Love The LORD Your God

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

The world is filled with things people love.  As God's adopted children, Christians know their love for God ought to overshadow all other loves, making them even as hate in comparison (Luke 14:26).  But we don't always do what we should, do we?  Our affections should be set on things above, not on things of this earth.  This is a battle we often acknowledge with only half our heart, so filled are we with other loves.

"I love God more than anything," we protest.  Those words, at times, may be true.  But we must admit we are very good at justifying ourselves and quantifying love according to our hearts - which are deceitful beyond compare!  Indeed, love is difficult to discern because it is expressed in many ways:  thoughts, words, actions, emotions, and feelings.  So let me make it easy for you in the way God recently has made it easy for me.  One of the prime aspects of God's love towards us is His fervent desire to be with us in fellowship and communion.  Another aspect is how things we love will fill our minds.  In fact, David wrote in Psalm 139:17-18 concerning God's thoughts toward people, "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! ¹⁸ If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."

Let's take into account just these two criteria:  1) we want to be with what or who we love, and 2) we think about what or who we love.  As you go through your days, what or who do you want to be with?  What or who fills your thoughts?  Whether you have amorous feelings towards the things that occupy your time or your mind, it does not matter.  Simply put, you love them.  As long as we love things that are not God, it will rob us of affection, thoughts, and love we should have towards God.  God's love is unlimited, but we humans have limits.  Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit we bear when we are walking according to God's will.  If our hearts and minds are set on things of this world - even on things, ideas, or relationships that in their right place can be very good - we are not walking in God's will, and therefore cannot love as we should.

God wants you to freely give up these other loves so you might love Him more perfectly.  He is worthy of that sacrifice.  Let's say for example your thoughts have been occupied on a television program.  You would not admit to "loving" that program, but you must admit you like it.  Truth be told, it does take up a fair amount of your thoughts during the day.  You might be careful to watch the program every time it airs, and if you cannot watch it live you record it to watch later.  It is disappointing to miss it.  Perhaps this is a shocking revelation you cannot accept:  you actually love that program.  If you think otherwise, the Holy Spirit can reveal even this to you.  Loving things of this world is as easy as breathing, and we do it without even recognising it.  If our love of which God is worthy has been let loose like streams of waters in the streets, we must return to the spring of Living Water.  All other loves must be culled so our love of God can be again cultivated.

So feeling guilty, you decide you should stop following the program, and are a bit bitter over it.  When we have walked with Jesus for any period of time, we have all done this sort of thing - and admittedly, felt pretty awful at times.  We felt like we are having to give up the one part of our life that made us very happy.  And that is why we might waffle back and forth on the issue for years.  But hear me:  anything we lay aside for the purpose of drawing nearer to God and loving Him more, we will have only gain.  We won't have lost anything!  If God replaces that thing we loved, our love and appreciation of Him will grow exponentially.  Oh, the things He wants to tell you!  What time of sweetness He wants to spend with you!  God is greater than all found in this world!  He is the One that thing or activity has become a cheap substitute for that is working to destroy the love we have left over for Him!  Christianity is not a life of restrictions but one of abundance and freedom.  As long as you hold onto other loves, you cannot know God's love as you should, and therefore cannot express His love to others either.

Let us heed God's command to love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength.  We are no longer our own, but redeemed children of our Heavenly Father who loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son.  Through the Holy Spirit God has shed abroad His love in our hearts.  Romans 5:1-8 tells us this revelation of Divine Love and His benefits towards those who are born again:  "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Do you have any other love in your life that has done so much for you?  I think not.

The Presence

A sign by the Temple Mount in Jerusalem reads, "The Sages said about it, "The Divine Presence never moves from the Western Wall."  In the Old City it seems there is a constant flow of Orthodox Jews heading to and from the Western Wall to pray.  Like in the days when the temple Solomon built stood on Mount Moriah as the focal point of God's presence, today many look at the Western Wall as the place to draw near to God.

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil separating the holy place from the "Holy of Holies" was rent from top to bottom.  This revealed the Ark of the Covenant which had previously been concealed from the view of everyone but the High Priest on the Day of Atonement.  In the days of the tabernacle when the ark was moved it was always wrapped in skins, hidden from the sight of the people.  Jesus ushered in a New Covenant in His own blood, once for all atoning for the sins of all who will repent and trust in Him.  The need for sacrificing animals and burnt offerings has been once for all completed by the sacrifice of Jesus.  The Ark no longer needed to be sprinkled with blood annually in the Holy of Holies, for the sacrifice of Jesus was complete once and for all.  Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit not made with hands, and the Divine Presence lives within us.  We need not go to a particular geographic location to gain access into God's presence, for we have been invited in God's throne room of grace through the power of the Holy Spirit.

That being said, there is an admirable quality in the Orthodox Jews' efforts to draw near to God.  They rise early and stay up late praying at the Western Wall.  They read the scriptures and their prayer books.  They lay tefillin (some say phylacteries), don prayer shawls, and make personal sacrifices at great expense to seek the presence of God.  God is worthy of such sacrifice, that our lives would be spent in the pursuit of God.  Unlike the Sages, the Bible does not suggest we go to a particular geographic location to be heard by God, but to humble ourselves before Him right where we are as we are.  If we humble ourselves before Him and seek Him with our whole hearts we will find Him according to His sure promise (Deut. 4:29).  This promise was given long before there was a temple or a Western Wall.

I believe we live in a day where Bible knowledge abounds among Christians but few invest time seeking the presence of God.  The church is packed with activities and objects which have become cheap substitutes for God's presence.  We know prayer is important so we have prayer meetings.  "Worship" for some has been reduced to a performance with skilled musicians and flashing lights.  Some church buildings are historical and ornate, pointing to the great traditions of saints long held in high esteem.  Churches burn incense, light candles, kneel, and recite from the scriptures.  Lights are dimmed, sermons are preached, elders lay hands, and gifts of the Spirit are exercised.  We have training, classes, courses, programs, meetings, ministries for young and old concerning diverse interests.  And I could go on.  But the fact still remains:  unless we are seeking and experiencing God's Divine Presence ourselves, it is all meaningless.  All the external service we perform, all the helps we employ are pointless unless the point of them is to draw near to God.  That may very well be the point of them.  But all too often our focus is on externals when what we really need is God Himself.

At times in my life I have been like the cripple at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5), praying for help from others when it was Jesus I needed.  Day after day, year after year the man languished there lamenting his lack.  When Jesus came to him and asked if he wanted to be well, he did not answer the question.  He said, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool."  It is easy for us to lament over the condition of our churches or even the "church in general" - as if we know anything about it!  We can fall into the trap of lamenting over the lack of labourers, the lack of servants, lack of young people, lack of growth, or the lack of a charismatic leader!  We wring our hands over our lack when Jesus stands before us and asks quietly, "Do you want to be made whole?"  If God makes us whole, do we lack any good thing?  Jesus is who we need.  We don't need more people or programs.  We don't need a better graphics department or a state-of-the-art sound system.  We don't need more meetings or training.  Tools and helps are fine, but what we need most of all is for every person in the church to seek the presence of God as gold, to thirst for Him as a deer pants for water in the dry and thirsty land.  We must lay aside other affections and make entrance into God's presence our single aim.  Our meetings and gatherings ought to be an outflow of this continual practice in our lives of cultivating the presence of God individually.  If you think going to a building where other professing Christians go will bring your closer to God, you are no different than someone hustling to the Western Wall - convinced "God hears better from there."  My God has no such limits.

