Would you like to overcome temptation and other challenges that come against you in your walk with the Lord? If so, I believe God wants to use this article to give you direction in how to live a life of victory.
Romans 6:5-6- "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."
The "old man" mentioned here refers to our old nature. Every person who has not been born again has a natural tendency to disobey God that was inherited from Adam and Eve (due to their disobedience in the garden of Eden). This nature that is "bent" against God's ways is said here to have been crucified with Christ. When Jesus died on the cross as our substitute our old nature was put to death. Galatians 5:24 says, "And those who are Christ's have [past tense] crucified the flesh [the "old man' in Romans 6:6] with its passions and desires." As I said before the old "sin nature" of man was put to death at the cross when Jesus died as our substitute, and when we believe in Him His victory becomes our victory. Through Jesus we are overcomers at this moment. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me." Because this old nature was done away with at the cross my life can now be an expression of the life of Jesus, revealing Him to everyone I meet. When I think about this I am greatly encouraged, but I also find that there are things in my life that don't yet line up with this truth. If you see the same thing in your own life I would like to share some of what God has shown me in His word that will help you walk in victory.
Romans 6:11: "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Here we are told to "reckon ourselves" to be dead to sin. This means we are to believe that we are already free from sin and that everything in our lives that is against God's will has already been put to death. We may experience temptation, we may seem to be struggling but Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil and we are to accept this as true. When Jesus said "It is finished" (John 19:30) He was telling the truth. When we believe this we will experience victory regardless of what we are faced with.
Romans 6:12-13- "Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in it's lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." Because we have already been set free from sin by the blood of Jesus we can say, "no" when temptation comes. In James 4:7 we are told: "Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." Romans 5:17 tells us that through Jesus we can "reign in life." Are you beginning to see how this is possible because of what Jesus did at the cross? A life of victory is a life surrendered to Jesus, and at the cross every hindrance to living this life of victory was defeated.
John 8:31-32- "Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, 'If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.' " To abide in the Lord's word means to continuously study, believe, and submit to His word. God has given us His word that contains the truth that will set us free. 1Thessalonians 2:13 tells us that God's word works in those who believe it. So believe God's word, keep believing God's word, and watch God use His word to set you free!
Galatians 5:16-18- "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law." To "walk in the Spirit" means to follow the Spirit's leading (do what the Holy Spirit leads you to do). This speaks of a lifestyle of following the leading of the Holy Spirit. I find it interesting to see in this verse how the Holy Spirit leads us away from sin when we are led by Him. If we learn to recognize when the Holy Spirit is speaking we will have taken a big step toward living a life of victory.
At the cross Jesus destroyed every work of the enemy and has totally set us free. Now we can live a life of victory and let Him use our lives to show the world who He is. it is my prayer that all who read this will find themselves experiencing greater freedom in their lives.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Advance the Kingdom
Luke 1:26-33- "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, 'Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women!' But when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced to her that she was to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah even though she was a virgin. I was thinking about this passage last night as I was praying and the Lord highlighted one specific phrase to me: "...and of His kingdom there will be no end." The Lord then used this to encourage me and remind me that Jesus is Lord and wants to use His people to advance His kingdom. In this week's blog I would like to share with you what the Lord spoke to me with the prayer that all who read it will be encouraged and inspired just as I was.
Luke 2:8-11- "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.' "
Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, and when the angel announced the birth of the Son of God, he referred to Jesus as, "...a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." If the enemy seems to be coming against you from every direction remember that Jesus came as both Savior and Lord, and realizing this can help us to find comfort in challenging situations. Jesus is Lord and will always be Lord regardless of what attacks the enemy may send your way. John Wesley, while describing how he was able to keep from worrying, said, "I see God sitting upon His throne ruling all things well." When I experience trials and I don't understand what's happening or what to do next I find great comfort in the fact that Jesus is still on the throne and that He has placed all enemies under my feet. 1John 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Are you burdened with depression, sickness, anger, condemnation, or worry? Those are all works of the devil that Jesus came to destroy. Not only can Jesus destroy those works and give you joy, peace, healing, forgiveness, and everything else that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but He can use you to bring those things to others! In Daniel 2:31-45 we read of a dream that king Nebuchadnezzar had of a statue that represented the kingdoms of the world being destroyed by a stone that represented God's kingdom. In the dream the stone struck the statue, broke it in pieces, and completely destroyed it, and became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. When Daniel interpreted the dream he made this statement about the kingdom: "...it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdom [the world kingdoms], and it shall stand forever." (Daniel 2:44) While the dream actually referred to the end times when the kingdom of God will be established as a physical kingdom on earth, there is a spiritual lesson to be learned as well. The Lord wants His kingdom (His rule, His influence in our lives) to replace the world's influence and bring His will to every area of our lives.
The Lord wants to use you and me to bring His kingdom into the lives of those we meet. So as you go about last minute Christmas shopping or spend time with family this Christmas, why don't you ask the Lord to open your eyes to see opportunities to bring His kingdom into the lives of those around you?
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and announced to her that she was to be the mother of the long awaited Messiah even though she was a virgin. I was thinking about this passage last night as I was praying and the Lord highlighted one specific phrase to me: "...and of His kingdom there will be no end." The Lord then used this to encourage me and remind me that Jesus is Lord and wants to use His people to advance His kingdom. In this week's blog I would like to share with you what the Lord spoke to me with the prayer that all who read it will be encouraged and inspired just as I was.
