My Choices
(1 Corinthians 4:5-7 NLT) So don't make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For He will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due. Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
This world’s systems have been setup to cause the individual to promote one’s self, thinking if I promote myself then I will become what I want to be but remember who has been given temporary power of this world…
(Ephesians 2:1-5 NLT) Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)
We have been deceived and every time we take credit for something we have done we affectively set that hook a little deeper. My choices don’t make me stronger, instead they make me more depended on the structure and the systems of this world. It is only by Christ Jesus are those chains broken and like Paul told the Corinthians, “And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” What’s worse is this worldly thinking is taking control of our youth. As if it is not hard enough for my generation to make the choice to humble ourselves and look to Christ Jesus as the answer, our children grow up in a world that has become saturated in pride and self-promotion! Shame on the older generations for not teaching their children how to make Godly choices for they will held accountable. As this world makes its downward spiral a remnant will be saved and when Jesus returns those who made choices based on God’s Word will be delivered from God’s wrath. For God is not only merciful but also righteous.
(Revelation 8:13 NLT) Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, "Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets."
This world’s systems have been setup to cause the individual to promote one’s self, thinking if I promote myself then I will become what I want to be but remember who has been given temporary power of this world…
(Ephesians 2:1-5 NLT) Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)
We have been deceived and every time we take credit for something we have done we affectively set that hook a little deeper. My choices don’t make me stronger, instead they make me more depended on the structure and the systems of this world. It is only by Christ Jesus are those chains broken and like Paul told the Corinthians, “And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?” What’s worse is this worldly thinking is taking control of our youth. As if it is not hard enough for my generation to make the choice to humble ourselves and look to Christ Jesus as the answer, our children grow up in a world that has become saturated in pride and self-promotion! Shame on the older generations for not teaching their children how to make Godly choices for they will held accountable. As this world makes its downward spiral a remnant will be saved and when Jesus returns those who made choices based on God’s Word will be delivered from God’s wrath. For God is not only merciful but also righteous.
(Revelation 8:13 NLT) Then I looked, and I heard a single eagle crying loudly as it flew through the air, "Terror, terror, terror to all who belong to this world because of what will happen when the last three angels blow their trumpets."
Saturday, August 31, 2013
It is ok to be weak
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NLT) When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn't use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God's secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the One who was crucified. I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.
For some strength comes easy, others hope to be stronger but what if our human weakness is instead a blessing from God? Have you ever been around a person that knows just what to say, without hesitation? They leave the impression that surely they are wise and it is true they have practiced and trained their whole lives. From grade school, through high school and college, and they have been encouraged by people’s responses, especially now that they are adults in the work place. For their efforts has rewarded them well but in all of that you have to wonder did they ever stop to ask what God’s plan is?
Those who wish they were like the group I just mentioned but can’t quite pull off the quick responses should stop striving and think about this. Maybe, just maybe God is holding their tongue and maybe God has a better way for their lives then those who are considered wise by the world. With me wisdom seems to come the next morning, by then everyone has said their part and conclusions have been drawn and the group is ready to move on to the next subject. What I have failed to see in these situations is that God definitely is providing His direction for my life but it seems as if He has no interest in entering this type of debate. I have even prayed for quicker responses because this “morning wisdom” I reason, would benefit everyone or am I more concerned about making myself look more important, sometimes it is a toss-up. Debates I don’t enjoy but writing I do and I think this is the reason... it gives me time to listen – something that is difficult to do when your mouth is always open.
(Matthew 7:6 NLT) "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”
I am left feeling as if these nuggets of wisdom are meant for those who purposely slow down to listen. The ones with quick responses don’t really listen beyond what is required for their rebuttal. There are however, two occasions when I surprise myself by speaking my mind, one I regret to say is when I am angry but the other is when I am filled with passion. These times happen in degrees depending on how far I’ve been pushed or how passionate I am about a particular subject. I have had times when indignation came over me and drove me as if I had no other choice but to speak out but those times are almost always with another individual or small group that shows they know how to listen and are interested in learning and can usually be described as a God moment. The times I speak out in anger almost always turns into an argument and I usually end up regretting the things that I felt just had to be said, even if truth is spoken the delivery of it diffuses the message and it desensitizes that person’s ability to receive truth in the future, especially from me. These are the times I need to do more listening than speaking and tread lightly, remembering who’s I am. I do not need to speak in defense of myself for it is much better if God defends me and leads me on what to do next. When I speak for my own defense I not only wish I hadn’t but I also lose God’s direction, leaving me lost and looking for hope. Over the years I have learned to be thankful that wisdom comes slowly, many times I’ve learned the best response is, “I need to pray and think about it and get back to you.” This way the pressure is taken off of me and the credit goes to God – I have learned that it is ok to let my weakness show because those are the best times to hear God’s direction and the times I have done this I have never walked away wishing I would have had a quick response.
