And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ~John 3:19
The scriptures make it clear that the world hates Christ. The message of the cross, from the world’s side is this: “Away with this Jesus! We do not want him; we do not want the conviction that his presence brings. We are content to live our lives without him.”
With this being the truth, how in God’s Name can we try to make Jesus acceptable to a world that will accept him only according to their standards? To a world that hates him?
If you’re Wal Mart, it may make sense to ask in a survey: “What do you want us to provide that would make you feel comfortable in our store? But if you’re the church that is found in the scriptures, it makes no sense at all! Can you imagine Peter making the following declaration in the upper room:
“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples and said, Men and brethren, I know that Jesus clearly told us to wait here until we are endued with power from on high. But I am concerned about how the people will respond to another just like Jesus. I propose that we go to a church growth seminar, where we will learn how to survey the Romans who crucified him and the Jews who hated him and find out what they want in church.”
It’s clear what they want; they want a Christ that is dead and out of their way! Or better yet, they want a Christ that conforms to their world, one who doesn’t interfere with their lifestyles.
Such a survey would have proved one thing in Peter’s day to the Romans and the Jews: Jesus was still dead and the church that they were being asked to attend was a church with no Presence of God.
There is a survey that God is commanding of his people in these last days: a survey of the scriptures. It is here that you will find that it is not a new word, but an old word that God is speaking. It is here that you will find that the old word is the new word—that which he spoke is that which he is speaking because his word is timeless.
It is here that you will see that when the promise that God gave Abraham and Sarah finally came to pass, it was not a new promise but rather the same promise they had heard in the beginning.
And it is in the scriptures that you will find that the same is true for the church today: there is no new promise of power, there is no new plan. The church is the revelation of Christ on the earth and the plan is for the Holy Ghost to come as the Spirit of revelation and the Spirit of power. Oh, but he has already come, some will say.
Yes, but he is forever coming. Stick with the plan!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
ONLY CHRIST CAN BUILD HIS CHURCH
Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had a handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. ~ Genesis 16:1-2
If you want to see the church, where it is now and where it has been, you must look to the scriptures. It is here you will find a most detailed picture of the beginning and the ending of the church of Christ and the starting point is Abraham and Sarah. It is here that you will see that the true church, through impatience and the arm of flesh gives birth to an Ishmael church that must be repented of.
Where Sarah said, “It may be that I may obtain children by Hagar”, the margin reads, “It may be that I will be built by her.” This agrees with Hebrews 11:11, “Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed.” One of the meanings of conceive is to lay a foundation. The call is clear: Sarah was called by God to carry the church in her womb and give birth to its very foundation, thus building from the ground up that which is Christ.
The problem then and now is that this church is built on divine promise, not human perspiration. Please understand that I know we have our part to play. We hold out our rod over the Red Sea; we march around the walls of Jericho seven times; we roll the tombstone away from Lazarus’ grave. But we know who is really at work and anything less than His coming on the scene and working through us is a work of the flesh. If you don’t believe this go and find a four day grave, go and rent a backhoe and excavate the body. You will find that the power to remove the headstone is really no power at all!
Sarah referred to Hagar as “my handmaid.” Hagar was something she could control and something she could see. In other words, through Hagar, Sarah could see how this would work and best of all, it was something she could manage with careful strategy . . . and much posting on Facebook.
But this seeing how things can work out in the natural is not faith.
This had been Sarah’s problem all along. For her to come to the conclusion that she couldn’t do it can only mean that at one point she believed that she could produce the promise. She was the right woman married to the right man with the right promise and abounding opportunity. After all, Abraham was “alive” and she was having “periods” and everybody knows that “fourteen days after” is the right time to get pregnant. And above all, they had been in the absolute Presence of God who had entered into covenant with them and told them, “Your seed will be as the stars.”
Surly if God was going to move through her he would have done so by now. And God knows, Abraham isn’t getting any younger . . .
It was from this mindset that “another” church is birthed: We must do something to help God out! Amazingly this new church has none of poor Sarah’s issues. Whereas she had struck out for years, Hagar hits a homerun her first time up. One pitch, one swing, one baby.
What a fast growing church!
And what a despised old wore out church Sarah became with all of her promises that had yet come to pass: “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4). There was a spirit operating through Hagar that was screaming out to Sarah: “It’s obvious that your way is a way of weakness. I don’t want to hear nothing you have to say!”
This is, in large part, the church today. How many faithful pastors of small congregations have been surrounded by the four “fastest growing” church’s in America? These new church’s have more members their first service than the old church have after many years of service. How dare you say that it is not of God!
Listen to what one of these “Hagar’s” said when rebuked by someone who dared to question a “move of God” that was led by a man who was drunk and in adultery:
“Lee, I think what you call “the Lakeland disaster” would be disputed by multitudes of people who got healed or touched there. If you are such judge of this what gives you the credentials? What moves of God have you led? What have you built?”
The credentials are the scriptures.
Hey, nobody ever said Ishmael didn’t exist and didn’t look good—in fact he looks a lot like the promise. But the root of this “church” is only skin deep—its origin is in the mind of man and not of God. As such, its error is fundamental: It seeks to change the unchangeable counsel of the Lord. From eternity the call was for Sarah to birth Isaac in the womb of impossibility, not for Hagar to birth Ishmael in the womb of the ordinary.
Are you holding on to a promise of a revelation of Christ that has yet to come to pass in your life, in your church? “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10: 35-37).
If you want to see the church, where it is now and where it has been, you must look to the scriptures. It is here you will find a most detailed picture of the beginning and the ending of the church of Christ and the starting point is Abraham and Sarah. It is here that you will see that the true church, through impatience and the arm of flesh gives birth to an Ishmael church that must be repented of.
Where Sarah said, “It may be that I may obtain children by Hagar”, the margin reads, “It may be that I will be built by her.” This agrees with Hebrews 11:11, “Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed.” One of the meanings of conceive is to lay a foundation. The call is clear: Sarah was called by God to carry the church in her womb and give birth to its very foundation, thus building from the ground up that which is Christ.
The problem then and now is that this church is built on divine promise, not human perspiration. Please understand that I know we have our part to play. We hold out our rod over the Red Sea; we march around the walls of Jericho seven times; we roll the tombstone away from Lazarus’ grave. But we know who is really at work and anything less than His coming on the scene and working through us is a work of the flesh. If you don’t believe this go and find a four day grave, go and rent a backhoe and excavate the body. You will find that the power to remove the headstone is really no power at all!
Sarah referred to Hagar as “my handmaid.” Hagar was something she could control and something she could see. In other words, through Hagar, Sarah could see how this would work and best of all, it was something she could manage with careful strategy . . . and much posting on Facebook.
But this seeing how things can work out in the natural is not faith.
This had been Sarah’s problem all along. For her to come to the conclusion that she couldn’t do it can only mean that at one point she believed that she could produce the promise. She was the right woman married to the right man with the right promise and abounding opportunity. After all, Abraham was “alive” and she was having “periods” and everybody knows that “fourteen days after” is the right time to get pregnant. And above all, they had been in the absolute Presence of God who had entered into covenant with them and told them, “Your seed will be as the stars.”
Surly if God was going to move through her he would have done so by now. And God knows, Abraham isn’t getting any younger . . .
It was from this mindset that “another” church is birthed: We must do something to help God out! Amazingly this new church has none of poor Sarah’s issues. Whereas she had struck out for years, Hagar hits a homerun her first time up. One pitch, one swing, one baby.
What a fast growing church!
And what a despised old wore out church Sarah became with all of her promises that had yet come to pass: “And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes” (Genesis 16:4). There was a spirit operating through Hagar that was screaming out to Sarah: “It’s obvious that your way is a way of weakness. I don’t want to hear nothing you have to say!”
This is, in large part, the church today. How many faithful pastors of small congregations have been surrounded by the four “fastest growing” church’s in America? These new church’s have more members their first service than the old church have after many years of service. How dare you say that it is not of God!
Listen to what one of these “Hagar’s” said when rebuked by someone who dared to question a “move of God” that was led by a man who was drunk and in adultery:
“Lee, I think what you call “the Lakeland disaster” would be disputed by multitudes of people who got healed or touched there. If you are such judge of this what gives you the credentials? What moves of God have you led? What have you built?”
The credentials are the scriptures.
Hey, nobody ever said Ishmael didn’t exist and didn’t look good—in fact he looks a lot like the promise. But the root of this “church” is only skin deep—its origin is in the mind of man and not of God. As such, its error is fundamental: It seeks to change the unchangeable counsel of the Lord. From eternity the call was for Sarah to birth Isaac in the womb of impossibility, not for Hagar to birth Ishmael in the womb of the ordinary.
Are you holding on to a promise of a revelation of Christ that has yet to come to pass in your life, in your church? “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Hebrews 10: 35-37).
Thursday, March 18, 2010
HOPE DEFERRED
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. ~Proverbs 13:12
The mark of a barren woman is that boundless hope once thrived within your heart. Rachel, as the promised wife—mother— of a nation was full of hope. She was fertile ground for the seed of promise to be sown in. She was greatly loved, she was greatly pursued, she was well favored, young and beautiful.
And she was chosen, handpicked by God to be Jacob’s wife.
This was the revealed will of God. Jacob had been instructed to go and to “take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.” How much clearer could that be? And the purpose was just as clear: Rachel was to be the mother of “a multitude of people” (see Genesis 28:2-3). In this the promise of God to Abraham and Sarah lived in Jacob and Rachel.
No doubt Rachel spoke of “things that were not” as though they were, because the very nature of hope is an expectation that things are going to work out right. They had probably picked out the names of their first five children, especially the firstborn—that was most important. You would have found it impossible to discourage them at this point. Speaking to the “mountain” was no stretch for Rachel’s faith: she owned the mountain!
But sometimes God allows hope to be deferred. And it becomes apparent that you are on a fast track to a slow painful death to hope, in the natural. Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Everybody seems to pass you by.
To Rachel’s horror Jacob’s firstborn—the heir to the birthright—came through Leah: “And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben.” And then Leah had Simeon, Levi, and Judah. It was beginning to look like Rachel was going to lose her “birthright” to her sister. Sound familiar.
Reckon Jacob noticed?
I think it would have been hard to miss the fact that what Jacob had done to his brother, Leah—through Laban’s sin—was in a sense doing to her sister. Maybe that is why when he was faced with the problem, he got angry:
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? ~Genesis 30:1-2
One thing is for sure: Rachel was asking the wrong person. Man in his best state altogether can’t meet your deepest need. Only God can. And the truth is, that need is not children or houses or mates or a thousand other things. That need is to know the Lord your God and to find your very existence, the core of your being wrapped up in his will. And His will is for you to be in his presence and to serve him with joy, trusting him, loving him, obeying him.
