Originally I intended to do more or less a journal entry this morning. Maybe post some kind of profound insight. In my heart I more or less wanted to do just enough, to skirt around any true conviction. It hurts to be brutally honest with God. It hurts for God to be brutally honest with us! I wonder if Noah had bad days?? I wonder if he ever wanted to put down the hammer and just give in to the violence or various other sins going on around him. Maybe if we can take off our own masquerade of being above it all, we would say as Paul did..what a wretched man that I am!!. Let me be the first to say it, there is no way I could possibly rise above the sins around me without the Grace of God!
In all honesty I wish I could post a plug and play formula to cause us to be completely free. I wish I had a few key memory verses and all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit would be washed away! No dear Saint of God not now nor ever will I be able to post a quick easy way to win in Christ. Experience has taught me yielding to righteousness and pouring out my soul to God is the most difficult, yet the most rewarding, aspect of my Christian experience.
This morning God reminded me of a passage of scripture in the book of Ezekiel. Of course I would like to say I found this while studying, praying, fasting, reading etc. No that would be dishonest-I did hear it from a man of God up in New York city. Let me credit where credit is due..The man name is Bro Paul Johansen( may be spelled wrong) Any case at the time(he may still be) was running the School of Urban Ministry as a extension of Elim bible school near Rochester, New York.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
"And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.
Do I need to say anymore..Where is America's soul in this?? Where is our soul in this?? May the Grace of God help us all!!!
May the Grace of God establish you!
In Christ Love
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
A Speck
*To refine the heart*
Therefore, having these promises, beloved let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
( 2 Cor. 7:1)
As the word says, it is honorable, it is right to pursue holiness. The pursuit of holiness defines us as God fearing believers. Without going in too much scriptural detail( not the point of this blog) Holiness has a large role in our place in eternity.
Let's suppose we as believers were passionate and on fire for God. We were at a place of obedience, doing all the Lord told us to do. Let's suppose we had no idle time and are thoughts were filled with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. In my heart of hearts I would love to be there!! I firmly believe by the Grace of God as a teacher, refiner, and comforter it is in fact possible!
I would say I have had seasons were this was for the most part true. I have also had times were because of this position, I looked down my long self righteous nose at those who were struggling. In all seriousness I wonder which sins God finds the most offensive.
Jesus had a pretty harsh rebuke for us as believers in Matt 7:3-5
3. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but not consider the plank in your own eye?
4. Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me remove the speck from your eye"; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5. Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
I have been quick to cast aside people who I thought couldn't or wouldn't reach personal holiness. Not to say there is a place for church discipline and not so much as eating with a brother/sister who walks disorderly. But this message is more of a heart issue. How do I view them? What is my heart towards them? God Spirit will ultimately guide our leaders or us as to how we handle each individual case. What God was dealing with me was enjoying my lofty position over them. It is grace which began this race for us..it is grace which will finish this race for us.
So as I sit here I see more clearly..God wants my place of self righteousness for a place of meekness.
As the book of Galatians states in 6:1-3, we who would be "spiritual"...
1. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
2. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
3. For if anyone thinks himself to something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
May God's grace help us all!
In Christ Love
Monday, November 29, 2010
The Highest Honor
Matthew 23:11,12
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
OK what I know is God wants me to do this blog. But often when we step out in obedience we are a bit blind. We find our expectations and initial understanding to the purpose and plan of God needing to be adjusted, corrected and realigned into the Spirit of God's true intent. We may feel God wants from us a great performance, a great gift, great worship, or may be busyness to the point of exhaustion. All of it is as empty and meaningless without the life of God breathing grace into what we do.
So I hope by telling a bit of one's man story you may identify with your own frailty and we together can find and embrace God's true heart and purpose. I'm so done with living a lifeless existence!
The one thing we need for God's word to make an impact is to have ears to hear and a heart which can receive God's Rhema word. What is the due word in season for you? What passage of scripture is God bringing to your attention? What particular theme in God's Word do you see no matter where you're reading? If you're part of a local church what particular ministry is God calling you to serve in?
This is where my little journey comes in. Better said this is where my wrestling with God comes in! As a young believer in bible school one Sunday morning I was asked to park cars. This turned into most every Sunday and I missed often where I wanted to be. I wanted to experience God in worship! In a nutshell God wanted me to experience/identify with Him in servant hood.
Let's jump ahead about 20 years to a completely different place. Now I am a husband and father with my own child going off to college. Serving as a Deacon in a small church...You would think or maybe just I would think the car days were long gone. But here is what I know..God wants us to identify with Him in obedience and servant hood. Honestly I don't feel any more excited about servant hood now as I did 20 years ago. But I do know without a shadow of a doubt in servant hood is where we most identify with our Master.
I can't speak for everyone but I know in my spirit that I really don't comprehend what it means to be a servant.
What is God saying to you?