Why do you read the Bible?  Why do you pray?  Why do you sing songs, raise your hands, or serve in your church?  Unless you seek God's Divine Presence in your church services and activities, you will end up empty instead of full, weary instead of refreshed.  Why should we spend our money on what is not bread?  Why should we waste our efforts on maintaining church attendance when it is presence of God we desperately need?  The change in your Church can start with you.  You need not tell a soul.  But if you spend your days drawing near to God in humility, seeking His presence above all other things, you will be transformed and God will breathe new life into your walk.  Then you will be a giver and not just a frustrated user.  Isn't Jesus who we really need anyway?

Streams Of Living Water

As I reflect upon my recent travels to Israel, perhaps this picture I took in En Gedi best illustrates the spiritual effect of the trip in my life.  Though arid and dry, Israel is a land of rich soil and fruitfulness.  Barren, rocky places like En Gedi have natural springs flowing through them even in the summer months.  What a glorious truth, that though this world is dry and thirsty Jesus provides Living Water so our thirst can be quenched forever.  In a world of darkness, the Light of the World shines bright.  There is life, light, and refreshment for all those who will seek the LORD with their whole hearts.

This morning I read 2 Chronicles 29, the passage where Hezekiah took steps to restore the proper worship of God in Jerusalem.  This restoration and cleansing was required many times during the years the temple stood in Jerusalem!  Hezekiah's father, King Ahaz, had forsaken God and followed after idols.  He defiled the holy place and robbed the temple of God to pursue the worship of false gods.  For Hezekiah, seeking the presence of God was his highest priority.  He did not labour to build an army, strengthen defenses, or improve diplomacy:  he led the priests and Levites in turning the heart of the nation back to God in obedience.  2 Chronicles 29:3 says, "In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them."

Opening and repairing the doors of the temple was an important starting point.  But it was not enough.  There was much rubbish in the temple that had to be removed so the inner courts and rooms could be cleansed and used..  King Hezekiah said in 2 Chronicles 29:11:  "My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense."  For a long time the priests and Levites had been negligent.  Hezekiah reminded them that God had chosen them for a specific purpose and gave them specific duties.  They were to stand before God, serve God, minister to God, and burn incense before Him according to the Law.  In Exodus 30, God commanded the high priest to burn incense on the altar of incense daily, morning and night, when he tended to the lamps which were to burn continually.  The cleansing had to take place before proper worship could commence.  This was soon done, and Hezekiah and the people rejoiced "...that God had prepared the people:  for the thing was done suddenly" (2 Chron. 29:10).  It can be the same for you and me!

Christians have been made "kings and priests" unto our God (Rev. 1:6), having been chosen and called according to His purposes.  It is easy to be busy but be negligent about specific areas of our calling.  Like in the days of Elijah, God's people can halt between various loyalties (1 Kings 18).  Because the people were undecided in their worship of God, the altar of God was in disrepair.  Elijah repaired the altar that was broken down, and built again the altar with 12 stones according to God's word.  He laid the wood in order, and placed the required sacrifice on top.  But Elijah didn't pray right away.  In addition to the design of the altar and the preparation of the sacrifice, there was a time outlined in the Law.  Perhaps the people wondered what Elijah was waiting for.  Elijah followed the order laid out in God's Word, and walked in obedience to Him.  1 Kings 18:36-38 says, "And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷ Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." ³⁸ Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench."

Do you want to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and fire?  It comes back to personal holiness and obedience according to God's Word.  There are times when we can neglect the pursuit of the presence of God, times when our temple is polluted inside, and even times when the altar of God has been broken down.  When we will meet God's conditions and repent, confessing our sins and divided loyalties, laying aside everything at the command of our Saviour, God will hear and answer our prayer.  Hosea 10:12 says well what time it is:  "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  Let us seek the presence of the LORD like gold, and value His Word as silver.  May Psalm 63:1-2 be the prayer of our hearts:  "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. ² So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory."  Are you thirsty?  Come to Christ and drink deeply.  Are you hungry?  Feed upon the Bread of Life.  It is time to seek the LORD.  Forget a fresh coat of paint or oiled hinges - we need renewed hearts and minds!

Our Best Days

As I left a meeting and stepped into the carpark this morning, the lyrics from Bryan Adam's "Summer of '69" went through my head.  It was a bit bizarre, as it has been at least a decade since I heard the song!  Looking back on his life Bryan sings, "Oh, when I look back now, that summer seemed to last forever.  And if I had the choice, yeah, I'd always wanna be there.  Those were the best days of my life."  If we go through life looking on how things were with regret, wishing we could "go back in time" like Uncle Rico in the movie Napoleon Dynamite, we may end up living alone in a van somewhere.  We cannot go back in time, even if we use the internet to buy a machine - complete with crystals.  When we try to live in the past, we'll never embrace the future.

That's one aspect of walking with Jesus Christ I love:  He provides the opportunity for new beginnings.  We don't need to long to return to a past awakening, revival, or move of God when we can embrace revival today because Jesus is alive!  We don't need to cling to old memories of how God worked in and through our lives when God has seen fit to give us today by His grace!  Longing for the past will hinder us from embracing our future God has prepared for us.  After Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Christ's followers, they did not pine away wishing they could return to the day when Jesus walked among them.  The disciples were then equipped, helped, and empowered to bring the Gospel to the world and continue Christ's work.  They had fellowship with their Messiah Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit.

The religious leaders responsible for the murder of Christ were not impressed by a notable miracle performed and some of the disciples were arrested.  After being strictly warned not to preach in the name of Jesus, the disciples prayed in Acts 4:26-31:  "The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.' ²⁷ "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together ²⁸ to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. ²⁹ Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

The disciples did not wish they could return to their "Summer of '69" when Jesus walked amongst them.  They also were not content with thousands of souls saved and the healing of the lame man at the entrance of the temple.  They wanted to go on with God, asking for boldness to preach God's Word, that through God's power they would heal, and that signs and wonders would be done through Jesus Christ.  They did not look back, but reached forth to whatever God laid before them.  They were filled with the Spirit according to their request, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.  God had anointed them with the purpose to accomplish His will for His glory.

Do you look on your past with longing or satisfaction leading to apathy?  God has great works for us to do today through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let us draw close to God with full assurance of faith, for it is He Who works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure.  When we walk in obedience to Christ, our best days are always ahead!

The Power of the Tongue

God's Word is amazing how it provides keys to unlock deeper understanding of God and His ways.  The more you read of the Bible, the more you realise it is one book written by a single Author:  God!  There were many men used by God to pen the scriptures, but clearly He inspired all of them.  An example I have been pondering recently is found in the book of Proverbs which relates to what Jesus says in Matthew.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:15-20, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  I don't know about you, but "good" fruit and "bad" fruit has always had a level of subjectivity attached to it for me.  A clear connection made in this passage by Jesus is the inside of a person is what matters.  Someone might appear to be a sheep who in reality has the nature and appetite of a wolf.  Just like we know what kind of tree by what sort of fruit it bears, there will be outward evidence provided.  Yet we know that it is possible to be like the Pharisees, have an clean exterior of good works, but still remain dead in sins.  So what sort of fruit is this passage talking about?  Passages in Proverbs tell us one of the primary ways is through the fruit of our lips:  our words!

On Friday nights, we have been studying through the book of Proverbs and the fruit of the lips has been a recurring theme of late. Proverbs 13:2 says, "A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, but the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence."  Proverbs 18:20-21 also states, "A man's stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth, from the produce of his lips he shall be filled. ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  God has given everyone the choice of what we will put into our mouths as food, and He has also given us the ability to choose what we will say and believe.  Jesus says the words we say are an indicator of what we believe, of what is in our hearts.