For some strength comes easy, others hope to be stronger but what if our human weakness is instead a blessing from God? Have you ever been around a person that knows just what to say, without hesitation? They leave the impression that surely they are wise and it is true they have practiced and trained their whole lives. From grade school, through high school and college, and they have been encouraged by people’s responses, especially now that they are adults in the work place. For their efforts has rewarded them well but in all of that you have to wonder did they ever stop to ask what God’s plan is?
Those who wish they were like the group I just mentioned but can’t quite pull off the quick responses should stop striving and think about this. Maybe, just maybe God is holding their tongue and maybe God has a better way for their lives then those who are considered wise by the world. With me wisdom seems to come the next morning, by then everyone has said their part and conclusions have been drawn and the group is ready to move on to the next subject. What I have failed to see in these situations is that God definitely is providing His direction for my life but it seems as if He has no interest in entering this type of debate. I have even prayed for quicker responses because this “morning wisdom” I reason, would benefit everyone or am I more concerned about making myself look more important, sometimes it is a toss-up. Debates I don’t enjoy but writing I do and I think this is the reason... it gives me time to listen – something that is difficult to do when your mouth is always open.
(Matthew 7:6 NLT) "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”
I am left feeling as if these nuggets of wisdom are meant for those who purposely slow down to listen. The ones with quick responses don’t really listen beyond what is required for their rebuttal. There are however, two occasions when I surprise myself by speaking my mind, one I regret to say is when I am angry but the other is when I am filled with passion. These times happen in degrees depending on how far I’ve been pushed or how passionate I am about a particular subject. I have had times when indignation came over me and drove me as if I had no other choice but to speak out but those times are almost always with another individual or small group that shows they know how to listen and are interested in learning and can usually be described as a God moment. The times I speak out in anger almost always turns into an argument and I usually end up regretting the things that I felt just had to be said, even if truth is spoken the delivery of it diffuses the message and it desensitizes that person’s ability to receive truth in the future, especially from me. These are the times I need to do more listening than speaking and tread lightly, remembering who’s I am. I do not need to speak in defense of myself for it is much better if God defends me and leads me on what to do next. When I speak for my own defense I not only wish I hadn’t but I also lose God’s direction, leaving me lost and looking for hope. Over the years I have learned to be thankful that wisdom comes slowly, many times I’ve learned the best response is, “I need to pray and think about it and get back to you.” This way the pressure is taken off of me and the credit goes to God – I have learned that it is ok to let my weakness show because those are the best times to hear God’s direction and the times I have done this I have never walked away wishing I would have had a quick response.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The power of God as foolishness
(1Co 1:18-21) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the Scriptures say, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in His wisdom saw to it that the world would never know Him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe.
To those who think they are clever, to those who feel they know the way, one day you will look back at all your life, the struggles, striving, and even what the world would call successes, only to realize that you have missed the mark. Then what will you do? Your life will have been spent all for not and in the end you will realize the things you have spent your time and resources on will one day fade away but to those who have centered their lives on Christ Jesus they will have great joy in the end because their lives were spent on the things God has said was eternal. Though their success is not recognized now and is not seen by this world one day God will honor them before all men as He acknowledges them as His children.
(1Co 1:25-29) This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
So those who look at their success and wonder why others can’t be more like they are be warned! For it is not I that condemns you but you condemn yourselves. Do you have pride in your own abilities or do you credit your success to God’s leading? Do you have power over others? What will it take for you to recognize the warning signs God has given you? Do you really know God or do you use his name as a label you put on your accomplishments only to gain the respect of others? You will know by this – what does your prayer life look like? Do you spend time in God’s Word daily? Have you faced hardships that have guided you back to the Master or do you not receive His correction believing your easy life is blessing from God? Be careful you don’t deceive yourself as you strive to look good before others. Why does it matter what others think? Are they able to save you? If you were able to do all that they recommended would it put you in better standing with God on that terrible day?
