Revelation 1:3 (KJV)
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”
“The time is at hand.” The most important moment in our lives is the moment we hold in our hands. We cannot pull up the past and re-write it or change what has been done. We cannot reach into the future as though the present does not exist and live there. The only moment we can take hold of is the “time at hand,” the time we hold in our hands at this very moment. “This is the day the LORD hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” The time at hand is the greatest and only opportunity we have – we were born for such a time as this – this is our opportunity.
I was selected by my battalion commander and brigade chaplain to serve as surrogate chaplain during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. The ground war was to begin and the 101st airborne core (Administrative staff of all airborne units in the U.S. Army) were flying to our position that morning to have a short service and time for prayer before commencing. Our battalion was 360 or more troops and the core staff had approximately the same number, this made it over 600 troops attending that day.
My battalion commander (Lieutenant Colonel Donley) gave me order to present a sermon and prayer and that the 101st airborne core staff would be attending and I’d better have something significant to say. I had only one hour to prepare; pressure is not even the word for it, so, I spent that hour in prayer (what am I going to say to this staff of generals worthy of saying) and in the last moments of prayer this scripture came to me.
Standing in the desert sand looking at these generals looking at me I announced the title of my sermon “The Time is at Hand.” That moment has come and gone; this moment and every moment we hold in our hand become as significant as any other. In the context of this scripture “Jesus is present.” In fact, it is not that Jesus happens in time; He happens to time. Therefore, regardless of the time we hold in our hands, holding on to Jesus is mostly important; if He is not there, I do not want to be there. Jesus makes anytime the best time we could ever have.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
PURPOSE
John 17:20-23 (KJV)
“20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
“20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”
Fueled by Individualism psychology of adjustment would tell us the only abnormality is what the individual believes is abnormal. This defies the image we were created by and in. The Father defers to the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Son to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit to the both the Father and the Son. The unexplainable three-ness in their oneness is not as much that they are three in one as there is deference and there is relationship granting and sustaining oneness.
Creation declares Individualism as pure ignorance, or should I say, Individualism seeks to declare creation as pure ignorance. To except the image of God is to accept deference as a means to relationship and commonality. Interpenetration would mean our individualism can only possess significance outside itself; selfishness without deference is evil and seeks to separate itself from significant others. When we value our opinion above others we at that point have become segregated.
Satan segregated himself when he refused to be himself; he refused to receive his purpose in creation. This is the beginning of Individualism and is the spawn to all evil. Living outside our purpose in creation is excepting the lie of believing we are more important outside our purpose.
Creation declares Individualism as pure ignorance, or should I say, Individualism seeks to declare creation as pure ignorance. To except the image of God is to accept deference as a means to relationship and commonality. Interpenetration would mean our individualism can only possess significance outside itself; selfishness without deference is evil and seeks to separate itself from significant others. When we value our opinion above others we at that point have become segregated.
Satan segregated himself when he refused to be himself; he refused to receive his purpose in creation. This is the beginning of Individualism and is the spawn to all evil. Living outside our purpose in creation is excepting the lie of believing we are more important outside our purpose.
Saturday, June 27, 2015
THE BABY IS PERFECT
Proverbs 24:30-34 (KJV)
“30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
Inside these walls, this city, this corner of the world we will unfold our hands to find understanding. “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:28-29).
“Perfect,” this is the breath of a baby struggling to crawl. This baby is perfect; this baby has everything it needs inside its struggle to become one who can stand and walk on its own. This baby is perfect in the eyes of the Father. All God expects out of us is the struggle. Rip those vines down, remove the thorns and the nettles, rebuild the wall that is broken down and let us provide a habitation; then He will see, and consider it well.
“30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
Inside these walls, this city, this corner of the world we will unfold our hands to find understanding. “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:28-29).
“Perfect,” this is the breath of a baby struggling to crawl. This baby is perfect; this baby has everything it needs inside its struggle to become one who can stand and walk on its own. This baby is perfect in the eyes of the Father. All God expects out of us is the struggle. Rip those vines down, remove the thorns and the nettles, rebuild the wall that is broken down and let us provide a habitation; then He will see, and consider it well.