After Jesus was accused of being demon possessed by religious leaders, He spoke in Matthew 12:33-37:  "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. ³⁴ Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. ³⁶ But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  Jesus makes a clear connection between the words the religious leaders said and what was is their hearts.  The words of the religious leaders revealed their unbelief.  Their mouths condemned them.  Jesus came to earth in fulfillment of scripture, only doing and saying the will of the Father, and yet they spoke against Him out of envy.  No matter how much "good" these naysayers did, they were condemned by the words of their mouths because "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."  This connects with Romans 10:9-10 as well when it says, "...that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

As I read these verses, it was a "light bulb" moment that dovetails perfectly when Jesus speaks of final judgment.  There will be many numbered among the goats who do miracles in Christ's name but do not know Him, and He does not know them.  Matthew 7:22-23 says, "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' ²³ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"  This was always hard for me to reconcile.  How could it be that someone could do something good like casting out a demon, credit Christ for it, and still be rejected by God?  Jesus says, "By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  No amount of good works can save a man when his heart is unregenerate or apostate.  Death and life truly are in the power of the tongue, for the fruit of our lips reveal what is concealed in our hearts.

"By their fruits you will know them."  It is important we all examine ourselves, for we will all stand before Christ.  Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in my life as He empowers me in faith?  Are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control descriptive of how I respond to trials and difficulties?  What sort of words come of out my mouth?  Are they words that glorify Christ and magnify the Word of God, or am I full of pride, cursing, and bitterness?  Do my actions follow the example of Christ?  Lately the LORD has been impressing upon me the importance of my words and to carefully weigh the words pastors and teachers use.  I also need to examine the words I use.  We should not approach doctrines or teachings subjectively, for God has given us His Word as a guide, a Spirit-level of truth.  Our ears should test words, even as our mouths prove the quality of food.  We can objectively know good fruit from bad fruit through discernment given through the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.

As I write this, I am so grateful for grace.  Is there any among us who has always said what is right?  Certainly not, for in our flesh no good thing dwells.  Let us not be harsh in judgment of others, yet we must be discerning.  It is not wise to buy food laced with poison, nor is it good to receive a mix of truth and error.  I want to remain steadfast standing on the foundation of Christ, and be faithful to His Word.  Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit."  Jesus alone has the words of life, and those who love life feed on them!

Asking With Assurance

Jehoshaphat was a king who trusted in God.  He was a man who "questioned" God, but not the doubtful way God's existence is "questioned" today.  Jehoshaphat asked questions of God, knowing God heard his prayers and would honour His promises.  It is not a lack of faith that moved Jehoshaphat to ask questions of God:  it was faith that compelled him to seek God in his time of need.

When the Moabites and Ammonites came against Judah and Jerusalem with a massive army, Jehoshaphat's response was to seek refuge in his God.  In response to the invaders 2 Chronicles 20:3-12 says, "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴ So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. ⁵ Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, ⁶ and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? ⁷ Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? ⁸ And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ⁹ 'If disaster comes upon us--sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine--we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' ¹⁰ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir--whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them-- ¹¹ here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. ¹² O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

Jehoshaphat did not tell God anything He did not already know - but his words proved he knew God.  He knew who God was, what He had promised, and He was willing and able to fulfill His Word.  All of Jehoshaphat's questions were answered in the affirmative!  2 Corinthians 1:20 says, "For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."  Jehoshaphat admitted he was overwhelmed and did not know what to do.  He did one thing:  he looked to God for salvation.

It is good when we are brought to such a place.  It was a looming war and potential defeat that moved Jehoshaphat to seek an audience with the Most High.  What does it take to turn your eyes to God for deliverance and help?  God heard and answered Jehoshaphat's prayer, and Judah was delivered from the hands of their enemies.  Men and women of faith ask questions God is pleased to answer with a resounding "Yes!"  We must first lay aside our plans and back-up plans and come to God for help, looking to Him alone.  James 1:5-8 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."  We have assurance through God's Word He will give liberally and without reproach to all who ask in faith, and Jehoshaphat is a great example.  When we don't know what to do, God does - and He will do it!

Micaiah the Son of Imlah

One of the men in the Bible I truly admire is found in 2 Chronicles 18:  Micaiah the son of Imlah.  He was a faithful prophet to God when he faced a lot of pressure to fall in line with Ahab's 400 prophets.  The wicked king Ahab couldn't stand the man!  When Jehoshaphat asked if they could inquire of the LORD before going to battle in Ramoth-Gilead, Ahab quickly produced his 400 prophets.  Their consensus?  "Go up; for God will deliver it into the king's hand."  We are not told how, but Jehoshaphat discerned these 400 prophets were not speaking for God.  So he politely asked Ahab, "Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?"

Ahab was blunt.  2 Chronicles 18:7 tells us, "So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imlah." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say such things!"  Even in those dark days, there was still one man by whom they could inquire of the LORD!  The Bible tells us among all the kings of Israel there was none more stirred up to wickedness than Ahab (1 Kings 21:25).  Jesus says in Luke 6:26, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets."  It stands to reason a true prophet of God would not have encouragement or messages of peace for wicked Ahab.  God does not lure us into a false sense of security.  In love He warns us when we stray from the path, longsuffering though He be.

Whilst Micaiah was being brought before the king, he was strictly told to fall in line.  Everyone else had positive things to say:  couldn't he just for once agree with all the other prophets?  Micaiah did as he was told, only to be rebuffed by Ahab!  2 Chronicles 18:15 says, "So the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"  Then Micaiah held forth the truth:  Israel would be scattered without a shepherd, and Ahab's 400 prophets had been influenced by a lying spirit for the purpose of persuading Ahab to go to battle so he might be destroyed.  For his words Micaiah was punched in the face by a false prophet, arrested, and sent to prison until Ahab's return - which never happened!

The verses in the passage which resonated with me when I read it this morning are 2 Chronicles 18:25-27:  "Then the king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king's son; ²⁶ and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction until I return in peace." ²⁷ Then Micaiah said, "If you ever return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Take heed, all you people!"  Ahab would perish on the field of battle by the time the sun went down, and not another word is said of Micaiah the son of Imlah.  The scripture does not tell us if he remained in prison until the day of his death or was later released.  He was the only man among the prophets who spoke the truth and was hated for his trouble.  He was sent to prison for doing good.  He was commanded to be fed with the bread and water of affliction.  Yet even in that dungeon Micaiah had something Ahab did not:  comfort and peace with God.

God is looking for people such as Micaiah today, men and women willing to stand up for what is right in the face of opposition.  Jesus told His followers we will certainly face persecution and tribulation because of the spiritual battle we are engaged in.  Take heart believer!  Even if we are thrown in prison we can feed upon the Bread of Life, the One who was afflicted for our sakes.  We need never thirst, for God has provided Living Water which springs from us through the Holy Spirit.  The words of one man stand true from before the foundations of the earth were laid, and His Word will endure forever!  How great is our God, and how blessed are His people no matter what befalls us.  Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah hid himself in an inner chamber after he was exposed as a fraud.  Speaking for myself, I would rather be imprisoned for the truth than go into hiding to escape the consequences of lies and deceit.  I'm thinking Micaiah would agree.

Is God Bigger Than A Book?

The title of this post is loaded and cocked like a high-powered rifle.  Answering "no" runs the risk of limiting God, and affirming it creates the potential of wrongly attributing deeds to God.  God is Almighty and has primarily revealed His character, righteousness, and Gospel through the Word of God.  The times I have heard this statement used, the Bible is the book being referenced.  The Bible is not just "a" book, but His book.  I believe the Bible is exactly what it claims to be:  all scripture is of His divine inspiration, His God-breathed Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).  So before we can even fairly tackle the question, we must consider the context of making such a statement.  If we do not first understand the premise, we can arrive at the wrong conclusion.