Luke 2:8-11- "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.' "
Jesus had been born in Bethlehem, and when the angel announced the birth of the Son of God, he referred to Jesus as, "...a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." If the enemy seems to be coming against you from every direction remember that Jesus came as both Savior and Lord, and realizing this can help us to find comfort in challenging situations. Jesus is Lord and will always be Lord regardless of what attacks the enemy may send your way. John Wesley, while describing how he was able to keep from worrying, said, "I see God sitting upon His throne ruling all things well." When I experience trials and I don't understand what's happening or what to do next I find great comfort in the fact that Jesus is still on the throne and that He has placed all enemies under my feet. 1John 3:8 tells us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Are you burdened with depression, sickness, anger, condemnation, or worry? Those are all works of the devil that Jesus came to destroy. Not only can Jesus destroy those works and give you joy, peace, healing, forgiveness, and everything else that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but He can use you to bring those things to others! In Daniel 2:31-45 we read of a dream that king Nebuchadnezzar had of a statue that represented the kingdoms of the world being destroyed by a stone that represented God's kingdom. In the dream the stone struck the statue, broke it in pieces, and completely destroyed it, and became a great mountain that filled the whole earth. When Daniel interpreted the dream he made this statement about the kingdom: "...it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdom [the world kingdoms], and it shall stand forever." (Daniel 2:44) While the dream actually referred to the end times when the kingdom of God will be established as a physical kingdom on earth, there is a spiritual lesson to be learned as well. The Lord wants His kingdom (His rule, His influence in our lives) to replace the world's influence and bring His will to every area of our lives.
The Lord wants to use you and me to bring His kingdom into the lives of those we meet. So as you go about last minute Christmas shopping or spend time with family this Christmas, why don't you ask the Lord to open your eyes to see opportunities to bring His kingdom into the lives of those around you?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Total Commitment
Mark 8:31-33- "And He [Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
Jesus began teaching His disciples that He was going to be rejected, arrested, mocked, beaten, and eventually killed and that He would rise from the dead after three days. The thought of the Messiah suffering was so different from the Messiah the Jews of Jesus' day were expecting that sometime after declaring Jesus to be the Son of God (see Mark 8:27-30), Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him!
Jesus' response to Peter's rebuke is interesting, and it shows us how committed Jesus was to His mission. First it says Jesus turned and looked at His disciples. I believe that as He did this He thought about them. Jesus knew what was involved in crucifixion (which was one the most painful deaths imaginable) and He knew He was going to be crucified, but He chose to put the well being of others ahead of His own comfort and safety. Jesus willingly laid down His life for the sake of others, and because He did you and I can have a relationship with our creator. 1John 3:16 says, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Jesus demonstrated the highest love possible by laying down His life for us, and is so doing He set an example to show us that we should lay down our lives for one another.
On the night of Jesus' arrest, He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) While most of us tend to focus on the fact that Jesus prayed for the cup to be taken from His lips, I believe the focus of the prayer for Jesus was the phrase: "not as I will, but as You will." As the time of His suffering drew near, Jesus prayed a prayer of unconditional surrender to the will of the Father. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read that we are not our own because we were bought with a price. That price was the blood of Jesus. Since such Jesus paid such a high price to save us, how can not make a total commitment to do His will no matter what?
In John 18:4, which is part of John's account of Jesus arrest, we read, "Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward, and said to them, 'whom are you seeking?' " Jesus saw the officers sent from the chief priests to arrest Him (led by Judas Iscariot), He knew everything that was going to happen to Him, and He "went forward" to do what the Father sent Him to earth to do. Jesus could have called more than twelve legions of angels to help Him if He had wanted to, and the men who had come to arrest Jesus would have had no chance (In Isaiah 37:26 we read of one angel killing 185, 000 soldiers in one night, so what could 12 legions of angels would have been 13,320,000,000 do?), but Jesus went forward to offer Himself as the sacrifice to wipe away the stains of sin that separated the fallen human race from the Creator.
The example set by Jesus seems impossible for us to reach, and without His help it is impossible. However, as we read in Philippians 2:13: "for it is God who works in you to will and to do for His good pleasure." Say "yes" to God and He will begin working in you, making you both willing and able to make a total commitment to His will. Not only will God make us willing to do His will, He will actually help us to follow through with that commitment! So, are you willing? If you're not sure you can say that you are, are you willing to be made willing? You can say "yes," to Him today and you will find that despite what trials come it will all be worth it.
Jesus began teaching His disciples that He was going to be rejected, arrested, mocked, beaten, and eventually killed and that He would rise from the dead after three days. The thought of the Messiah suffering was so different from the Messiah the Jews of Jesus' day were expecting that sometime after declaring Jesus to be the Son of God (see Mark 8:27-30), Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him!
Jesus' response to Peter's rebuke is interesting, and it shows us how committed Jesus was to His mission. First it says Jesus turned and looked at His disciples. I believe that as He did this He thought about them. Jesus knew what was involved in crucifixion (which was one the most painful deaths imaginable) and He knew He was going to be crucified, but He chose to put the well being of others ahead of His own comfort and safety. Jesus willingly laid down His life for the sake of others, and because He did you and I can have a relationship with our creator. 1John 3:16 says, "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." Jesus demonstrated the highest love possible by laying down His life for us, and is so doing He set an example to show us that we should lay down our lives for one another.
On the night of Jesus' arrest, He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane: "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39) While most of us tend to focus on the fact that Jesus prayed for the cup to be taken from His lips, I believe the focus of the prayer for Jesus was the phrase: "not as I will, but as You will." As the time of His suffering drew near, Jesus prayed a prayer of unconditional surrender to the will of the Father. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read that we are not our own because we were bought with a price. That price was the blood of Jesus. Since such Jesus paid such a high price to save us, how can not make a total commitment to do His will no matter what?
In John 18:4, which is part of John's account of Jesus arrest, we read, "Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward, and said to them, 'whom are you seeking?' " Jesus saw the officers sent from the chief priests to arrest Him (led by Judas Iscariot), He knew everything that was going to happen to Him, and He "went forward" to do what the Father sent Him to earth to do. Jesus could have called more than twelve legions of angels to help Him if He had wanted to, and the men who had come to arrest Jesus would have had no chance (In Isaiah 37:26 we read of one angel killing 185, 000 soldiers in one night, so what could 12 legions of angels would have been 13,320,000,000 do?), but Jesus went forward to offer Himself as the sacrifice to wipe away the stains of sin that separated the fallen human race from the Creator.