We know this to be true because "hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." Jesus is the tree of life, the highest desire of man.
The mark of a barren woman is that boundless hope once thrived within your heart. Rachel, as the promised wife—mother— of a nation was full of hope. She was fertile ground for the seed of promise to be sown in. She was greatly loved, she was greatly pursued, she was well favored, young and beautiful.
And she was chosen, handpicked by God to be Jacob’s wife.
This was the revealed will of God. Jacob had been instructed to go and to “take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.” How much clearer could that be? And the purpose was just as clear: Rachel was to be the mother of “a multitude of people” (see Genesis 28:2-3). In this the promise of God to Abraham and Sarah lived in Jacob and Rachel.
No doubt Rachel spoke of “things that were not” as though they were, because the very nature of hope is an expectation that things are going to work out right. They had probably picked out the names of their first five children, especially the firstborn—that was most important. You would have found it impossible to discourage them at this point. Speaking to the “mountain” was no stretch for Rachel’s faith: she owned the mountain!
But sometimes God allows hope to be deferred. And it becomes apparent that you are on a fast track to a slow painful death to hope, in the natural. Everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Everybody seems to pass you by.
To Rachel’s horror Jacob’s firstborn—the heir to the birthright—came through Leah: “And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben.” And then Leah had Simeon, Levi, and Judah. It was beginning to look like Rachel was going to lose her “birthright” to her sister. Sound familiar.
Reckon Jacob noticed?
I think it would have been hard to miss the fact that what Jacob had done to his brother, Leah—through Laban’s sin—was in a sense doing to her sister. Maybe that is why when he was faced with the problem, he got angry:
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die. And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb? ~Genesis 30:1-2
One thing is for sure: Rachel was asking the wrong person. Man in his best state altogether can’t meet your deepest need. Only God can. And the truth is, that need is not children or houses or mates or a thousand other things. That need is to know the Lord your God and to find your very existence, the core of your being wrapped up in his will. And His will is for you to be in his presence and to serve him with joy, trusting him, loving him, obeying him.
We know this to be true because "hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life." Jesus is the tree of life, the highest desire of man.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. ~ Genesis 29:27-28
Words cannot describe the anguish Rachel felt as Jacob fulfilled Leah’s week. How her mind must have been flooded with questions:
“Why is this happening to me, what have I done wrong? What if Leah gets pregnant . . . Oh my God! What if she is already pregnant . . . we’ll celebrate our one year anniversary with my nephew, which is my husband’s son. That’s just great. Does that make him my step-son? No way would God let that happen, just to think about the possibility gets me depressed. This can’t be right. God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Eve and Maria.”
How Rachel and Leah both suffered because of Jacob’s and Laban’s sinful deception. All of a sudden, they were pitted against one another—maybe this is where the demon of comparison originated.
For Rachel in particular, when her wedding day came seven days after Leah’s, it came with a whimper instead of the anticipated shout. Her brand new “dream camel” now had miles on the motor and less tread on the tires. It would be like buying a log house with five bedrooms for your children that were on the way, only to end up with a used trailer with one bedroom set aside for your husband’s other wife. Or for you to the spend the night in, when it was her turn to be with him, again.
What a mess.
And who says sin doesn’t affect your born again spirit? It affected Jacob’s. Not only his, but his wives also . . . and his sons. This is not to say that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy didn’t redeem the situation, but that doesn’t justify the sin. Neither did the fact that Jacob was a covenant man keep him from the consequences of his actions. Indeed he paid double.
Don't think that is only true in the Old Covenant. It is written in the New Covenant that God is the “God of Jacob” and that he changes not. Neither is He mocked, and what a man soweth, that shall he also reap--and those around him, especially family.
Just ask Jacob or Rachel. Or the millions of husbands and wives who have been divorced in a "Christian" marriage because of another man or woman. Or ask their children. They'll know.
Words cannot describe the anguish Rachel felt as Jacob fulfilled Leah’s week. How her mind must have been flooded with questions:
“Why is this happening to me, what have I done wrong? What if Leah gets pregnant . . . Oh my God! What if she is already pregnant . . . we’ll celebrate our one year anniversary with my nephew, which is my husband’s son. That’s just great. Does that make him my step-son? No way would God let that happen, just to think about the possibility gets me depressed. This can’t be right. God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Eve and Maria.”
How Rachel and Leah both suffered because of Jacob’s and Laban’s sinful deception. All of a sudden, they were pitted against one another—maybe this is where the demon of comparison originated.
For Rachel in particular, when her wedding day came seven days after Leah’s, it came with a whimper instead of the anticipated shout. Her brand new “dream camel” now had miles on the motor and less tread on the tires. It would be like buying a log house with five bedrooms for your children that were on the way, only to end up with a used trailer with one bedroom set aside for your husband’s other wife. Or for you to the spend the night in, when it was her turn to be with him, again.
What a mess.
And who says sin doesn’t affect your born again spirit? It affected Jacob’s. Not only his, but his wives also . . . and his sons. This is not to say that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy didn’t redeem the situation, but that doesn’t justify the sin. Neither did the fact that Jacob was a covenant man keep him from the consequences of his actions. Indeed he paid double.
Don't think that is only true in the Old Covenant. It is written in the New Covenant that God is the “God of Jacob” and that he changes not. Neither is He mocked, and what a man soweth, that shall he also reap--and those around him, especially family.
Just ask Jacob or Rachel. Or the millions of husbands and wives who have been divorced in a "Christian" marriage because of another man or woman. Or ask their children. They'll know.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
NIGHTMARE ON LABAN STREET
And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.~ Genesis 29:10
When Jacob met Rachel he was full of the promise of God, a man on a divine appointment with destiny.
1. He had clear direction from his father Isaac: “Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.”
2. He was blessed by his father: “And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.”
3. He had a God given dream and a direct word from God: “And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.”
You can be sure that this word from the Lord produced faith in Jacob. You can be sure that, having the spirit of faith, he spoke it. And you can be sure the when he saw Rachel that he put the two together: “God has led me the right way! This is my wife, the mother of my children!”
And you can be sure that for the next seven years that Jacob and Rachel dreamed together, planned together, and spoke often of the certainty of God’s blessing on their lives. It was all part of God’s miraculous plan. After all, Jacob was the son of a miracle and the grandson of the father of faith, Abraham. What could possibly go wrong?
Was there anything that he hadn’t told her?
You can be sure that God had seen Jacob deceive his Isaac by pretending to be Esau in order to steal his birthright. And what a man sows is what a man reaps. And the truth is, when Jacob looked at his Uncle Laban, he was looking in a mirror at himself. What Jacob had done to Esau, Laban was fixing to do to Jacob.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. ~ Genesis 29:20-23
I believe Laban had this planned for some time and that Leah was probably informed of the switch. Not that she was guilty, she was a victim herself. But I bet you she was more than a little tired of all the talk of Rachel and Jacob this and Rachel and Jacob that. And I bet there was a smug and a smile that came on her face when she realized what was fixing to happen.
And I bet Rachel was devastated. “What! You’ve got to be kidding? He loves me, not Leah . . . THIS AIN’T RIGHT!! NOOOOOO . . .”
A river of tears must have flowed that night with an undercurrent of torturous thoughts of Leah with Jacob. During the seven years he had worked for her,time had flown because of their mutual love for each other. Now it was as if time was suspended because of anguish of heart, a nightmare on Laban Street.
And so begins the diary of a sad barren woman.
When Jacob met Rachel he was full of the promise of God, a man on a divine appointment with destiny.
1. He had clear direction from his father Isaac: “Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.”
2. He was blessed by his father: “And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.”
3. He had a God given dream and a direct word from God: “And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.”
You can be sure that this word from the Lord produced faith in Jacob. You can be sure that, having the spirit of faith, he spoke it. And you can be sure the when he saw Rachel that he put the two together: “God has led me the right way! This is my wife, the mother of my children!”
And you can be sure that for the next seven years that Jacob and Rachel dreamed together, planned together, and spoke often of the certainty of God’s blessing on their lives. It was all part of God’s miraculous plan. After all, Jacob was the son of a miracle and the grandson of the father of faith, Abraham. What could possibly go wrong?
Was there anything that he hadn’t told her?
You can be sure that God had seen Jacob deceive his Isaac by pretending to be Esau in order to steal his birthright. And what a man sows is what a man reaps. And the truth is, when Jacob looked at his Uncle Laban, he was looking in a mirror at himself. What Jacob had done to Esau, Laban was fixing to do to Jacob.
And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her. 21And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. ~ Genesis 29:20-23
I believe Laban had this planned for some time and that Leah was probably informed of the switch. Not that she was guilty, she was a victim herself. But I bet you she was more than a little tired of all the talk of Rachel and Jacob this and Rachel and Jacob that. And I bet there was a smug and a smile that came on her face when she realized what was fixing to happen.
And I bet Rachel was devastated. “What! You’ve got to be kidding? He loves me, not Leah . . . THIS AIN’T RIGHT!! NOOOOOO . . .”
A river of tears must have flowed that night with an undercurrent of torturous thoughts of Leah with Jacob. During the seven years he had worked for her,time had flown because of their mutual love for each other. Now it was as if time was suspended because of anguish of heart, a nightmare on Laban Street.
And so begins the diary of a sad barren woman.
Monday, March 15, 2010
GET THE BABY ROOM READY
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. ~Isaiah 54:1
To learn what barren means, you need not look any further than Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah. Here you will find that it means to be married to a promise, yet unable to produce, unable to put down roots. And in case the barren needs any further proof of their impotency, they are subjected to the horror of watching their promise prosper in the bosom of their rival’s, Hagar, Leah, and Peninnah.
To be barren is to be desolate, which means: “to be deserted, to be deflowered, to be awestruck.” It is the feeling of, “How can this be happening to me.” The exact feeling Tamar felt when she was raped by her half brother Amnon: “So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house” (2 Samuel 13:20). It also means to be a widow, but in the sense of “dead woman walking.” In other words, Hannah had to watch all of Peninnahs’ kids run around and call Elkanah daddy, all the while her womb was dead.
But her heart wasn’t dead. And in that heart lived a promise that refused to die and in that heart lived a new found strength that relied on God and God alone.
God had her right where he wanted her: “With God all things are possible.”
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. ~Isaiah 54:2-3
This is the word of the Lord: Get the baby room ready, there’s an Isaac coming, there’s a Joseph coming. Get ready! Samuel is on the way: Not one good word of his promise will fail you!
To learn what barren means, you need not look any further than Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah. Here you will find that it means to be married to a promise, yet unable to produce, unable to put down roots. And in case the barren needs any further proof of their impotency, they are subjected to the horror of watching their promise prosper in the bosom of their rival’s, Hagar, Leah, and Peninnah.