When someone says "God is bigger than a book," it is the premise of the statement that concerns me more than the statement itself.  Atheists or unbelievers are not the ones saying this, but often it is professing Christians.  What is the motive to say such a thing?  Scripture itself reveals that God is greater than all, so it seems obvious that God must be "bigger" than a book.  But what is the word "bigger" intended to convey when speaking about God?  Has He not placed His word above His name (Ps. 138:2)? What synonym better conveys the true agenda?  By referring to the Bible as "a" book, the statement itself denigrates the sufficiency of the Word and shrinks down the scope and power of the Bible, equating it to just any old book.  This is very problematic, especially today with a growing culture in the church that is moving away from literal trust and adherence to scripture.

John says Jesus did many things which were not written in the Gospel he penned, and what was written was to the end we might believe.  He closed the Gospel of John with these words in John 21:25:  "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen."  If all the deeds Jesus did could not be contained in the world itself, then it seems clear that the scope of what Jesus did is not entirely contained in scripture.  This by itself seems to lend a positive answer to the original question.  But the case isn't closed.  Jesus said there would be many who would come in His name but be deceivers.  They would claim to do the works of God but have no part in Him.  Paul describes the works of Satan in 2 Thess. 2:9 "...with all power and signs and lying wonders."  For this reason we are not to believe every spirit but to test them, for many false prophets have gone into the world (1 John 4:1).

The Holy Spirit gives us discernment through the scriptures to know truth from error.  Because that is one purpose for the scriptures being given it is not "limiting God" to look to the scriptures to find precedent.  Did Jesus do miracles of all kinds?  Yes!  Can Christians do miracles of all kinds today in His name, even healing diseases and afflictions not specifically mentioned in the Bible?  Yes!  The baptism with the Holy Spirit is for today, and I personally have received this baptism from Christ.  Our experiences and feelings will be different from each other because we are all different people.  The Acts of the Apostles reveal the Spirit of God manifested Himself as tongues of fire on the heads of the believers gathered in one accord in the upper room as they prayed:  is it possible the Spirit of God could manifest His presence in the same or different way today?  Sure.  But we must approach such "signs" or events cautiously, our feet firmly founded on the Word of God.  We are not ever told to seek after signs or miracles in scripture, but after Christ.  When the unbelieving Jews asked for a sign Jesus said it was "a wicked and adulterous generation" that sought after a sign when there He stood in their midst (Matt. 16:4).

God does miracles today.  Because of this scripture reveals Satan performs lying wonders as an angel of light with the intent to deceive and destroy.  If miracles or spiritual gifts were not in operation today by the power of the Holy Spirit, every supernatural act by Satan would expose his treachery!  His greatest asset is his subtlety.  His strongest approach is to question the validity of God's Word.  Wolves can pose as sheep and infiltrate the flock of God.  Therefore we must remain vigilant to hold fast to God's Word.  Jesus said His followers would do greater works (in scope) than Him through the Holy Spirit (John 14:12), but God has established boundaries He will not cross.  He cannot lie (Titus 1:2) or contradict Himself, almost like fresh and salty water flowing from the same spring.  The Holy Spirit will always glorify Christ (John 16:14), and Christ always honours the Father (John 8:49).  God's character is the same yesterday, today, and forever because He does not change (Ps. 102:25-27).  In all these aspects God cannot and will not overstep the bounds set clearly by His Word.  In this sense God always operates within the revealed truth of scripture.  There is a consistency in God's Word that can be counted on.  We must be cautious not to fall for Satan's sleight of hand, dazzled and duped.  Men are liars and easily led astray, but God is true and trustworthy.  That being said, God will not be confined by our limited view of Him.  Our unbelief restricts His resurrection power from being displayed.  We should have an expectancy of God to move in power and not to try and dictate how or when He will do wonders.  Truly, the greatest wonder to me is the salvation of a soul and the testimony of a transformed life through the Holy Spirit.  Physical healing is temporary, but the salvation of souls is eternal.

Understanding the premise of this statement is the key to the conclusion.  I am no one to judge another man's servant, because we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  Allow me to conclude with Psalm 19:7-14:  "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; ⁸ the statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; ⁹ the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. ¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. ¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. ¹² Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. ¹³ Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression. ¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."

Taught to Know War

During family devotions a few nights ago we read a passage which has remained in my mind and on my heart.  Judges 3:1-4 reads, "Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan ² (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), ³ namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ⁴ And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the LORD, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses."

The children of Israel were not obedient to drive out the nations in the land of promise.  Therefore God told them He would no longer drive them out, and it was not out of spite or frustration.  God had righteous motives in allowing the enemy nations to remain, and these verses reveal some of God's redemptive purposes.  Verses one and four say God left the nations to "test Israel by them," so it would be evident if His people obeyed His commands or not.  If you read on for a few more verses, you will see they did not.

The part of this passage which has me thinking is verse two.  After the initial war to secure the land, a generation in Israel arose who did not know war.  Another purpose of God for allowing opposing forces in Canaan was "only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war..."  I don't know about you, but I would be glad for my children to never know war as many have known it.  My grandfather, Bernard Francis Grisez, was a Pearl Harbour survivor.  He was a great man.  Despite the struggles of service, I know his experiences had a formative quality in his personality and character for good.  God is wiser than men, and He knows how to make them.

God desired the new generation be taught to know war, to learn to trust God to fight their battles.  He didn't want the children of Israel to be soft, complacent, and be ignorant of enemy threats.  He wanted to develop men into warriors who could teach others to trust God and fight.  He didn't want His people touting their strength at fitness boot camp when they hadn't even been through military basic training!  What good are toned abs if you can't handle a sword, spear, or bow?  There is a big difference between basic training and live combat.  There is something about risking your life that is an impetus to growing faith in God.  Every day God provides tests to prove us to see if we will obey Him or not.

How true this is for us!  The scriptures tell us we are in a spiritual battle for the souls of men and the glory of God.  Remember the words of 2 Timothy 2:1-4:  "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."  We are called to be strong in the grace of Christ, lead others to Him faithfully, teach them to observe His commands, and endure hardship as a good soldier.  God is our Commander, and we are His subjects.  He allows opposition and battles within and outside so we too might learn how to battle, fight on in faith despite hardship, and learn how to walk victoriously.  We can endure to the end, even as Jesus did.  He endured the cross, knowing the glory and victory of the resurrection was only possible through the cross.  Let us follow His example and fight on for the joy set before us!

Leave Your Waterpot

John 4 tells of a woman in the city of Samaria who went to a well to draw water.  To her amazement, she met a Jewish man at the well who not only acknowledged her presence, but asked for a drink!  This was quite out of the ordinary.  To put her perspective in her own words, "Jews have no dealings with Samaritans."  She realised quickly that Jesus was no ordinary man.  He was not even an ordinary prophet.  He said in John 4:13-14, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  As Jesus told her of Living Water only He could provide through the Holy Spirit and eternal life, her heart leaped with the incredible possibility:  was this the promised Messiah?

She went to the well with a plan to draw water, but in her excitement over meeting and speaking with Jesus her plans changed.  John 4:28-29 says, "The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ²⁹ "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"  The woman went for some water, but received living water through faith in Jesus.  Her plans immediately changed.  This is significant, that she left her waterpot behind!

I have no idea how many times, dear Christian, I have lugged that heavy, sloshing waterpot of my own plans along when God had a greater and higher purpose for me.  I went to the petrol station to purchase fuel for my car and I left with a full tank - but didn't take the time to start a conversation with the intent to introduce someone to Jesus.  It was me who remained empty when I could have been filled with the Spirit.  I stayed up late watching a program on TV to the end, but fell asleep mid-sentence whilst in prayer.  I was occupied, but not satisfied.  We make many plans for ourselves, but do we allow God to interrupt them with something beautiful and awe inspiring through the leading of the Spirit?  We need to learn to leave our waterpots when God has given us something far more satisfying through His service.  Jesus had food to eat His disciples did not know, and Jesus provides life, strength, and purpose the world cannot know!