The example set by Jesus seems impossible for us to reach, and without His help it is impossible. However, as we read in Philippians 2:13: "for it is God who works in you to will and to do for His good pleasure." Say "yes" to God and He will begin working in you, making you both willing and able to make a total commitment to His will. Not only will God make us willing to do His will, He will actually help us to follow through with that commitment! So, are you willing? If you're not sure you can say that you are, are you willing to be made willing? You can say "yes," to Him today and you will find that despite what trials come it will all be worth it.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Goodwill Toward Men
Luke 2:14- "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"
Jesus had been born in a manger in Bethlehem and angels appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of the long awaited Messiah. The angels ended this announcement with the phrase, "...goodwill toward men!" By using this phrase the heavenly host declared that God's plans for humanity are good.
The following verses describe the shepherds' visit to Mary, Joseph, and the newborn King of Kings:
"So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:15-19)
The shepherds, "made widely known," what had been said to them about Jesus. We are told that everyone who heard was amazed but Mary, "kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Everyone heard and was amazed, but Mary treasured the words that were spoken and thought about them, pondering in her heart the things that had been spoken about the One who was born to seek and to save the lost.
Twelve years later we find Mary, Joseph and a twelve year old Jesus going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover. After the feast, Mary, Joseph, and many others left Jerusalem, but Jesus didn't. After a three day search Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple amazing the religious leaders. When asked by Mary about His actions, Jesus simply replied, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (see Luke 2:49) This question reveals that even at age twelve Jesus was completely devoted to doing the Father's will (so much so that He refused to follow the crowd: staying in Jerusalem while others were leaving). A few verses later we read: "Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:51) Just as she had done twelve years earlier, Mary heard what was spoken and kept it in her heart. So far in this article we have shown that Mary heard about God's good plans for humanity and Jesus' devotion to doing the Father's will and pondered these things in her heart.
Fast forward eighteen years: Jesus is around 30 years of age and He, along with His disciples, have been invited to a wedding along with Mary, His mother (see John 2:1-11). The wine ran out at the wedding (which would have been extremely embarrassing to the host) and Mary immediately told Jesus. She actually didn't ask Him if He would do anything or not: she simply told Him that there was no more wine and when He said that His time had not yet come she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Mary knew Jesus would work a miracle to change this situation, and I believe it was because of the two things she heard and meditated on (thought about) years earlier. She knew God's will for mankind is good and that Jesus was completely devoted to doing the Father's will. I believe this helped Mary to expect a miracle. If you need a miracle remember, God is still in the miracle working business and He has good plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." There is no situation hopeless, there's nothing too hard for God to do. God has a miracle for you today and He is eager to give it to you. In addition to all this, there is one more reason to expect a miracle: "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37) Mary heard the angel Gabriel make this statement and she experienced the truth of it. You can see God do something for you today that seems impossible. Study and meditate on God's word until you have such a revelation of God's goodness and power that you expect miracles. I believe that as you do this you will find that in your life the impossible will become possible.
Jesus had been born in a manger in Bethlehem and angels appeared to shepherds to announce the birth of the long awaited Messiah. The angels ended this announcement with the phrase, "...goodwill toward men!" By using this phrase the heavenly host declared that God's plans for humanity are good.
The following verses describe the shepherds' visit to Mary, Joseph, and the newborn King of Kings:
"So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:15-19)
The shepherds, "made widely known," what had been said to them about Jesus. We are told that everyone who heard was amazed but Mary, "kept all these things and pondered them in her heart." Everyone heard and was amazed, but Mary treasured the words that were spoken and thought about them, pondering in her heart the things that had been spoken about the One who was born to seek and to save the lost.
Twelve years later we find Mary, Joseph and a twelve year old Jesus going to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish feast of Passover. After the feast, Mary, Joseph, and many others left Jerusalem, but Jesus didn't. After a three day search Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple amazing the religious leaders. When asked by Mary about His actions, Jesus simply replied, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (see Luke 2:49) This question reveals that even at age twelve Jesus was completely devoted to doing the Father's will (so much so that He refused to follow the crowd: staying in Jerusalem while others were leaving). A few verses later we read: "Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:51) Just as she had done twelve years earlier, Mary heard what was spoken and kept it in her heart. So far in this article we have shown that Mary heard about God's good plans for humanity and Jesus' devotion to doing the Father's will and pondered these things in her heart.
Fast forward eighteen years: Jesus is around 30 years of age and He, along with His disciples, have been invited to a wedding along with Mary, His mother (see John 2:1-11). The wine ran out at the wedding (which would have been extremely embarrassing to the host) and Mary immediately told Jesus. She actually didn't ask Him if He would do anything or not: she simply told Him that there was no more wine and when He said that His time had not yet come she told the servants to do whatever Jesus told them to do. Mary knew Jesus would work a miracle to change this situation, and I believe it was because of the two things she heard and meditated on (thought about) years earlier. She knew God's will for mankind is good and that Jesus was completely devoted to doing the Father's will. I believe this helped Mary to expect a miracle. If you need a miracle remember, God is still in the miracle working business and He has good plans for us. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." There is no situation hopeless, there's nothing too hard for God to do. God has a miracle for you today and He is eager to give it to you. In addition to all this, there is one more reason to expect a miracle: "For with God nothing will be impossible." (Luke 1:37) Mary heard the angel Gabriel make this statement and she experienced the truth of it. You can see God do something for you today that seems impossible. Study and meditate on God's word until you have such a revelation of God's goodness and power that you expect miracles. I believe that as you do this you will find that in your life the impossible will become possible.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Expressing the Father
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5,6,and 7. This passage opens with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. To understand the beatitudes we must remember two important facts: Christians are called to be expressions of Father God to the world (as well as expressions of Jesus Christ) and as long as we are living in this world we are constantly going through a process of being changed. The beatitudes are eight parts of this process that we all experience. They describe the process of being changed from the inside out so that when people meet us they get a glimpse of who God is.
Matthew 5:3-12- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great in your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The word "Blessed" means "happy"- God's intention is for us to be happy. With everything that has been given to us, Christians should be the happiest people in the world regardless of our circumstances. Now let us take a closer look at each of these beatitudes and see what God would say to us through His word:
"poor in spirit"- This refers to those who see their need for the Lord and recognize that they would have nothing without Him.