To be barren is to be desolate, which means: “to be deserted, to be deflowered, to be awestruck.” It is the feeling of, “How can this be happening to me.” The exact feeling Tamar felt when she was raped by her half brother Amnon: “So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom's house” (2 Samuel 13:20). It also means to be a widow, but in the sense of “dead woman walking.” In other words, Hannah had to watch all of Peninnahs’ kids run around and call Elkanah daddy, all the while her womb was dead.
But her heart wasn’t dead. And in that heart lived a promise that refused to die and in that heart lived a new found strength that relied on God and God alone.
God had her right where he wanted her: “With God all things are possible.”
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. ~Isaiah 54:2-3
This is the word of the Lord: Get the baby room ready, there’s an Isaac coming, there’s a Joseph coming. Get ready! Samuel is on the way: Not one good word of his promise will fail you!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
INVESTORS PARADISE
Her princes within are roaring lions. ~ Zephaniah 3:3
Mike Murdock recently stated that “the next two years will be an investor’s paradise.” I hope he got that through a praying heart instead of a preying heart. I hope that he is not implying for the rich to take advantage of the poor, those who are set to lose their houses and land because of the economic downfall in America with its loss of jobs.
Or maybe he is encouraging the rich to invest in the poor, to give abundantly towards their debt. Maybe give a $58,000 seed faith offering to a struggling widow who is getting further and further behind due to rising utilities and medical bills. Then they would get 58 million dollars back and then they could give that to the poor and soon they would have all the money in the world!
Reckon?
Mike Murdock recently stated that “the next two years will be an investor’s paradise.” I hope he got that through a praying heart instead of a preying heart. I hope that he is not implying for the rich to take advantage of the poor, those who are set to lose their houses and land because of the economic downfall in America with its loss of jobs.
Or maybe he is encouraging the rich to invest in the poor, to give abundantly towards their debt. Maybe give a $58,000 seed faith offering to a struggling widow who is getting further and further behind due to rising utilities and medical bills. Then they would get 58 million dollars back and then they could give that to the poor and soon they would have all the money in the world!
Reckon?
Monday, March 1, 2010
THE PRODICAL SON--BEHIND THE SCENES
A certain father had two sons. Adam, the younger son, was created from the dust of the earth and placed in the Garden of Eden with permission to eat of all the trees there except for one: the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was told explicitly: “If you eat of this tree you will surly die.”
One day Adam said in his heart, “My wife has already eaten of this tree. She’s not dead, matter of fact she says it is good . . . and I can’t live without her.” And so he ate and immediately died. Just like God said he would. Just like a flower that is cut and placed in a vase with water. Separated from its root, it is dead, even though it is still green for the moment.
And so the father watched as His youngest son lived in the pigpen of his choice, where there were murders and rapes and adulteries and drunkenness. Soon his heart was filled with adultery, hate, and fear. Anger became his way of living and one day he murdered another man and was sentenced to death. He was lost and undone, blind and crippled.
And unable to come back to the Father on his own.
But there was another Son, Emanuel, an elder brother who was from everlasting to everlasting. This Son was always with the Father and all things the Father had was His. He was one with the Father, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He was a life giving Spirit, before all things and creator of all things. And because the Father so loved the youngest son, he sent Emanuel to the pigpen to talk some sense into the younger son, Adam:
“Adam, be washed from your filth and be clean. You must leave this place and return to your Father.”
“But I don’t know the way.”
“I am the way, the truth and the life,” Emanuel said. “It is only by me that you can return home to your Father.”
“But I’m guilty of murder . . . and I’m bankrupt . . . and I smell like a pig . . .”
“I will die in your place, but you must leave at once and never come back. You will find your Father waiting for you with open arms and a change of clothes . . . and clean water. Tell him that I will be home in three days.”
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ~John 14:6
One day Adam said in his heart, “My wife has already eaten of this tree. She’s not dead, matter of fact she says it is good . . . and I can’t live without her.” And so he ate and immediately died. Just like God said he would. Just like a flower that is cut and placed in a vase with water. Separated from its root, it is dead, even though it is still green for the moment.
And so the father watched as His youngest son lived in the pigpen of his choice, where there were murders and rapes and adulteries and drunkenness. Soon his heart was filled with adultery, hate, and fear. Anger became his way of living and one day he murdered another man and was sentenced to death. He was lost and undone, blind and crippled.
And unable to come back to the Father on his own.
But there was another Son, Emanuel, an elder brother who was from everlasting to everlasting. This Son was always with the Father and all things the Father had was His. He was one with the Father, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. He was a life giving Spirit, before all things and creator of all things. And because the Father so loved the youngest son, he sent Emanuel to the pigpen to talk some sense into the younger son, Adam:
“Adam, be washed from your filth and be clean. You must leave this place and return to your Father.”
“But I don’t know the way.”
“I am the way, the truth and the life,” Emanuel said. “It is only by me that you can return home to your Father.”
“But I’m guilty of murder . . . and I’m bankrupt . . . and I smell like a pig . . .”
“I will die in your place, but you must leave at once and never come back. You will find your Father waiting for you with open arms and a change of clothes . . . and clean water. Tell him that I will be home in three days.”
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. ~John 14:6
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
REIGN OF TERROR
The greatest sin ever committed by any man has never found its way to the headlines of any newspaper or as the lead story of Fox News. From O.J. Simpson to Timothy McVeigh to Ted Bundy, none of these come close to being the greatest sin, yet they dominated the news. From 9/11 to the Gulf War to World War 11, even these pale in comparison to what without a doubt is the pinnacle of all sins: the disobedience of a son to his Father:
A massive 10.0 earthquake has struck the Garden of Eden Friday at approximately midnight, inflicting escalating catastrophic damage to the human race as a whole. Authorities report the immediate deaths of the gardens two inhabitants, Adam and Eve and the subsequent death of the whole world. There are no survivors. All symptoms point to food poisoning.
An eyewitness named Michael was quoted as saying, “All of a sudden everything was just falling apart ... there was no place to hide.”
Authorities have confirmed the epic center to be at the root of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with an extending fault line now running north to south in the human heart. After shocks are expected until the end of time, increasingly worse.
Full scale looting, raping, and murder are reported as commonplace in all directions. The Liaban Terrorist have claimed responsibility for the attack and have declared the world to be now under Satanic Law.
Following the chaos,the owner of the garden made this declaration to the Lieban Terrorist Organization: "There will be another Adam of an altogether different sort. You will give him a heel bruise; He will crush your head." Sadly, after this statement an armed guard was stationed at the entrance of the Garden as man was ushered out with this sad indictment: "Your kind can never come back here again."
Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. ~Romans 5:18
A massive 10.0 earthquake has struck the Garden of Eden Friday at approximately midnight, inflicting escalating catastrophic damage to the human race as a whole. Authorities report the immediate deaths of the gardens two inhabitants, Adam and Eve and the subsequent death of the whole world. There are no survivors. All symptoms point to food poisoning.
An eyewitness named Michael was quoted as saying, “All of a sudden everything was just falling apart ... there was no place to hide.”
Authorities have confirmed the epic center to be at the root of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, with an extending fault line now running north to south in the human heart. After shocks are expected until the end of time, increasingly worse.
Full scale looting, raping, and murder are reported as commonplace in all directions. The Liaban Terrorist have claimed responsibility for the attack and have declared the world to be now under Satanic Law.
Following the chaos,the owner of the garden made this declaration to the Lieban Terrorist Organization: "There will be another Adam of an altogether different sort. You will give him a heel bruise; He will crush your head." Sadly, after this statement an armed guard was stationed at the entrance of the Garden as man was ushered out with this sad indictment: "Your kind can never come back here again."
Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. ~Romans 5:18
BIG BOYS
I have heard recently that every child is a winner and should never be left behind. When I was growing up it was more like, every child is a sinner, and needs a switch on his behind. “Bend over, this is going to hurt me as much as it hurts you,” was an often heard phrase. “But . . . not in the same place,” was the common tale told by the recipient.
Once, my daddy told my brother Ricky and me to work in the garden. “Pull up weeds around the tomatoes. Do not get distracted and goof off. If you do you’ll get a spanking.”
Somehow we ended up goofy. Here’s the way I remember it:
“Hey Jeb, let’s play baseball.”
“No!” I answered. “We dare not disobey!”
“We won’t play for long,” Ricky begs.
Finally, twisted arm and all, I give in, “Well, okay.”
So we proceed to play and somehow never quite got around to doing what we were told to do. Later that evening, as we went to “Roses” in a 1968 white Chevrolet Impala, Daddy looks in the rear-view mirror and asks, “Did ya’ll work in the garden like I asked you to?” “No sir,” we replied.
“And why not?”
Now feeling some justified apprehension, we hem hawed around and said, “I don’t know. We played ball and just forgot . . .”
“You know what I told you would happen if you didn’t . . .”
“Uhh . . .”
“Well, when we get back home, you are both going to get a spanking. Maybe that will help jog your memory and next time I tell you to do something, you’ll do it.”
Boy did we ever start acting like we had some sense. We were most helpful, most polite, in the store. Surly he would see that it was all just a big misunderstanding. Surly he would forget his promise and see that we were all about wanting to be productive citizens, all about wanting to have a garden he could be proud of. And his boys too, “Daddy, do you think we need to pick up a bag of triple 8 for the Big Boy Tomatoes?
It didn’t work . . . but we worked the next time we were told to. In fact, we were inspired. Who’s to tell what it saved us from later, only God knows.
Come to think of it, you could say we got it honest— our disobedience in a garden. Our great grand-father, Adam, disobeyed his father and caused quite a mess.
Just a little thing, a piece of fruit.
But graves everywhere.
Once, my daddy told my brother Ricky and me to work in the garden. “Pull up weeds around the tomatoes. Do not get distracted and goof off. If you do you’ll get a spanking.”
Somehow we ended up goofy. Here’s the way I remember it:
“Hey Jeb, let’s play baseball.”
“No!” I answered. “We dare not disobey!”
“We won’t play for long,” Ricky begs.
Finally, twisted arm and all, I give in, “Well, okay.”
So we proceed to play and somehow never quite got around to doing what we were told to do. Later that evening, as we went to “Roses” in a 1968 white Chevrolet Impala, Daddy looks in the rear-view mirror and asks, “Did ya’ll work in the garden like I asked you to?” “No sir,” we replied.
“And why not?”
Now feeling some justified apprehension, we hem hawed around and said, “I don’t know. We played ball and just forgot . . .”
“You know what I told you would happen if you didn’t . . .”
“Uhh . . .”
“Well, when we get back home, you are both going to get a spanking. Maybe that will help jog your memory and next time I tell you to do something, you’ll do it.”
Boy did we ever start acting like we had some sense. We were most helpful, most polite, in the store. Surly he would see that it was all just a big misunderstanding. Surly he would forget his promise and see that we were all about wanting to be productive citizens, all about wanting to have a garden he could be proud of. And his boys too, “Daddy, do you think we need to pick up a bag of triple 8 for the Big Boy Tomatoes?