Friday, June 26, 2015
KNOWING HIM
1John 2:3-6
“3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
As a child setting in the “Kings Army” Sunday school class our teacher taught us this about learning. He said, “We have not learned until we are able to do what we have been taught.”
There is an extreme difference in knowing much about something and truly knowing it because we have experienced it firsthand. This is the kind of knowing the Psalmist speaks of with Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…” This word “know” in the Hebrew language is “yada.” Yada did not mean the knowing we get from information fed to us by the way of reading, or oral expression. Yada meant to know by an encounter or to know from experience. Therefore, God is telling us to stop being so busy with our own efforts so we may encounter Him or experience Him firsthand.
Be still and encounter me says the Lord. The highest frequency in the spirit is silence and the quickest achievement in the spirit is stillness. If we can stop adding our own ideas and opinions and stop being so busy with our own efforts, we may find God is more willing to manifest Himself with encounters teaching us from His perspective who He really is. This is not to say inquiry is wrong; we must search for God with our whole heart and understand knowledge is not what we are truly searching for; it is what knowledge becomes as a result of the search. It is what our knowledge becomes as we encounter Him in all of life’s episodes.
Consequently, keeping His commandments becomes a manifestation of knowing Him. It is not keeping His commandments that we know Him; it is because we know Him we are motivated to keep His commandments.
“3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”
As a child setting in the “Kings Army” Sunday school class our teacher taught us this about learning. He said, “We have not learned until we are able to do what we have been taught.”
There is an extreme difference in knowing much about something and truly knowing it because we have experienced it firsthand. This is the kind of knowing the Psalmist speaks of with Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God…” This word “know” in the Hebrew language is “yada.” Yada did not mean the knowing we get from information fed to us by the way of reading, or oral expression. Yada meant to know by an encounter or to know from experience. Therefore, God is telling us to stop being so busy with our own efforts so we may encounter Him or experience Him firsthand.
Be still and encounter me says the Lord. The highest frequency in the spirit is silence and the quickest achievement in the spirit is stillness. If we can stop adding our own ideas and opinions and stop being so busy with our own efforts, we may find God is more willing to manifest Himself with encounters teaching us from His perspective who He really is. This is not to say inquiry is wrong; we must search for God with our whole heart and understand knowledge is not what we are truly searching for; it is what knowledge becomes as a result of the search. It is what our knowledge becomes as we encounter Him in all of life’s episodes.
Consequently, keeping His commandments becomes a manifestation of knowing Him. It is not keeping His commandments that we know Him; it is because we know Him we are motivated to keep His commandments.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
WORK?
Exodus 35:31-35
“And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work”.
"There is a distinction between church work and the work of the church. Church work is what we do for the organized institution of the church. The work of the church is what is done between Sundays when the church is scattered all over the metropolitan area where it is located - in homes, schools, offices, on construction jobs, in market places" (Dick Halverson).
Too often believers have not seen their work outside the church as being the work of the church. As a result, our work outside the church is of a carnal nature and cannot function as the gift God has intended it to be. A trade or talented work in the Old Testament was referred to by God as wisdom from God. Therefore, our abilities to practice our gift in the work place should be seen as the work of the church; the gift or ability in us to work becomes the wisdom of God in the believer.
Consequently, our gift can become a job or it can become a ministry. If what we do outside of the church is just a job, it is merely man's wisdom at work in us; if it can manage to become a ministry; it is the wisdom of God at work in the life of the believer. If some of us have prayed and asked God to supply us with a job, then why can we not see our job as a gift from God, and being a gift from God; why can we not see it as a ministry or a work God has placed in our hands to do?
The ability to work a skill can be seen as wisdom from God if we allow ourselves to see it that way. Also, this scripture refer to these trades, skills, or abilities as being “filled with wisdom of heart,” and is the same as being “filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge”. Has it ever dawned on us the reason why we succeed at our jobs and have done so well at what we do; it is the wisdom of the almighty at work in us? If we do not live in the awareness of what we do as being the work of God in us, then those working with us never will; they too will only see us as any other person in the world punching in and punching out work. Furthermore, this also may be why we never see those who see us at work, in church. If we cannot see our work as the work of the church, how will those that work with us see it any different?