Jesus said of the poor in spirit that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The word "kingdom" refers to God's realm of authority (wherever His authority extends and His will is being done). If we want to see God's will being done in our lives we must learn to toally depend on God rather than ourselves.
"those who mourn" Are those who "mourn" over their sin. This is the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.") Basically the "mourning" is a desire to change in the areas of our lives in which we have fallen short of the glory of God.
Jesus promised that those who mourn "shall be comforted"- We are comforted because after seeing our own lack we see that at the cross Jesus made the fullness of God available to all who believe.
I would like to point out that the promise of comfort for those who mourn is also available for those who mourn in the sense we normally think of mourning. In 2Corinthians 1:3 God is called "the God of all comfort."
Next Jesus speaks of "the meek." The word "meek" refers to someone who is humble and teachable. This person has seen who they are without God, they have seen that at the cross Jesus made available everything we need for life and godliness (2Peter 1:3) and they decide to let Him mold them and make them who He wants them to be- an expression of the divine nature to the world.
Jesus said that the meek "shall inherit the earth." The ones God promotes in this life are those who first humble themselves and let God prepare them for his abundance.
Next Jesus speaks of "the merciful" Since the previous beatitudes have all described someone who is allowing the Lord to change them, the mercy spoken of here is the mercy of God expressed by believers. Each of us are to be expressions of God's mercy. As we live this kind of life we find ourselves reaching out to others. The more like Jesus we become, the less self centered we become.
We are promised that when we are merciful we will receive mercy.
The "pure in heart" in verse 8 are those who are allowing God to bring emotional healing and change mindsets. As impurities (anything that's not God's will) are removed from inside of us we will "see God" that is, we will begin to realize who God truly is. Aren't there many people today who have twisted views about who God is because they have been hurt by others or have been under religous teaching? The change God works in our lives starts on the inside with our thoughts, will, emotions, and other inward things and works its way out to our actions. This is precisely what we see described in the beatitudes (and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount).
Next Jesus mentions "peacemakers." These are people who seek to live in peace with others. We find instructions for doing so in Romans 12:17-21: "Repay noone evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peacably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Reading this passage challenges us to "turn the other cheek" and refuse to be overcome by evil by giving in to anger and getting revenge.
We are told that when we do this we will "be called sons of God." In other words, when we live as peacemakers, people will recognize that we truly are followers of Jesus Christ. Living this kind of lifestyle is a way to express the divine nature to those around us.
Verses 10-12 tell us that we are blessed when we are "persecuted for righteousness' sake." This persecution comes because we are reaching out to those around us and are making a difference. If you find the enemy coming against you, it may be because you are doing exactly what God wants you to do and are being effective, so if that's the case keep going!
Jesus said that we can rejoice in the midst of this persecution because:
(1) We are citizens of His kingdom
(2) We have an eternal reward
(3) We are following the footsteps of great men and women of God of the past (we're in good company).
After the beatitudes Jesus states that believers are salt and light. Do you want to live as salt and light, living a life that causes those around you to see and glorify the Father? Then allow God to work in your life and change you. Decide right now that whatever He wants to do in your life, you will let Him do it. God loves you and has your best interest in mind. I gaurantee that if you make an unconditional surrender to the Lord you won't regret it!
Matthew 5:3-12- "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great in your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The word "Blessed" means "happy"- God's intention is for us to be happy. With everything that has been given to us, Christians should be the happiest people in the world regardless of our circumstances. Now let us take a closer look at each of these beatitudes and see what God would say to us through His word:
"poor in spirit"- This refers to those who see their need for the Lord and recognize that they would have nothing without Him.
Jesus said of the poor in spirit that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." The word "kingdom" refers to God's realm of authority (wherever His authority extends and His will is being done). If we want to see God's will being done in our lives we must learn to toally depend on God rather than ourselves.
"those who mourn" Are those who "mourn" over their sin. This is the godly sorrow that leads to repentance. (2Corinthians 7:10 says, "For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.") Basically the "mourning" is a desire to change in the areas of our lives in which we have fallen short of the glory of God.
Jesus promised that those who mourn "shall be comforted"- We are comforted because after seeing our own lack we see that at the cross Jesus made the fullness of God available to all who believe.
I would like to point out that the promise of comfort for those who mourn is also available for those who mourn in the sense we normally think of mourning. In 2Corinthians 1:3 God is called "the God of all comfort."
Next Jesus speaks of "the meek." The word "meek" refers to someone who is humble and teachable. This person has seen who they are without God, they have seen that at the cross Jesus made available everything we need for life and godliness (2Peter 1:3) and they decide to let Him mold them and make them who He wants them to be- an expression of the divine nature to the world.
Jesus said that the meek "shall inherit the earth." The ones God promotes in this life are those who first humble themselves and let God prepare them for his abundance.
Next Jesus speaks of "the merciful" Since the previous beatitudes have all described someone who is allowing the Lord to change them, the mercy spoken of here is the mercy of God expressed by believers. Each of us are to be expressions of God's mercy. As we live this kind of life we find ourselves reaching out to others. The more like Jesus we become, the less self centered we become.
We are promised that when we are merciful we will receive mercy.
The "pure in heart" in verse 8 are those who are allowing God to bring emotional healing and change mindsets. As impurities (anything that's not God's will) are removed from inside of us we will "see God" that is, we will begin to realize who God truly is. Aren't there many people today who have twisted views about who God is because they have been hurt by others or have been under religous teaching? The change God works in our lives starts on the inside with our thoughts, will, emotions, and other inward things and works its way out to our actions. This is precisely what we see described in the beatitudes (and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount).
Next Jesus mentions "peacemakers." These are people who seek to live in peace with others. We find instructions for doing so in Romans 12:17-21: "Repay noone evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peacably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Reading this passage challenges us to "turn the other cheek" and refuse to be overcome by evil by giving in to anger and getting revenge.