Answering the Call God's Way

Today is my first day back in OZ after a relaxing holiday in New Zealand.  It was a wonderful blessing and I was thankful for the opportunity to see the sights and spend time with family.  Life had become very busy and so many things were vying for attention, like pesky flies swarming persistently at your face.  In addition to seeing beautiful countryside and enjoying family time it was a good opportunity to step back and evaluate the way I spend time.  With God's help, I shall jump back into the fray circumspectly and seeking His leading in my life.

A fitting passage was one our family read last night.  It is one thing to know you are called by God and even what you are supposed to do.  But it matters little to have knowledge of what you are to do should you neglect to seek God in how to do it.  Judges 1:1-3 is a great illustration of this, something more common than we might think.  The children of Israel did not always inquire of the LORD before doing what was right in their own eyes.  To their credit, in this opening passage of Judges they did seek God.  Though they started well, they veered from God's course.  Judges 1:1-3 reads, "Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, "Who shall be first to go up for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?" ² And the LORD said, "Judah shall go up. Indeed I have delivered the land into his hand." ³ So Judah said to Simeon his brother, "Come up with me to my allotted territory, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I will likewise go with you to your allotted territory." And Simeon went with him."

God called the men of Judah to go up and fight against the Canaanites.  Although God had promised to deliver the Canaanites into the hand of the tribe of Judah, for some reason they decided to ask the tribe of Simeon to help out with a promise of reciprocation:  you help us, and we will help you!  The tribe of Judah heard the call, but decided reinforcements were a good idea.  The lure of convenience and strength in numbers was too strong a temptation for Judah rather than trusting God to fight their battles.  Simeon's country was surrounded by territory given by God to the tribe of Judah.  Thus Simeon was lured into fighting a battle that was not theirs, and Judah did not obtain the deliverance promised by God because they decided to take matters into their own hands and do things their own way.

Understand that God remained faithful to the children of Judah and helped them to defeat their enemies.  Even though Simeon lent assistance they prevailed over their enemies - but not completely.  Some of the land they did secure were later strongholds for Philistines and other enemies of Israel.  Judges 1:17-19 says, "And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. ¹⁸ Also Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory. ¹⁹ So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron."  God's hand was not shortened that it could not save.  He overthrew the Egyptians and their chariots in the midst of the Red Sea, yet Judah was not able to drive out the inhabitants of the lowland.  Were those iron chariots stronger than God?  No.  But Judah did not wholly trust God, substituting the combined strength of Simeon for deliverance only from God.

What a good reminder this was, to not only answer God's call but to do so with God's guidance every step along the way.  Nothing about the call of Christ is convenient.  It is all faith, obedience, and sacrifice.  We need God to perform miracle after miracle to deliver us and establish us in Him.  The lame man at the pool at Bethesda was looking for the moving of the water, lamenting the lack of a man to help him quickly dip into the water when Jesus - the One who gives Living Water - spoke with Him face to face.  Can we be so blind?  Batting away the flies distracts us and is exhausting, yet God is able to drop them in an instant.  Only in Him will we find rest.  Let us respond to God's call God's way.  It is He who will triumph over all enemies!

Hold Fast To the End

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he said it was not a tedious task to remind and exhort them to rejoice in the LORD.  If it was not tedious or irksome (Phil. 3:1) for him to write as led by the Holy Spirit, it should certainly not be tedious to read and study the same Word so we too might hear God speak.  Because I believe the Bible is proven to be literal God-breathed truth, it is rich and exciting in itself.  I wonder when people are driven to conjecture to somehow make the Bible more interesting, as if it was a dull and boring book devoid of power.  The Bible alone contains the words of life, and there is nothing dull about that!

Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 with commands, warnings, and exhortations.  He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:1-5, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."  A day will come when Jesus will judge the living and the dead.  Paul charged Timothy to remain faithful to preach the Word of God - not opinions, conjecture, or stories.  A time would come (and now is) when even professing Christians will refuse biblical truth and be led astray from Christ according to the desires of their deceived hearts.  Regardless of their protests or opposition from the world and the prince of it, Timothy was to keep to the truth of the Bible.  This is a good exhortation for all Christians alike.

I found useful an article titled "A Heart That Burns" by Chuck Smith in the April 2014 edition of Decision magazine.  By God's grace, I know something of what Chuck speaks when he writes:

I get so excited just reading the Word of God.  There are times when I can hardly contain myself, as God's Spirit begins to open up the Scriptures to me.  I can't describe to you just how exciting it is to be taught by the Spirit the truth of God's Word and suddenly have understanding given to you, the Scriptures opened up to you.  There are some people who get excited when people speak in tongues or when people utter prophecies.  I get excited over the Word of God.  Some people get excited over visions or dreams.  I get excited over the Word of God.  "He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).  That's a glorious gift, when God opens your understanding that you might understand.  And that happens when you're born again. (Smith, pg. 40)

As we progress in our Christian walk, we never lose our need for the fundamental truths of God's Word.  It seems many people in the church seek after experiences and emotional stirring rather than seeking Christ.  They become dissatisfied with their walk with Christ because they have stopped looking to Him to be their all in all.  He was never their God, so a worthless idol easily fills His rightful place.  They are caught up in flavour rather than substance.  When the foundation of Christ and obedience to His Word is abandoned for the slippery sand of personal experience or sinful desire, destruction is the result.  God is not a means but the End.  Jesus said He is the Alpha and the Omega, and His judgments are the only ones that count.  Let us hold fast to sound doctrine as we love one another as Jesus loves us.

Redemptive Value and Divine Exchange

There are rich of blessings for all who avail themselves of God's divine exchanges.  These exchanges must be done intentionally in faith according to God's Word.  I have continued to consider something spoken about in the sermon yesterday at Calvary Chapel Sydney, the fact God has placed redemptive value upon our sorrow, mourning, pain, and depression.  When we commit them to God in faith, He gives us a wonderful blessing in exchange.

God never promised to keep Christians from pain and sorrow in this life on earth.  In fact, Jesus promised in this world we will have tribulation.  We will all face consequences from sin in this world, and our experiences can be bitter indeed.  Though God does not insulate us from sorrow and pain, we are invited to be those who are casting our cares upon Him because He cares for us.  He has not promised to still every storm, but He offers us peace, comfort, and solace in the storm.  Our role is to admit our pain and weakness in humility, and entrust our life, well-being, and our future to Him.

Because recycling yards were conveniently located in my suburb when I lived in San Diego, I would save aluminium cans, plastic containers, and copper scraps to exchange for cash.  The redemption value was clearly marked on the sides of soda cans and bottles.  I would collect these containers until I had a couple bags full of crushed cans and then bring them to the recycling yard to redeem them.  As long as they sat in the corner of my garage they had not been redeemed.  There was cash value in those cans only realised after I loaded them into my truck, drove to the recycling center, separated them, and rolled the carts to the scale for weighing.  At that moment I gave them to the attendant, they were no longer mine.  It was a bit of work, but walking away with money instead of those stinky, sticky cans was well worth it!

Consider the divine exchange God has promised us through the Messiah Jesus Christ in Isaiah 61:1-3:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; ² to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, ³ to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."  Before we are born again, the Bible says we are spiritually dead in sins.  We are bound in iniquity, awaiting judgment and everlasting punishment.  If we confess our sins in humble repentance, trusting in Jesus, we are born again through Jesus.  Our deadness is exchanged for eternal life, and confinement in sin and death is exchanged for freedom and eternal glory.  But that is not the end of the exchanges God offers!

Our hearts of stone can be exchanged for one of tender flesh.  Our blind eyes are exchanged for spiritual perception.  There is great redemptive value in mourning, depression, even our ashes.  Imagine that!  When your best efforts are turned to ash, we can take our failures to God and He will redeem them with unfading beauty.  Are you sorrowful or in mourning?  In exchange God offers comfort and consolation.  Is your heart heavy and laid low through depression?  God will provide in exchange the oil of joy and the garment of praise.  God will not force these exchanges upon us.  We must admit our need, confess our unbelief and lack of faith, and exercise faith in bringing each of our cares, worries, and sorrows to Christ.  When we are willing to part with those things forever and entrust them into His capable, loving hands, then we will receive the consolation.