In Christ Love
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
OK what I know is God wants me to do this blog. But often when we step out in obedience we are a bit blind. We find our expectations and initial understanding to the purpose and plan of God needing to be adjusted, corrected and realigned into the Spirit of God's true intent. We may feel God wants from us a great performance, a great gift, great worship, or may be busyness to the point of exhaustion. All of it is as empty and meaningless without the life of God breathing grace into what we do.
So I hope by telling a bit of one's man story you may identify with your own frailty and we together can find and embrace God's true heart and purpose. I'm so done with living a lifeless existence!
The one thing we need for God's word to make an impact is to have ears to hear and a heart which can receive God's Rhema word. What is the due word in season for you? What passage of scripture is God bringing to your attention? What particular theme in God's Word do you see no matter where you're reading? If you're part of a local church what particular ministry is God calling you to serve in?
This is where my little journey comes in. Better said this is where my wrestling with God comes in! As a young believer in bible school one Sunday morning I was asked to park cars. This turned into most every Sunday and I missed often where I wanted to be. I wanted to experience God in worship! In a nutshell God wanted me to experience/identify with Him in servant hood.
Let's jump ahead about 20 years to a completely different place. Now I am a husband and father with my own child going off to college. Serving as a Deacon in a small church...You would think or maybe just I would think the car days were long gone. But here is what I know..God wants us to identify with Him in obedience and servant hood. Honestly I don't feel any more excited about servant hood now as I did 20 years ago. But I do know without a shadow of a doubt in servant hood is where we most identify with our Master.
I can't speak for everyone but I know in my spirit that I really don't comprehend what it means to be a servant.
What is God saying to you?
In Christ Love
Saturday, November 27, 2010
An Envious Heart
Last night I felt prompted to spend some time in the book of Titus and to my surprise was graciously convicted. This particular blog is from that experience.
Titus 2:11-14
As you may know the word of God is wrapped as a onion in many layers of revelation and understanding. With this understanding in mind, let's mediate and ponder just a few choice phrases from the passage. I thought maybe I could post the passage for you but I decided not and here is why...Why would I cheat you the opportunity to discover what God's Spirit may make personal to you.
11. The grace of God
12 Teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
14 He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, Zealous for good works.
I simply did this to illustrate a point as to what the Spirit of God was illuminating to my heart to bring conviction, cleansing, and restoration of fellowship.
Have you ever wondered why God seems so distant? Have you ever wondered God appears to be aloof?
The problem Dear Saints is something or someone else has our affections and deep down, beyond our cute little religious phrases, we want it or them more than God himself. We mere mortals are desperate souls! We need the grace of God more than we know!
The lament of my heart this morning is to discover the grace of God as a teacher! My lament this morning is to know I must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts!! It is my hearts cry to be zealous for good works! To be obedient to my Master and find tremendous joy in this endeavor alone!
Are you hungry to be challenged by the grace of God to find new life! Join me on this journey to discover the grace of God as a teacher that we may turn together from all unrighteous!
So with this passage I will leave you another to be discovered on you own. Just you and the Grace of God as teacher.
Psalm 73
In case you're wondering what layer of truth God revealed to my heart in this Psalm:
So here it is in a nut shell, it is Asaph's honesty and later cleansing of an envious heart.
What will God reveal to you???
May the Lord richly bless you and Strengthen your heart!
In Christ Love
Titus 2:11-14
As you may know the word of God is wrapped as a onion in many layers of revelation and understanding. With this understanding in mind, let's mediate and ponder just a few choice phrases from the passage. I thought maybe I could post the passage for you but I decided not and here is why...Why would I cheat you the opportunity to discover what God's Spirit may make personal to you.
11. The grace of God
12 Teaches us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,
14 He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, Zealous for good works.
I simply did this to illustrate a point as to what the Spirit of God was illuminating to my heart to bring conviction, cleansing, and restoration of fellowship.
Have you ever wondered why God seems so distant? Have you ever wondered God appears to be aloof?
The problem Dear Saints is something or someone else has our affections and deep down, beyond our cute little religious phrases, we want it or them more than God himself. We mere mortals are desperate souls! We need the grace of God more than we know!
The lament of my heart this morning is to discover the grace of God as a teacher! My lament this morning is to know I must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts!! It is my hearts cry to be zealous for good works! To be obedient to my Master and find tremendous joy in this endeavor alone!
Are you hungry to be challenged by the grace of God to find new life! Join me on this journey to discover the grace of God as a teacher that we may turn together from all unrighteous!
So with this passage I will leave you another to be discovered on you own. Just you and the Grace of God as teacher.
Psalm 73
In case you're wondering what layer of truth God revealed to my heart in this Psalm:
So here it is in a nut shell, it is Asaph's honesty and later cleansing of an envious heart.
What will God reveal to you???
May the Lord richly bless you and Strengthen your heart!
In Christ Love
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