It didn’t work . . . but we worked the next time we were told to. In fact, we were inspired. Who’s to tell what it saved us from later, only God knows.
Come to think of it, you could say we got it honest— our disobedience in a garden. Our great grand-father, Adam, disobeyed his father and caused quite a mess.
Just a little thing, a piece of fruit.
But graves everywhere.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
EXCEPT YOU BE CONVERTED AS CHILDREN
In the innocence that accompanies a young boy, there are many memories I have of my dad that are, in and of themselves, nothing extraordinary. There were trot-lines baited and fished on the Tallapoosa River. Trips to the Montehand Farm to get Bermuda grass hay. There were early morning hunting trips every Thanksgiving for squirrels with stories about Button and Sport, which must have been the greatest squirrel dogs ever.
And yet they were God given because they reveal a father and son relationship, built on absolute trust and confidence with none of the hypocrisy of religious pretense. I wasn’t pretending to love him above girls, sports, and money; this was before all of that entered into my thinking. He had my undivided devotion. There were no rivals. There was no law that said I had to love him, and trust and obey him except the one written in my heart: I was not conscience of there being another choice.
He never gave me a reason to think any other way.
There was no doubt in my mind of his supreme ability to take care of any and all situations. He was the best carpenter; he was the best business man. The best hunter. The best everything. And when he was riding our horse, Zorro, there wasn’t a nickel’s worth of difference between him and Matt Dillon.
Or John Wayne.
His word became the final authority once spoken.“Never leave a nail sticking up in a board for someone to step on. Treat every gun as if it is loaded; never point it at anybody. Never shoot into a squirrels nest. Never climb over a barbwire fence or walk directly behind a cow. Say “yes sir” and “no sir”; “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” to adults . . ."
And I can still hear him saying to me today, "If you can’t trust your daddy, then who can you trust?”
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3
And yet they were God given because they reveal a father and son relationship, built on absolute trust and confidence with none of the hypocrisy of religious pretense. I wasn’t pretending to love him above girls, sports, and money; this was before all of that entered into my thinking. He had my undivided devotion. There were no rivals. There was no law that said I had to love him, and trust and obey him except the one written in my heart: I was not conscience of there being another choice.
He never gave me a reason to think any other way.
There was no doubt in my mind of his supreme ability to take care of any and all situations. He was the best carpenter; he was the best business man. The best hunter. The best everything. And when he was riding our horse, Zorro, there wasn’t a nickel’s worth of difference between him and Matt Dillon.
Or John Wayne.
His word became the final authority once spoken.“Never leave a nail sticking up in a board for someone to step on. Treat every gun as if it is loaded; never point it at anybody. Never shoot into a squirrels nest. Never climb over a barbwire fence or walk directly behind a cow. Say “yes sir” and “no sir”; “yes ma’am” and “no ma’am” to adults . . ."
And I can still hear him saying to me today, "If you can’t trust your daddy, then who can you trust?”
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ~Matthew 18:3
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A FATHER'S LOVE
Another job title I held at six years old was that of a framing carpenter, as an equal partner in Curwood Jennings and Son Construction. With my five ounce hammer, I helped daddy build a barn on the 100 acres he had bought from Baker Pinkston. For a $100 an acre!
My job description was pretty much the same as when I cut posts: stay in sight and out of the way, bring nails and water, carry on a conversation and ask a lot of questions. This was an important job. It never entered my mind that daddy could have done it without me. And if you want to know the truth, it never entered his mind either.
I belonged there, an express image of who he was.
Somewhere in the process I was told not to get near a board that he had half-way nailed as a brace. Somehow I didn’t quite get what he was telling me, and somehow it fell and then, I got it. Right across the arm. And I thought I was dying and did what all six years old do in that situation: I started crying and running around the barn. Daddy thought I had broken my arm and did what all fathers do that love their sons, especially when they’re hurting.
He chased me.
And somehow I’m getting it, years later, that this is exactly the way our Heavenly Father sees it. It has never entered his mind not to pursue us when we are hurting. He is not some hard man, as some would portray him, “You’re getting just what you deserve; will you ever get it right?”
Never! The scriptures teach us that his heart is bound up in the life of his children, as was Jacob concerning Joseph. We know from 1 Peter 5:7 that he cares for us, that it matters to him what we are going through. From Isaiah 63:9 we understand that in all of our afflictions, he is afflicted with us.
Ultimately, all of this is realized through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As the Everlasting Father, he has pursued us with an everlasting love. When we were hopelessly lost and dead in our sins, he paid the ultimate price for our redemption by shedding His Blood on the cross in our stead. That precious Blood is crying out today, the Life of a Father calling, and chasing a hurting son:
“Be washed in the Blood of the Lamb. There’s work to do! You belong by my side, we’ve important things to talk about!”
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. ~ Jeremiah 33:3
My job description was pretty much the same as when I cut posts: stay in sight and out of the way, bring nails and water, carry on a conversation and ask a lot of questions. This was an important job. It never entered my mind that daddy could have done it without me. And if you want to know the truth, it never entered his mind either.
I belonged there, an express image of who he was.
Somewhere in the process I was told not to get near a board that he had half-way nailed as a brace. Somehow I didn’t quite get what he was telling me, and somehow it fell and then, I got it. Right across the arm. And I thought I was dying and did what all six years old do in that situation: I started crying and running around the barn. Daddy thought I had broken my arm and did what all fathers do that love their sons, especially when they’re hurting.
He chased me.
And somehow I’m getting it, years later, that this is exactly the way our Heavenly Father sees it. It has never entered his mind not to pursue us when we are hurting. He is not some hard man, as some would portray him, “You’re getting just what you deserve; will you ever get it right?”
Never! The scriptures teach us that his heart is bound up in the life of his children, as was Jacob concerning Joseph. We know from 1 Peter 5:7 that he cares for us, that it matters to him what we are going through. From Isaiah 63:9 we understand that in all of our afflictions, he is afflicted with us.
Ultimately, all of this is realized through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As the Everlasting Father, he has pursued us with an everlasting love. When we were hopelessly lost and dead in our sins, he paid the ultimate price for our redemption by shedding His Blood on the cross in our stead. That precious Blood is crying out today, the Life of a Father calling, and chasing a hurting son:
“Be washed in the Blood of the Lamb. There’s work to do! You belong by my side, we’ve important things to talk about!”
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. ~ Jeremiah 33:3
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
FOLLOWING OUR FATHER
I’ll never forget cutting fence posts with my Daddy as a little boy of six. It was on the Baker Pinkston “place,” and the tree that yielded the posts was the “incense” cedar tree, which is known for its aroma. Our mode of transportation was a 1957 blue Ford pick-up truck—well known in our circle for never using a drop of oil. The saw of choice was a McCulloch 740, with a bow blade.
My job was simple: stay in sight and out of the way. And to bring water, and saw gas and wedges, which were used to bust the bigger posts into halves or quarters. I was an equal partner in this manly work: fifty pounds of trim muscle!
Looking back, I am sure that I was in the perfect will of God, a boy with his father. There was no place I’d rather been than with my dad. There was no grace lacking for the job at hand, we got it done. There was no pretending I was his son, no practicing of his presence, no doubts about whose voice I was following. There were no fears, no self-imagined greatness, no thoughts of having to earn his favor or his love. Just a boy with his father.
The way it’s supposed to be with us and our heavenly Father.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. ~ Ephesians 5:1
My job was simple: stay in sight and out of the way. And to bring water, and saw gas and wedges, which were used to bust the bigger posts into halves or quarters. I was an equal partner in this manly work: fifty pounds of trim muscle!
Looking back, I am sure that I was in the perfect will of God, a boy with his father. There was no place I’d rather been than with my dad. There was no grace lacking for the job at hand, we got it done. There was no pretending I was his son, no practicing of his presence, no doubts about whose voice I was following. There were no fears, no self-imagined greatness, no thoughts of having to earn his favor or his love. Just a boy with his father.
The way it’s supposed to be with us and our heavenly Father.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. ~ Ephesians 5:1
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
DOWN UNDER
The gaggle of geese was excited as they flew down for the seminar in Australia. Dr. Luke Downs was the keynote speaker and his message was quite liberating: “Present Truth Destroys Archaic Doctrines.”
“A goose under grace is no longer under the law,” Dr Downs said. “There is therefore no condemnation to a goose who wants to cross the road, whether by flying or walking. . . The important thing that we must remember is our core message: God is a God of love, not hate. There is no need to ruffle feathers because Jesus has paid it all-- his cross crosses out all danger of trying to cross the road . . ."
After the first session,the living large and super-charged geese dispersed for the afternoon break. To their horror, they were confronted by a street preacher named Donald, a feather of a different sort.
"The God of love is also a God of justice," Donald preached. "Behold the goodness and the severity of God--"
"Legalism!" the crowd shouted. "He's just honking his own horn . . ."
"Donald continued, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God. If you fly in the Spirit you will not walk in the flesh . . . What killed a goose a hundred years ago still kills a goose today! DO NOT WALK ACROSS THE STREET!"
So much for not ruffling feathers.
"That does it for me," said Goose Gossage, with his dander up. He had hung on to every word Dr. Downs had preached while rejecting all that Donald had said. " I ain't a going to let that legalistic quack put his guilt on me. I'm trading in my frequent flier miles for some Nike walking shoes . . . see you in a bit."
"Where are you going?" asked his wife Millie.
"I'm walking to the store," Goose said. "Don't worry, I'll be --"
"Let no man deceive you with vain words . . ." (Ephesians 5:6).
Monday, February 15, 2010
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
It was a precedent setting day at New Canaan nursing home. The votes were in and soon the winners of the "Most Likely to Succeed” would be revealed. Not that everyone was qualified: you had to be over ninety to be considered for this distinction. “Surly they meant 'Most Likely to Decease,” said a grandfather of twelve.
Till now, no one had dared dream there could be any hope for someone seventy years over the age limit for “Egyptian Idol.” Even if they could sing, dancing would be . . . limited, at worse. As a famous preacher once said on T.B.N., “If you haven’t performed your first surgery, wrote your first novel, or won your first case by the age thirty, you never will.”
Good thing God doesn’t watch a lot of T.B.N.
The voice of reason was heard loud and clear through the silence of the no-votes. Only two votes had been cast, from the owner of the home and the recipient's of the reward: Abraham and Sarah. The truth is, it had never entered the heart or mind of man to cast a vote of confidence to the likes of a 100 year old man that was as good as dead. The truth is, it never entered the mind of God that Abraham would fail. From the moment God spoke his promise, success was inevitable.
“As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:17-21).