“And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work”.
"There is a distinction between church work and the work of the church. Church work is what we do for the organized institution of the church. The work of the church is what is done between Sundays when the church is scattered all over the metropolitan area where it is located - in homes, schools, offices, on construction jobs, in market places" (Dick Halverson).
Too often believers have not seen their work outside the church as being the work of the church. As a result, our work outside the church is of a carnal nature and cannot function as the gift God has intended it to be. A trade or talented work in the Old Testament was referred to by God as wisdom from God. Therefore, our abilities to practice our gift in the work place should be seen as the work of the church; the gift or ability in us to work becomes the wisdom of God in the believer.
Consequently, our gift can become a job or it can become a ministry. If what we do outside of the church is just a job, it is merely man's wisdom at work in us; if it can manage to become a ministry; it is the wisdom of God at work in the life of the believer. If some of us have prayed and asked God to supply us with a job, then why can we not see our job as a gift from God, and being a gift from God; why can we not see it as a ministry or a work God has placed in our hands to do?
The ability to work a skill can be seen as wisdom from God if we allow ourselves to see it that way. Also, this scripture refer to these trades, skills, or abilities as being “filled with wisdom of heart,” and is the same as being “filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge”. Has it ever dawned on us the reason why we succeed at our jobs and have done so well at what we do; it is the wisdom of the almighty at work in us? If we do not live in the awareness of what we do as being the work of God in us, then those working with us never will; they too will only see us as any other person in the world punching in and punching out work. Furthermore, this also may be why we never see those who see us at work, in church. If we cannot see our work as the work of the church, how will those that work with us see it any different?
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
3:11 a.m.
In wee hours of the night again
I am talking with you my friend
In heartfelt tones
In soul-stirred moans
In words only you understand
I am talking with you my friend
In heartfelt tones
In soul-stirred moans
In words only you understand
I sense the awe and I am overwhelmed
The awe is we are truly friends
All I know is you are near
When all my heartaches and all my fears
Just disappear
As my world sleeps nothing can keep me from you
I know you’ve waited all the day
For us to sit and be together in this way
Where I am yours and you are mine
In spirit communion I finally breathe
In love and peace I’m resting free
No sweeter place could ever be
Than here right now with you
The awe is we are truly friends
All I know is you are near
When all my heartaches and all my fears
Just disappear
As my world sleeps nothing can keep me from you
I know you’ve waited all the day
For us to sit and be together in this way
Where I am yours and you are mine
In spirit communion I finally breathe
In love and peace I’m resting free
No sweeter place could ever be
Than here right now with you
Monday, June 22, 2015
TREASURE
Matthew 6:19-24 (KJV)
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Every move we make, every ounce of energy we spend is in His embrace. He is our treasure. Our job, business, and position in life are ministry unto the LORD. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
“19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Every move we make, every ounce of energy we spend is in His embrace. He is our treasure. Our job, business, and position in life are ministry unto the LORD. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
Saturday, June 20, 2015
LEARNING JESUS
Matthew 11:29 (KJV)
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
He became one of us, this was meek and lowly; and, He gave this to us from His heart. No temptation known to us He has not been tempted; He journeyed from His place to ours to be with us in one brief human life as a message of hope and discovery. His journey became the first step into participation (fellowship). His journey became an invitation to learn Him as we reciprocate in participation.
He brings His world into our world in His actions and reactions among us (The Word made flesh as He dwelt among us). Just how important are the Gospel’s in this? Important enough to get inside every narrative left to us; inside the story with deepest cognitive observations, close enough to watch Him breathe. We must get over ourselves that we were not one of the twelve in real life and make the best of what life He has shared and learn Him.
He has come to us once in this way; He will not pass in this way again. No matter what it takes to yoke ourselves up to this exiting journey, we must first decide we want to learn Him. The message He brought to us was “Himself,” find Him, listen to Him, and let us learn of Him.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
He became one of us, this was meek and lowly; and, He gave this to us from His heart. No temptation known to us He has not been tempted; He journeyed from His place to ours to be with us in one brief human life as a message of hope and discovery. His journey became the first step into participation (fellowship). His journey became an invitation to learn Him as we reciprocate in participation.