(Heb 12:6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.
You see a child does not live out his or her young life without correction from the parents, so why do you being as a child in God’s eyes think you know the way? The parents correct the child because they love them, how much more will God correct us when we disobey and how will we know if we are being disobedient if we don’t know what God has told us? A Godly person once said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger.” And it’s true so many people today believe they are in God’s will simply because they go to church but they have no personal connection with God. They put fourth no efforts on their own to seek God through prayer or study of His Word, yet they think they have the mind of Christ. This person fools themselves into a false sense of security, they may have built a successful life and if you ask them they will give partial credit to Christ but again only to gain the respect of a broader group of people – acceptance is a powerful drug. Do you find yourself reasoning that you don’t need to spend time with God because He somehow leads your steps as if by osmosis? Get this, the closer you get to God the more time you want to spend with Him. If you are finding reasons not to be alone with Him then you don’t know Him. Does the world love you for your accomplishments? If you fail then what? I know God’s love is unconditional and He is less concerned about our comfort than He is our obedience. So am I foolish to turn my back on man’s idea of success so that I may live in a way that is pleasing to my Creator? It depends on what you believe, if this life is all there is you better take what you can while you are here but if your soul is eternal and you have violated God’s law to gain something that you can’t hold on to then you have paid the ultimate price and once you cross that river your choice cannot be undone.
To those who think they are clever, to those who feel they know the way, one day you will look back at all your life, the struggles, striving, and even what the world would call successes, only to realize that you have missed the mark. Then what will you do? Your life will have been spent all for not and in the end you will realize the things you have spent your time and resources on will one day fade away but to those who have centered their lives on Christ Jesus they will have great joy in the end because their lives were spent on the things God has said was eternal. Though their success is not recognized now and is not seen by this world one day God will honor them before all men as He acknowledges them as His children.
(1Co 1:25-29) This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
So those who look at their success and wonder why others can’t be more like they are be warned! For it is not I that condemns you but you condemn yourselves. Do you have pride in your own abilities or do you credit your success to God’s leading? Do you have power over others? What will it take for you to recognize the warning signs God has given you? Do you really know God or do you use his name as a label you put on your accomplishments only to gain the respect of others? You will know by this – what does your prayer life look like? Do you spend time in God’s Word daily? Have you faced hardships that have guided you back to the Master or do you not receive His correction believing your easy life is blessing from God? Be careful you don’t deceive yourself as you strive to look good before others. Why does it matter what others think? Are they able to save you? If you were able to do all that they recommended would it put you in better standing with God on that terrible day?
(Heb 12:6) For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.
You see a child does not live out his or her young life without correction from the parents, so why do you being as a child in God’s eyes think you know the way? The parents correct the child because they love them, how much more will God correct us when we disobey and how will we know if we are being disobedient if we don’t know what God has told us? A Godly person once said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger.” And it’s true so many people today believe they are in God’s will simply because they go to church but they have no personal connection with God. They put fourth no efforts on their own to seek God through prayer or study of His Word, yet they think they have the mind of Christ. This person fools themselves into a false sense of security, they may have built a successful life and if you ask them they will give partial credit to Christ but again only to gain the respect of a broader group of people – acceptance is a powerful drug. Do you find yourself reasoning that you don’t need to spend time with God because He somehow leads your steps as if by osmosis? Get this, the closer you get to God the more time you want to spend with Him. If you are finding reasons not to be alone with Him then you don’t know Him. Does the world love you for your accomplishments? If you fail then what? I know God’s love is unconditional and He is less concerned about our comfort than He is our obedience. So am I foolish to turn my back on man’s idea of success so that I may live in a way that is pleasing to my Creator? It depends on what you believe, if this life is all there is you better take what you can while you are here but if your soul is eternal and you have violated God’s law to gain something that you can’t hold on to then you have paid the ultimate price and once you cross that river your choice cannot be undone.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
For I have been bought with a price