Till now, no one had dared dream there could be any hope for someone seventy years over the age limit for “Egyptian Idol.” Even if they could sing, dancing would be . . . limited, at worse. As a famous preacher once said on T.B.N., “If you haven’t performed your first surgery, wrote your first novel, or won your first case by the age thirty, you never will.”
Good thing God doesn’t watch a lot of T.B.N.
The voice of reason was heard loud and clear through the silence of the no-votes. Only two votes had been cast, from the owner of the home and the recipient's of the reward: Abraham and Sarah. The truth is, it had never entered the heart or mind of man to cast a vote of confidence to the likes of a 100 year old man that was as good as dead. The truth is, it never entered the mind of God that Abraham would fail. From the moment God spoke his promise, success was inevitable.
“As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:17-21).
Saturday, February 13, 2010
THERE IS AN END
And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. ~ Mark 7:37
How is it that the God who does all things well seems to be doing nothing? We pray and nothing changes and the enemy summons another witness to testify against faith:
“State your name for the record,” lawyer Lydell instructs the witness.
“My name is circumstance.”
“And where do you operate?”
“I operate in the real world.”
“Have you seen this christian ask God for healing and financial help?” Lydell asks.
“Yes.”
“And what happened?”
“Nothing . . . except it got worse.”
There will be no need for us to be called to the witness stand concerning these facts. We can only affirm the truth. But we are not alone. One far greater than us has said as much: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:1-2).
When Jesus cried this at the cross things only got worse.
For the next six hours.
But everything changed during the cross examination, when the Counselor of Truth exposed forever the devils lying portrait of a God who does not answer prayer. When things could get no worse God was doing his greatest work of redemption. The six hours of suffering gave way to an eternity of true blessedness as Jesus brought all who would believe into his fellowship.
It is impossible for the God of love to do nothing in answer to our prayers. The God who moves heaven and earth always works all things together for our good, for those who love him and are the called according to his purpose.
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:18
How is it that the God who does all things well seems to be doing nothing? We pray and nothing changes and the enemy summons another witness to testify against faith:
“State your name for the record,” lawyer Lydell instructs the witness.
“My name is circumstance.”
“And where do you operate?”
“I operate in the real world.”
“Have you seen this christian ask God for healing and financial help?” Lydell asks.
“Yes.”
“And what happened?”
“Nothing . . . except it got worse.”
There will be no need for us to be called to the witness stand concerning these facts. We can only affirm the truth. But we are not alone. One far greater than us has said as much: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:1-2).
When Jesus cried this at the cross things only got worse.
For the next six hours.
But everything changed during the cross examination, when the Counselor of Truth exposed forever the devils lying portrait of a God who does not answer prayer. When things could get no worse God was doing his greatest work of redemption. The six hours of suffering gave way to an eternity of true blessedness as Jesus brought all who would believe into his fellowship.
It is impossible for the God of love to do nothing in answer to our prayers. The God who moves heaven and earth always works all things together for our good, for those who love him and are the called according to his purpose.
For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. ~ Proverbs 23:18
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
First Church of the Converted Swineherds by A.W. Tozer
That prodigal son, look at him. A certain man had two sons and one of them said unto his father, "Give me the goods that falleth to me and he divided unto them, the two of them, the boys, his living. And after a few days the boy left - the younger - and went into a far country and there he spent his substance in riotous living. And when he became hungry and had nothing to eat he went and attached himself to a swineherd and he fed swine. And he was there in the swine-pen and he got hungry because his wages wouldn't buy enough to eat. And it was a humbling thing for a Jew to feed swine.
And one day a man appears - and here I depart from the Scriptures. One day a young man appears and this young man says to this boy who had gone away from home and was feeding swine - he had a bundle of tracts, this young feller, he was just out of Bible school - and he had been taught how to win souls in nine easy lessons.
And he goes up to this prodigal son lying among the swine and he says, "I have good news for you!" And he looks up and says, "Thank God, I need it. I need good news. What is it?" "Your father is ready to forgive you!" "Well," the boy says, "thank the Lord!" "Your father is ready to forgive you; do you believe it?" And the boy says, "Yes, I believe it." "All right now, thank God now, let's bow our heads and you thank the Lord you're saved. You believe the father forgives you. Yes, well, Amen! Now, we'll thank the dear Lord that you're saved. And now goodbye! Don't forget to witness, and sometime I'll be around again."
So this swineherd stays right there in the far country and he gets zealous and missionary and he goes out and he starts to make converts among the other swineherds and pretty soon he has them all believing that the father forgives, and they all do, and say, "I thank God the father forgives." Alright, and then they build a little tabernacle call it the First Tabernacle of the Converted Swineherds. And they all stay right there in the far country; nobody goes home. And that boy is still ragged and dirty and smelly and the people -- the respectable people of the neighborhood - when they pass by elevate their nose and hurry by. And they say, "So persecuted they the prophets which were before us. It is the result of our holy living that they are giving us the cold shoulder."
Then one day while they are singing choruses in this First Church of the Converted Swineherds in the far country a young fellow comes along and asks permission to speak and he rises and says to them, "Put away your sins, ye wicked! Put away your sins! Learn to do good; cease to do evil, be righteous and follow the Lord and do good and you'll be saved." And they pick him up and throw him out and say, "He's a legalist!" and that he 'doesn't believe in grace.' "Why, we're saved by accepting the doctrine." But this young fellow wanders off and time goes on and the fatted calf gets old and dies and the father passes away and the boy stays on in the far country.
Now that's evangelism as it is preached a good deal today in America! It is, "Believe on Christ. Accept Christ and stay where you are!" Now that is excused and explained by a hundred different learned ways but it leaves the sinner in his sins! And the man in his sins will be damned as certainly as the sun rises in the east and goes down in the west!
And one day a man appears - and here I depart from the Scriptures. One day a young man appears and this young man says to this boy who had gone away from home and was feeding swine - he had a bundle of tracts, this young feller, he was just out of Bible school - and he had been taught how to win souls in nine easy lessons.
And he goes up to this prodigal son lying among the swine and he says, "I have good news for you!" And he looks up and says, "Thank God, I need it. I need good news. What is it?" "Your father is ready to forgive you!" "Well," the boy says, "thank the Lord!" "Your father is ready to forgive you; do you believe it?" And the boy says, "Yes, I believe it." "All right now, thank God now, let's bow our heads and you thank the Lord you're saved. You believe the father forgives you. Yes, well, Amen! Now, we'll thank the dear Lord that you're saved. And now goodbye! Don't forget to witness, and sometime I'll be around again."
So this swineherd stays right there in the far country and he gets zealous and missionary and he goes out and he starts to make converts among the other swineherds and pretty soon he has them all believing that the father forgives, and they all do, and say, "I thank God the father forgives." Alright, and then they build a little tabernacle call it the First Tabernacle of the Converted Swineherds. And they all stay right there in the far country; nobody goes home. And that boy is still ragged and dirty and smelly and the people -- the respectable people of the neighborhood - when they pass by elevate their nose and hurry by. And they say, "So persecuted they the prophets which were before us. It is the result of our holy living that they are giving us the cold shoulder."
Then one day while they are singing choruses in this First Church of the Converted Swineherds in the far country a young fellow comes along and asks permission to speak and he rises and says to them, "Put away your sins, ye wicked! Put away your sins! Learn to do good; cease to do evil, be righteous and follow the Lord and do good and you'll be saved." And they pick him up and throw him out and say, "He's a legalist!" and that he 'doesn't believe in grace.' "Why, we're saved by accepting the doctrine." But this young fellow wanders off and time goes on and the fatted calf gets old and dies and the father passes away and the boy stays on in the far country.
Now that's evangelism as it is preached a good deal today in America! It is, "Believe on Christ. Accept Christ and stay where you are!" Now that is excused and explained by a hundred different learned ways but it leaves the sinner in his sins! And the man in his sins will be damned as certainly as the sun rises in the east and goes down in the west!
Monday, February 8, 2010
PROMISED HELP FROM THE LORD
Psalm 102 is “A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the LORD.” It is impotence calling on Omnipotence. And a road-map to successful prayer— a precedent for all who identify with the psalmist:
LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you. For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones. I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out. 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. You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. —New Living Translation
A lifeguard will not rescue a drowning swimmer until all self-effort has ceased. Likewise, the lifeguard of heaven waits for us to look to him alone for our help. Is your heart sick with disappointment? Are you withered like grass with no appetite, reduced to skin and bones? All of these represent the clear boundary marks of the Lord’s jurisdiction. They are qualifications of a miracle, building blocks of the broken road that he has blessed.
And travels.
He is on the way with the help he has promised you. Look to the hills from where your help comes from: your help comes from the Lord Almighty! Lift up your head, your redemption draweth nigh!
LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you. For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones. I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out. 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. You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. —New Living Translation
A lifeguard will not rescue a drowning swimmer until all self-effort has ceased. Likewise, the lifeguard of heaven waits for us to look to him alone for our help. Is your heart sick with disappointment? Are you withered like grass with no appetite, reduced to skin and bones? All of these represent the clear boundary marks of the Lord’s jurisdiction. They are qualifications of a miracle, building blocks of the broken road that he has blessed.
And travels.
He is on the way with the help he has promised you. Look to the hills from where your help comes from: your help comes from the Lord Almighty! Lift up your head, your redemption draweth nigh!
Friday, January 29, 2010
THE ACTS OF THE IMPOSTLES
Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely manipulated among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning I am a eyewitness of the following move of God:
It was the kind of revival pastor’s like to relate to their ministry friends:
“We had a Holy Ghost explosion last night! 20 saved and 7 baptized in the Spirit! How many are ya’ll running now?”
“Well to be honest, we are—”
“Do you know a good contractor? Our board has given me the go ahead . . .”
Can you blame the pastor for being exuberant? A statistic quoted by a Pentecostal pastor is infallible. One of the "7 baptized in the Spirit" was a girl Lori and I were living with as house parents. Up until this experience, “Emily Jane” was sexually active and a habitual liar—so convincing that she could persuade you that you did not hear what she said clearly in your hearing.
But that was before the revival, the one where she went up to receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues at a fashioned altar:
“Just let go and let God,” Sister Johnson exhorted.
“Hold on and believe,” Brother Bullard encouraged.
“Oh Lord, give her what I got,” Aunt Bessie, intercessor extraordinaire prayed.
In that kind of atmosphere who can’t believe? And it wasn’t long before the sinus’ started pumping and the jaw jiggling began in earnest . . . and then the pastor came by and laid his hand on Emily Jane and . . . she went down like a rock!
And started speaking in tongues as there was some kind of utterance.
Later that night she would say, “It’s been a long time since I have prayed in the Spirit." Three days later I asked her, “Are you ready? It’s time to go to church.”
“No I’m not going; I have to study for a test.”