He brings His world into our world in His actions and reactions among us (The Word made flesh as He dwelt among us). Just how important are the Gospel’s in this? Important enough to get inside every narrative left to us; inside the story with deepest cognitive observations, close enough to watch Him breathe. We must get over ourselves that we were not one of the twelve in real life and make the best of what life He has shared and learn Him.
He has come to us once in this way; He will not pass in this way again. No matter what it takes to yoke ourselves up to this exiting journey, we must first decide we want to learn Him. The message He brought to us was “Himself,” find Him, listen to Him, and let us learn of Him.
Friday, June 19, 2015
SAVING HEALTH
Psalm 67:1-3 (KJV)
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Saving health? Health is the soundness of body or mind. This is His way, mission, desire, function, intention, destination, etc… His will is that we are sound in body and mind. This is the way His heart is set towards us. It begins with us and moves beyond us to all nations. He will not move from this position; His will is set.
Call upon His mercy, desire His blessing, and long to be enlightened by Him
1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.
2 That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.
3 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
Saving health? Health is the soundness of body or mind. This is His way, mission, desire, function, intention, destination, etc… His will is that we are sound in body and mind. This is the way His heart is set towards us. It begins with us and moves beyond us to all nations. He will not move from this position; His will is set.
Call upon His mercy, desire His blessing, and long to be enlightened by Him
Thursday, June 18, 2015
THE TEMPLE
Ephesians 2:13-22 (KJV)
“13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
To accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (The Messiah) we accept our togetherness. Without Him as Lord and Savior our enmity will continue to divide us. Enmity started on a tree in the Garden and it ended on a tree at Calvary; by His blood we are brought together. We are fitly framed together that we may grow into becoming a holy temple in the Lord, and we are builded together (structured) to be a habitation of God through the Spirit (Holy Ghost).
Building our temples as we segregate ourselves will never end our enmities; it is becoming the temple of God together that our enmities will end. No human structure can take the place of this structure. Only – yes – only the blood of Jesus can bring this about; we are “made nigh” by His blood. Therefore, we can shed as much blood as we choose to build our temples; it is only by His blood that we can together become a holy temple in the Lord.
“13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
To accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (The Messiah) we accept our togetherness. Without Him as Lord and Savior our enmity will continue to divide us. Enmity started on a tree in the Garden and it ended on a tree at Calvary; by His blood we are brought together. We are fitly framed together that we may grow into becoming a holy temple in the Lord, and we are builded together (structured) to be a habitation of God through the Spirit (Holy Ghost).
Building our temples as we segregate ourselves will never end our enmities; it is becoming the temple of God together that our enmities will end. No human structure can take the place of this structure. Only – yes – only the blood of Jesus can bring this about; we are “made nigh” by His blood. Therefore, we can shed as much blood as we choose to build our temples; it is only by His blood that we can together become a holy temple in the Lord.
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
ANY WHO
Psalm 6:1 (KJV)
“O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
I was awakened this morning with Psalm 6:1 in my thoughts. Had no idea what the Psalm was about or what it said. I read it briefly thinking the LORD would have me do my devotion on it this morning. Honestly, I shrugged it off; however, as the day moves on, it keeps coming back to me.
The last scripture of this chapter catches my attention. “All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.” Spoke Sunday morning on how “God moves suddenly” and that we serve a “suddenly God.” David is speaking of real living people as his enemies and that is all good concerning him in this context.
On the other hand, we are living under the New Covenant and it tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rather, against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). It also teaches us that “…if God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).
When God is for us it becomes impossible that any “who” can be against us. It is the spirit they are operating in; these “who” folks are no different than we are in the struggle, and when wickedness is conquered, we and the “who” both can be thankful and become at odds with the ugly spirit rather than each other; simply because, the ugly spirit is the enemy to us both.