Don't store up sorrows, pains, worries, guilt, and sadness when God has assigned great redemptive value to each one.  Bring them to the cross, casting your cares upon Jesus.  Once made, you will never regret this divine exchange.  No one has ever thought, "Oh, what I would give to have those cans back again!  To possess those old crusty, smelly milk cartons would be far better than what I received for them.  I used to have quite a collection built up, complete with ant trails."  As long as we live on earth, these exchanges will need to be done as we embrace our sanctification.  Cans pile up, milk continues to be consumed.  The dark corners of our garages and hiding places in rubbish bins start to accumulate.  It is time to cash in on the redemptive value of your cares for God's glory.  Let us avail ourselves of God's divine exchanges, for their value is greater than gold!  

Meeting God's Conditions

Jesus called the temple a "house of prayer" (Matt. 21:13, quoting from Is. 56:7), and when God spoke to Solomon He referred to it as a "house of sacrifice." (2 Chron. 7:12)  Since the institution of the new covenant in Christ's blood, Christians are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).  This is suggestive of things that ought to mark our lives, even as they did the life of Christ on earth:  prayer and sacrifice.  God does not dwell in temples made with hands, but indwells those redeemed by faith in Jesus Christ.  Consider the implications of believers being the temple of the Holy Spirit as God spoke to Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:13-16:  "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, ¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. ¹⁵ Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. ¹⁶ For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually."  Amazing truth, this!

The fulfillment of God's promises often are contingent upon our obedience.  He does not give carte blanche blessings, for His conditions must first be met.  Anyone who has a grave illness, experienced the heartbreak of broken relationship, even a nation which has experienced plague or been ravaged by war, healing and restoration is God's desire.  God has the power to heal people, broken relationships, destroyed cities, and defeated nations.  The healing will come after we - those who are called by God's name, Jew and Gentile who are in Christ by grace through faith - meet His conditions.  It may start with one person, but it will take a people united to bring about this healing God desires for His glory and our good.

There are four conditions given in this passage.  God entreats His people to humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and repent (turn from their wicked ways).  It is possible we can do one without the other.  It is possible to pray without humility, or repent without seeking God's face.  But I say if we neglect any of these four requirements, we cannot bring any of them to full completion.  We can humble ourselves and pray for healing and forget to seek God's face.  What point is there to seek God's face without humility or praying without repentance?  We can make the healing our end when it is simply a means of God revealing His power to the world!  I have been asking myself:  are there any conditions I have not been intentional to fulfill?  We all want the positive final result, but do our souls draw back to fully accomplish any of these conditions?  We must walk in faith, believing that God will not leave undone one word of His promise.

Do you know that as a Christian God's eyes are open and His ears attentive to your prayers?  He has chosen you, with your cooperation will sanctify you, and He has claimed you as His own forever!  It is God who works in us both to will and do for His good pleasure.  Our world is sick and dying due to sin, but take heart in Christ, dear Christian!  Hebrews 10:35-39 says, "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ³⁷ "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." ³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul."

Let us embrace the will of God for our lives by humbling ourselves, praying, and seeking His face in repentance.  The day is coming when our Saviour will return and make all right.  Until then, let's be about His business, providing a temple dedicated to prayer and sacrifice for His glory.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

How natural it is for us to value the gift over the giver!  When speaking about miraculous healings performed by Jesus Christ or Holy Spirit-filled disciples, we can miss the point of the exercise of spiritual power.  The healing of the body was not the end but a means:  a means to demonstrate the power of God so He might be glorified.  People can fall into the trap of seeing the exercise of spiritual power as the end, rather than the glory of God.

When we focus on a spiritual gift as an end in itself, we miss the purpose God has in giving and the exercise of the gift.  We are like babies who chew on extension cords, not even comprehending there is power flowing between our gums for a better purpose than our teething.  When Jesus healed a blind man, His disciples asked "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"  John 9:3 says, "Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him."  The man was a sinner just like anyone else.  His blindness was not a punishment from God for sin in his family.  He was born blind so the works of God should be revealed in him.  Healing was a tool Jesus used to prove His redemptive power, divinity, and truth.  It would be a grave mistake to think Jesus just went around healing people without teaching and preaching.  Healing was coupled with the preaching of God's Word.  If someone is healed without explanation, the man who did the healing will be honoured.  Jesus did not come to honour Himself, but to glorify His Father in heaven.

The scriptures connect teaching, preaching, and healing.  Matthew 9:35 reads, "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matt. 4:23 also)  What better way to illustrate the power of the Gospel then through healing people?  We see this connection when Peter through the name of Jesus healed the lame man begging at the temple.  After the lame man went into the temple walking, leaping, and praising God, a crowd of curious onlookers gathered.  Seeing the crowd, Peter addressed them concerning the means of this man's miraculous healing in Acts 3:12-15:  "So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses."

My favourite verse to show this critical connection is contained in the disciples' prayer after being threatened for preaching in Christ's name.  Acts 4:29-31 reads, "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, ³⁰ by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."  Peter, John, and the disciples did not pray for the gift of healing because there were a lot of sick people around.  God has compassion on the sick, don't misunderstand.  But did you see the reason why Peter and the disciples prayed that healings, signs, and wonders would be done through Jesus?  So they with boldness would speak forth God's Word!  I say this is not a primary reason why people want to be healed or see people healed today - that the Word of God would go out with power or that God would be glorified.  Our motives can be far less biblical and even blatantly selfish.  The disciples were described not as going around healing people - though they certainly did - but that they spoke the Word of God with boldness.  God answered their prayer!

God has the power to heal, and it is His will to do so.  When we walk in faith by the Holy Spirit, guided by scriptural motives, desiring God's glory and the promotion of His Word, we will see healing according to His perfect will.  Let's make sure we do not take healing out of the context of scripture and consider God's deep purposes for spiritual gifts.  More than simply alleviating symptoms or improving our lives, healing is a scriptural way to create an attentive audience for the Gospel.  May we with all boldness speak forth God's word as God stretches out His hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of God's holy servant Jesus - not for our enjoyment, convenience, amazement, or honour, but the glory of God.

Lay Aside Weights

I was listening to a Calvary Chapel Radio app and heard pastor Brian Broderson speaking.  As he recited a verse with which I was familiar, the LORD illuminated it in a fresh way.  Hebrews 12 begins, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

This verse illustrates the purpose and intentionality of the Christian walk.  It is not simply a life of sin avoidance, but of running the race set before each one of us just as Jesus did.  He endured, and since the Holy Spirit has regenerated and filled Christ's followers, we can persevere to the end.  If we skim through the passage, we might think the writer of Hebrews is referring to sin as weights.  But that is not what is being said.  A distinction is being made between weights and sin.  Sin is the greatest burden all bear from birth, and we are free from it only through Jesus who bore it for us on the cross.  We should lay aside and forsake all sin.  There are, however, things in our lives that are not sin but are weights - weights that hinder us in running our race.  No one who cares about their time or placement in a gold-medal match would load themselves with weights.

Life can weigh upon both mind and body.  God intends that we run unencumbered for His glory as we lay aside sin which ensnares or any weight that drags down.  The Holy Spirit and the scriptures allow us to discern what is sin, what is necessary, what is permitted, and what is simply a weight that holds us back from a strong finish.  Once those weights are thrown aside, we will be stronger still to do what God has called us to do.  Our desire and ability to run only comes from God, and as we rely upon Christ - following His lead - we will not be led astray.  Let's not wait until the ship is sinking to throw aside what does not promote our spiritual well-being.  We must be vigilant to lay aside sin and weights we tend to accumulate!