About a year later she was kicked off the “Ranch” for taking a car to meet a boy and trying to start a family. Two years later she got pregnant and recently she has become an advocate for gay rights.
Please understand: I believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of a heart bent on following Jesus . . . the Wednesday after and forever more. I do not believe Emily Jane received anything other than a delusion.
And a jiggled up jaw.
As pastor B.H. Clendennen says much better than I ever could, “We don’t need no none of that!”
It was the kind of revival pastor’s like to relate to their ministry friends:
“We had a Holy Ghost explosion last night! 20 saved and 7 baptized in the Spirit! How many are ya’ll running now?”
“Well to be honest, we are—”
“Do you know a good contractor? Our board has given me the go ahead . . .”
Can you blame the pastor for being exuberant? A statistic quoted by a Pentecostal pastor is infallible. One of the "7 baptized in the Spirit" was a girl Lori and I were living with as house parents. Up until this experience, “Emily Jane” was sexually active and a habitual liar—so convincing that she could persuade you that you did not hear what she said clearly in your hearing.
But that was before the revival, the one where she went up to receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues at a fashioned altar:
“Just let go and let God,” Sister Johnson exhorted.
“Hold on and believe,” Brother Bullard encouraged.
“Oh Lord, give her what I got,” Aunt Bessie, intercessor extraordinaire prayed.
In that kind of atmosphere who can’t believe? And it wasn’t long before the sinus’ started pumping and the jaw jiggling began in earnest . . . and then the pastor came by and laid his hand on Emily Jane and . . . she went down like a rock!
And started speaking in tongues as there was some kind of utterance.
Later that night she would say, “It’s been a long time since I have prayed in the Spirit." Three days later I asked her, “Are you ready? It’s time to go to church.”
“No I’m not going; I have to study for a test.”
About a year later she was kicked off the “Ranch” for taking a car to meet a boy and trying to start a family. Two years later she got pregnant and recently she has become an advocate for gay rights.
Please understand: I believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of a heart bent on following Jesus . . . the Wednesday after and forever more. I do not believe Emily Jane received anything other than a delusion.
And a jiggled up jaw.
As pastor B.H. Clendennen says much better than I ever could, “We don’t need no none of that!”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
THERE IS NO ETERNAL LIFE IN THE DEVIL
“And the serpent said . . .” (Genesis 3:4).
Mr. Hugh had money, owned some 250 acres of prime timberland . . . and hoarded every penny he had ever made. Noticing that two of his pine trees were dying, I went to ask him about cutting them for pulpwood. When I arrived at his home, I was led to his bedroom where he lay shriveled up on his death bed:
“Hey Mr. Hugh, how ’bout letting me cut a couple of your trees, I think bugs have got in ’em.”
“Naw, I think I’ll hold on to ’em a little bit longer.”
Before the fall of man in the garden, man’s thoughts were a clear reflection of God’s goodness. His voice birthed within Adam thoughts of peace, righteousness, and joy: all with corresponding actions. When the devil planted his seed of pride and disobedience within Adam, his voice produced thoughts of hate, anger, and greed: all with devastating actions. Along with a maddening pursuit for that which is fading, carried along by the constant flood of filth that proceeds from the devil’s mouth.
This river of evil, though it overflows its banks, has no high watermarks, only low.
What else could the devil produce? There is no eternal life within him; everything he puts his hand to dies and comes to nothing. Concerning that which is good, he is deaf, dumb, and blind and the blinder of all born after him. Which is the whole human race outside of Christ: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
That is why man must be born again. Only then, empowered by the Holy Ghost, can he choose the “tree of life” over that which is inherently evil, and temporal. Only by the Spirit of Christ within us can we choose that which is eternal.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." --Jim Elliot
Mr. Hugh had money, owned some 250 acres of prime timberland . . . and hoarded every penny he had ever made. Noticing that two of his pine trees were dying, I went to ask him about cutting them for pulpwood. When I arrived at his home, I was led to his bedroom where he lay shriveled up on his death bed:
“Hey Mr. Hugh, how ’bout letting me cut a couple of your trees, I think bugs have got in ’em.”
“Naw, I think I’ll hold on to ’em a little bit longer.”
Before the fall of man in the garden, man’s thoughts were a clear reflection of God’s goodness. His voice birthed within Adam thoughts of peace, righteousness, and joy: all with corresponding actions. When the devil planted his seed of pride and disobedience within Adam, his voice produced thoughts of hate, anger, and greed: all with devastating actions. Along with a maddening pursuit for that which is fading, carried along by the constant flood of filth that proceeds from the devil’s mouth.
This river of evil, though it overflows its banks, has no high watermarks, only low.
What else could the devil produce? There is no eternal life within him; everything he puts his hand to dies and comes to nothing. Concerning that which is good, he is deaf, dumb, and blind and the blinder of all born after him. Which is the whole human race outside of Christ: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1-2).
That is why man must be born again. Only then, empowered by the Holy Ghost, can he choose the “tree of life” over that which is inherently evil, and temporal. Only by the Spirit of Christ within us can we choose that which is eternal.
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." --Jim Elliot
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
EASY AS PRIDE
Ol’ Ned was about to die of thirst on July 3, 1863. But it was so needless, all the neighbors said: after all, there was a gallon of water sitting before him in the middle of a field.
“Why doesn’t he just get out of that ditch,” Mr. G.I. Dunn said. “God helps those who help themselves.”
“I know I would never put my kids through such heartache,” replied Mrs. Nellie Patufnic.
“It’s obvious he just doesn’t have faith,” Reverend Copenhagen claimed. “I gave him my six steps to six gallons of water in six days and he still just sits there.”
An earth shaking explosion, too close for comfort sent them scurrying for shelter . . . in the foxhole with Ned.
At the Battle of Gettysburg.
Did this really happen? No, but the point is clear: what may seem as easy as pride for you, may be anything but simple for someone else, because of the battle arrayed against them. Paul was hindered from going to Rome while for others it was no big deal to go spend the day at the Roman Mall. David fought battles in his flesh that Saul seemingly never struggled with—it appears that Saul was the husband of one wife. And yet David was "head and shoulders" above Saul in matters of faith and repentance.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
“Why doesn’t he just get out of that ditch,” Mr. G.I. Dunn said. “God helps those who help themselves.”
“I know I would never put my kids through such heartache,” replied Mrs. Nellie Patufnic.
“It’s obvious he just doesn’t have faith,” Reverend Copenhagen claimed. “I gave him my six steps to six gallons of water in six days and he still just sits there.”
An earth shaking explosion, too close for comfort sent them scurrying for shelter . . . in the foxhole with Ned.
At the Battle of Gettysburg.
Did this really happen? No, but the point is clear: what may seem as easy as pride for you, may be anything but simple for someone else, because of the battle arrayed against them. Paul was hindered from going to Rome while for others it was no big deal to go spend the day at the Roman Mall. David fought battles in his flesh that Saul seemingly never struggled with—it appears that Saul was the husband of one wife. And yet David was "head and shoulders" above Saul in matters of faith and repentance.
“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
SELF MADE MAN
“What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not” (1 Corinthians 4:7)?
A certain man who had acquired 60 restaurants was purported to be a self made man. Interesting . . . seems like it would take more than that to join the exclusive club of one.
To be a self made man, there are several things you need to do:
1. Hire someone to kill you and cremate your body.
2. Have a rocket propel your ashes into the distant space.
3. From there raise yourself from the dead.
4. Create an original world with all that is needed to sustain life.
5. Create a new species of man and animals being careful not to copy what God has already done.
6. Sustain it.
Jesus Christ is the only self made man there is, who upholds all things by the word of his power. Every one else is totally dependent upon him.
Even the one who has 60 restaurants.
A certain man who had acquired 60 restaurants was purported to be a self made man. Interesting . . . seems like it would take more than that to join the exclusive club of one.
To be a self made man, there are several things you need to do:
1. Hire someone to kill you and cremate your body.
2. Have a rocket propel your ashes into the distant space.
3. From there raise yourself from the dead.
4. Create an original world with all that is needed to sustain life.
5. Create a new species of man and animals being careful not to copy what God has already done.
6. Sustain it.
Jesus Christ is the only self made man there is, who upholds all things by the word of his power. Every one else is totally dependent upon him.
Even the one who has 60 restaurants.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
GOT HINDRANCES?
“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles” (Romans 1:13).
Paul’s desire to minister the gospel to the Roman’s was in order to “impart some spiritual gift” that he might have “fruit among them.” For this he had prayed, more than once; but he was hindered time and again.
Too bad he did not know that under the New Covenant you don’t have to put up with such. You pray once, claiming it by faith. Sure the devil hindered Daniel, but that's Daniel, not us. We’re a “New Testament Man.”
If only Paul had been one.
He wouldn’t have been hindered and he wouldn’t have had all this gospel in him that he wanted to share, and he might not have been compelled to write it all down in a letter . . .”
To the Romans.
And then we wouldn’t have known “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Got hindrances?
Paul’s desire to minister the gospel to the Roman’s was in order to “impart some spiritual gift” that he might have “fruit among them.” For this he had prayed, more than once; but he was hindered time and again.
Too bad he did not know that under the New Covenant you don’t have to put up with such. You pray once, claiming it by faith. Sure the devil hindered Daniel, but that's Daniel, not us. We’re a “New Testament Man.”
If only Paul had been one.
He wouldn’t have been hindered and he wouldn’t have had all this gospel in him that he wanted to share, and he might not have been compelled to write it all down in a letter . . .”
To the Romans.
And then we wouldn’t have known “that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Got hindrances?
Monday, January 18, 2010
PENNYCOST
Can someone provide me a link to where I can become a “fan” of the church found in the book of Acts? Are they on Facebook? Do they offer lots of fun for all who would “sacrifice” their time to come? After all, Jesus realizes that they could have gone to the local bar, and instead they chose to come worship him to the tune of songs “you would find on an IPod.” I’m sure he wouldn’t want to disappoint them.
Would he?
Since he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and since it is Jesus who is in absolute control of what is being promoted today as his church, then surly the early church is the model for what we see today:
And when the day of Pennycost had come, there came a sound from corporate America as the best business minds formulated a plan to reach the lost. And those that played in the clubs, and acted in the R rated movies, and manipulated the masses heard the church speaking in their own tongue and glorify the good things of this world.
And Peter lifted his voice and said, “This is that which was spoken from the surveys you graciously answered for us. We are here to provide you with the latest cutting edge technology, the hippest youth groups, and a sound business plan. All guilt was paid for at the passing away of Jesus and he loves you just the way you are. He died so that he could be your leader and financier. Now it might be a good idea for you to make some life improvements, but that is totally up to you. We would never pressure you in any way and you are welcome to serve just as you are according to your abilities.
And the crowd upon hearing this was shocked beyond measure: “Do you mean I can have Jesus and keep all this too?” asked a soap opera star.