When we recognize the ugly spirit as the enemy opposed to the “who,” we are operating in New Testament terms and bringing shame to the “who” is transferred to the spirit involved. God can and will in “a moment” put “our” enemies to shame. Just when the devil thinks he has the upper hand – God moves in “a moment.”
Actually, David did get this when he withdrew from thrusting his spear into Saul. How we live out our lives become the songs we sing. This was David’s song; when I have ill will against anyone, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure, I need as much mercy as they do.
“O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
I was awakened this morning with Psalm 6:1 in my thoughts. Had no idea what the Psalm was about or what it said. I read it briefly thinking the LORD would have me do my devotion on it this morning. Honestly, I shrugged it off; however, as the day moves on, it keeps coming back to me.
The last scripture of this chapter catches my attention. “All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror; they shall turn back, and in a moment be put to shame.” Spoke Sunday morning on how “God moves suddenly” and that we serve a “suddenly God.” David is speaking of real living people as his enemies and that is all good concerning him in this context.
On the other hand, we are living under the New Covenant and it tells us we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rather, against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). It also teaches us that “…if God be for us, who can be against us” (Romans 8:31).
When God is for us it becomes impossible that any “who” can be against us. It is the spirit they are operating in; these “who” folks are no different than we are in the struggle, and when wickedness is conquered, we and the “who” both can be thankful and become at odds with the ugly spirit rather than each other; simply because, the ugly spirit is the enemy to us both.
When we recognize the ugly spirit as the enemy opposed to the “who,” we are operating in New Testament terms and bringing shame to the “who” is transferred to the spirit involved. God can and will in “a moment” put “our” enemies to shame. Just when the devil thinks he has the upper hand – God moves in “a moment.”
Actually, David did get this when he withdrew from thrusting his spear into Saul. How we live out our lives become the songs we sing. This was David’s song; when I have ill will against anyone, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure, I need as much mercy as they do.
NECESSITIES
Genesis 26:1-14
Our text begins with a famine similar to the famine with Abraham in Genesis 12:10-20. The difference between Abraham’s famine and his son Isaac’s is Abraham fled to Egypt; whereas, Isaac remained in Canaan and made the best of it. History of the text reveals that Abraham had passed away and this event took place while Esau and Jacob were very young.
All this is very important to note. First of all, it reveals to us in that our connections with God are the same regardless of what humanity may serve us. Life on earth is real and authentic and the necessities of life do not change from one generation to the next. We all face the need to eat and drink, to survive, and having to contend with other humans to do so is inevitable in the process. Whether we face this in Egypt outside the promise or Canaan inside the promise these necessities remain the same.
Actually, famine is a great example of all this. It is usually a famine of sort that drives us to acknowledge God. This is why our country is on a verge of a spiritual awakening. It is when we exhaust our means with our necessities that we have no alternative than to resort to God for our answers or solutions. Necessities have a way of demanding the true source of which they are met.
Beyond our human necessities our need to connect with God is as important and called for on all levels of life. Whether it is food or drink, relational, emotional, rejection, or acceptance, love is the common denominator that gives quality of life in all these necessities.
The source of love is God. Nonetheless, all these necessities can be met without love; however, without love they are empty and leave’s us humans craving for more until love comes and makes it all worthwhile. Greed, jealousy, control and other factors of such becomes enemies to the quality of life every human deserves and every human long’s for. Therefore, until love serves our necessities our necessities will continue to serve us every evil intent, for there are only two suppliers to necessities; love and evil, these two are the only two driving forces in humanity.
This is why our text becomes a story of how from one generation to the next, love and evil is present and the choices we make will determine which will take charge and become the master of our necessities.
Our text begins with a famine similar to the famine with Abraham in Genesis 12:10-20. The difference between Abraham’s famine and his son Isaac’s is Abraham fled to Egypt; whereas, Isaac remained in Canaan and made the best of it. History of the text reveals that Abraham had passed away and this event took place while Esau and Jacob were very young.
All this is very important to note. First of all, it reveals to us in that our connections with God are the same regardless of what humanity may serve us. Life on earth is real and authentic and the necessities of life do not change from one generation to the next. We all face the need to eat and drink, to survive, and having to contend with other humans to do so is inevitable in the process. Whether we face this in Egypt outside the promise or Canaan inside the promise these necessities remain the same.