Jesus: Our Sacrifice and Inheritance

I love when God opens my eyes to catch glimpses of His plan in the Bible.  Through Old Testament prophets God spoke of a Messiah who would save His people from their sin.  The New Testament begins with the Gospels by hailing Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of this divine promise.  Because He came in humility cloaked in humanity, He was rejected by the very people He came to save.  The Jews were looking for one who would rule the nations with a rod of iron, yet that fulfillment is still to come when Jesus is revealed to the world the second time.  Jesus came as a servant of all, and died to set sinners free.  Jesus rose glorified three days later, proving He is exactly who He claimed to be, a message harmonised with the angels who announced his birth to disciples who followed Him in faith.  He is Immanuel - God made flesh - our Peace, my LORD and my God.

In the opening chapter of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John addresses the letter to seven churches in Asia.  He does not claim to be the source of this revelation, but Revelation 1:5-6 says his words are "...from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. to Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ⁶ and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."  John praises Jesus for His redeeming sacrifice and atonement through His blood.  He proclaims the position before God of all genuine disciples of Jesus, having been made "kings and priests" before God.

This knowledge provides a beautiful picture of the believer's calling and service throughout scripture.  As a Christian, knowing Christ has made me a priest unto God, there is a wealth of understanding and personal application in the Old Testament to consider.  Priests under the old covenant were of the tribe of Levi and specifically of the line of Aaron, the first High Priest.  Hebrews chapters 7-10 goes into great detail how Christ is a better High Priest than any man, for He did not enter the Holiest place with the blood of animal sacrifices, but through His precious blood.  Hebrews 9:24-26 says, "For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another-- ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

Having established that Christians are made priests through the priesthood of Jesus Christ by His grace, I noticed a lovely picture in the book of Joshua.   Joshua 13:14 says, "Only to the tribe of Levi he had given no inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them."   The end of the chapter concludes with Joshua 13:33:  "But to the tribe of Levi Moses had given no inheritance; the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as He had said to them."  Is this a contradiction?  Verse 14 says the inheritance of the Levites were the sacrifices they were privileged and commanded to partake of, but verse 33 says the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance!  It is not one or the other, but both!  This points to Jesus Christ as being the sacrifice we partake of by faith, and that He is our inheritance.  It is not an inheritance to be received only after the death of the body, for the Holy Spirit even now is the down-payment of our inheritance Who dwells inside all who are born again (Eph. 1:10-14).

What God has promised to do He has done.  As certain as the historical account of the Bible is true, all that we read yet to take place will one day be fulfilled.  Since Christ has made us kings and priests unto God, let us boldly lay hold of our inheritance and walk in this knowledge.  Naboth refused the request of king Ahab to sell land given him by God as an inheritance, and it ended up costing him his life.  May our lives, purchased by God as HIS inheritance, be used for His glory as we stand steadfast in faith.

Can You Stand?

We are in a spiritually healthy place when our thoughts, words, and deeds are moved by faith in Jesus Christ.  In this day of relativism and theological revision, it is imperative Christians ground themselves in the Word of God to know truth from error.  Error is not always obvious and requires discernment through the Holy Spirit.  As someone who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God to be taken literally whenever possible, the scriptures form my theology.  Even though God and His Word have not changed, I have changed over the years.  My understanding has expanded as I have worked to put the scriptures into practice by faith.  After being justified by faith in Christ, the sanctification process has been embraced in varying degrees in my life.  This means change, a transforming work of being moulded more into the image of Jesus.  This means a change of heart, mind, and life for the better!

I cannot stress the importance of living our lives according to scripture.  Our theology must come from the Bible, not from worship songs.  There is a song that God has used to minister to my heart by Matt Maher called, "Lord I Need You."  It well illustrates the cry of my own heart, the recognision of my complete inability to do anything without God.  At the risk of sounding pedantic, there is one phrase in the song that has never set well with me.  It goes, "Teach my song to rise to you when temptation comes my way, and when I cannot stand I'll fall on you.  Jesus you're my hope and stay."  In Christ we find the strength and power to overcome all temptation, for He was tempted in every way yet remained without sin.  Sin becomes a temptation because of the wickedness in our own hearts (James 1:13-15).  The part where I take issue is with the phrase, "...and when I cannot stand I'll fall on you."  I have been thinking:  is this good theology?  I believe I understand what the artist is trying to convey, but I cannot see how it is biblical.

Because I am a flawed human being still in the process of sanctification, falling is more than a likelihood:  it is a certainty.  As I have heard a wise man say, we are all only one bad decision away from a fall.  In a physical sense, people skilled in balance and walking fall all the time:  a high heel failed, ice underfoot, because of advancing age, loss of balance from kicking something, or being pushed over!  We will fall.  I get that.  But the song implies there are times when we "cannot stand" when temptation comes.  In our flesh this is true.  However, the scriptures command us to stand with the assurance God has provided all the strength for us to stand no matter the circumstances.  It is written in Ephesians 6:10-15:  "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace..."  Christians are told we can stand in the evil day and withstand even the direct assault of Satan himself because it is in God's strength we stand.  Is anything too hard for God?  We are to put on the whole armour of God with our feet firmly fixed upon Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone.  From this spiritual vantage point, when we walk according to faith in Christ we cannot be moved.  We can always stand.

In one sense, God never commands us to do what we cannot do.  But here is a paradox:  not one thing God commands us can we do in our flesh.  We cannot love others, humble ourselves, or truly forgive from the heart in our unregenerate state.  We cannot stand when we have given place to sin or choose not to walk in faith.  But we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  No man can stand on his own, but in Christ Christians can and will stand.  Perhaps the line would align better with the scriptures to say, "...And I'll stand because I trust in you.  Jesus you're my hope and stay."  I am so grateful for the truth of God's Word, and for the love God has revealed to all through it.  May we all stand strong in the LORD and in the power of His might!

I Need Revival - Do You?

I have heard many people speak of revival over the years, and often it sounds something like this:  "What we need is revival."  "Do you know how long it has been since there was a true revival in our nation?"  "Wouldn't you love to take part in a revival?"

As I have been thinking about "revival" in the last few days, there are a couple of misconceptions I feel important to clear up.  Revival starts with God's people, not with the world.  Revival carries with it the idea that something was once alive and has stopped breathing, or the heart has ceased to function, and revival is necessary to continue living.  When we see the deeds and hear the words of those who fear not God, revival is not what they need initially:  they need regeneration, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, to be born again!

For all the times I have heard people lamenting the lack of revival, not one time have I heard someone say, "I need revival."  This is the point:  revival does not start "out there" somewhere, but takes place in your own heart.  True revival starts with you.  Yes, you.  The wonderful thing is revival is not something to long for but never grasp, but a promise fulfilled when we meet God's conditions!  Isaiah 57:15 says, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  You want revival?  God has given you His word that you may have it.  The question is, do you really want it?  Are you willing to repent and humiliate yourself before God in complete surrender to Him?

Let's not pray for others to receive what we are unwilling to seek for ourselves.  God promises to revive any of His people who are humble and contrite before Him.  He is holy, and therefore we must confess our sin and repent in humility.  If we being evil give good gifts to our children, how much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to all who ask Him?  When God revives you, He will cease to be contained within you and spill out in fountains of Living Water.  Jesus has offered abundant life, free from dry tributaries and stagnant ponds.  Humbly come to Jesus Christ in faith as you came to Him at the first, the One who shouted to all, "If anyone is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink!" (John 7:37-38)  The devil loves it when we wring our hands over our lack and neglect to receive ourselves what God has freely provided.  Aren't we called to walk by faith and not by sight?  Let's break up our own fallow ground and prepare our hearts because it is high time to seek the LORD!