“Of course!” Peter assured her. “Come as you are.”
Barabbas Bundy’s mother asked, “My son, Ted, has a burden for young coed’s . . .
Can he teach the college class?”
Would he?
Since he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and since it is Jesus who is in absolute control of what is being promoted today as his church, then surly the early church is the model for what we see today:
And when the day of Pennycost had come, there came a sound from corporate America as the best business minds formulated a plan to reach the lost. And those that played in the clubs, and acted in the R rated movies, and manipulated the masses heard the church speaking in their own tongue and glorify the good things of this world.
And Peter lifted his voice and said, “This is that which was spoken from the surveys you graciously answered for us. We are here to provide you with the latest cutting edge technology, the hippest youth groups, and a sound business plan. All guilt was paid for at the passing away of Jesus and he loves you just the way you are. He died so that he could be your leader and financier. Now it might be a good idea for you to make some life improvements, but that is totally up to you. We would never pressure you in any way and you are welcome to serve just as you are according to your abilities.
And the crowd upon hearing this was shocked beyond measure: “Do you mean I can have Jesus and keep all this too?” asked a soap opera star.
“Of course!” Peter assured her. “Come as you are.”
Barabbas Bundy’s mother asked, “My son, Ted, has a burden for young coed’s . . .
Can he teach the college class?”
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
WE ARE WHAT WE EAT
With his beady eyes darting to either side, Lydel—a crafty old “chicken” snake— sidled over to Adam and Eve in the stillness of the day.
Leaning up against the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he popped in a stick of “Dentyne Fire” and asked Eve, “Has God forbid you to eat the fruit of these trees?”
“Just the one you’re standing under. He said the day we eat the fruit from this one, we would surly die.”
“Die!” Lydel exclaimed incredulously. “Trust me, you will not die; truth is you will become just like God.”
“Well, what can one bite hurt? Looks good . . . feels good . . . hey! This is good.”
“Here Adam, take a bite.”
Adam, who had said nothing to this point, remained sinfully silent.
“Come on sweetie, if you love me, you’ll prove it.”
Adam took the fruit, “Your right, this is great! Sort of tastes like—”
“Honey? . . . what’s wrong?” Eve asked.
“My stomach is killin—”
We are what we eat; what Adam ate has been eating us all ever since. Ever since that fateful day man’s life has orbited around the three things that make up the essence of the forbidden fruit:
1. It became our nature to willfully disobey. This sin is fueled by the hot air of pride that supposes we can be like the most high God.
2. It became our nature to entertain vain imaginations because we lost the eternal image of God. How much of what you think about has actually come to pass? If it has come to pass, how much have you been able to hold onto?
3. It became our nature to choose the temporal over the eternal. From French Fries chosen over celery sticks, to porn over purity, we eat ourselves to a early grave.
The only remedy for this food poisoning is the cross of Christ. The essence of the Blood of Christ is the Life and Light of God: His thoughts, His purity, His wholeness. Be washed in the Blood of Jesus today!
Leaning up against the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he popped in a stick of “Dentyne Fire” and asked Eve, “Has God forbid you to eat the fruit of these trees?”
“Just the one you’re standing under. He said the day we eat the fruit from this one, we would surly die.”
“Die!” Lydel exclaimed incredulously. “Trust me, you will not die; truth is you will become just like God.”
“Well, what can one bite hurt? Looks good . . . feels good . . . hey! This is good.”
“Here Adam, take a bite.”
Adam, who had said nothing to this point, remained sinfully silent.
“Come on sweetie, if you love me, you’ll prove it.”
Adam took the fruit, “Your right, this is great! Sort of tastes like—”
“Honey? . . . what’s wrong?” Eve asked.
“My stomach is killin—”
We are what we eat; what Adam ate has been eating us all ever since. Ever since that fateful day man’s life has orbited around the three things that make up the essence of the forbidden fruit:
1. It became our nature to willfully disobey. This sin is fueled by the hot air of pride that supposes we can be like the most high God.
2. It became our nature to entertain vain imaginations because we lost the eternal image of God. How much of what you think about has actually come to pass? If it has come to pass, how much have you been able to hold onto?
3. It became our nature to choose the temporal over the eternal. From French Fries chosen over celery sticks, to porn over purity, we eat ourselves to a early grave.
The only remedy for this food poisoning is the cross of Christ. The essence of the Blood of Christ is the Life and Light of God: His thoughts, His purity, His wholeness. Be washed in the Blood of Jesus today!
Monday, January 11, 2010
THE IMAGE OF GOD
“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, Where is your God?" (Psalms 42:1-3).
Not only does the deer pant for the water brooks for the essential need of thirst, the water brooks provides the deer with its only view of itself. It is there, via the reflection afforded by the water, that the deer see’s its own image. Without this grace of nature a doe would never know whether or not she was ready to meet Mr. Buck Masters.
“Then God said," Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .” (Genesis 1:26). Image means, “a shade, a reflection, a representation.” Just as a shadow is silhouette of a tree—its shade—man is made in the image of God. When Adam fell, he along with all of mankind lost this image.
And no longer had a clue as to who he was.
And so began this maddening pursuit of “Looking for love in all the wrong places, Looking for love in all the wrong faces.” This pursuit of fulfillment rarely extends past the theater of mans mind—where images broadcast 24/7—and when obtainment is secured, it is always only so much sand sifting through our fingers.
It is never enough.
And so begat the amazing pursuit of God. He sent his only begotten {unique, one of a kind} Son who was not only the image of God: He was God. This last Adam bought back and restored man to the image of God: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10). This grace can be clearly seen within the reflection one sees when gazing into the living waters of the Word of God. It is here, and here alone, man can clearly see who he is in Christ and be fulfilled . . . yet ever thirsting for more.
Not only does the deer pant for the water brooks for the essential need of thirst, the water brooks provides the deer with its only view of itself. It is there, via the reflection afforded by the water, that the deer see’s its own image. Without this grace of nature a doe would never know whether or not she was ready to meet Mr. Buck Masters.
“Then God said," Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . .” (Genesis 1:26). Image means, “a shade, a reflection, a representation.” Just as a shadow is silhouette of a tree—its shade—man is made in the image of God. When Adam fell, he along with all of mankind lost this image.
And no longer had a clue as to who he was.
And so began this maddening pursuit of “Looking for love in all the wrong places, Looking for love in all the wrong faces.” This pursuit of fulfillment rarely extends past the theater of mans mind—where images broadcast 24/7—and when obtainment is secured, it is always only so much sand sifting through our fingers.
It is never enough.
And so begat the amazing pursuit of God. He sent his only begotten {unique, one of a kind} Son who was not only the image of God: He was God. This last Adam bought back and restored man to the image of God: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:10). This grace can be clearly seen within the reflection one sees when gazing into the living waters of the Word of God. It is here, and here alone, man can clearly see who he is in Christ and be fulfilled . . . yet ever thirsting for more.
"ARE YOU DESPERATE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE THAT CHRIST NEVER FAILS?"
This, in part, is from Voice In The Gap by Gary Gulledge. for the complete blog go to the recommended link.
This leader of a religious assembly of his day had been brought to the end of himself! His position, his status, nor his ability was able to give him hope!
Read the words: " and when he saw Him (Jesus), he fell at His feet.
Mark 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
As long as we have the slightest possibility of being able to handle the situation we are in, we will continue to try everything we know to do.
People who are desperate are brought to a humbling place where they aren't intimidated by those around them. They are fearful of no man! They regard not their own lives! They are transported out of the many voices and things that get their attention so easily!
"God allows us to be placed in such situations of desperation with the desire to bring us to a surrendered trust to Him!"
What you are faced with right now isn't a happenstance, it has been allowed to come upon you for a purpose.
It may well have been brought on by your own doing, or by someone else but you can be sure that God knows all about every detail of the cause and why is has come!
"God is working in the hearts of multiple millions of people in this very hour!"
Every person will respond in one of two ways: Either their hearts will be humbled in their time of desperation and look to Christ. Or either they will reject Christ and be hardened in their hearts to the purposes of God!
Mark 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Jairus was humbled, the Bible says that he besought Jesus greatly!
No longer was his response to Jesus passive! It was with great intense feeling that he besought Jesus!
"When we are truly humbled before God , our feeling toward Jesus doesn't remain passive."
In his hour of confusion, Jairus has the ear of Jesus!
His desperation has brought him to the place of total surrender to the source of his need. He doesn't yet have the manifestation of God's supply but he has totally disregarded himself from getting in the way of Christ coming and putting His hands on his daughter!
Oh! Today if we would learn what God is saying to us. If we are just willing to lay our life down and let the life of Christ live in us!
Mark 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
And Jesus went with him.
If we will get right in our approach to God, Jesus will go with us!
It doesn't matter the greatest of the trouble that you may find yourself in today, Jesus will always respond to a heart that is contrite and when our spirit is broken to do God's will!
No sickness, no disease, no trouble that can pile upon you so high that Christ cannot get to the root of the problem and bring you the answer!
If He's going with you, you must believe!
"Sometimes your need is slow to come, don't lose heart, Jesus is still there!"
This leader of a religious assembly of his day had been brought to the end of himself! His position, his status, nor his ability was able to give him hope!
Read the words: " and when he saw Him (Jesus), he fell at His feet.
Mark 5:22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
As long as we have the slightest possibility of being able to handle the situation we are in, we will continue to try everything we know to do.
People who are desperate are brought to a humbling place where they aren't intimidated by those around them. They are fearful of no man! They regard not their own lives! They are transported out of the many voices and things that get their attention so easily!
"God allows us to be placed in such situations of desperation with the desire to bring us to a surrendered trust to Him!"
What you are faced with right now isn't a happenstance, it has been allowed to come upon you for a purpose.
It may well have been brought on by your own doing, or by someone else but you can be sure that God knows all about every detail of the cause and why is has come!
"God is working in the hearts of multiple millions of people in this very hour!"
Every person will respond in one of two ways: Either their hearts will be humbled in their time of desperation and look to Christ. Or either they will reject Christ and be hardened in their hearts to the purposes of God!
Mark 5:23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
Jairus was humbled, the Bible says that he besought Jesus greatly!
No longer was his response to Jesus passive! It was with great intense feeling that he besought Jesus!
"When we are truly humbled before God , our feeling toward Jesus doesn't remain passive."
In his hour of confusion, Jairus has the ear of Jesus!
His desperation has brought him to the place of total surrender to the source of his need. He doesn't yet have the manifestation of God's supply but he has totally disregarded himself from getting in the way of Christ coming and putting His hands on his daughter!
Oh! Today if we would learn what God is saying to us. If we are just willing to lay our life down and let the life of Christ live in us!
Mark 5:24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
And Jesus went with him.
If we will get right in our approach to God, Jesus will go with us!