We are told that when we do this we will "be called sons of God." In other words, when we live as peacemakers, people will recognize that we truly are followers of Jesus Christ. Living this kind of lifestyle is a way to express the divine nature to those around us.
Verses 10-12 tell us that we are blessed when we are "persecuted for righteousness' sake." This persecution comes because we are reaching out to those around us and are making a difference. If you find the enemy coming against you, it may be because you are doing exactly what God wants you to do and are being effective, so if that's the case keep going!
Jesus said that we can rejoice in the midst of this persecution because:
(1) We are citizens of His kingdom
(2) We have an eternal reward
(3) We are following the footsteps of great men and women of God of the past (we're in good company).
After the beatitudes Jesus states that believers are salt and light. Do you want to live as salt and light, living a life that causes those around you to see and glorify the Father? Then allow God to work in your life and change you. Decide right now that whatever He wants to do in your life, you will let Him do it. God loves you and has your best interest in mind. I gaurantee that if you make an unconditional surrender to the Lord you won't regret it!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
God's Treasure
Matthew 13:44- "Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
Jesus taught God's word to people using parables-which are stories and illustrations. This parable is one of my personal favorites: especially after I began to see some of the things I am going to share with you in this week's blog.
Some have said that the treasure in this parable represents the Lord, and while the Lord is a treasure worth giving everything for I believe this parable is meant to tells us how God sees us. Therefore, the treasure represents you and me. There are other places in the Bible that speak of God's people as His treasure. One of those is Deuteronomy 7:6, which says, "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth." God also referred to His people as His treasure in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 14:2. While God was speaking to the children of Israel, they also apply to us. Since the idea of God's people being His treasure is found in the Old Testament, it makes sense that Jesus would use a similar illustration.
If we are the treasure the man would represent the Lord and the field can be seen as a picture of the world. I especially want you to notice that the treasure was "hidden in a field." That could describe someone who is caught up in the way the rest of the world lives, following them in a lifestyle that is "bent" against God. That's how I was before Jesus found me: beaten down, hopeless, oppressed, and simply going along with the rest of the world. The man in this parable found the treasure hidden in a field and he saw it's value before it was his. Even before you were serving the Lord He saw your value as His creation and He loved you. (I read in a devotional that God's unconditional "agape" love can be describe as seeing one's value.)
We are also told that the man rejoiced over the treasure. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the suffering of the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." That joy was you- Jesus endured the suffering of the cross because He knew it would open the door for you to have a relationship with Him. The man sold everything to buy that treasure. In the same way Jesus gave up everything and endured the most painful and humiliating death imaginable to restore us to God. He rejoiced because He knew we would no longer be hidden in the field but would live in His kingdom and enjoy a relationship with Him. As a Christian you are no longer "hidden in the field" but you are walking with God. In the past few blogs I have been writing about having an intimate relationship with the Father. The Father, in His deep love for us, sent Jesus to pay the price to make it possible. Jesus, in His love for the Father and for us, agreed to pay the price.
The verses right after this verse in Matthew record a similar parable: the parable of the pearl of great price in which Jesus uses the illustration of a man who found a pearl so valuable that he sold everything to buy it. The pearl in that parable represents Jesus and the man represents us giving everything we have to Him. Jesus did tell us of the need to surrender everything to Him, but first He told us that we are the treasure He gave up everything for in His love. I believe Jesus did this because He realized that if we begin to understand just how much God loves us and what He gave so we can have an intimate relationship with Him we will naturally surrender everything to Him. This revelation will enable us to look beyond the sacrifices we make and see how wonderful God is, and when we see that is there any sacrifice too great?
Jesus taught God's word to people using parables-which are stories and illustrations. This parable is one of my personal favorites: especially after I began to see some of the things I am going to share with you in this week's blog.
Some have said that the treasure in this parable represents the Lord, and while the Lord is a treasure worth giving everything for I believe this parable is meant to tells us how God sees us. Therefore, the treasure represents you and me. There are other places in the Bible that speak of God's people as His treasure. One of those is Deuteronomy 7:6, which says, "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth." God also referred to His people as His treasure in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 14:2. While God was speaking to the children of Israel, they also apply to us. Since the idea of God's people being His treasure is found in the Old Testament, it makes sense that Jesus would use a similar illustration.
If we are the treasure the man would represent the Lord and the field can be seen as a picture of the world. I especially want you to notice that the treasure was "hidden in a field." That could describe someone who is caught up in the way the rest of the world lives, following them in a lifestyle that is "bent" against God. That's how I was before Jesus found me: beaten down, hopeless, oppressed, and simply going along with the rest of the world. The man in this parable found the treasure hidden in a field and he saw it's value before it was his. Even before you were serving the Lord He saw your value as His creation and He loved you. (I read in a devotional that God's unconditional "agape" love can be describe as seeing one's value.)
We are also told that the man rejoiced over the treasure. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the suffering of the cross "for the joy that was set before Him." That joy was you- Jesus endured the suffering of the cross because He knew it would open the door for you to have a relationship with Him. The man sold everything to buy that treasure. In the same way Jesus gave up everything and endured the most painful and humiliating death imaginable to restore us to God. He rejoiced because He knew we would no longer be hidden in the field but would live in His kingdom and enjoy a relationship with Him. As a Christian you are no longer "hidden in the field" but you are walking with God. In the past few blogs I have been writing about having an intimate relationship with the Father. The Father, in His deep love for us, sent Jesus to pay the price to make it possible. Jesus, in His love for the Father and for us, agreed to pay the price.