Many times my mind wonders, many times my eyes are pulled away but to you Oh, Lord does my heart return time and again. I have walked with you now longer than I have walked on my own yet You are still here. For You have seen my short comings and my failures, You have seen how my efforts get in the way yet You have not turned away. When David was running for his life often he made wrong choices but You remained his shelter through it all and I know it is true because You do the same for me, even today. For the depths of David’s heart cried out when he said, “I can never escape from Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence! If I go up to heaven, You are there; if I go down to the grave, You are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there Your hand will guide me, and Your strength will support me.” (Psa. 139:7-10). When You sent your Son You tore your heart in two because you loved me so much and now I stand before You without words to say but in the silence your love washes over me and I am amazed. My eyes are filled with tears because I will never understand your heart. All I know is that I have been purchased at a great price and in your presence I can neither turn to the left or the right, my eyes are fixed on You and my heart surrenders… I am yours, Oh Lord, I am yours.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Courage
While going through a difficult situation I felt led to watch Christian movies because of a message I might receive, knowing that movies, like dreams God sometimes uses to speak messages to His people. Sunday night I watched a movie called Courage with Andrea Roth and Jason Priestley in it. I watched it because of the troubled teen hoping to understand Isaac a little better but it was the mother that spoke to me. She was very smart and seemed to have many answers but when tragedy struck her answers led her in the wrong direction, even into danger. First she was guiding the cabin cruiser in a storm but because she could not see it struck a rocky shore throwing her husband off the boat and breaking his leg. Her husband unable to move and their teenaged daughter scared she was in charge. A couple days went by and the husband’s leg had infection, she was going to leave to look for help until her daughter, gathering firewood ran into a bear. The mother found the daughter and the escaped the grizzly, they headed back to camp and the decision was made that all three would leave. Once in the woods they struggled moving and once being chased by this grizzly the mother made a decision that almost drowned her husband. Meanwhile a rescue team did find the wrecked boat on shore but of course the family was nowhere to be found, proving once again the mother’s wisdom was misguided. Because of the difficulty moving the mother makes another decision to leave on her own and look for help. Fortunately, the bear tracks her instead of going after the father and daughter. She does not find help but gets lost in the forest, realizing the bear is following her she runs and gets hurt, laying helpless on the forest floor. The rescue team that finds the boat does find the daughter and she leads them back to her father but the wife is now missing. Eventually, she is found and all is good but what was clear to me the efforts of the mother, even though she was intelligent were exactly the wrong thing to do and it only led to more trouble.
Lord, help me to remain still for I know your rescue is coming. Change me so more of Jesus shows in my life, I have seen the me without You and I don’t like him. You have conditioned me for this hour and You have made a way through this but it is not by my intelligence or my ability to endure hardship but by You alone shall I see salvation. I don’t know the answer to the questions when, why, or how but I don’t need to know. I also am not concerned about the label man places on me as long as I am pleasing You. Lord, have mercy for you alone know my heart and my desire to do what is right. Give me courage as I wait for You, oh Lord. Amen.
Lord, help me to remain still for I know your rescue is coming. Change me so more of Jesus shows in my life, I have seen the me without You and I don’t like him. You have conditioned me for this hour and You have made a way through this but it is not by my intelligence or my ability to endure hardship but by You alone shall I see salvation. I don’t know the answer to the questions when, why, or how but I don’t need to know. I also am not concerned about the label man places on me as long as I am pleasing You. Lord, have mercy for you alone know my heart and my desire to do what is right. Give me courage as I wait for You, oh Lord. Amen.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Every man's prayer
Lord, thank you for trusting me with the care of my wife and my children which are in turn your daughters and sons. If it be pleasing to my King lead me and instruct me so that your principles and precepts may not only be known by me but by them through me. Father you never promised this course I’m on would be easy but I know you have promised not to leave me alone and speaking of promises I have made some to you as well, such as promising not to leave or forsake my wife, in sickness or in health, for better or for worse and my children I’ve promised to raise them in such a way that they would know what you have done to deliver us from the snare of the enemy. Somehow the busyness of life can cause us to lose sight of these things and result in existing without purpose but you have awaken me so that I may not be led astray and therefore I pray you give me the strength I need to follow you for your glory and your honor I lay my life down, knowing that which I would seek after if left to my own devices I willingly lay at your feet so that the crown you have waiting for me maybe held by you oh, King until that day I hear you say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)