It doesn't matter the greatest of the trouble that you may find yourself in today, Jesus will always respond to a heart that is contrite and when our spirit is broken to do God's will!
No sickness, no disease, no trouble that can pile upon you so high that Christ cannot get to the root of the problem and bring you the answer!
If He's going with you, you must believe!
"Sometimes your need is slow to come, don't lose heart, Jesus is still there!"
Thursday, January 7, 2010
EVER SEEN AN ATTITUDE?
Have you ever seen an attitude walk into the room? A teen-age one? One named Sharon? It may fly under the radar of sight but it always reveals itself in delusional discourse:
“Stop treating me like I’m a kid! I’m grown!”
“You’re all of fifteen for God’s sake.”
“You don’t understand me, you don’t trust me!”
“Trust has nothing to do with it . . . look at me—”
“I don’t want to look at you . . . I need my space and—”
“Let me tell you what space is young lady; space is when you pay the light bill, the water bi—“
“All I’m asking to do is see a movie with Booger.”
“What’s it rated?”
“Um . . . I don’t know . . .R?”
“Well you can mark this down, you ain’t and you ain’t seeing that boy!”
You got that right, done seen ’em, Sharon thought. “STOP TRYING TO CONTROL MY LIFE!!!!”
“I’M NOT TRYING TO CONTROL—“
“Mama.”
“What?”
“Um . . . I need $20.”
Have you ever seen an attitude walk into the room? A “grown up” one? One named Jeb? It may fly under the radar of sight but it always reveals itself in delusional discourse:
“I’m going to do this!”
“I’m going to do . . .”
Do I pay the light bill? What I mean is, “Did I create the light and place it in the exactly the right place in the universe so that all might see?
Do I pay the water bill? Did I create the oceans, the rivers, the underground water system, and the rain clouds and the fronts that carry them?
Am I so grown after all?
“Stop treating me like I’m a kid! I’m grown!”
“You’re all of fifteen for God’s sake.”
“You don’t understand me, you don’t trust me!”
“Trust has nothing to do with it . . . look at me—”
“I don’t want to look at you . . . I need my space and—”
“Let me tell you what space is young lady; space is when you pay the light bill, the water bi—“
“All I’m asking to do is see a movie with Booger.”
“What’s it rated?”
“Um . . . I don’t know . . .R?”
“Well you can mark this down, you ain’t and you ain’t seeing that boy!”
You got that right, done seen ’em, Sharon thought. “STOP TRYING TO CONTROL MY LIFE!!!!”
“I’M NOT TRYING TO CONTROL—“
“Mama.”
“What?”
“Um . . . I need $20.”
Have you ever seen an attitude walk into the room? A “grown up” one? One named Jeb? It may fly under the radar of sight but it always reveals itself in delusional discourse:
“I’m going to do this!”
“I’m going to do . . .”
Do I pay the light bill? What I mean is, “Did I create the light and place it in the exactly the right place in the universe so that all might see?
Do I pay the water bill? Did I create the oceans, the rivers, the underground water system, and the rain clouds and the fronts that carry them?
Am I so grown after all?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee” (Proverbs 23:7). “The real you is the one that carries on conversations in your mind—very apt to butter toast you have no intention of eating” (Jeb 23:7).
Somewhere this weekend in America, someone is planning to get drunk, act the fool, and commit adultery with someone’s wife. These plans are contained within a very detailed set of blueprints that are rehearsed over and over in the mind—the secret place where all sin originates. This explains the ease with which these sins are brought to "life”.
Practice makes perfect.
There is not one killer locked up in prison that didn’t first murder the victim in their head before actually shooting him dead. Thoughts conceive in the mind and if acted upon become sins in the flesh which affect our spirit, soul, and body, and for which we are responsible. No wonder the first message Jesus preached in essence was: “Change the way you’ve been thinking: My way of thinking—my perspective and power concerning all situations—is available, as of now because I have come to re-unite you to your God.” Apart from him we can not possibly think right because he is the originator of all right thinking/action: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Does not the Bible teach that the abstract—lusts, pride, greed, selfishness, envy—leads to the concrete: adulteries, murders, robberies, and fights? Jesus put it this way, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35). It is clear that our thoughts become our actions: change what is eating you—your thought diet—and you change everything about you.
“So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds” (Ephesians 4:17).
You are what you eat, physically and spiritually. You have looked into the world’s greatest mirror when you look into the thoughts of your heart and see the image they reflect.
Imagine that.
What’s in your wallet?
Somewhere this weekend in America, someone is planning to get drunk, act the fool, and commit adultery with someone’s wife. These plans are contained within a very detailed set of blueprints that are rehearsed over and over in the mind—the secret place where all sin originates. This explains the ease with which these sins are brought to "life”.
Practice makes perfect.
There is not one killer locked up in prison that didn’t first murder the victim in their head before actually shooting him dead. Thoughts conceive in the mind and if acted upon become sins in the flesh which affect our spirit, soul, and body, and for which we are responsible. No wonder the first message Jesus preached in essence was: “Change the way you’ve been thinking: My way of thinking—my perspective and power concerning all situations—is available, as of now because I have come to re-unite you to your God.” Apart from him we can not possibly think right because he is the originator of all right thinking/action: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
Does not the Bible teach that the abstract—lusts, pride, greed, selfishness, envy—leads to the concrete: adulteries, murders, robberies, and fights? Jesus put it this way, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34-35). It is clear that our thoughts become our actions: change what is eating you—your thought diet—and you change everything about you.
“So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds” (Ephesians 4:17).
You are what you eat, physically and spiritually. You have looked into the world’s greatest mirror when you look into the thoughts of your heart and see the image they reflect.
Imagine that.
What’s in your wallet?
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
A SIGNS AND WONDERS REVIVAL
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
Ron Green was a gifted baseball player with a strong arm, good power at the plate, and a bent for women, gambling and drugs. Ultimately his career was cut short by a shoulder injury; tragically his life was cut short by being framed for a murder he did not commit and cumulative affect of drugs, both prescription and illegal.
Now suppose Ron, right after he hurt his shoulder, had gone to a Signs and Wonders conference. During this meeting the evangelist gets a word of knowledge, “Someone here has a shoulder problem and the Lord wants to heal it.” (He discerns this by virtue of the sudden pain in his own shoulder.) Ron comes forward, the music crescendos, he performs a “throw from left field”, and . . . falls down backwards!!!!
If that’s not revival I don’t know what is. You know what I’m talking about, the kind we glibly report to our friends, “It’s not a revival of people getting born again; it’s a healing revival!”
The evangelist is happy, the dream team is happy, the sheep are fleeced . . .I mean freed, and the devil is calling 911.
Does it get any better than this?
Ron goes on to a productive career and his women and his drugs and his gambling.
But he was healed, right?
Or was he?
Ron Green was a gifted baseball player with a strong arm, good power at the plate, and a bent for women, gambling and drugs. Ultimately his career was cut short by a shoulder injury; tragically his life was cut short by being framed for a murder he did not commit and cumulative affect of drugs, both prescription and illegal.
Now suppose Ron, right after he hurt his shoulder, had gone to a Signs and Wonders conference. During this meeting the evangelist gets a word of knowledge, “Someone here has a shoulder problem and the Lord wants to heal it.” (He discerns this by virtue of the sudden pain in his own shoulder.) Ron comes forward, the music crescendos, he performs a “throw from left field”, and . . . falls down backwards!!!!
If that’s not revival I don’t know what is. You know what I’m talking about, the kind we glibly report to our friends, “It’s not a revival of people getting born again; it’s a healing revival!”
The evangelist is happy, the dream team is happy, the sheep are fleeced . . .I mean freed, and the devil is calling 911.
Does it get any better than this?
Ron goes on to a productive career and his women and his drugs and his gambling.
But he was healed, right?
Or was he?
Monday, January 4, 2010
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The all powerful, all knowing, all seeing God has come to dwell on the earth through his church: “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16-17).
This great God, who is the Holy Ghost, has one main focus: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (16:13-14).
Surly since he is all powerful and no purpose of his can be hindered, there are great benefits to be reaped everyday in the believer. This is beyond dispute and has been proven, beyond theory, in the book of Acts. And since his primary purpose is to reveal Jesus within the believer, it could not be more glorious—everything else must take a secondary role.
This is the rule of God.
But if you look only with natural eyes, you are sure to miss it. Just like Israel missed his first coming because it was looking for a sword of flesh instead of the sword of the Spirit. Because the kingdom of God is not steak and potatoes and an extra large sweet tea; the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The one satisfies your appetite and leaves you unfulfilled; the other gives you an appetite and leaves you ever craving and thirsting for righteousness.
And filled.
Have you seen the church in Acts? Without a doubt they turned the world upside down, but they never took over town hall—it was Missionary Peter, not Mayor. They healed the sick, even to the point of their shadow and handkerchiefs being a point of contact, but they themselves were beaten and run out of town—I do not see where they ever became Christian celebrities.
For sure God blessed them financially but you can only retain so much when you’re crucified upside down. Guess it ended up the way it started, “Silver and gold have I none . . .”
They saw the miracle of the lame man healed at the gate Beautiful, but only briefly referred to that miracle in the sermon that followed, choosing rather to expound on the absolute wonder of Jesus.
This is the Kingdom of God.
. . . By the way, I’m sure Peter is way past being a mayor now—now that he is in the world to come.
This great God, who is the Holy Ghost, has one main focus: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you” (16:13-14).
Surly since he is all powerful and no purpose of his can be hindered, there are great benefits to be reaped everyday in the believer. This is beyond dispute and has been proven, beyond theory, in the book of Acts. And since his primary purpose is to reveal Jesus within the believer, it could not be more glorious—everything else must take a secondary role.
This is the rule of God.
But if you look only with natural eyes, you are sure to miss it. Just like Israel missed his first coming because it was looking for a sword of flesh instead of the sword of the Spirit. Because the kingdom of God is not steak and potatoes and an extra large sweet tea; the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The one satisfies your appetite and leaves you unfulfilled; the other gives you an appetite and leaves you ever craving and thirsting for righteousness.
And filled.
Have you seen the church in Acts? Without a doubt they turned the world upside down, but they never took over town hall—it was Missionary Peter, not Mayor. They healed the sick, even to the point of their shadow and handkerchiefs being a point of contact, but they themselves were beaten and run out of town—I do not see where they ever became Christian celebrities.
For sure God blessed them financially but you can only retain so much when you’re crucified upside down. Guess it ended up the way it started, “Silver and gold have I none . . .”
They saw the miracle of the lame man healed at the gate Beautiful, but only briefly referred to that miracle in the sermon that followed, choosing rather to expound on the absolute wonder of Jesus.
This is the Kingdom of God.
. . . By the way, I’m sure Peter is way past being a mayor now—now that he is in the world to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