The verses right after this verse in Matthew record a similar parable: the parable of the pearl of great price in which Jesus uses the illustration of a man who found a pearl so valuable that he sold everything to buy it. The pearl in that parable represents Jesus and the man represents us giving everything we have to Him. Jesus did tell us of the need to surrender everything to Him, but first He told us that we are the treasure He gave up everything for in His love. I believe Jesus did this because He realized that if we begin to understand just how much God loves us and what He gave so we can have an intimate relationship with Him we will naturally surrender everything to Him. This revelation will enable us to look beyond the sacrifices we make and see how wonderful God is, and when we see that is there any sacrifice too great?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Draw Near to God
Hebrews 10:19-22- "Therefore brethern, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
In the last two blogs I have shared what the Bible says about having a relationship with God, and in this week's blog I would like to share some things the Lord has shown me that may help you to grow closer to Him. As we look at this passage in Hebrews I want you to notice the words, "draw near," In James 4:8 we are told: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded." The fact that we are told to draw near shows that there are steps we can take to get closer to the Lord. (I would like to point out that the cleansing and purifying mentioned in this verse is done as we get closer to God.) The first step is to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Our lives as Christians after we trust in Jesus can be a life of us getting closer to God every day.
The passage we began with in Hebrews states that we can draw near "in full assurance of faith." This means we take steps knowing that we will get closer to God. There are some who have the attitude: "I just can't get closer to God." These people seem to always have an excuse for why they "can't." Regardless of how close you may be to the Lord right now there is always more. The fact that we are told to draw near means we get to decide how close we are to the Lord! How close do you want to be to God? What steps are you willing to take to get closer to Him?
The "Holiest" mentioned is the part of the ancient Jewish temple called "the Holy of Holies." This was the part of the temple that contained "the ark of the covenant" which represented God's presence among His people. Entering the Holiest refers to entering God's presence. We are told that we can enter God's presence boldly! I believe this means coming to Him as we are. It seems too good to be true that imperfect people could ever approach a holy God just as they are, and it would be too good to be true if not for the blood fo Jesus. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Sin separates people from God, but every single sin any of us have ever commited has been completely wiped away because Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Sin has been dealt with and now we can approach God and have a relationship with Him. Jesus said that He is the way to the Father. We experience an abundant life (even in the midst of challenges) when we put our trust in Jesus and call on Him in faith. As we do this and begin drawing closer to God He will change us.
The Bible gives us two ways to begin drawing near to God:
1. Prayer
Psalm 145:18- "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."
Calling upon God is praying, and prayer is a conversation with God. I can recall many times that I have simply started talking to God in the same way I may talk to you (though I do try to always give God the respect He deserves) and found myself feeling God's presence. When this happens the time I spend in prayer is not just a ritual, nor is it just me saying something: I am actually spending time with God. I encourage you to begin talking to God. You can do this anywhere and spend time with Him. Another key to prayer is to listen to what God has to say. You may not hear an audible voice, but if you listen He will speak to your heart and you will know when it's Him (In John 10 Jesus said His sheep-His people- know His voice). I have also found that focusing on God helps.
2. Bible Study
In John 5:39-40 Jesus told the Jewish religous leaders: "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
The Bible is something God uses to draw us closer to Himself. The Bible does this by showing us who He is and how we can come to Him. I have found that as I read the Bible God uses it to speak to me in very personal ways. I do study the Bible but when I study it's more than that: it's a time in which God uses His word to speak to me and show me who He is. As you study the Bible I encourage you to start by asking God to speak to you through what you read. I have done this and God is faithful to do so every day. Personally I have found it helpful to take notes. Many times I write down things I notice and as I do the Lord starts showing me more. I have also found it helpful to look back over what the Lord has shown me. You can also make use of the internet to find resources to help you- but start by reading the Bible and asking God to speak to you.
Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Jesus has made the way for you to grow closer to God. The issue now is: how close do you want to be to God? If we diligently press on without looking back or being satisfied where we are, we will find ourselves growing closer to God than we could have ever imagined.
In the last two blogs I have shared what the Bible says about having a relationship with God, and in this week's blog I would like to share some things the Lord has shown me that may help you to grow closer to Him. As we look at this passage in Hebrews I want you to notice the words, "draw near," In James 4:8 we are told: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double-minded." The fact that we are told to draw near shows that there are steps we can take to get closer to the Lord. (I would like to point out that the cleansing and purifying mentioned in this verse is done as we get closer to God.) The first step is to receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Our lives as Christians after we trust in Jesus can be a life of us getting closer to God every day.
The passage we began with in Hebrews states that we can draw near "in full assurance of faith." This means we take steps knowing that we will get closer to God. There are some who have the attitude: "I just can't get closer to God." These people seem to always have an excuse for why they "can't." Regardless of how close you may be to the Lord right now there is always more. The fact that we are told to draw near means we get to decide how close we are to the Lord! How close do you want to be to God? What steps are you willing to take to get closer to Him?
The "Holiest" mentioned is the part of the ancient Jewish temple called "the Holy of Holies." This was the part of the temple that contained "the ark of the covenant" which represented God's presence among His people. Entering the Holiest refers to entering God's presence. We are told that we can enter God's presence boldly! I believe this means coming to Him as we are. It seems too good to be true that imperfect people could ever approach a holy God just as they are, and it would be too good to be true if not for the blood fo Jesus. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, "Behold the Lord's hand is not shortened that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Sin separates people from God, but every single sin any of us have ever commited has been completely wiped away because Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Sin has been dealt with and now we can approach God and have a relationship with Him. Jesus said that He is the way to the Father. We experience an abundant life (even in the midst of challenges) when we put our trust in Jesus and call on Him in faith. As we do this and begin drawing closer to God He will change us.
The Bible gives us two ways to begin drawing near to God:
1. Prayer
Psalm 145:18- "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth."
Calling upon God is praying, and prayer is a conversation with God. I can recall many times that I have simply started talking to God in the same way I may talk to you (though I do try to always give God the respect He deserves) and found myself feeling God's presence. When this happens the time I spend in prayer is not just a ritual, nor is it just me saying something: I am actually spending time with God. I encourage you to begin talking to God. You can do this anywhere and spend time with Him. Another key to prayer is to listen to what God has to say. You may not hear an audible voice, but if you listen He will speak to your heart and you will know when it's Him (In John 10 Jesus said His sheep-His people- know His voice). I have also found that focusing on God helps.
2. Bible Study
In John 5:39-40 Jesus told the Jewish religous leaders: "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."