Actually, famine is a great example of all this. It is usually a famine of sort that drives us to acknowledge God. This is why our country is on a verge of a spiritual awakening. It is when we exhaust our means with our necessities that we have no alternative than to resort to God for our answers or solutions. Necessities have a way of demanding the true source of which they are met.
Beyond our human necessities our need to connect with God is as important and called for on all levels of life. Whether it is food or drink, relational, emotional, rejection, or acceptance, love is the common denominator that gives quality of life in all these necessities.
The source of love is God. Nonetheless, all these necessities can be met without love; however, without love they are empty and leave’s us humans craving for more until love comes and makes it all worthwhile. Greed, jealousy, control and other factors of such becomes enemies to the quality of life every human deserves and every human long’s for. Therefore, until love serves our necessities our necessities will continue to serve us every evil intent, for there are only two suppliers to necessities; love and evil, these two are the only two driving forces in humanity.
This is why our text becomes a story of how from one generation to the next, love and evil is present and the choices we make will determine which will take charge and become the master of our necessities.
Monday, June 15, 2015
TASK
Psalm 65:1-4 (KJV)
"1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
"1 Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed.
2 O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
3 Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.
4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
God challenges us many ways in this life – He will encourage us to launch out in faith with the tasks He calls us to do. In this, there is something that brings an even greater degree of satisfaction while doing what we do and that is time spent in quiet devotion to Him as we do what we do. In fact, it is as we walk in the awareness of Him the task before us becomes God handling the event with us.
Though our life may seem “too full” or “too involved” to be alone with Him in our thoughts; consider this, He is never too busy to be with us. His one consuming desire is for us to know Him in this way as we involve ourselves with any task. When we begin to do this, even the smallest of activities will take on new meaning. So, let us spend time with Him and enjoy the awesome privilege of being carriers of His presence in this unique way. As His presence is with us in the task it will be the best time we have had all day! Far too long, we have dismissed His efforts to touch our hearts so He may be included in every task. We must open our life up to Him so we may experience all He has for us.
Though our life may seem “too full” or “too involved” to be alone with Him in our thoughts; consider this, He is never too busy to be with us. His one consuming desire is for us to know Him in this way as we involve ourselves with any task. When we begin to do this, even the smallest of activities will take on new meaning. So, let us spend time with Him and enjoy the awesome privilege of being carriers of His presence in this unique way. As His presence is with us in the task it will be the best time we have had all day! Far too long, we have dismissed His efforts to touch our hearts so He may be included in every task. We must open our life up to Him so we may experience all He has for us.
Friday, June 12, 2015
SEEK KNOCK ASK
Matthew 7:7-11 (KJV)
“7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
As Jesus concludes His sermon on the mount He exhorts them to pray. This exhortation to pray is right on the heel of warning them against rash judgements. This marks the importance of what and why we should pray in the specifics of rash judgments; in other words, this prayer is not seeking, knocking, or asking in general, it becomes a prayer of finding the reason of our struggles caused by our own rash judgements. Then, His sermon redirects us to examine more closely our rash judgments by examining our ownership in the struggle.
Some things will never occur to us or open to us about ourselves unless we knock on that door. Some things will stay hidden to us until we humble ourselves and pray with a seeking that seeks where we have missed it. Some things we will never know about the events we have judged rashly unless we stop asking the wrong questions and start asking the right questions.
As to why Jesus brings the serpent into the equation; we must trust God in our prayer that He will reveal us to us not to harm us but to heal us. His heart is not to condemn us as the serpent does; His heart is to save us from us.
“7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
As Jesus concludes His sermon on the mount He exhorts them to pray. This exhortation to pray is right on the heel of warning them against rash judgements. This marks the importance of what and why we should pray in the specifics of rash judgments; in other words, this prayer is not seeking, knocking, or asking in general, it becomes a prayer of finding the reason of our struggles caused by our own rash judgements. Then, His sermon redirects us to examine more closely our rash judgments by examining our ownership in the struggle.