To pine for the revival of nations and not to be revived ourselves is folly.  Revival of nations begins when God's people seek and receive the revival according to His promises.  I need revival.  Do you?  It's not a one-time thing.  Let us believe, humble ourselves before our God in repentance, and receive.

Whose Approval Do You Seek?

Our identity dictates whose approval we seek.  Growing up, I was raised in a home by both my parents.  Because I identified Mark and Darla as my parents and I was their son, when they gave me tasks to perform I needed to ensure the end results met their standards.  I might have thought the bathroom was clean enough, but their approval is what mattered.  If I cleaned a window for half an hour, time spent did not grant me their approval.  Should the glass remain smeared and streaked, it would not be acceptable.  I sought the approval of my parents so I could move on to something fun!

If our identity is in Christ, it is imperative we seek His approval and walk in the way that pleases Him.  History proves God's people often lose sight of their identity in Him.  It is often written of the children of Israel and certainly applies to God's people today, that they did what was right in their own eyes.  Though God brought them out of bondage in Egypt with a mighty hand, it was not long before they wandered from Him.  Jesus has purchased us with His precious blood, but the flesh has a way of forgetting we are not our own.  When we live seeking our own approval or the approval of others, we have lost sight of our identity and much more still.  Consider only some of the implications of living for the approval of anyone but Christ:

• We will fall far short of God's plan and purpose for His glory in our lives.
• We will not experience on earth all we could of Him, and remain devoid of His power.
• Our lives will be marked by dissatisfaction instead of contentment.
• We will be unable to be who God designed us to be.
• It will be impossible for us to accomplish the good works God created us to do.
• We will be hamstrung, paralysed by the opinions of others.
• Our reward in heaven will be significantly diminished and we will suffer loss.
• If you do not seek to do God's will, it may be you have not been born again or saved!

One aspect that marked the life of Christ on earth is He always did the will of the Father who sent Him.  He said in John 5:30, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."  As the only begotten of the Father, Jesus identified Himself as God's Son.  He did not seek the approval of men to gain their sympathy or to win their allegiance, but sought the approval of His Father.  Jesus said these sobering words in His teaching to those who followed Him in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  How important it is, therefore, that we would do the will of the Father in heaven, living for His approval alone!  Otherwise, we might disqualify ourselves from the abundant life on earth or in heaven God offers us.  It is by grace we are saved through faith, and not of ourselves.  No man can earn heaven through working for it, but it is God's love that compels us to work.

Whose approval do you seek?  Your life will provide the answer!

Rest for the Weary

"No rest for the weary," goes the cliche.  Now wait a moment, Mr. Cliche maker.  Clearly when coining your phrase you did not consider the words of Jesus when He said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  No amount of physical rest will eliminate weariness or the certainty of future aches and pains.  But rest for the soul!  Life has a way of sucking the "life" right out of us.  When our souls become weary of the drudgery of life, the emptiness of religious activity, the pain of rejection, fear of uncertainty, weighed down with guilt and shame due to our sin, Jesus bids us come to Him.  The life Jesus offers to all who receive Him is abundant for eternity.

The words of Jesus are ironic.  When we think about rest, we likely do not associate it with carrying a yoke.  The yoke Christ speaks of was a piece of wood customised to fit around the necks of oxen and attached to a plow.  It's a huge amount of work, pulling a plow back and forth across a field all day long.  That's why farmers employed oxen to do it!  Jesus does not offer us a sedentary life devoid of labour or responsibility, but He will provide rest for our souls.  He offers us peace that passes understanding on earth and eternal rest in heaven in the presence of the Father with exceeding joy.  God created man to do good works, not seek perpetual leisure.  It is only after we are yoked to Christ in relationship by grace through faith that we can taste and see how wonderful rest for our soul is.

Instead of seeking to secure our earthly future, the wise seek to invest in the eternal realm.  Once we are born again through the Gospel by the Holy Spirit, our aim is to enter into the good works God has prepared for us to do through His power.  Galatians 6:9-10 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Life is hard.  Even the bodies and minds of Christians grow weary.  The cure to our weariness is found when we tap into the strength supplied by the Holy Spirit, looking unto Jesus for direction and inspiration.  Hebrews 12:1-3 tells us, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."

When weariness hits, remember to consider Christ.  As a born again Christian, it is His yoke you have volunteered to bear.  He will be with you forever, for He has promised never to leave or forsake you.  The rest He gives is completely unlike the mirage of "rest" found in this world.  Be strong and courageous.  Has He not commanded you?  He will be faithful to do it!

It's Not About You

In our day, the statement "It's not about you" certainly will raise eyebrows and hackles everywhere, both within and without the church.  I suspect this is because I have been raised in a cultural platform which says everything is about me!    In a society that stresses the potential and value of individuals, that I can be whatever I want to be as I follow my heart, even the suggestion that my life is not about me may seem repulsive, offensive, and ignorant.  But the scriptural truth remains undeterred, gleaming ever brighter in a world darkened with humanism.  God created all things for His good pleasure, and we exist by His grace for His glory.  Our existence is all about God.

The greatest joy for a human being created in the image of the Almighty God is to know and serve Him.  Yet when we present the truth of the Gospel, it can be done in a way which emphasises personal benefits and gifts we receive from God more than the worthiness of God Himself.  Many times I have heard heaven described in all its glory revealed through scripture:  streets made of pure gold like glass, custom mansions prepared for the redeemed, the absence of tears, sorrow, pain, sickness, and death, the granting of a glorified body like the risen Jesus Christ, meeting with loved ones, and the joyous unity to be experienced forever.  But heaven is not about you.  All those aforementioned benefits of heaven pale in comparison to being in the presence of God and fulfilling His divine purposes.  Our entrance into heaven was paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  He should receive all glory and recognition because the will of the Father has been accomplished.  We live, breathe, and have our being on earth by God's grace, and the same will be true in the heavenly realm.  We are intended to live on earth for God, and we will live in heaven for God too!

I have heard people talk about prayer or gifts through the Holy Spirit as a source of power to be tapped into, almost like a government grant of free money just waiting to be snatched up by those who fill out the forms and meet the criterion.  But neither prayer nor spiritual gifts are about you.  Prayer is not a handy way to obtain your every desire, but to accomplish God's will in and through your life.  Gifts of the Holy Spirit are not merely for your edification, but more importantly the glory of God and the edification of the church.  God did not make us the light of the world so we could bask in our own glow, but so we would be a light to all who are in the world so they might come to Him for salvation.  If you think ANY gift of the Holy Spirit is just for you, you are wrong.  The baptism with the Holy Spirit is always associated with increased service and praise unto God.  The gifts and talents provided by God are to be invested for His glory and the good of others.  Of course we too receive great benefits and increase of our faith through the exercise of gifts, but that is not the primary purpose.  All we are and all we possess is by God for God, and we are not our own.

When we realise our life is not about us, what freedom is ours by God's grace!  When we see a group photo in which we are included, our eyes quickly move to find our face.  This is often true when we look into scripture, and this is not a bad thing.  We should seek to discover who we are in Christ and the many blessings and promises He has freely offered to us.  There is so much we are called to enter into now!  But more important than focusing on how a relationship with God or the future promise of heaven will benefit us, we must step back from the photograph and ask:  "Why this glorious assembly?  Whose vision created this seemingly impossible future for me?  How should I be included in a picture with such heavenly glory?"  Let us turn our eyes upon Jesus once more and realise it's not about us.  God deserves all our affections, desires, and praise.  To look forward to the golden streets or the people we will meet in Heaven is to look forward to a gourmet meal because of the extra knives and forks.  On earth Christ is to be our Main Course, and in Heaven He is our Royal Host.  It's all about Him!