The Bible is something God uses to draw us closer to Himself. The Bible does this by showing us who He is and how we can come to Him. I have found that as I read the Bible God uses it to speak to me in very personal ways. I do study the Bible but when I study it's more than that: it's a time in which God uses His word to speak to me and show me who He is. As you study the Bible I encourage you to start by asking God to speak to you through what you read. I have done this and God is faithful to do so every day. Personally I have found it helpful to take notes. Many times I write down things I notice and as I do the Lord starts showing me more. I have also found it helpful to look back over what the Lord has shown me. You can also make use of the internet to find resources to help you- but start by reading the Bible and asking God to speak to you.
Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Jesus has made the way for you to grow closer to God. The issue now is: how close do you want to be to God? If we diligently press on without looking back or being satisfied where we are, we will find ourselves growing closer to God than we could have ever imagined.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Our Relationship With God
Jeremiah 31:33-34- "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days says the LORD: I will put my laws in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
In this statement God made through the prophet Jeremiah, we see a description of what it means to be Christian (in Hebrews 8:10-12 and 10: 16-17 this passage is referred to as a description of Christianity).
First God gave the promise: "I will put My law on their minds, and write it on their hearts," We can get a better understanding of what this means by comparing this statement with Romans 2:14-15, which says: "for when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of God written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)" Here we read of those who naturally do what God wants them to do (as the general direction of their lives) It says that when they live this kind of lifestyle they are showing with their lives that God has written His law (His standard, His word) on their hearts and minds. This means it is now natural for us to do what God says. As I mentioned, this refers to the general direction of our lives. Sometimes Christians make mistakes. But when we do we confess out weaknesses to the Lord and receive His help to change. It's not our nature to sin, but to obey God. Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." I once talked to someone who wanted to receive Jesus but was afraid he wouldn't be able to make the commitment God wanted him to make. (By the way, this person eventually did receive Christ.) If that's your fear I want to encourage you: God will help you do what He tells you to do. The moment you believe in Jesus you become a "new creation" (2Corinthians 5:17) and it becomes as natural for you to live for the Lord as it is for a healthy person to walk. The reason we aren't perfect is we still have to learn to act out this new nature that has been put inside of us. It's natural for a healthy human being to walk, but each of us had to learn to walk. In the same way it's natural for Christians to live the same life Jesus lived when He was on this earth, but we are learning how to live this type of life. It's like we are learning how to walk. It may look like an uphill battle, but don't worry: God is patient with us and He is here to help us. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of us is our Helper and He is ready to help us be all God has called us to be.
Next is the promise of a personal relationship with God (which I described in the last blog). This is seen first in the statement, "I will be their God and they shall be My people" and it is continued with the phrase, "they all shall know Me." It says here that the "greatest" and the "least" (in man's eyes) will know Him. This means every single believer has a personal, one on one relationship with God. You don't have to go through a priest or any other person to get to God; you have direct access to Him. You can pray and you won't simply be talking or going through some empty, dead ritual but you will actually be spending time with God. I encourage you to simply start talking to God just as you would talk to a friend. I also want to remind you to listen and let Him speak to you. You may not hear an audible voice, but God will speak to your heart and you will know it's Him.
Third God promised complete forgiveness for every single sin. Not only did God promise to forgive sin, but to also forget our sins! You may wonder how God could forget sins if He knows everything, but this is actually a promise to never hold our sin against us. As far as God is concerned our sin has been dealt with. Sin separates man from God, but that sins was wiped away when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Now the door is open and everyone who believes in Jesus and calls on Him in faith will receive the things I have mentioned today and many other things I don't have the time to discuss. Do you have the relationship with God I have described in these last two blogs? It's available to every Christian. As you read these last two blogs have you felt God tugging at your heart, showing you your need for Him If so He is waiting with open arms for you to turn your life over to Him. In next week's blog I will share some things that will help you to grow closer to the Lord.
In this statement God made through the prophet Jeremiah, we see a description of what it means to be Christian (in Hebrews 8:10-12 and 10: 16-17 this passage is referred to as a description of Christianity).
First God gave the promise: "I will put My law on their minds, and write it on their hearts," We can get a better understanding of what this means by comparing this statement with Romans 2:14-15, which says: "for when Gentiles, who do not have the law by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of God written on their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them)" Here we read of those who naturally do what God wants them to do (as the general direction of their lives) It says that when they live this kind of lifestyle they are showing with their lives that God has written His law (His standard, His word) on their hearts and minds. This means it is now natural for us to do what God says. As I mentioned, this refers to the general direction of our lives. Sometimes Christians make mistakes. But when we do we confess out weaknesses to the Lord and receive His help to change. It's not our nature to sin, but to obey God. Philippians 2:13 says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." I once talked to someone who wanted to receive Jesus but was afraid he wouldn't be able to make the commitment God wanted him to make. (By the way, this person eventually did receive Christ.) If that's your fear I want to encourage you: God will help you do what He tells you to do. The moment you believe in Jesus you become a "new creation" (2Corinthians 5:17) and it becomes as natural for you to live for the Lord as it is for a healthy person to walk. The reason we aren't perfect is we still have to learn to act out this new nature that has been put inside of us. It's natural for a healthy human being to walk, but each of us had to learn to walk. In the same way it's natural for Christians to live the same life Jesus lived when He was on this earth, but we are learning how to live this type of life. It's like we are learning how to walk. It may look like an uphill battle, but don't worry: God is patient with us and He is here to help us. The Holy Spirit who lives inside of us is our Helper and He is ready to help us be all God has called us to be.
Next is the promise of a personal relationship with God (which I described in the last blog). This is seen first in the statement, "I will be their God and they shall be My people" and it is continued with the phrase, "they all shall know Me." It says here that the "greatest" and the "least" (in man's eyes) will know Him. This means every single believer has a personal, one on one relationship with God. You don't have to go through a priest or any other person to get to God; you have direct access to Him. You can pray and you won't simply be talking or going through some empty, dead ritual but you will actually be spending time with God. I encourage you to simply start talking to God just as you would talk to a friend. I also want to remind you to listen and let Him speak to you. You may not hear an audible voice, but God will speak to your heart and you will know it's Him.