Some things will never occur to us or open to us about ourselves unless we knock on that door. Some things will stay hidden to us until we humble ourselves and pray with a seeking that seeks where we have missed it. Some things we will never know about the events we have judged rashly unless we stop asking the wrong questions and start asking the right questions.
As to why Jesus brings the serpent into the equation; we must trust God in our prayer that He will reveal us to us not to harm us but to heal us. His heart is not to condemn us as the serpent does; His heart is to save us from us.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
FIT
We must understand it is not us trying to fit God into our lives; it is God fitting us into His life. It is not like God has a need to fit into the way we think or into how we have imagined Him. Jesus said a mouth full when He said, “…he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). Therefore, capturing revelations of Jesus become moments in our lives when God is inviting us into His life.
“Sozo” is the Greek word for salvation, it is the word used in James 5:15, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15). What a concept! Sick folk needing “sozo” or needing to be saved. This scripture validates what it means to be saved in its threefold meaning. To be saved in the original language of the Bible means to be 1. delivered, 2. healed, 3. and to be made whole.
The scripture associates the forgiveness of sin with healing. Sin has a way of creating sickness; sickness in the way we see things, sickness in the way we live life. Now why would God want to fit in such things as the sickness of spirit, soul, and mind? It is us needing to fit into the life of God.
When we are sick we need a prayer of faith, a faith that will call on God for “sozo” a salvation that will bring us to a place of health. The very next scripture in James says this, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
Once again, the writer associates our faults with the need of healing. Faltering and sinful acts is a manifestation of something that is dysfunctional in our thinking or in the way we are living our lives. It takes the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person who have had moments of revelation; moments in their lives when they caught a greater vision or glimpse of Jesus in the fellowship of walking with Jesus.
“Sozo” is the Greek word for salvation, it is the word used in James 5:15, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15). What a concept! Sick folk needing “sozo” or needing to be saved. This scripture validates what it means to be saved in its threefold meaning. To be saved in the original language of the Bible means to be 1. delivered, 2. healed, 3. and to be made whole.
The scripture associates the forgiveness of sin with healing. Sin has a way of creating sickness; sickness in the way we see things, sickness in the way we live life. Now why would God want to fit in such things as the sickness of spirit, soul, and mind? It is us needing to fit into the life of God.
When we are sick we need a prayer of faith, a faith that will call on God for “sozo” a salvation that will bring us to a place of health. The very next scripture in James says this, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
Once again, the writer associates our faults with the need of healing. Faltering and sinful acts is a manifestation of something that is dysfunctional in our thinking or in the way we are living our lives. It takes the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person who have had moments of revelation; moments in their lives when they caught a greater vision or glimpse of Jesus in the fellowship of walking with Jesus.
Monday, June 8, 2015
WORLD WITHOUT END
Galatians 3:26-29 (KJV)
“26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Although we are in different countries, nations, provinces, or regions in this world, we are not of this world. Our color, race, culture, and even our social, economic, or political status becomes subservient to who we are in Christ. Our baptism in Christ strips us of any dominance this world provides. Slave person, free person, male or female; nothing we have become in this world holds us to this world in relationship to each other. We are all one in Christ, the same in Christ. The relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost becomes the same relationship cultured among us. Although we are in this world with its limitations we are not of this world; we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The things we wear on the surface related to this surface cannot be compared to whom we wear (Christ) beneath the surface. The invisible connects us and calls us to a different level, a different cosmos (kosmos). We have angels, creatures, or a host of invisible beings accompanying us. We have of yet to explore the depths of what is available to us as children of God. Our relationship with and to each other must be recognized and cultured as relatives to the household of God.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
“26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Although we are in different countries, nations, provinces, or regions in this world, we are not of this world. Our color, race, culture, and even our social, economic, or political status becomes subservient to who we are in Christ. Our baptism in Christ strips us of any dominance this world provides. Slave person, free person, male or female; nothing we have become in this world holds us to this world in relationship to each other. We are all one in Christ, the same in Christ. The relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost becomes the same relationship cultured among us. Although we are in this world with its limitations we are not of this world; we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
The things we wear on the surface related to this surface cannot be compared to whom we wear (Christ) beneath the surface. The invisible connects us and calls us to a different level, a different cosmos (kosmos). We have angels, creatures, or a host of invisible beings accompanying us. We have of yet to explore the depths of what is available to us as children of God. Our relationship with and to each other must be recognized and cultured as relatives to the household of God.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Friday, June 5, 2015
SPIRIT/FLESH
2 Peter 3:17-18 (KJV)
“17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Are we being led by the spirit or by the flesh? Both are filled and driven with passion; and at times, in the heat of passion there is such a thin line between the two and one would not know the difference without some learning. Scripture is the dividing instrument between the two called “The Sword of the Spirit” which is the Word of God- “dividing asunder both spirit and soul.” Then we must choose which we will follow. Many have failed at the height of passion when not harnessed by the grace teaching us to deny ungodliness. Deny? Yes, deny, resist, insist, and just right out allow ourselves to be educated by grace. It is sometimes a long journey to learn; spirit is not something we attain it is something we must learn by yielding ourselves to it as it is graciously given to us by God. This process is what we must acknowledge in scripture as “Learning Jesus.”