Third God promised complete forgiveness for every single sin. Not only did God promise to forgive sin, but to also forget our sins! You may wonder how God could forget sins if He knows everything, but this is actually a promise to never hold our sin against us. As far as God is concerned our sin has been dealt with. Sin separates man from God, but that sins was wiped away when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Now the door is open and everyone who believes in Jesus and calls on Him in faith will receive the things I have mentioned today and many other things I don't have the time to discuss. Do you have the relationship with God I have described in these last two blogs? It's available to every Christian. As you read these last two blogs have you felt God tugging at your heart, showing you your need for Him If so He is waiting with open arms for you to turn your life over to Him. In next week's blog I will share some things that will help you to grow closer to the Lord.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Sons and Friends
John 15:15- "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father, I have made known to you."
Galatians 4:7- "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son then an hier of God through Christ."
Jesus said that we are no longer servants (slaves) but are now His friends. Paul wrote to the Galatians under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we are no longer slaves but are sons of God. Friendship and sonship are both personal relationships while servanthood is a working/performance based relationship.
Paul's words in Galatians tell us that being a son means we have an inheritance. A son has an inheritance not because of anything he has done, but simply because of his relationship with his father. I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son. The son left his father's house, wasted his money, and returned home planning to beg and make a speech. The son didn't have to beg: the father ran to him, welcomed him, and celebrated his return. The fact that the father saw the son afar off implies that he was looking for the son to return. When a Christian who has drifted away from God returns, God sees them and celebrates their return. God celebrates because He sees His sees son or daughter coming home. I imagine the father in the parable of the prodigal son running to his son with open arms and tears of joy in his eyes. I think of that father's love for his son and I believe it must have been deeper than words can express. How much more does our heavenly Father love us?
In a father-child relationship the child can go to his or her father anytime simply because of their relationship. When we become children of God we have an inheritance that is not based on performance but is ours simply because of our relationship with God.
Jesus said that we are no longer servants, but friends. The servant's only concern is, "What do I do?" Many Christians today have a performance mentality but have never gone any further. The friend simply wants to spend time with their friend. What if reading the Bible became more than a ritual, but was a way to get to know our friend better? What if we truly viewed prayer as us spending time with God who is our Father? What if our first concern was knowing God and being with Him? God blessed me by allowing me to develop a unique relationship with my dad: one in which I was both a son and a friend. Because of that relationship these two verses are especially meaningful to me.
According to Jesus' words, being His friend offers a special privilege: deeper revelation. The servant is simply told what to do, but as a friend God gives me insight into what He is doing. As a son of God and a friend of God I am not simply working FOR God, but I am working WITH God. As His son and His friend I share His goals. The more I grow in this intimate, personal relationship with God the more I find that I want the same things He wants. Having this type of relationship means we can be trusted with more information than the servant.
Recognizing this relationship I have with God the Father through Jesus Christ tells me that while I will do what God tells me to do my life with God is not a religion, but a relationship.
Father God, thank You that I have a personal relationship with You! I'm so grateful that rather than focus on keeping rules I can focus on You and rest in Your unconditional love.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Galatians 4:7- "Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son then an hier of God through Christ."
Jesus said that we are no longer servants (slaves) but are now His friends. Paul wrote to the Galatians under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that we are no longer slaves but are sons of God. Friendship and sonship are both personal relationships while servanthood is a working/performance based relationship.
Paul's words in Galatians tell us that being a son means we have an inheritance. A son has an inheritance not because of anything he has done, but simply because of his relationship with his father. I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son. The son left his father's house, wasted his money, and returned home planning to beg and make a speech. The son didn't have to beg: the father ran to him, welcomed him, and celebrated his return. The fact that the father saw the son afar off implies that he was looking for the son to return. When a Christian who has drifted away from God returns, God sees them and celebrates their return. God celebrates because He sees His sees son or daughter coming home. I imagine the father in the parable of the prodigal son running to his son with open arms and tears of joy in his eyes. I think of that father's love for his son and I believe it must have been deeper than words can express. How much more does our heavenly Father love us?
In a father-child relationship the child can go to his or her father anytime simply because of their relationship. When we become children of God we have an inheritance that is not based on performance but is ours simply because of our relationship with God.
Jesus said that we are no longer servants, but friends. The servant's only concern is, "What do I do?" Many Christians today have a performance mentality but have never gone any further. The friend simply wants to spend time with their friend. What if reading the Bible became more than a ritual, but was a way to get to know our friend better? What if we truly viewed prayer as us spending time with God who is our Father? What if our first concern was knowing God and being with Him? God blessed me by allowing me to develop a unique relationship with my dad: one in which I was both a son and a friend. Because of that relationship these two verses are especially meaningful to me.
According to Jesus' words, being His friend offers a special privilege: deeper revelation. The servant is simply told what to do, but as a friend God gives me insight into what He is doing. As a son of God and a friend of God I am not simply working FOR God, but I am working WITH God. As His son and His friend I share His goals. The more I grow in this intimate, personal relationship with God the more I find that I want the same things He wants. Having this type of relationship means we can be trusted with more information than the servant.
Recognizing this relationship I have with God the Father through Jesus Christ tells me that while I will do what God tells me to do my life with God is not a religion, but a relationship.
Father God, thank You that I have a personal relationship with You! I'm so grateful that rather than focus on keeping rules I can focus on You and rest in Your unconditional love.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sword of the Lord-introduction
The blogs posted on this website will contain teaching from the Bible to help you know God and experience a closer relationship with Him. The title "Sword of the Lord" is taken from Judges chapter seven. God had called Gideon to deliver the children of Israel from the Midianites. As Gideon and his army attacked the army of Midian, they cried out, "the sword of the Lord and the sword of Gideon!" It is my prayer that as you read these blogs you find God's word to be a sword that cuts away everything that may be keeping you from growing closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
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