Just how is this learning connected to grace? Grace is somehow the teacher teaching us Jesus. We must yoke ourselves up to it (grace). Passion can be deceiving and it takes the “…knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” we receive from grace to keep deception at bay.
“17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
Are we being led by the spirit or by the flesh? Both are filled and driven with passion; and at times, in the heat of passion there is such a thin line between the two and one would not know the difference without some learning. Scripture is the dividing instrument between the two called “The Sword of the Spirit” which is the Word of God- “dividing asunder both spirit and soul.” Then we must choose which we will follow. Many have failed at the height of passion when not harnessed by the grace teaching us to deny ungodliness. Deny? Yes, deny, resist, insist, and just right out allow ourselves to be educated by grace. It is sometimes a long journey to learn; spirit is not something we attain it is something we must learn by yielding ourselves to it as it is graciously given to us by God. This process is what we must acknowledge in scripture as “Learning Jesus.”
Just how is this learning connected to grace? Grace is somehow the teacher teaching us Jesus. We must yoke ourselves up to it (grace). Passion can be deceiving and it takes the “…knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” we receive from grace to keep deception at bay.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
VEX
Acts 12:1-3 (KJV)
“1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)”
What possesses kings to kill us Christians? The nature of our liberty in Christ is a threat to any and all forms of oppression and control. Our freedom in Christ is relational, internal, and becomes a challenge to evil dressed in self-righteousness and garbed in human pride. The intolerance in us is against anything tolerant of these in the church or out of the church (Reformation).
The deeper we enjoy our freedom greater is the anger against us. Therefore, it is not about us, it is about them and the oppression and pride they serve. The fear of losing control becomes the strength of the oppressor. Consequently, the king kills James with the sword and imprisoned Peter.
2015 is no different than then.
(reflection of Son-day School lesson)
“1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)”
What possesses kings to kill us Christians? The nature of our liberty in Christ is a threat to any and all forms of oppression and control. Our freedom in Christ is relational, internal, and becomes a challenge to evil dressed in self-righteousness and garbed in human pride. The intolerance in us is against anything tolerant of these in the church or out of the church (Reformation).
The deeper we enjoy our freedom greater is the anger against us. Therefore, it is not about us, it is about them and the oppression and pride they serve. The fear of losing control becomes the strength of the oppressor. Consequently, the king kills James with the sword and imprisoned Peter.
2015 is no different than then.
(reflection of Son-day School lesson)
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
HIS STORY
Same space different times
We all have our struggles
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Our story is His story
His story becomes History
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Time and space will cease
All things will be reconciled
In the Eschaton our struggles will come to their end
Same space different times
We all have our struggles
(Bo Robinson)
We all have our struggles
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Our story is His story
His story becomes History
And it doesn’t matter where we all began
What matters is where we all end
Time and space will cease
All things will be reconciled
In the Eschaton our struggles will come to their end
Same space different times
We all have our struggles
(Bo Robinson)
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